April 25, 2024: Card O' the Day: The Emperor. To make things happen, you must be responsible for personal choices. If you fail, take responsibility for failures and learn from them. It’s time to become responsible and understand there are consequences for all your choices.
Strength of will and self-determination is also represented by this card. But to be truly powerful, you don’t have to be a bully and it’s not weakness to ask for help if you need it. Balance your emotions with logic, consistency, honesty, and awareness.
The power and responsibility signified here are learned and earned. When you have knowledge and power, it’s your responsibility to teach and guide others as a father figure or group leader. The Emperor teaches the rules of fairness and honesty and his appearance reminds all that as a global family, we must learn to work as a cohesive unit.
April 24, 2024: Card O' the Day: Nine of Pentacles. While this card bodes well for matters of the material plane, the number 9 suggests depth, which signals maturity, spiritual awareness, and accomplishment grounded to earth yet sensitive to spirit. When you begin to want more from life (beyond what the Joneses have), you’ll find the ability to build your own abundance through expansion of ideas and accepting all that life has to offer for growth and the seeds of possibility.
Your natural motivation and readiness to share riches originates in the internal being. It doesn’t come from lack or scarcity once you’ve recognized scarcity and lack are mere illusions. With the joyful flow of material energy inherent in this card, you’re encouraged to cultivate generosity, share blessings, and pay it forward with a heart open to love.
April 22, 2024: Card O' the Day: The Chariot, reversed. The Chariot contains high and directed energy. Once it’s reversed, that energy becomes scattered or surges out of control. Forward motion is halted and you’re defeated through inaction or impatience. Perhaps your own hubris is at fault and unrealistic goals or insufficient expertise or experience cause you to be easily deflected from the course. Under this card, you’re riding for a fall and defeat unless you can get a grip on your emotions and take responsibility for your part in the events behind yesterday’s Ten of Swords events.
This card asks at what cost is this journey of self-discovery, overcoming obstacles, and/or achieving “victory”? Your dangerously inflated ego may believe that any means justify the ends and you’re being inconsiderate, disregard the rights of others, have an unreasonable attitude, or don't adhere to the rules of fairness. Such inflexible arrogance means you harbor no doubts about the validity of your actions and take no responsibility for them.
Remember, even when the world and every person you’ve ever met seems to be against you, you had a hand in your fate. Again, repair any weak spots in your personal defenses and behavior towards others.
April 21, 2024: Card O' the Day: Ten of Swords, reversed. The “recovery” theme introduced by yesterday’s Five of Cups, reversed, continues in the reversed Ten of Swords. When the Ten is reversed, some shadows lift and you can start gaining relief from stress. Keep looking forward to liberation and exciting breakthroughs that are forthcoming because it’s time for recovery and rebirth now that you’ve turned the corner and things are looking up.
After an extreme situation has cleared the way, the change in your cycle can provide a new outlook. However, unless you take advantage of the reprieve in difficulty and make real changes to prevent the situation from repeating, all gains and success will be fleeting.
During the sweeping alterations required by this card, your emotional reactions to the previous unhappiness or any disputes, ingratitude, doubts, and/or low self-esteem will hamper true progress and make new gains precarious or impermanent. Therefore, it’s important to let go of the past, release the need to intellectualize what all went wrong, and concentrate on repairing any weak spots in your personal defenses.
April 20, 2024: Card O' the Day: Five of Cups, reversed. The reversed Five of Cups can impart quite a hopeful outlook indicating recovery, charity, kindness, and renewal as you move away from loss and get on with life. You become aware that what remains after the recent losses is important and permanent even in the face of sorrow. The fallen* Cups represent something less significant than what you originally thought and those still standing form a solid base that’s not easily knocked over.
After making some very hard decisions, understand difficulties will be overcome, there’ll be a change in lifestyle, and the ability to share abundance. As you transform resistance, disappointment, or prudence into something better, you’ll develop emotional stability, coping skills, determination, and fortitude to conquer any misfortune or anxiety. You’re urged to take control lest others take control for you; expect rewards when you do. Now, move on; it’s time.
*Many Tarot decks depict the Five of Cups with five vessels of some nature. Three of these vessels have been knocked over while two remain standing. The standing vessels are emphasized in the reversed position of the card.
April 19, 2024: Card O' the Day: Two of Pentacles. I’m guessing this card is for me and my mother. Last week she needed to go to the hospital. This was a huge challenge for both of us in that I had to then juggle my life to be present for her and help her maintain balance with all her different caregivers and her life at home. Now that she’s back home recuperating, we both shall need physical rest to recover from the fraught psycho-emotional experience.
In a nutshell, this past week has been a perfect example of the Two of Pentacles: being flexible, ready to adapt easily, and available to what comes in order to facilitate surprise alterations. Therefore, drop judgment and preferences to the details of long-term plans and consider all options—even if not patently “better”—with an open mind.
Along with all the “should and must do’s” in life, there needs to be play, too. You’d do well to emphasize gaiety, recreation, and exercise a little more. Live in the moment and be present to it without ambition for it to be more than it is. Find appropriate balance in all of life, seek the hidden magic in ordinary pleasures, and remember to celebrate simple joys along the way because you never know when you’ll have nothing to celebrate.
April, 12, 2024: Card O' the Day: Ten of Cups. After a couple weeks of diving deep into the shadow work, we’re coming out the other side having done some serious soul-searching and re-thinking about who we are and want to be.
The Ten of Cups represents culmination of the Way of the Heart wherein you’ve truly connected with your heart and move into the world with intelligence. Allowing yourself to be softer and more receptive to the inexpressible joy already present deep inside means discovering that solid, grounded happiness doesn’t come from possessions or accomplishments. At this apex of divine yin power, you finally bears witness to your own inner radiance and magnetism, understand personal value, and are secure enough to ask for what you need.
Under the influence of this card, the conscious and subconscious join to create a well balanced state of being where you have the ability to go into emotions and rise out of them without getting caught up in blame, guilt, fantasy, or lethargy. This life force connects all living creatures in ultimate purity and perfection through a heart that has attained fullness. Emotional realization has taken place and you recognize the valuable qualities of the situation. Trust in your feelings with confidence.
April 11, 2024: card O' the Day: Queen of Wands. Another Wands card…this time the strong, powerful, invincible Queen! She’s here to remind us to persevere and never give up.
The Queen of Wands denotes strength of character, a likable person who gets along well with others, and someone who’s interested in spiritual growth, philanthropic works, and inspirational philosophies. As in, she looks beyond her own nose because she understands how helping others helps herself.
When the Queen of Wands appears, it signifies things “coming together” and you’re encouraged to let the abundance within overflow! With a deep inner conviction that things will turn out okay, she supports intuitive faith in your own abilities and limits. This card provides a gentle force that allows changes to proceed with the least disruption so let’s lurch in the direction of putting on our boots and get busy.
April 10, 2024: Card O' the Day: Ace of Wands, reversed. Okay, we have an ACE! And it’s of WANDS! Meaning, movement and new beginnings are just around the corner. Which is a good thing since we’ve been stuck for so long in our Hermit phase. Even when reversed, the Ace indicates new beginnings are afoot and you’re starting to feel ready, desiring, and yearning for change. That’s the good news.
The bad news is the reversal relegates all this into the “not yet” category. The right opportunity has yet to come, a situation may be premature, or you’re not energized or prepared enough to move forward. This card also speaks of personal authority that’s turned sour. Emotionally, you suffer frustration, rejection, weakness, doubt, hesitation, powerlessness, etc., which leaves you resistant, reluctant, or without interest to take on more and useful work.
The problem with the lingering inertia means you’ll not see what IS indeed going well. Take heart at this Ace showing up, at all, and practice gratitude for everything that’s not completely sh*tty. As in, be grateful you can read this because to do so you took advantage of your computer/phone, electricity, the availability of the Internet, you’re not dead, and a whole lot of other blessings you haven’t noticed in a while.
April 9, 2024: Card O' the Day: Seven of Wands. According to the Seven of Wands, there are times when one must find the courage to defend one’s position, principles, beliefs, or ideals using natural instincts and past experience. Perhaps you took a stand against opposing views in a speech, discussion, or on the Internet. And now your “stand taking” has you on the outs with your people (thus all the alone time in the last couple weeks).
Now, you DO develop confidence in self-worth and valor by handling problems, rivalry, competition, confrontation, or disapproval with persistence. However, this card also demands honest self-reflection regarding your personal tenets; it’s fine to remain steadfast, but be open-minded, too. If you find yourself standing alone too often, maybe it’s time to reevaluate what you believe
April 8, 2024: Card O' the Day: Three of Pentacles, reversed. Wow. The “I vant to be alone!” trend continues. It’s probably for a good reason, though. Just as we clean out closets and refrigerators, one does need to clean out one’s friend/acquaintance/tribe circle occasionally too.
When this card is upright, there’s heavy emphasis on celebrations with your community, family, and/or tribe. Reversed, it indicates you’ve indulged in too much of society and have wearied of the popular rounds of activity or you’ve become disenchanted with comrades/associates and no longer socialize with the old crowd. The usual pleasures seem empty and unfulfilling as one eats, drinks, and plays when there’s work to be done. Your own mores may have shifted and those of your usual associates haven't as they continue to ignore deeper world values and events.
The situation could be the other way around in that you aren’t the one leaving but rather have been left. Support networks have withdrawn as you’re excluded or separated from a clique or inner circle, blackballed, or are merely unappreciated. This results in disillusionment and the friendship or group falls apart. Regardless of the reason you’ve separated from one’s group, the reversed Three signifies the end of celebrations and the need to look at some hard realities.
April 7, 2024: Card O' the Day: Seven of Pentacles, reversed. Suffering pervasive dissatisfaction and feelings of entrapment often come from unfulfilling jobs or commitments. This quagmire leads to increasing anxiety about money, an unspecified sense of uneasiness, bitterness, worry, or melancholy. You tend to become impatient, restless, or inert in procrastination when faced with such emotions. Keywords such as obscurity and lack of achievement associated with this card—coupled with the above feelings—lead me to believe some of you self-isolate (a running theme for the past week-10 days) because you think your work and/or contributions at your place of employment are pointless.
Such a pit of negative emotions and beliefs about Self are destructive and a waste of your time if you allow this state to continue. You can ease the stuck-ness by taking the tiniest step forward by just looking at the job opportunities in your area. You’re probably doodling around on your phone anyway so just detour over to the job sites for giggles. No need to get up from your chair or make any commitments. Merely take a peek.
Now dream a little of what having a better job might look like for you…. Keep dreaming…. Your dreams will get you motivated to actually DO something!
April 5, 2024: Card O' the Day: Nine of Swords, reversed. Oppressed by troubles, feeling unfairly treated, and fearing loss of individuality and propriety, you continue to hide from acquaintances and avoid public view or facing others. Such shrinking from perceived dangers is probably a reaction to something that weighs heavily on the mind and heart rather than an actual tragedy on the physical plane.
But to be fair, your anxieties could be justified, fears legitimate, and suspicions warranted thereby leaving you virtually imprisoned and sad. However, even though the the problem is indeed real, you can’t directly attack it—which makes you want to hide within, keep anger and resentment, and fall into depression and despondency.
However, this card’s appearance signals it’s time to begin the process of climbing out of despair, come out of a depressive episode, and/or pull yourself out of the rut of self-pity. Welcome resolved pain, improved sleep, and emotional stability when you take charge of your psycho-emotional health.
April 4, 2024: Card O' the Day: Five of Cups. Interactions with others haven’t been going well. In the arena of friendships, partnerships, family, and intimate relationships, you may have endured the “death” of a friendship or partnership that ended unhappily. A marriage may be filled with bitterness or frustration as the “cup” of the relationship is viewed as half-empty. Old fears of abandonment are realized through said endings and you’re struggling with this difficult and painful experience.
However, valuable lessons often come from such experiences and failure or loss is more easily endured if it’s accepted as part of growth and change. After all, nothing is created without mistakes. There’s always hope for better things to come and you need to find the courage to continue. Therefore, view the current unfortunate situation as a turn in the road that ultimately brings good because the “loss”—however painful— has created space for something new in your life.
April 3, 2024: Card O' the Day: Queen of Wands. Internalized fires radiate from within as this queen controls her impulses, creativity, passions, and strength without suppressing any of it. This type is unwilling to censor themselves or conform to societal norms, they cannot take criticism, are emotionally demanding, and can be harsh and unforgiving of anyone else’s weakness or inability to keep up. Not only do some of you want to remain alone but some are actively pushing others away with the Queen of Wands’ assistance.
On the other hand, receiving this card is an indication of leadership ability, independence, self-possession, practicality, and fierce determination to make decisions, get your own way, or pursue your interests. However, always use this ambition and passion inventively while offering courteous understanding to others. Be careful of holding grudges or undermining the plans of colleagues. Avoid burnout, confrontation, pettiness, or opposition to restraint. If a peace offering is extended, be open to negotiations. The feng shui of this card suggests being open to lending help and good advice as you draw others near.
Your choice.
April 1, 2024: Card O' the Day: The Star, reversed. When upright, The Star asks us to get in touch with our inner guiding light, emotions, and sense of Self in order to understand how the outside world affects our psyche. Once reversed, we recognize how the outside influences have injured us and react by holding back, having difficulty opening up emotionally, hiding feelings, or turning away from offered calm and hope. You may have the sense of being dammed or bottled up inside. Tired and depressed, you just want to be left alone. (The reversed Hermit anyone?)
When this card appears upside down, self-esteem is low and you’re unable to see yourself as a star. Uncertain and thinking you lack talent, grace, or beauty, you deny your true gifts and just want to disappear.
March 30, 2024: Card O' the Day: The Hermit, reversed (again). We just had The Hermit, reversed, on the 28th. And while I felt it signifies a period of deep journeying, it’s important to still be present in this life. (As was pointed out in the Three of Pentacles yesterday.),
Withdrawing into yourself may not have been to take time for personal reflection but is because you’re feeling antisocial, unable to communicate, or wish to avoid close relationships altogether because you perceive you’re deserted, alone, and misunderstood. (You might actually be the one who walked away and has no one to blame but yourself.) Whether you’re staying isolated out of stubbornness or are paranoid of interacting with others, the end effect of hiding slows or disables the development of latent talents and mires you in a state of stasis and abnegation.
A disapproving attitude is also inherent in The Hermit, reversed, and it’s possible you’re so preoccupied with how others perceive you that you’re holding yourself and others to excessive perfectionism and impossible standards. Are you?
March 29, 2024: Crd O' the Day: Three of Pentacles. First and foremost, you must establish foundational skill, abilities, and knowledge by making the effort to learn something new via study, concentrated focus, deep understanding, or self-improvement. This is equally true when embarking on a spiritual journey. Rest assured Universe is offering material and spiritual support in this endeavor.
This card is showing you the important, if invisible, link between the physical world and fantastical realms and is an indication you must work steadily to manifest your purpose. You’re directed to synthesize the workings of your imagination with external reality as you tune out the noise of the physical world and listen to your instincts and spiritual guidance.
When this card appears, it indicates initial fruits of labor, early success, and that a goal appears well on the way. However, know the real work begins after the first blush of success and powerful expansion and positive outcomes only follow perseverance, hard work, and dedication. As in, after your enlightenment, you still have to “chop wood and carry water.”
March 28, 2024: Card O' the Day: The Hermit, reversed. The upright Hermit represents alone time during which you may be healing, in a creative cycle, or just feeling a little antisocial. When this card is reversed, it can indicate you’re gong into a deep state of personal reflection and journeying.
In a state of stillness that’s NOT stagnation, you float in almost pure yin energy. Your aloneness is an organic natural state, not an avoidance of others due to a pathology such as narcissism, paranoia, or anger. Rather, you’re exploring the absence of light, society, or interaction with other beings through your instincts and psycho-emotional sensations.
March 27, 2024: Card O' the Day: Six of Pentacles. The reciprocity and charity inherent in this card may be of a spiritual nature as you act with compassion and show respect to others. The makers of and believers in magic understand giving to those in need returns spiritual benefits. Such soul-based exchanges that flow from love embody true generosity, Spirit in all life, and strength through gentleness. Even though you’re grounded in the material/physical world, how you value and handle these sacred exchanges determines your future.
Possibly you’re not working towards reciprocity with others but are pursuing equilibrium between your own material, spiritual, and social lives and the restoration thereof. Such balance within your whole environment—vital to yourself and society—would provide a happy, relaxed atmosphere in which you may enjoy the fruits of your labor.
March 26, 2024: Card O' the Day: The Princess of Cups. The Princess of Cups is indicative of youthful energy, being emotionally vulnerable, and/or lighthearted. Her appearance is a reminder to let life flow as you enter into a phase of learning to accept and incorporate feelings into reactions, contemplate things with a tender heart, trust, and serve with love. As you stand on the threshold of emotional maturation through relationships or struggles, you’ll discover new feelings and attachments starting with those of self-love and respect.
It might be time to explore your inner world with no outside demands, responsibilities, or desires to disturb your quiet contemplation. Take a breather to renew yourself, listen to your heart, and discover your worthiness of being loved. Remember to take time to enjoy simple pleasures in life, enjoy being human, and that it’s okay to pamper yourself once in a while. Create your own situation of happiness, loving relationships, and success. Following a little self-care, you’ll be more energized, inspired, refreshed physically and spiritually, and have the inner confidence to serve those in need.
March 22, 2024: Card O' the Day: The Devil. Brandon, if you’re watching, this one’s for you.
The Devil epitomizes the shadow aspects that are denied, unacknowledged, or hidden. This includes all the emotions rejected, repressed, deemed “bad”, and separated from Self such as fear, anger, shame, or self loathing. Obsessions, negative thoughts, and/or secret physical pleasures can also hold you hostage in your own mind. Self-punishing behavior, any form of misery or depression, feeling chained or imprisoned and believing the illusion there are no alternatives, cravings and worries that fill the consciousness and interfere with peace, wounds you were born with or were inflicted early and often, or any other negative aspects of the ego are all examples of the shadow side of the psyche.
However, your inner shadow aspects aren’t “bad” per se and need to be integrated into the whole being because there can’t be light without dark. You can choose to remain tied to a negative situation, way of life, or attitude. Or you can accept the Self (warts and all) and act freely and joyfully by engaging in conscious deliberation and decision to find satisfaction in life. The first step is to confront the inner psyche to face fears and inhibitions, release guilt and judgment, and face personal “shame.” Therefore, break out of whatever you’ve been conditioned by others to believe about yourself because the moment you stop believing you’re helpless, limited, or “not enough”, you become free.
March 21, 2024: Card O' the Day: Queen of Pentacles. The Queen of Pentacles represents thriving in all areas that call for creativity, physical connection to others or the world, and elemental understanding. In the process of finding what’s really desired from life, develop truthfulness, overcome any conceit, and be innovative with solving unexpected problems. You’ll find happiness in achieving goals and everything to which you aspire but also you’re asked to find satisfaction and contentment with those achievements and not be desperate for more.
Because the Queen is such a stable, motherly, homebody sort, her appearance in a spread indicates you’re interested in community and protective of others. This card breaks down all distinction between giver and receiver and understands to help others is actually helping yourself. The Earth Queen implies a developing sense of security and confidence in this moment of deserving life’s rewards and when you’re so showered with blessings from all directions, you’re encouraged to celebrate this abundance and spread joy for all to share.
March 20, 2024: Card O' the Day: Prince of Wands, reversed. Okay, this is the third Prince in just a few days. What’s up with the Princes? They lack the sureness and stability of the Kings or Queens but have a strong sense of commitment, responsibility to others, and huge amounts of energy directed in outward action. Princes denote a state of constant movement that’s only moderately experienced and still in development. They indicate warnings, swift changes, bold action, fast moving events, and are incredibly focused on a goal, which can render them headstrong, brash, and belligerent.
As for the Fire prince, reversed, this indicates you’re ready to rein in all the fiery impulses of the recent Princes and to stop and enjoy the present, rather than perpetually focusing on future progress. This slower pace could make you more effective and allow for deeper experiences all around.
March 19, 2024: Card O' the Day: Prince of Swords. Oh, BOY! This is a great card to follow the reversed Seven of Cups that had told us to clear out the cobwebs from our noodle. The Sword Prince is direct and incisive and indicative of revolutionizing energies, quicksilver ideas, sudden shifts in perspective, rapid thoughts, quick answers, brisk insightful commentary, and a penetrating wit with clarity that cuts to the chase. Therefore, prepare for “a-HA!” moments that blow up your world. This is the very essence of the mind cleansed of all parasitical concepts that weigh you down and prevent you from going beyond mere thought.
At the same time, the Prince reminds you to ground ideas in reality and be responsible for what’s created because he represents the struggle to sustain the plodding grunt work some projects require. Use subtlety in endeavors to grasp opportunities with the help of sharp vision, controlled momentum, and precise timing. Maintain vigilance while proceeding with a plan, and don’t allow impulsiveness to revolt against ideological compliance. Lastly, consider carefully whether you’re willing to see a project through to its end, otherwise time and resources will be wasted.
March 14, 2024: Card O' the Day: Seven of Cups, reversed. We’ve had several Cups of late; let’s explore that suit’s energy. The primary attribute of Cups is the experience that covers the general range of the emotional landscape where, at its completion, is total fulfillment and satiety. The suit invites you to know the Self better by going within the inner being to take stock and using your intuition to understand or determine how a situation developed/is developing and how/where it’s going from here. You’re then able to connect more authentically with others and relax into the communal experience feeling safe and nurtured. But beware: negative emotions can cause great problems when coupled with a negative mind.
As for the reversed Seven of Cups, when it’s upright it can indicate confused feelings and thoughts. But reversed, the card stresses clear and logical thinking, making realistic plans, setting priorities and intentions, and finding solutions that are well-conceived. With resoluteness of purpose, determination, and premeditation, break through the fog of confusion and illusion to focus on a goal. Don't reject fantasies, designs, or outlines but actually DO something to make them real because this card bodes well for achieving aspirations or intentions.
March 13, 2024: Card O' the Day: Prince of Cups. People influenced by the Prince of Cups are great with others, have a subtle, sparkling, diplomatic wit, and are wonderful friends. They’re especially caring, calm, gentle, gallant, amicable, and sensitive to others’ emotional states because they adapt to suit the needs of everyone else. Receiving this card in a reading could indicate you’re initiating social contacts or extending invitations to a welcoming event in your efforts to collaborate in accordance with yesterday’s Two of Cups.
You may take on the role of helping others to promote harmony, compliance, or an accord. Such meaningful “socializing” could actually be valuable networking, and therefore you’re encouraged to participate and listen to the ideas and opinions of others when they’re presented. The Water Prince is also a great healer and protector and thus may signify involvement in counseling, catering to the needs of others, missionary work or other humanitarian undertakings.
Ruled by inner values with a rich emotional landscape, people influenced by this card are very loving but they tend to act and react according to their feelings rather than what’s logical. Capricious and elusive in relationships, they may use adoration and flattery as tools to achieve ends. Conquest becomes the goal and honest love slips into worship as the Prince becomes depressive, moody, and retreats into fantasy. Such emotional swings can mean a roller coaster of highs and lows when dealing with, or acting like, such a person.
March 12, 2024: Card O' the Day: Two of Cups. Cooperation and teamwork are the keywords for the day. The focus of this card is the meeting of hearts and the blessings that come of it. These blessings include a creative and fertile working relationship, a close and fruitful friendship, or any situation where there’s a meeting of the minds, hearts, and souls. The essence of true friends who are mature, natural, and easy with each other mean there’s no urgency about the connection, no neediness, and no desire to change the other into something else. People are simply joining together to create something new. This influence of mutual respect and affection is a fundamental motivator for cooperation with others about choices, innovative ideas, or seeing eye-to-eye on a collaborative venture. There is a strong bond of trust, dependability and goodwill, and the good communication that two halves of a whole enjoy as minds and hearts with the same intent are able to combine ideas and plans. Expect congenial, satisfying, and agreeable partnerships in business, friendship, or social situations that bring comfort and security.
The Two can also be seen as an adventure card with a wide range of situations and conditions outside of your ordinary existence, routine, or control. Escapades may be planned including exhilarating challenges or unpredictable surprises and experiences in travel, customs, or foods. While there's no security or certainty about what happens next or how it turns out, awaken to the magnificence and thrill of inhabiting a physical body.
March 11, 2024: Card O' the Day: Five of Pentacles. This card sometimes indicates a transitory period in your life during which there's a positive evolution towards the future. New interests on the material plane open up or you find new solutions for current problems. Because the suit of Pentacles represents the physical body and its health, the new interests could move in the direction of alternative healing, dietary changes, and/or beginning a practice that goes beyond simple physical exercise. The transitions may also include moving to a new place; if that’s the case, be patient with yourself as you settle into a new space and routine.
As you dive into this new avenue, you could gain a position of prominence and authority earned through hard work, the acceptance of responsibility, and the triumph of matter over spirit. An executive position, handled with discipline and thoughtfulness, will bring good results.
Double bonus: New avenues and success at it!
March 8, 2024: Card O' the Day: King of Wands. Okay, this is the third King to show up in just a few days. What’s up with the Kings you ask? Kings are considered the yang expression of a suit in its full maturation with a physical presence that commands attention. They symbolize wisdom, power, outward manifestations, stabilization, accomplishment, and success. But Kings can be bossy, dominating, and controlling, and represent people with socially minded authority who will affect the outcome of a situation. They make decisions, delegate tasks, and take responsibility for society on a whole. Kings represent the areas of your life over which you have no control.
The other day we had the reversed King of Pentacles indicating loss of control over your physical plane. Yesterday, we received the reversed Sword King representing loss of control of what you consider right and wrong. Today, we have the Fire King. Though he’s not reversed, this King can still be a bulldozer and make you feel like you’re in the backseat of your life.
On a good day, such people can be forceful, charismatic, bold, and intelligent. But they also have a despotic nature and are arrogant, difficult, and impatient. In general, such people become leaders but not out of an urge to serve the greater good. More than likely they just like the power being in leadership roles gives them. If that’s you, just be careful power is used appropriately and self-confidence doesn’t turn into arrogance. While you may firmly believe you’re absolutely “right”, that may not always be true. Therefore, cooperation, “political correctness”, and diplomacy, rather than steamrolling, will achieve the best results.
March 7, 2024: Card O' the Day: King of Swords, reversed. Okay then, some of you are feeling really demoralized and the “cooperative” or "diplomatic” route seems impossible at the moment.
The suit of Swords represents, in part, legal matters and when reversed it can mean you have to deal with unscrupulous, malicious, plotting, sadistic, spiteful, or otherwise tricky persons while trying to sort personal legal obligations or opportunities. Judgments or decisions may not go the way you had hoped and unfairness, favoritism, and legal errors are possible.
On a larger scale, the entire world may appear unjust and corrupt and you’ve become disillusioned by the justice system, politics/politicians, or business affairs. In general, this card represents the power of verbal aggression and totalitarian views. It could feel that you’re the only one left with any principles as you attempt to disallow an inhumane or unfair ruling, try to overturn a legal case, countermand the boss, or recall elected officials.
*sigh*
March 6, 2024: Card O' the Day: Seven of Wands, reversed. This card offers you the power to overcome fears and objections and participate in negotiations to gain favor and get yourself sorted out. You might defend your choice of job or lover to your family or friends in your quest to fill your life with worthy people and beliefs. Defenses, walls, and barriers between yourself and others come down as you discover inner resources and refuse to be intimidated.
Certain minor victories may require conforming to established procedures and protocols or seeking an otherwise more co-operative approach so don’t be shy about accepting assistance when navigating these diplomatic waters. If you can come to a clear course of action, natural self-confidence will bloom because you’re truly stronger than you think!
March 5, 2024: Card O' the Day: King of Pentacles, reversed. The short answer is there are money troubles present when this card appears reversed. Those worries may be slight such as frustration at not balancing the checkbook, suffering an inability to fathom finances or taxes, or feeling overwhelmed and unsure about managing or taking care of a home, real estate, insurance, stocks, or other valuables. Your finances could be sluggish or normally sharp business acumen is off.
But also the ordinarily materialistic Earth King, when reversed, may be actively working to oppose misuse of resources and life. Thus the financial portion of your life feels in disarray because you’re completely revamping what you consider important and worth your attention.
There’ll be a period of inner security, contentment, and wellbeing as you reconsider whether amassing money is the only goal worth having. You’ll discover what’s truly valuable by overthrowing materialistic tenets or stepping away from long-held beliefs learned as a child.
February 29, 2024: Card O' the Day: Nine of Wands. This card represents driven and dynamic energy with a stronger and increased light. It’s your own choice whether to accept it and the clarity that comes. However, these gifts can be fiery, unstable, and are potentially very dangerous.
While it is natural to brace for a storm, adopting a wary or suspicious posture in anticipation of being attacked by someone or something that’s not directly apparent can be a mistake. Through remaining flexible and not allowing defensive habits to become ingrained, you’re more likely to resolve any challenges that do arise peacefully.
Honor the conscious mind and unconscious soul, which are working in harmony and giving you clear direction for the future. Through self-examination, you’ll see beneath the surface lies and deceptions (including your own) and the resulting mature, advanced wisdom could possibly indicate stepping into a guardianship or leadership role. When asked for advice, be attentive and respectful, and fine-tune knowing when to listen v. speak.
February 28, 2024: Card O' the Day: Ten of Swords, reversed. When the Ten is reversed, some shadows lift and you can gain relief from stress. Keep looking forward to liberation and exciting breakthroughs that are forthcoming because it’s time for recovery and rebirth now that you’ve turned the corner and things are looking up.
After an extreme situation has cleared the way, the change in your cycle provides a new outlook and rightly has you on pins and needles about the future. Power, authority, cleverness, eloquence, advantage, favor, and beneficial improvement are the keywords to bear in mind. However, unless you take full advantage of the reprieve in difficulty and make real changes to prevent the situation from repeating, all gains and success will be fleeting.
During the sweeping alterations required by this card, your emotional reactions to the previous unhappiness or any disputes, ingratitude, doubts, and low self-esteem will hamper true progress and make new gains precarious or impermanent. Therefore, it’s important to let go of the past, release the need to intellectualize what all went wrong, and concentrate on repairing any weak spots in projects or defenses.
February 27, 2024: Card O' the Day: Justice, reversed. Oddly, Justice comes right back to us but reversed.
This reversal indicates something stable, ordered, or normally unvarying has been disturbed or disrupted and you find yourself having to adjust to imbalances in life and relationships. Yet you’re resistant to these changes or adjustments and are attempting a “perfection” so rigid it hampers realization of dreams or goals—which safely prohibits, in advance, any mistakes. People who have such a run of snags and inconveniences will develop the attitude that “life’s unfair and I’m always the underdog.”
This attitude displays an unwillingness to see the meaning of events, dishonesty with yourself and others, and missing an opportunity for a greater understanding of life and Cosmic Lessons. So, keep chugging away and take any bumps in the road in stride. Remember all the times you had good luck and smooth sailing…those times will come to you again.
February 22, 2024: Card O' the Day: Justice. The fact that Justice comes to us right after The Tower, reversed, makes a bunch of sense in that The Tower was about changes coming about in your mind. (Read: new intellectual processing.) The notion of judicious or prudent intelligence applies to the Justice card in that it represents the power of the intellect and mental alertness to make choices based upon dispassionate, impersonal evaluation and fighting battles with art, strategy, and skill rather than brute force. Conceptual thinking, fairness, and intellect become the arbiters between opposing ideas rather than desire.
Justice represents thinking clearly and cultivating the faculty of a balanced mind. Through lucid thinking, objective planning, and weighing all factors, you transform the untamed and nebulous to reach fully informed and aware decisions using logic, reasoning, and evidence. Cognition, analytical thought, and all the workings of the mind give you access to the full force of the collective mental body. By using these mental faculties responsibly and constructively, you’ll develop clear ideas when facing reality.
Justice may seem to be the embodiment of integrity and perfection, but also with a harsh, unyielding, critical, and totally impassive intellect that shuts out compassion and mercy. While there’s definitely a positive need for a balanced mind, true justice isn’t devoid of sentiment, but integrates passion, ethics, logic, and experience that’s all used to gauge a situation. You’re directed to have faith in the efficacy of your mind and soundness of judgment. Consider Justice to be the meeting place of emotional intelligence and critical thought.
February 20, 2024: Card O' the Day: The Tower, reversed. Much like Death, The Tower is a grand equalizer—it can hit anyone regardless of status. I see Death as a physical “big change” (endings of relationships, jobs, housing, etc.) whereas The Tower is a “big change” in your mind and psyche. It signifies the downfall of hubris, self-inflation, megalomania, and self-aggrandizement. Ego is annihilated in an inner quake that’s both necessary and important because your true values are emancipated in a revolutionary way.
The reversal of The Tower can lessen the degree and impact of the upright meanings or increase them. Regardless, receiving this card is always a divine kick in the butt and it’s pointless to try to stop the inevitable transformation that has already begun. Crisis and true catastrophe come if the energy of The Tower and its inescapable and obvious changes are resisted. Without forward motion and the required change, you can expect continued psycho-emotional oppression or entrapment in old ways or habits.
In an effort to lessen that pain, you might try to keep tight control over your reactions, but that doesn't release all the repressed “stuff.” One simply must let go, make a clean break, and allow the full release The Tower promises.
February 19, 2024: Card O' the Day: Nine of Cups, reversed. The upright version of this card warned of the pitfalls of complacency; when reversed, the danger is real. With every wish granted, self-indulgence and a tendency to excess dominates and thereby leads to poor choices, selfish desires, all states of emotional crisis, irresponsibility, shallowness, and stagnation. Resting on past laurels negatively impacts current methods as you get left behind in a fast changing world.
Your boldness or audacity leads to arguments or other difficulties when trying to interact with others because who likes holier-than-thou bragging? Fortunately, someone is going to call you out and the corner of the rug will be lifted to show what has been swept under it: mistakes, errors, imperfections, faults, and everything unpleasant that has been hidden from sight. This exposure, while possibly embarrassing at first, will provide you with a feeling of liberation as you’re released from superficial or false attachments and former attitudes of smugness and entitlement.
Through such release, you’ll find inner—rather than outer—happiness and will forsake trivial material pleasures and surface values for spiritual ones. It’ll no longer be necessary to maintain a façade if you reconsider what you really want. Your quest for something deeper and more meaningful isn't over but you’re coming to greater personal awareness and learning to stay true to Self and your higher purpose.
February 17, 2024: Card O' the Day: Eight of Swords, reversed. Ingenuity and improvisation in removing obstacles are greatly increased by the reversal of this card, and therefore, it’s possible to find release from past concerns. Don't overburden yourself as freedom begins, you start to see things clearly, and then take the first steps towards liberation from your oppression (situation, thoughts, habits, mindsets, etc.). While breaking through constraints, including socially imposed ones, reevaluate how you got into the current situation, consider it all as a learning process, and progress forward.
This card can also mean magic or adventure abounds or an unexpected fortuitous event is coming. The power to transcend all human limitations and remove the confines of common experience is available. You’re now ready to meet, or go beyond, your fate, destiny, or any preordained events.
February 16, 2024: Card O' the Day: Three of Cups, reversed. A couple days ago we received the Three of Pentacles, reversed, and today we have the Three of Cups, reversed. With the Pentacles, we saw job-related difficulties followed by The Lovers where we were cautioned about making the right choices for ourselves. The next day’s reversed Two of Pentacles indicated some uncomfortable changes and today’s reversed Three of Cups suggests the changes and focus on self means there are people in our lives that aren’t best for us.
The Three of Cups is all about comrades, close friends, homies, tribe members, and besties. Some of those people may have been in your lives since elementary school and are thus part of your history. However, the reversal indicates you’re not quite so close to those people anymore. After all, you’ve long outgrown your mullet (haven’t you?!?!?) and acid-washed jeans so it follows that you’ve probably outgrown some friends, too. And that’s normal and perfectly okay if not a little painful.
How you separate from those friends doesn’t matter…you could leave the group or be left behind as THEY move on. In the end, you’re being forced to reevaluate relationships and ultimately pick YOU as the best and dearest friend you protect through thick and thin. No, this doesn’t mean you become a self-centered asshole. Instead you develop strong personal boundaries and uphold them even when your urge to people-please threatens to throw you under the bus.
February 15, 2024: Card O' the Day: Two of Pentacles, reversed. The Two of Pentacles heralds changes on your physical plane. When reversed, it indicates the changes are disharmonious, introduce inconsistency into your schedule, or bring negative results. Because you lack enthusiasm for these shifts, others can too easily sway you to revert back to the old and familiar regardless of how uncomfortable THAT was. The consequences of that include psycho-emotional paralysis, refusal to eat, or *suicidal tendencies.
The current difficult situation requires careful balance, so consider how to lighten the load and live within means and resources. To achieve goals, the order of things must be changed and your whole situation reorganized.
While you may believe you’ve shifted perspective, it’s not yet evident externally and inflexibility and challenge to adjustment still remains. Ask for help getting sorted by contacting professionals i.e. therapists, job coaches, housing authorities, spiritual advisors, etc. because there’s no problem that can’t be solved.
*Except dead. Dead can’t be fixed so don’t you dare.
February 14, 2024: Card O' the Day: The Lovers. The Lovers is a rational card that heralds the beginning of a social life and the appearance of this card and may indicate you’re entering a new sphere of deeper understanding, emotional ties, and loyal camaraderie. This card occasionally appears when you become conscious of the fear of being alone and are giving too much of yourself away in order to feel accepted. Therefore, as you’re making connections, be mindful of your personal boundaries lest you “people please” just to feel popular. It’s a prompt to question your emotional state and learn the first and foremost lesson of love: to love thyself. Express feelings freely, be true to yourself, follow the heart, and be accepted for who you truly are as you come “home” to Self.
On occasion, the appearance of The Lovers can indicate someone near is trying to influence your thinking or decisions, so if an unusual offer seems to good to be true, then it probably is. Don’t force the issue, make any changes or breaks from the normal working/career pattern, and ignore temptations to cause unnecessary upset right now. The crux of this card is making the right decision regarding one of life’s greatest challenges/choices.
February 13, 2024: Card O' the Day: Three of Pentacles, reversed. Threes indicate a product from a “union”, and Pentacles, of the physical plane, most often represent money and work. Thus, the reversal of this card means trouble in this realm.
Expect job-related problems such as criticism, interviews and presentations going poorly, trouble with coworkers or superiors, plans and diagrams that contain mistakes, or having insufficient data or information. Inexperience or lack of skills can lead to preoccupation, sloppiness, delays that result in losses, and the unwillingness to ask questions and get help. The refusal of advice or additional training results in mediocrity or even abject inferiority as you struggle to generate fresh creative ideas. You may be stuck in a boring job for which you’re over- or under-qualified and in which you under value your own work and that of others. Hate or immaturity in management means you’re asked to do the impossible, something dishonest, or hazardous or has you constantly looking over your shoulder. (These listed difficulties could be directly your fault or be the general environment in which you must work.)
Consider the intangible value of your livelihood and whether you’re doing what you love. To go further requires more effort to refine already good ideas. Look at the whole picture and then focus on the basics before moving forward or on.
February 10, 2024: Card O' the Day: Eight of Pentacles. It’s sometimes said that work is love in action. Meaning, it’s the work that matters, not the result. Attention to detail and dedication to craft engages the soul through work and you’re being called to apply skill and talents to a vocation that’ll lead to some specific end. Labor that brings spiritual reward can be found in simple and ordinary things. Mundane tasks take on a sacred quality when performed with total involvement, love, and for their own sake.
But sometimes work can seem like a giant gerbil’s wheel and even new skills can become tedious, repetitive, and boring. Nevertheless, along with persistence, diligence, and step-by-step development, daily progress will occur. Using skills and talents ensures work never becomes boring because each day is a chance to work at a secure and understood job with assured “I know what I’m doing” confidence.
TLDR: If you’re still drifting and can’t think of—or face—what’s next, do something ridiculously simple. Congratulate yourself for doing that one thing. Look for another ridiculously simple thing you can do….
February 9, 2024: Card O' the Day: The Fool, reversed. This card represents not taking a chance at a critical time because of fear or dependence upon plans or advice of others. The aversion to taking any risks at all stems from a fear of looking foolish, making a mistake, or excessive concern of doing something stupid and suffering embarrassment. Therefore, you tend to be sticking to conventional and safe approaches, accepting limits as absolutes, being careful, and doing anything to avoid the possibility of a misstep.
This restriction or denial of your innate free-spiritedness indicates a rather low sense of self worth and esteem. The normally bright energy of The Fool gets lost in indecision, confusion, and hesitation to trust. There’s a feeling of emptiness, uselessness, ineptitude, or being unable to produce anything of value. With no idea where to begin, you’re adrift in restlessness and unfocused energy.
AND THAT’S OKAY!! We all feel adrift from time to time. Allow yourself time to sort things out and get back on track. However, if it takes more than a couple weeks, ask for help because the longer you drift…the longer you will continue to drift.
February 8, 2024: Card O' the Day: Ace of Cups, reversed. Lots of “feels” coming up lately…. The other day we had the Six of Cups, reversed, and we discussed looking back on emotional experiences.
Today’s card signifies possible denial about your feelings or preoccupation with past emotions. Unpleasant memories of old disappointments or upsets make you resistant to new ideas or relationships (Aces are all about new starts, if you recall). Clinging to old sentiments or melancholy leaves you unable to shake off deeply held grudges or with a neediness that smothers anyone who comes near. When being so unwelcoming to change and unwilling to let go of past emotional pain, you risk delays and loss of forward energy.
Bad memories of your past then lead to limits, barriers, or boundaries on emotional, experiences because you don’t believe them trustworthy or have lost faith in them. However, to receive love, you must be willing to give love, especially to yourself (Ten of Cups, anyone?).
If you’re struggling with past emotionally fraught experiences that prevent you from forging healthy connections, which feel good and enhance your life, perhaps it’s time to give yourself the gift of a little therapy. Take out the garbage, hand it over to a professional listener, and feel better.
February 7, 204: Card O' the Day: Ten of Cups. The Ten of Cups represents culmination of the Way of the Heart wherein you’ve truly connected with your heart and move into the world with playfulness and intelligence. Allowing yourself to be softer and more receptive to the inexpressible joy already present deep inside means discovering that solid, grounded happiness doesn’t come from possessions.
Under the influence of this card, the conscious and subconscious join to create a well balanced state of being where you have the ability to go into emotions and rise out of them without getting caught up in blame, guilt, fantasy, or lethargy. This life force connects all living creatures in ultimate purity and perfection through a heart that has attained fullness.
Welcome yourself home to whom you truly are…an imperfect human who nevertheless has infinite value
February 6, 2024: Card O' the Day: Six of Cups. The message of this card is to be content and find pleasure in simple joys. Choose peace.
As the “nostalgia” card of the deck, it signifies looking back to our past to reminisce about happy times. But unfortunately, we can get trapped in wishing for what was as we perceive “then” was somehow better than “now.” Then we begin to dwell on the shoulds and oughts that we didn’t do to keep us in that happy state of being.
But here’s the deal, time passes. The sun comes up and goes down. You cannot slow or stop the march of time and the inevitable changes that come with it. And you really don’t want to stay in one place forever! Certainly some changes are for the better. Some reduce your conditions. And sometimes change happens around you but nothing really shifts all that much for you, personally.
Which brings us back to the message: Choose internal peace. Be content with whatever you have in the moment. And find pleasure and joy in the smallest things because the sun WILL set on what “is” today. Be sure to give thanks for it before it goes.
February 4, 2024: card O' the Day: Ace of Wands. The Ace energy has ignited restlessness and dissatisfaction within but they may not yet have a home or direction. As the first card of its suit, there’s not enough evidence available to determine the pros/cons of everything. Therefore, go to Source for inspiration and purpose and allow firm action to come forward out any confusion uncomplicated by emotions, ideas, or momentary practical consideration.
The fire spark seeks what it needs to change your situation, so allow that spark fuel by following impulses. But remember that with all aces, this moment is fleeting. You must prepare well for this willfulness that’s ready to be put to use. Be clear of your intent because that, more than anything, determines the direction events take.
Receiving this Ace indicates it’s time to try new things and change your responses to the world. New opportunities, potential, or seeds of passion await. This is a time to take first step without over analysis, calculations, worry, or agonizing.
February 3, 2024: Card O' the Day: Ten of Pentacles, reversed. The arguing and interpersonal strife continue with the reversed Ten of Pentacles. However, this card points towards closer relationships than the Five of Wands had alluded to.
When this ultimate “family” card is reversed, it can indicate family disruptions, quarrels, feuds, marital difficulties, or problems within one’s community. When loyalties become conflicted, you’re apt to turn away from the tribe or reject its rules and traditions. You could be too involved in a group’s drama and are cautioned against becoming involved in something that’s none of your concern. Discussions regarding disputes can quickly escalate into argument, so remain logical and objective to prevent being subject to criticism.
As you become estranged from clan beliefs and loyalties, you’ll start to feel like an outsider and unwelcome. Perhaps this is your cue to distance yourself from this group. If all they offer is drama, do you really want that in your life?
February 2, 2024: Card O' the Day: Five of Wands. Fives have inherently chaotic energy wherein creative vision collides with earthly reality. When the Fire element of Wands is added, things can get unpredictable. This is a card of action, assertiveness, and a bit of combativeness. This card indicates a great deal of tension, anxiety, conflict, volcanic eruption in personal life, strife, sparring, and contests. An unfocused superficial conflict, arguing, chaos, and anger that has no base or use has one spoiling for a fight that will lead to a lot of negative energy. This is pure drama for the sake of drama and being right doesn’t matter.
However, in this unimpeded flow of volatile energy energy, there's a new spark of desire to go beyond what’s been known. While these are the optimistic and enthusiastic first steps at rebuilding the “world”, they’re yet clumsy and without direction. Blaze forth into this new adventure and activity because something unexpected and positive will bring evolution towards success.
Looks like our cards are following Nature’s path to Spring: gray, cold days followed by sunshine and milder temperatures followed by a blizzard. This push-pull quality in the weather can drive you nuts. Hold onto your temper, breathe through the trials, and remember the groundhog did NOT see its shadow and is predicting an early spring!
February, 1, 2024: Card O' the Day: Nine of Pentacles, reversed. Prosperity still reigns in the reversed Nine of Pentacles but values seem false or cover up a certain disquiet because you can’t recognize what the concept of “enough” means to yourself. In denial of personal wellbeing or good fortune, the good life seems just out of reach. Threats to contentment and safety, regardless of the source and real or imagined, make it difficult to relax, take time for a vacation, enjoy hobbies, or even exercise regularly or sufficiently.
All is not well and you’ve a desire for freedom and to roam as feelings of entrapment grow. When not knowing what you want or what really matters in your life, you might lack self-awareness or discipline, not be able to channel energy into useful purpose, or take up projects only to abandon them thus suffering failure through faithlessness to Self and others.
TLDR: The winter doldrums continue. I’m guessing the groundhog will see its shadow and go back to bed for another six weeks. Me, too.
January 31, 2024: Card O' the Day: Strength, reversed. Welp, the Prince of Wands got us all fired up and then the ever-so-fragile ego raised its hand and whimpered.
This card, reversed, denotes a fear of personal passions or goals, which results in timidity and procrastination in the face of any adversity. Fear of failure, doubt, and insecurity are also be manifestations of this reversal. Sometimes you’re unable to control the energy of Strength which can make you pessimistic about an upcoming matter. Whatever you have in the works is rather overwhelming and so you tend to dance around the edges without really getting going.
Since the “thing” can’t be pushed, rushed, or MADE to happen, it’s best not to beat yourself up about it. Let it grow organically.
January 30, 2024: Card O' the Day: Prince of Wands. Finally, we’ve been given some inspiration we can sink our teeth into!
The Prince of Wands represents the spark of enthusiasm, pure dynamic energies of all Fire signs, and spirit of enterprise that gives vigor, hope, optimism, and a positive boost of self-confidence—all the things necessary to jump-start internal engines and achieve great things. The appearance of this card indicates leaving old ways behind (our recent winter slump?) or a chance for action and to shake things up. You’re encouraged to seek movement and new experiences; follow passions to find new flavors, textures, sights, and sounds; to pounce on any opportunity to explore new realms, and rebel against stodgy or old-fashioned beliefs, mindsets, habits, or physical stuff.
January is coming to a close and I am certainly ready for some fire and vigor! How about you?
January 26, 2024: Card O' the Day: Princess/Page of Swords, reversed. Universe!! Cut us some slack already!
The intellectual and language oriented energy of Swords can be very caustic, vituperative, and scathing when reversed. Diminishment, derision, deprecation, and shame may be directed at yourself, which leaves you feeling vulnerable, at a loss for words, tongue-tied, or lacking confidence. Because of this, you could avoid social or interpersonal contact, refuse to communicate, hesitate to speak before a group or share ideas, or be secretive and withholding of personal information. One may have become obsessed with problems and feel too weak, ill, or intellectually confused to do anything about them.
Yep. Yep, and…yep. Sigh…. Try really hard to not trash-talk yourself today. You’re not a waste of space!
January 25, 2024: Card O' the Day: Nine of Wands, reversed. Blechhh. Still. Matching the gray, drippy weather? In tune with the feet of mud in my horse paddock? Winter doldrums?
The emotion-based obstacles and difficulties of the upright card become more extreme in the reversal. Rage or otherwise raw uncontrollable force directed in impulsive and negative manners continue to waste energy or force. AND! fury isn’t the only way you can waste vitality! You could go “off duty” and become bored and tired of waiting for something that never seems to come or despairs of ever getting going.
Swell. I sincerely hope this card does NOT pertain to most of you out there. (Meanwhile, I’m still parked in front of my fireplace.)
January 23, 2024: Card O' the Day: Five of Pentacles, reversed. Conflict inherent in the number five manifests on the physical plane when accompanied by the suit of Pentacles. Considering the mental and emotional upset of late, material losses will probably come through disorder at work or home. Your mood of obstinacy, impatience, confusion, or irritability certainly doesn’t help.
However, everything getting worse may lead to an improvement as total collapse acts as a form of relief/release. Now, “total collapse” doesn’t mean you’re going to lose everything and live under a bridge. I feel it’s more like a mental shake up where your mood comes to a head, you either have a screaming argument with someone or you break down into uncontrolled sobbing. Either way, it’ll blow off the steam that’s been building in you.
If your own actions or mood aren’t at issue, you may be the victim of another who’s ready to explode. Duck and cover until it all passes like an ugly storm.
January 22, 2024: Card O' the Day: Ace of Swords, reversed. We just had the Sword Ace, reversed, six days ago. Coupled with the other Swords (upright and reversed), I think we’re still in a place of mental imbalance, inaction, self-destruction, mental pain, denial of disturbing thoughts, and difficulty in thinking clearly. I spoke with a friend yesterday and she was remarking about her sluggishness and then I read an article about whether humans should hibernate.
Therefore, if you’re feeling slow mentally and physically, I think it’s just your body reacting to winter. Cut yourself some slack about not getting everything on your to-do list accomplished. Listen to your body and rest. Allow the fog in your brain to clear before attempting anything major.
January 21, 2024: Card O' the Day: Five of Swords, reversed. The recent Swords cards urged you to think clearly and set your ego aside. However, ego butted in (The Emperor) and kept insisting you were right (reversed Four of Swords). Today, we’re asked to continue holding ego in check lest we make things that much worse and we shouldn’t go ahead with certain endeavors until all is straightened out.
The good news is the reversal of the Five of Swords offers glimmers of hope as bothersome issues, conflicts, or disagreements are resolved. As rifts are repaired, amends are made, and the air is cleared, look beyond losses and see what can be salvaged from the situation. Each person involved must determine their obligations and liability to the unfortunate events and own them (ahem). Correct any misunderstandings to avoid emotional upsets and recognize the potential for spiritual growth after such strife.
Important key words/concepts to bear in mind: forgiveness and acceptance of others
January 20, 2024: Card O' the Day: The Emperor. The body part associated with The Emperor is the limbic or primal brain, which governs the reactive and fighting aspects of the mind. The feng shui of this card asks you to create balance through intellect and diligence as you maintain your strength and control. Notice how the feng shui speaks to the limbic brain and asks for control over reactions and the urge to fight.
To make things happen, you must be responsible for your personal choices. Remember, there’s always more than one way to reach goals; try something new if the first avenue isn’t working. And then, after that first avenue didn’t work, take responsibility for failure and learn from it.
The path is not IF you have power, but what’s done with it. The Emperor reminds all that as a tribe, you need to work with others to create a cohesive unit. Each has something valuable to contribute.
January 19, 2024: Card O' the Day: Four of Swords, reversed. Color me astonished. I shuffled, really!
When this card is reversed, it can represent wrestling with a dilemma and being mired in a stalemate, forced compromise, or temporary truce. Upright, the Four of Swords allows for deep intellectual activity and productive thought processes that can help with that dilemma. But reversed it means you’re stuck in obtuse rationalism, fixed notions, and tyrannical intellect. The mind becomes a blind prisoner of its concepts and refuses to recognize and/or heed the intuition that whispers “you’re wrong.”
Take advantage of the stalemate or momentary truce to do some in-depth soul searching to find the way to turn things to your benefit and truly solve the problem rather than simply mulishly sticking to your guns
January 18, 2024: Card O' the Day: Four of Swords. This card signifies calm, order, and the experience of things coming back to center to integrate and create a state of tolerance and serenity. Therefore, it’s not a good time for forward motion or quick action.
Quiet the mind for reflection, perspective, and contemplation of your world; by doing so, you’re more likely to understand perceived problems aren’t as dire as you think. You already have the inner knowledge, so pay attention as it's revealed through intuition, visions, and dreams. As your unconscious mind opens, align with the feeling of the truth of your value that resonates within.
Balanced introspection involves contemplation, a safe foundation of solidly positioned thought, a practical mind capable of acting usefully upon reality, and an intellect that’s organized and stable. Take time to rest, retreat to an inner state, and find refuge from mental chaos and emotional upheaval. This withdrawal leads to healing and renewed strength wherein you leave thoughts and feelings behind to find a place of peace beyond hopes and fears.
January 17, 2024: Card O' the Day: Five of Pentacles, reversed. The pervading energy of this card—living in lack, whether real or imagined—allows nothing to be accomplished. Broodiness and pessimism take over as your anxieties and fear keep you off-balance and in danger of losing your way on the Path. Feelings of alienation, loneliness, not being supported, scorn, self-consciousness about perceived flaws, or that you’re a “loser” cripples the spirit and erodes self-esteem. Allowing such fears to control your life will affect how others will want to interact or communicate with you.
Being paralyzed by your worries prevents making the necessary changes to solve them. You must remain flexible, adaptable, and go with the flow as real problems come up lest they become ever more serious. Stop wallowing in self-pity, release victim mentality, deal with issues, and discern the true cause of troubles. Find and recognize the roots of painful feelings in your past, face uncomfortable or shameful history, and then let go of that old suffering.
And lastly, find the clarity and mercy to quit tormenting yourself with the idea that you’re not “enough.” Because you are. Everyone is.
January 16, 2024: Card O' the Day: Ace of Swords, reversed. Swords represent the air element and mental energies. When Swords are reversed, it indicates mental balance is under stress and may manifest in inaction, self-destruction, mental pain, denial of disturbing thoughts, difficulty in thinking clearly, or other types of mental impotency. You may be resistant to a truth, caught up in fanaticism or illusion, or suffer confused ideas. (Much like the resistance in reversed Death.)
Without a clear sense of reality, you’ll fall prey to mistakes created by your emotions because the suit of Swords also governs the heart…and the darkness existing in the mind can easily break your heart. Thus nervous conditions may manifest in pessimism, lack of confidence, fear of condemnation and punishment, or overpowering or confused emotions. As more violent feelings overcome benevolence, tempers become quick and volatile and problems become more exaggerated.
When everything appears more important that it actually is, current problems could lie in how you’re reacting to them more than anything else. Therefore, set your feelings aside and get super logical. Write them down if you have to so you can see clearly the reality of problems, how they truly affects you, and what you can do about them (if anything).
January 15, 2024: Card O' the Day: Death, reversed. When Death appears upright, it indicates unavoidable, inevitable change. When it’s reversed, it indicates a great struggle with, resistance to, or worry and distress about said change. This may put you in a “death-in-life” condition such as inertia, excess sleep, depression, lethargy, weariness, boredom, stagnation, immobility, petrification, or constipation. Such feelings conceal inner fears or mask the battle of the ego to avoid change.
Conversely, you might be so eager or desperate to change that you try to force something to happen faster than planned or is possible, thereby resulting in unnecessary waste or failure. Prince of Swords, anyone? (See Card O’ the Day for January 14.)
However, by delaying, avoiding, or refusing to accept the ending of something and engaging in self delusion, you only prolong pain, distress, or other strong emotions and prevent necessary new growth. You’ll be unable to actually solve anything unless you’re willing to initiate the process of recouping what can be saved and letting go of the rest.
January 14, 2024: Card O' the Day: Prince of Swords. Okay, so being “strong” and tapping into your determination and willpower is a good thing but the process must be done with tact and forethought!
Under the influence of the impatient, impetuous, and headstrong Prince of Swords, you may charge ahead without clear intent, not look where you’re going, and speed towards a goal or go for the quick fix all in an effort to prove your “strength.” New ideas, relationships, or interests can suddenly supplant what was there before without thought for the ensuing disruption as you abandon responsibilities for your quest for personal clarity. Your singularity in focus, urgency in mission, and tendency toward wildness and fanaticism becomes unlimited. This Prince is closed minded and considers themselves always “right”, which gives them the tendency to be a forceful “know it all” and not listen to anyone else’s perspective.
There’s such a delicate balance between strong expression and a bull in a china shop. Yes, self-advocate, share ideas, and dance to the beat of your own drum. Just don’t be obnoxious about it. Respect that others are also following their own paths.
January 13, 2024: Card O' the Day: Strength. Much like The Star, Strength asks you to dig deep into your psycho/emotional closet to reclaim life from fears, look to see where you’re blocked, and seek out your shadows with consciousness and clarity. The key to unlocking your personal strength and power is by letting go of caring about outside criticism for being different or vulnerable and gathering your courage to grow by breaking from the safety pod.
While encountering these unknown powers can be freeing, genuine strength is never ending, gentle, and has no need to be proven. [Read: real strength doesn’t need to be flaunted.] Wisely use the power within and share it with the world.
Strength is also required to find balance between fear and temerity, handle emotions, and face difficult and dark feelings that can devour you whole. Develop self-confidence by discovering how to express your unique, creative, and vital abilities as you tap into your bottomless well of willpower, determination, and self-control to overcome the greatest difficulties.
January 12, 2024: Card O' the Day: The Star. This card is for Applejack. I asked him to help me pick and he chose The Star. For those herbally minded, the herb for this card stepped forward. Skullcap is said to calm the mind and heart, act as a nerve tonic, and is used for looking inward to find inner peace.
The Star heralds a revolutionary way of being after a time of turmoil or suppression. Universal lore and the cycle of Nature are at work and a web of circumstances will bring profound change and new spiritual hope and revitalization. Allow her to guide you and illuminate your inner darkness whenever feeling lost.
Unfortunately, you must go into the darkness to see the light of The Star. The transition from ideal to real is difficult and harmony is only reached in a moment of extreme pain or profound despair. Following the reconciliation of adverse circumstances, you’ll feel lighter and cleaner, problems and questions won’t seem so huge, and you’ll experience openness after the crisis.
January 2, 2024: Card O' the Day: Three of Swords, reversed. Swords are most often shadow cards, but all have a few redeeming qualities especially when reversed. In this case, the reversed Three may bring relief after a narrowly averted disaster or old wounds heal and pain lessens. You might offer a pledge of support and accept your responsibilities to clear the air after a quarrel rather than accusing the other party of wrong doing. (VERY mature!)
However, more typically you blame others for troubles and refuse to acknowledge your own role to try to save face. Alternatively, it exacerbates a never-healing wound as you incessantly dwell on a quarrel that caused alienation and then refuse to believe that the relationship has gone sour. This continues a conflict between those who should be supporting each other through difficulties.
By not addressing the issue, expect escalating disaster; the situation declining into chaos, disorder, and misrule; or quarrels multiplying into violence. Under such circumstances, nothing more can be gained by anyone. If you fight acceptance, the healing process becomes blocked, which then keeps the pain within and increases its hold on everyone involved. You got to let go of your wounded ego and begin the process of recovery before it creates an entirely different picture.
January 1, 2024: Card O' the Day: Nine of Wands, reversed. Being the first day of the new year, it occurred to me this card might be something we want to live by all year but my pendulum assured me it’s just the card for today. Not that our cards are something to consider one day and ignore the next. Let’s just not bite off more than we can chew at once. Kinda like those “New Year, New Me” expectations….
The emotion-based obstacles and difficulties of the upright Nine of Wands become more extreme in the reversal. This energetic card, when reversed, suggests there isn’t enough substance to make ideas work, insufficient or impractical preparation negates an issue, or you may have to overcome someone else’s resistance. Seemingly constant adversity, hurdles, delays, or disasters may feel like your personal “cross” to bear as you try to reach goals. However, even though problems feel insurmountable, don't give up fighting and look for a different approach or solutions.
Perhaps you’ve already come to understand the quagmire you’re in and have discovered an inner knowledge or experience that’s not shared or shareable with others. You realize it’s time to tear down protections and break through self-confinement to look for a way out. Receiving this card is a suggestion to let go of defensiveness and redo or reconsider the situation. And look! It’s the beginning of the month! Perfect timing!
December 31, 2023: Card O' the Day: Six of Swords. Yesterday’s reversed Four of Pentacles suggested releasing responsibilities and protections that have you bunged up and held in tight control. Today, we’re dealing with the feelings of sadness and loss that things didn't work as hoped. (At the same time, though, there’ll be relief.) Leave all old worries and upsets behind and let prevailing negative thoughts and self-consciousness go.
The lesson here is about disarming the ability of the Swords to cause pain. Release all expectations you assume others project upon you since they probably don’t presume anything about you. They’re honestly too busy worrying about themselves! Understand the bonds that held you are now broken and you may drop them altogether.
In your journey, find light in the darkness and allow protection from harm, illness, and obstacles to come from a higher power.
December 30, 2023: Card O' the Day: Four of Pentacles, reversed. As with all reversed cards, the extremes of this card are present. On one hand, material stability is eschewed as you release earth energies, become more generous, and risk change. (But be mindful of your motives behind loosening your purse strings lest you’re simply indulging in rash spending, risky speculation, gambling, or other imprudent extravagances.)
In the manner of an ascetic, you let go of certain levels of authority and possessions, divest responsibilities that’ve been all-consuming, or strip away defenses, shields, and protections to express feelings honestly. You could resist or overturn some consolidation of power or break a monopoly of some kind in an effort to seek another way to allow greater freedom for everyone involved.
It’s time to reconsider what’s really needed to feel secure. Find where the center of your power lies, establish a realistic budget, and be patient because despite perceived opposition, you can still work towards goals.
December 28, 2023: Card O' the Day: Nine Of Pentacles. I hope everyone had a happy holiday; let’s get back to our cards!
Through self-mastery, an innate sense of order, discipline, and hard work, you’ve created a safe, stable, productive, active, and rich life with well-earned attention, favors, and popularity. A prudent use of finances allows for self-sufficiency and a congenial home-life with said comforts being derived from a realistic appreciation of your skills. Such prosperity and affluence bodes well for good health and all forms of physical wellbeing, happiness, satisfaction, and contentment.
However, you’ll find better physical fulfillment and balance by not immersing yourself too deeply in ambition. At some point, after working hard to build a life, you become aware of the good things, feel content and “at home”, and no longer feel the need to charge after goals or prove yourself. This time of lush abundance translates to looking beyond material accoutrements and seeing success less in the sense of worldly achievement but more in having “created” yourself out of materials given by circumstances, conditions, and magic, which money can’t buy.
December 22, 2023: Card O' the Day: Ace of Cups. The Ace of Cups signifies the buoyancy and depth you feel as you attune to Spirit and pursue heart-based meaning and purpose in life upon recognizing this gift of spiritual healing. Through love, deeper compassion, and ever-flowing spiritual and material favors, you can achieve unity with Universe and sew the sacred seeds that represent your being.
Receiving this card is a call to more deeply explore the nature of your emotional landscape and spiritual experiences and initiate a search within the soul for your true motivations or desire. In actions radiating out from the hidden center of the soul, you’ll create a more spiritually alive new world after the breakdown of the old.
With this gift of joy, you have an opportunity to experience an unexpected offering of love or other deep emotional connection, an unspecified upsurge or swelling of sentiment, or new emotional balance or way of feeling. While it’s true that by opening the heart, you risk rejection and hurt but love is always worth it and you shouldn’t miss any opportunity to love—even if fleeting.
December 21, 2023: Card O' the Day: The Magician, reversed. The past few days have offered very optimistic, “rah-rah”, “you can do this” type of inspiration…if you’d only work harder. Some of us are doing the best we can and too much enthusiastic cheering can feel like a demand that we get off our butts and cure cancer already!
When The Magician is reversed, hesitation or vacillating certainty make “starting new” more difficult than anticipated or necessary. Personal communication or expression may be blocked or misdirected and you feel “unheard” thereby draining the confidence needed to initiate anything. Under such conditions, feelings of pessimism, cynicism, lethargy, apathy, depression, or fear of other mental illness might creep in.
Therefore, I now give you permission to do only the best you can even if your “best” is taking a nap. Look around and find a project you can do—like a load of laundry or bathing yourself—and then feel supremely proud for having done that! I know what over-encouragement does to a person who’s barely treading water. Be kind to yourself; say NO to “should.”
December 20, 2023: Card O' the Day: Two of Wands. The number 2 suggests a conflict, decision, or union. The suit of Wands signifies fiery action and determination. While energy is passive and contained, it is nevertheless quite intense and in need of direction. Once energies have been effectively harnessed and responsibly managed, new possibilities or brilliant original ideas can be released or current projects given new meaning. In the process, you might need to fashion a new mental discipline or return to a previously effective one after applying lessons learned and skills honed.
With the self-willed focus on new experiences and outgoing activities, creative inventiveness may be expressed boldly or rashly as a product of a tremendously free, independent, and intelligent mind. If there’s any uncertainty when deciding about the next project, it'll be cleared by careful deliberation, strategic planning, and evaluation. While you need to take a decisive step across a threshold and take control in a positive, proactive manner at this time, you still need to be careful with resources.
This card may also suggest that while you have everyTHING you need, you want more and are seeking deeper spiritual meaning, integration, or instinctual knowledge. By expanding vision to collective consciousness and allowing yourself to align with Spirit, you’ll find a relationship between the Divine and earthly natures. And such a connected and relaxed position will go a long way to help sort energy and make plans.
December 19, 2023: Card O' the Day: The Star. The Star is the epitome of Dorothy learning from Glinda she had the power to go “home” at any time. It represents the unknown part of Self in which you can have faith and provides the light and incentive to achieve your purpose. As you become aware there’s a greater destiny or providence working through your being, you come to understand all power, peace, love, joy, prosperity, etc. are found within your own spirit. This magical side of human spirit that never gives up hope doesn't arise from the will to live or intention but is the link between the benign activated unconsciousness and the outer reality of the physical world.
You’re encouraged to connect with Spirit to help release self-judgment, acknowledge your perfection, reclaim inner beauty, and embrace the uniqueness that is Self. The Star signifies the place where all roads meet, reality shifts, and a deep connection to the Divine occurs. This card represents the stages necessary and the opportunity for an ascent to a higher state of consciousness. Rest inside to plumb the depths of your silence and bring it to a vibrational match with that of Universe.
Having learned to accept responsibility for actions and make the necessary changes to get back on the correct and true path, you’ll feel more awake and open to all the options of life. Finally, you’ll see the infinite avenues available….
December 18, 2023:Card O' the Day: The Chariot. Much like The Wheel of Fortune and its indications of cyclic change, The Chariot also represents movement forward. Strong movement forward energized by your will to make positive changes in life.
This card also suggests good health; strength of mind, body, and spirit; and the everyday physical realm of life with the energy to control it. The Chariot is pulling you to a fresh new start as misunderstandings are left behind and after you’ve learned the lesson of how important it is to maintain a steady flow of effort. You’re now ready for travel, conquering, and spreading influence and inspiration!
Now, all this “forward motion” may actually be more figurative. The Chariot signifies the materialization of spirit and spiritualization of matter and thus the process of growth may be happening more on a spiritual or psycho-emotional level. When overcoming mental obstacles and understanding psychic mobility triumphs over inertia and fixation, you’re encouraged to release all stress related to the journey as you’re much more powerful than one thinks. Seek every dimension of the journey through Spirit worlds, but stay aware of the physical plane and remain grounded.
December 17, 2023: Card O' the day: The Wheel of Fortune. The Wheel of Fortune represents the Universal Wheel of the Laws of Nature set in motion by Divine Providence or Cosmic Action. This is the endless cyclic phenomenon of all reality as it continually changes, evolves, dies, and is reborn through reincarnation and Karma/Dharma. Receiving this card indicates the beginning, middle, or end of a cycle in your life. If the card indicates the ending of a cycle for you, then pause to gain strength for the start of a new one.
The ascent and descent inherent in life manifests in changes and fluctuations. However, when The Wheel appears, indications are those changes will be fortunate albeit unexpected, unusual, and sudden yet tangible and exhilarating! You probably won’t understand what’s caused the evolution because there seems to be no direct catalyst for it. Yet there’s an orderly and intelligent plan behind every “random” change that’s actually started when you declare yourself ready to choose new experiences.
While things may seem unpredictable and a little frightening, this is an opportunity for a major shift in your life. Which one could say it’s high time because one of the shadow aspects of The Wheel is being stuck in a rut. So, whether the shifts are made to increase productivity and joy or just bust loose from the doldrums, it’s a good idea to make some changes.
December 16, 2023: Card O' the Day: Queen of Cups. The previous couple days’ cards talked about the benefits of love of Self and others and that bringing more love into your life would be a good thing. Today’s dreamy Queen of Cups combines that tendency for love and unites it with the subconscious/intuitive leanings of yesterday’s Ace of Swords.
This Queen is able to unite hopes, imagination, love, and creativity with vision, valuable action, and social usefulness so the appearance of this card may denote a profession in the arts where dreams are turned into creative endeavors. It also refers to professions in counseling and healing. However, regardless of the form your endeavors take, this card indicates they’ll give lasting pleasure.
This card is a catalyst for the emergence of deep feelings and deepening development of the inner life and generosity of love. Representative of favorable emotional energy, you’re encouraged to make something whole and alive out of opportunities and elements given by life including your emotional goals. Caveat: The Queen of Cups identifies herself by caring for others and setting personal boundaries is hardest for her of all the court cards. By being so emotionally involved—and evolved—with everyone, it can be difficult to know yourself. Therefore, protect personal sensitivity.
December 15, 2023: Card O' the Day: Ace of Swords. The appearance of this card is indicative of the need to resolve a pressing issue or commit to a new direction or specific action. Such issues or endeavors may appear in dreams because you’re not paying attention while awake. Therefore, allow the mind to open to all possibilities of consciousness that are influenced by emotion or desire and give your dreams a voice.
While paying attention to dreams, replace old anxieties with a new belief and determination in yourself as you use the power of the intellect (AND subconscious) to conceive ideas and triumph over obstacles through the application of sound judgment, careful planning, and mental agility. Don’t be afraid to use a little assertive action, bold attitude, and your quick mind to bring projects to satisfying conclusions. However, expect conflict before a final resolution, so keep a calm mind in the face of difficulties.
Receiving this Ace today indicates you’re in the right place at the right time and all is in alignment for you to make swift and accurate decisions. You have time, though, so don’t panic. The most opportune timing will be during the spring months of March, April, and May; plan ahead.
December 14, 2023: Card O' the Day: Prince of Wands, reversed. The reversed Wands prince indicates you’re ready to rein in fiery impulses and desires to stop and enjoy the present, rather than perpetually focusing on future progress. This slower pace could make you more effective and allow for deeper experiences all around. Couple the willingness to slow down and experience things more fully with yesterday’s Two of Cups, this bodes well for communicating with others honestly, holding personal boundaries gently but firmly, and generally enjoying life without so much stress.
See where you can slow your roll and make a practice of being chill. It takes a pointed effort to change habits. If you’re stuck in a habit of chronic panic—and are unhappy about it—now’s a good time to start chipping away at it. (Notice I didn’t say “break” because doing anything cold turkey just stresses you even more.)
December 13, 2023: Card O' the Day: Two of Cups. Just as with Two of Wands, the energy of the 2 creates the possibilities of conflict, decision, or union. However, the suit of Cups means those dynamics are explored within relationships with Self or others. By learning to let love from others into your life and to allow that intimacy to heal, uplift, and open your heart, you learn to love Self. Having received this card in a reading, Universe reassures you’re now ready to follow impulses to reach out to others or opportunities that feel very right at this time.
Because contraries actually need the other to elicit the fullest expression of each, when you engage two different aspects of the Self in a harmonious interplay of give and take, there’s a sense of balanced wellbeing within. When respectful give and take occurs with another, the parties enjoy a strong connection of reciprocal respect, affection, complementarity, comprehension, and mutual benefit as each gains equally from the exchange. Each wants to give to the other so there are no insecurity-inducing games or excuses. By uniting separate qualities and abilities through love, both parties have something to offer that’s different but equal in value. They’re then able to produce something beyond what either could have done alone.
December 10, 2023: Card O' the Day: Queen of Cups, reversed. Court cards often represent people in our lives who’s behavior and energy impact and influence us either on a daily basis or just occasionally but very strongly. Today is the third court card in four days so I’m wondering who’s in your sphere. Do the upcoming holidays and increased social contact have anything to do with it with regards to you and your moods?
As a “mother” figure (i.e. office managers can fall into this category), the reversed Queen of Cups can be withdrawn, resentful, self-serving, blame others for their unhappiness, and show a lack of love for those closest to them. (Conversely, she could smother others and limit them emotionally with their neediness or codependency.) An ordinarily kind and gentle person could become a royal bitch. Once the unity of vision and action has been broken, dishonesty, deception, untrustworthiness, immorality, and inconsistency of honor become the norm. A perceived rivalry could make could make people under the influence of this card jealous, envious, possessive, vindictive, or bitter. They may create trouble, misunderstandings, and scandal with their powerful and dangerous ambition. A person such as this might drink up the psychic energy of others for their own sustenance. TLDR: a seriously unpleasant person.
The obvious answer is to avoid such a person but when you can’t, temper your knee-jerk reaction to be nasty right back with empathy and the realization that unpleasant people are really very unhappy! What can you do to be nice and perhaps give that person a tiny lift?
December 9, 2023: Card O' the Day: Three of Swords. Numerologically, threes generally mean fruition, harvest, and fulfillment, but Swords signify conflict. The “harvest” of a conflict can act as a catalyst for change, true growth, and transformation. Swords also indicate mental activity is present and today’s Three continues the bright ideas of yesterday’s Sword Prince. This card’s energy gives enthusiasm to your thoughts that easily combines with a passion for studying, reading, and desire for intellectual development.
In such an excited state, you might conclude certain old belief systems no longer serve and are ready for the scrap heap. However, the still immature and unrealized reasoning and intuition act spontaneously and discern no difference between believing and knowing as fanatic primary ideas, lightning realizations, or first opinions rocket out your mouth. While the ideas and plans to be implemented are good, pay attention and make corrections when given the opportunity to do so.
December 8, 2023: Card O' the Day: Prince of Pentacles. If the Queen of Pentacles inspired you to “prepare food and create a warm environment”, The Prince of Swords wants to remind you to ground ideas in reality and be responsible for what’s created because he represents the struggle to sustain the plodding grunt work some projects require. Use subtlety in endeavors to grasp opportunities with the help of sharp vision, controlled momentum, and precise timing. Maintain vigilance while proceeding with a plan and don’t allow impulsiveness to revolt against ideological compliance. Lastly, consider carefully whether you’re willing to see a project through to its end, otherwise time and resources will be wasted.
Translation: instead of renting a venue to have the Christmas bash of all bashes, have 10 or 15 of your closest friends over for spiced cider and cookies. Even better, make it pot-luck so everyone gets to show off their holiday recipes. Resist the urge to have a complicated drinks menu. Review your budget before you send invitations!
That said, sometimes you can over think things. Some situations call for minimal planning, proceeding without deliberation or preparation, and just taking a leap of faith without hesitation. It’s often better to take action than get stuck thinking through all possibilities. Just make your tribe feel comfortable and the rest will fall into place.
December 7, 2023: Card O' the Day: Queen of Pentacles. Pfft. My thoughts intruded and my subconscious chose our Card O’ the Day. I was thinking about a friend who’s having surgery this week and as much as I tried to keep my thoughts on Universe to find a card all can relate to, my “patron saint” popped up.
The Queen of Pentacles is excellent at healing, nursing, and care-taking. Her skills also extend to preparing food and creating a warm and comfortable environment for others and her family. She implies a developing sense of security and confidence in this moment of life and when you’re so showered with blessings from all directions, you’re encouraged to celebrate this abundance and spread joy for all to share.
As we get closer to year end celebrations, some of you may revel in your preparations and others of you dread the whole fuss. Either way, maintain personal boundaries so you don’t do more than you’re capable of. Not only will you flame out too early but you’ll set a dangerous precedent for expectations next year!
December 5, 2023: Card O' the Day: Justice. The appearance of Justice may indicate you’re struggling with something unfair at the moment. It may be time to deal “justice” to yourself and give yourself permission to receive what you’re worthy of and not settle for anything less. To do so, you’re being asked to use your own innate equilibrium as a guiding principle or matter of great central importance for your own balanced spirituality and stability on all planes.
Because truth and justice always prevail—whether moral, ethical, or legal—and everyone gets what they earn or deserve, keep your own house in order with calm authority, accountability, and responsibility and never mind about others’ transgressions. (Karma and natural law will take care of it.)
December 3, 2023: Card O'' the Day: Five of Swords. There’s dishonor within relationships as jaded, angry, and hard members of a group attempt to unify it through suffering (misery loves company, remember?). Someone may be acting with a sense of righteousness, but instead of approaching the volatile situation with humility and compassion, they cut you and those around deeply with cruelty, abuse, or malicious gossip. Recognize the futility of the games being played. But if it seems you can’t avoid a fight, seek a new point of view to undermine this negative and cranky person.
This card can also be a symbol of truth, clarity, and vision that teaches the proper use of power, enlightened perceptions, and far-sightedness. Collect ideas and plans for good use later because such information may bring you new ways of viewing your world and the people in it. If you’re called to defend a higher principle, avoid becoming defensive or doubtful and simply be true to yourself as the heart of the matter is explored honestly and without judgment. Check your moral compass for responsibility, sincerity, and fairness and review how you accept boundaries or limitations. Finally, stop comparing yourself to others. Rather, try to fulfill your best potential, in the best way you can because each incomparably unique person is needed and everything fits its purpose in Universe.
That all said, if something simply cannot be overcome, accept defeat and hold your head high as you walk away without shame.
December 2, 2023: Card O' the Day: Princess of Cups. The Princess of Cups signifies that your heart hasn’t completely turned to stone and you’re not going all “bah, humbug” about life. Nevertheless, the past daily cards have indicated a certain weariness and being all “peopled” out.
Under the influence of this card, there’s an impulse to explore your inner world through meditation with no outside demands, responsibilities, or desires to disturb that quiet contemplation. During that peaceful break, take a breather to renew yourself, listen to your heart, and rediscover your worthiness of being loved. Take time to enjoy simple pleasures in life, enjoy being human, and remind yourself it’s okay to pamper yourself once in a while
Following a little self-care, you’ll be more energized, inspired, refreshed physically and spiritually, and have the inner confidence to rejoin the population.
December 1, 2023: Card O' the Day: Three of pentacles, reversed. Threes indicate a product from a “union”, but reversed Threes always indicate a problem within your community, tribe, or said “union.” Pentacles means it’s on the material plane, which most often represents money and/or work. However, I’m not feeling a limit to JUST work situations…you could have lent money to a friend and that friendship is now on the rocks.
At any rate, something is damaged or broken and support is withdrawn or lacking. Selfishness or greed leads to problems, incapability, and disagreement. If the problems are at work, look into finding new employment. If you lent money to a friend who’s trying to skip on the debt, consider whether you can afford to lose that money forever. Otherwise there’s small claims court.
Haven’t we been talking about “divorce” or “losing something on purpose” for the last couple days? Seriously, you’ll be better off without all the drama.
November 30, 2023: Card O' the Day: Five of Cups. You’re in the position of finally seeing things for what they truly are and you might feel a loss of balance in this blast of blinding truth. This card is an emblem of truth and signifies the acceptance of responsibility in the face of challenges.
Receiving this card is also an indication of grief or hurt that was never properly processed until you acknowledged said truth. Unquestionably, you should spend some time grieving to facilitate getting through such an emotional reaction to loss in order to move on. (Professional help sometimes makes that process go faster.) After losses are fully mourned, you can see the opportunities at hand, which might not have been considered before.
Once energy is flowing again, retrieval and repair to a certain extent are possible. Maybe cutting losses and making big changes are called for as you consciously let go of the old to clear the path for new possibilities. Sometimes “losing” something on purpose and disrupting your comfortable patterns are what’s needed to foster and encourage new growth.
November 29, 2023: Card O' the Day: The Hierophant, reversed. The Hierophant, reversed, indicates you’re being too rigid, dogmatic, or are clinging to outdated ideas or principles. By adhering to unproved or improvable tenets with sheer blind faith, you show ruts in your thinking and rusty intellectual habits. In others, this card represents the concepts of hypocrisy, fanaticism, false knowledge, or mistaken beliefs that interfere with the resolution of an issue. Those making firm pronouncements with pompous, arrogant, righteous, and absolute assurance they’re correct are in reality showing their weaknesses in the form of obnoxious hubris.
Sometimes people aren’t the oppressors but circumstances or ideas create the prison of incompetent thinking. A path to a new venture, which looks exciting, might prove to be limited and restrictive and you’re cautioned not to get locked into a commitment. Listen to the whole story before making a decision because extra time and concentration is needed.
Concretely, divorce may be indicated by the reversed Hierophant. I add this tidbit to give you permission to put space—literal and figurative—between you and any people in your life whose arrogant righteousness is…erm…”misguided.”
November 25, 2023: Card O' the Day: Five of Wands, reversed. While my own family gatherings proved to be delightfully benign, the reversed Five of Wands*, indicates some of you didn’t get off as easily as I.
When parties argue, insist each is “right”, quibble, and contradict at every turn, it only locks them in an energy-wasting battle that rapidly dissipates cooperating energies and leads to exhaustion. Said battles can take on a more serious, nastier tone as the bitterness causes people to seek to actually hurt or ruin each other as rules of fair play are abandoned and competition becomes more aggressive. Trickery at your expense, acting behind someone’s back, or sabotage in negotiations will keep a situation up in the air or unstable thus narrowing options rather than opening them for discussion.
It’s such a shame when family or tribe members get so locked into their own opinions they can’t even acknowledge that different viewpoints may exist…and that others can be equally passionate about those! Since we still have lots of gatherings and celebrations to attend before the end of holiday season, breathe deeply and practice the phrase “How interesting!” until you can say it with complete sincerity during conversations. (Have an equally sincere exit line handy to make your escape immediately thereafter.)
*All about pointless arguing that gets you nowhere.
November 22, 2023: Card O' the Day: Two of Pentacles, reversed. Upright, this card represents the intricacies and balancing act life requires. Reversed, that act become a treacherous, plate-spinning hamster wheel. Numerous obligations make it difficult to establish a routine and it feels as though you can’t catch a break. Actions become frenetic as you try to pretend everything is under control. The current difficult situation requires careful balance, so consider how to lighten the load and live within resources. To achieve goals, the order of things must be changed and the whole schedule reorganized.
The Two of Pentacles heralds changes on your material plane. When reversed, it indicates the changes are disharmonious and introduce inconsistency into your schedule. Because you lack enthusiasm for these shifts, others can too easily sway you to leave it for another day. The consequences of that include lack of focus in efforts, laziness, or psycho-emotional paralysis.
Excuse me while I laugh myself to tears. This is so my day today as I’m faced with the final preparations for hosting my in-laws for the holiday. I have 1000 things to do and don’t really want to do any of them but for the sake of good impressions and entertaining my guests, I must get off my procrastinating butt and get work. The good news is it’ll all be over by Saturday!
November 21, 2023: Card O' the Day: Seven of Swords, reversed. In the previous card (Nine of Cups) we were urged to listen to our intuition and be self-directed. But insecurity, lack of confidence, and fear-based problems come with the reversal of the Seven of Swords. Meaning, you’re struggling to trust yourself and are relying on the input from others—those “others” who appear to have more success than you. However, becoming overdependent upon outside suggestions and advice from those you’re enviously watching from afar only puts you at risk as they take advantage of you in your weaker moments.
Trust me on this: they may be having slightly more success than you right this minute, but what goes up eventually comes back down. Those “lucky bastards” will have a string of failures soon enough since they’re just as vulnerable to life’s cycles as you are. Therefore, don’t bother begging for advice. Listen to your own gut about what to do next and make your own path.
November 17, 2023: Card O' the Day: Nine of Cups.You’re called to listen to your accurate and strong intuition, learn to trust instincts, rely on inner strength, persist with courage and determination, and do what light up your life. Take control of desires, observe what makes you happy, and find what it is that drives you forward.
Also, be aware of your thoughts and behaviors…are they directed from the outside or controlled by the feelings/suggestions of others? Meditation* may be a useful tool when trying to find a sense of Self as opposed to who others say you are. To do so, allow a free flow of ideas, emotions, thoughts, and inner pictures as you experience a mystical and meaningful decline of focus on the ego and follow a spiritual journey.
*Meditation does not have to be done in a quiet room, seated on a pillow, with your eyes closed as you desperately try to empty your mind of all thoughts. I did my best meditating while bicycling and talking out loud to myself! Hiking, running, gardening, knitting, cleaning, etc. can all be perfect settings for your meditation session.
November 16, 2023: Card O' the Day: Ace of Cups. This card is the most powerful of the emotions cards and can indicate upheaval, new feelings replacing old, challenge and transformation, turnabout in emotions towards another, or a total reversal of values. When sentiments become so overwhelming, it’s easy to be a little hypersensitive, unstable, and insecure. But fear of listening to your heart or suppressing emotional needs will end self-replenishment and lead to rebellion.
Stay calm and connected with your heart because your emotions need to be harnessed for positive ends and not get scattered to the winds. Don’t allow your feelings to turn into affectations with exaggerated or dramatic reactions thereby morphing into insincere or pretentious displays. Be honest about your feelings with yourself and others.
November 15, 2023: Card O' the Day: The Tower, reversed. You may be feeling pressure intensifying but have no means of escaping impending trouble, and filled with panic, apprehension, inner turmoil, chaos, or anger, you have the feeling that disaster is imminent. On the other hand, you might have an opportunity to alleviate the bad situation before it explodes or bail before being taken down with the ship. I suggest you take it. Fixing or avoiding altogether is the better option.
But actually, your feeling of doom is only confusion and discomfort rather than actual emergency. Receiving this card is a strong directive to adjust and not to cling to situations that are no longer good. Trust that what’s solid and worthwhile will withstand the destruction of the Tower.
November 13, 2023: Card O' the Day: Prince of Cups. The Prince of Cups represents fulfilling and manifesting dreams that are aligned with your heart—if only you dared. While there’s plenty of natural flowing talent, dreams, imagination, and creative force, all are less powerful because they’re not realistically directed. The Prince’s inherent “action” energy is in conflict with the passivity of his Water element, which prevents his imagination from actually producing anything. Too caught up in daydreams, he simply obeys and makes no courageous leaps beyond his abilities or limits because that would require effort.
Nevertheless, the Prince offers the gift of absolute trust in moving on to the next thing without any reservations. His appearance is an invitation to challenges or initiatives to be taken on with strength and will. You don’t need elaborate plans or preparations; just dare to jump into the unknown and experience the tremendous sense of exhilaration in the free fall!
November 11, 2023: Card O' the Day: Six of Cups, reversed. Okay, I just got this new deck (Our Tarot by Sarah Shipman) that assigns significant women of history to each of the cards in the deck. I’m reading the book that comes with it in which she gives a brief biography of the women that blends into the definition of the card. So far, she’s absolutely dead-on with her interpretations (well, according to me and my humble opinion).
Anyway, I’ve got her deck on my brain and it was present as I pulled today’s card. Very interesting that I drew the REVERSED Six of Cups, seeing as how that’s the “history” card of the Tarot and being reversed, it directs us learn from our pasts and get good with it.
You’re called to work on releasing old emotional ties and destructive unconscious patterns in an effort to develop a healthy relationship with your personal history. When taking a more honest look at the past, be aware that idealized (or devalued) recollections can disintegrate in the face of harsh reality, which result in rude awakenings when you find the actual truth isn’t what you remembered. Consider this an invitation to liberate yourself from former obligations and responsibilities, overcome past disappointments, and embrace new trust regarding the future and your active participation in it.
November 10, 2023: Card O' the Day: Eight of Wands. While this card is primarily one of high energy and action, don’t underestimate the power of a well-placed pause. Receiving the Eight of Wand indicates you might be in danger of overdoing it with regards to your passion and are in danger of turning a loved activity into drudgery.
Take a breath, see the beauty of life, and edit your life to make use of what’s already at hand. Expand your awareness of Divine presence, attune to subtle energy shifts, and trust spiritual gifts such as telepathic insight or intuition. Bring your circle of family and friends close to help celebrate this lovely time because you endure, survive, thrive, and grow with their support.
November 9, 2023: Card O' the Day: The Wheel of Fortune. This card is about expansion and abundance that comes when you’re aligned within and understand you can be a vehicle for far more than previously thought. Embodying the spirit and spiritualizing of matter, The Wheel offers revolutionary potential if you’re willing to take control of your future and dare to act upon unexpected opportunities as they arise. Strive for a centralized view of the whole and/or seek a higher perspective as you take a long-range view to find stability and truth in the midst of changes.
Results or outcomes are difficult to predict. As you begin to feel the internal shift, insecurity may make you hesitant and immobile while awaiting the force which will set everything in motion. Allow closure with the past, have high expectations for the future, and allow Universe to work.
November 8, 2023: Card O' the Day: The Hermit. We (humanity) seem to have entered into a phase of true ugliness with around the world trauma, disaster, war, fighting, privation, and the lot. While we can’t control natural disasters, we can control ego driven trouble. The Hermit is pointing to that ego-control of your physical plane and indicates it’s time to merge that ego with your soul in the effort to know your Highest Self well and deeply.
This card acts as a bridge between the conscious and unconscious, a ligament uniting body and psyche, and the link between the mind and spiritual awareness. You’re being asked to find your inner truth and identify with the Divine Cosmic Self. Put more bluntly, put your dick back in your pants (those without, I’m speaking figuratively here) and reach towards enlightenment, wisdom, self-knowledge, and divine inspiration. Learn the power of love and forsake the love of power.
Spiritual discipline is understanding you’ve been given all you need to make your way through life and that there’s enough for everyone. You won’t be short-changed. This blessed divine inner light can’t be taken as it was never given; it dwells within and awaits your discovery.
November 3, 2023: Card O' the Day: The Fool, reversed. The brashness of the King of Wands is being reiterated by the reversed Fool. You may be tempted to engage in crazy, reckless schemes that come from a reluctance to listen to advice and a failure to act from your innate wisdom or to follow instincts. Bad decisions and the ensuing irresponsibility for your foolish—or downright idiotic—actions result in disorder and chaos and a scramble to “CYA” to avoid getting caught in a mistake.
When this card appears, it could be a signal of negligence, distraction, ineptitude, or feeling unable to produce anything of value. With no idea where to begin, you get lost in restlessness and unfocused energy. As resources are wasted, you’ll be hounded by others for the lack of productivity.
The reversed Fool indicates it’s time to grow up, listen to your higher self, and take on adult responsibilities. Take a period of reflection to contemplate and clarify what’s going on now and what has come to pass. If performances and events haven't lived up to your expectations, it’d be wise to discover why. With proper caution and preparation, you’ll come to understand the futility and insanity of acting on new ideas without a realistic assessment of the means to implement them. Only then will you have the awareness that big chances must be taken at the right time and when, precisely, that is.
November 2, 2023: Card O' the Day: King of Wands. The personality qualities of the King of Wands indicate people like him/her are extroverts who use intuition, reasoning capacities, and rely solely on their own judgment when making decisions. Because of that, he/she can be bossy, dominating, and controlling and represent people who will affect the outcome of a situation. They’re concerned with maintaining the status quo and, therefore, can get rather stuck in their ways. Kings are most difficult to influence because they believe so strongly in their own opinions and view of the world. Governed by Aries, this King is very action oriented and determined. He/she is much like the Prince of Pentacles in wanting gain but has 100 times more competence, dramatic brilliance, and cajones to take risks.
You may be feeling like you’re on the slow boat to wherever you’re trying to go but the King has shown up to warn you about getting too fired up or cutting corners in your haste. As a result, you might try to do it all yourself as you have a strong desire to express yourself and ideas in a constant quest for new adventure/challenges/goals. Being intolerant of limits, unquestionably a bad loser, and allowing little or no discussion about those goals can be exhausting for those who work with you.
November 1, 2023: Card O' The Day: Eight of Pentacles. Despite my hiatus between cards of the day, the Prince of Pentacles energy has persisted. The Eight of Pentacles continues the Prince’s messages and offers encouragement to work carefully with diligence and attention to detail to achieve steady progress. Plan ahead and prepare for the future with perseverance.
But much like the stodgy Prince, the Eight reiterates often ordinary approaches to situations bring far better results that attempts to be “brilliant”, clever, or otherwise “dazzling.” Using skills and talents ensures work never becomes boring because each day is a chance to work at a secure and understood job with assured “I know what I’m doing” confidence.
Don’t lose sight of the intent of the labor because you’re onto something good and whatever you’re working on or waiting for—promotion, raise, or bonus—will occur in Spring. Regardless of the type of your plans, the outcome you’ve asked for is getting closer.
October 26, 2023: Card O' the Day: Prince of Pentacles. This prince, motivated by the physical world, harnesses the energy of the mind and puts it to practical application by putting energy into the mundane aspects of life. Because he will (if he must) to do the boring work required to make things actually happen, he signifies the unglamorous reality between the conception and manifestation of dreams. Therefore, receiving this card indicates completing tasks slowly, patiently, practically, methodically, and persistently. It’s not fun but at least you’re getting somewhere.
Look to protecting and conducting wise distribution of your financial and personal resources and investments because rapid and dynamic gain is indicated by this card. See? Hard work does pay off.
Worth is often based upon your word. Therefore, be true to what you say and complete tasks as promised. Be useful, conscientious, reliable, and the responsible friend who quietly protects others. Stay until the job is done so you can be counted upon and trusted…and possibly promoted. Because that’s what you really want, right?
October 24, 2023: Card O' the Day: Six of Wands, reversed. While I did encourage you to be assertive and courageous as you put plans to work, you don’t have to be an ass about it. Perceived victory or success may end up being transitory as your pride, arrogance, and condescending attitude towards subordinates causes an embarrassing fall from what could have been a pinnacle of achievement. Don’t allow vanity, excessive narcissism, or self-complacency to overestimate your abilities, thereby making true victory elusive.
Such high expectations for yourself may have you running in circles, so you’d do well to consider plans and input from others or risk being all show with no substance. Now isn’t a time for self-pity, ego-centricity, superficiality, or to let self-importance get in the way.
October 23, 2023: Card O' the Day: Seven of Wands. Barely a week later and we get a repeat of the Seven of Wands. Let’s see what sticks out this time…. With conviction, you overcome obstacles or opposition and maintain your confidence and composure. Ooo, sounds very good so far.
Leaders must have courage and persistence in the face of adversity or in negotiations. Present yourself during trials with assertiveness, composure, and confidence and learn the art of the façade or bluff. To win your battles, it’ll require change, evolution, and trimming of the fat. This may mean doing things differently than your established way, but trust your innovations.
October 20, 2023: Card O' the Day: Five of Cups. The current material scarcity also comes with negative emotions. At this time, hopes have been overturned, plans go awry, and it seems nothing is going right. It may feel like you’re enduring a death-like ending when you’re hit with trouble or disturbances from unexpected or unsuspected sources.
However, failure or loss is more easily endured if it’s accepted as part of growth and change and you realize nothing is created without mistakes. There’s always hope for better things to come and you need to find the courage to continue. Therefore, view the current unfortunate situation as a turn in the road that ultimately brings good. Let go of what once was and accept what is now.
Continued denial of what’s passed or been lost will translate into self-pity, self-blame, misery and depression as you remain in the trench of “if only…” or stay on the “shoulda, woulda, coulda” train. So, don’t. Shift attention from the past (loss) to the future (new gifts) and resist suffering for the sake of suffering, otherwise you become so preoccupied with the loss, you can’t recognize assets and powers that you do have.
October 19, 2023: Card O' the Day: Six of Pentacles, reversed. The upright Six of Pentacle represents flowing material energy but when reversed, that energy flows less smoothly. Financial expectations fail to materialize but unfortunately, there’s no fast fix. On the other hand, actual money difficulties may not be the case and this card signifies feeling shortchanged, denied, or overlooked instead. High hopes have been let down and disappointments color the entire situation.
Time must pass, evolution must be endured, and only then will obstacles be overcome. While you wait for fortunes to shift, spend time reconsidering how resources are spent and how conditions might be upgraded to meet renewed, higher standards.
Sometimes those in need deny the needs of self—or those in their care—by refusing assistance. You may not be putting yourself in a position to receive, be cutting yourself off spiritually, or are in danger of missing a practical opportunity through arrogance or suspicion. We all need help on occasion; don’t be too proud to ask.
October 17, 2023: Card O' the Day: Seven of Wands. The astrological significance of this card has Mars (planet of war, drive, desire, courage) opposing Leo (sign of authority and power). This opposition indicates you’re struggling against yourself or forces in the external world. (Ego driven to succeed in the “rat race.”) Conflict, then, lies between a desire for supremacy and the tendency to scatter, or diversify, interests.
Feng Shui-wise, your current location isn't optimally suited for seeking the wisdom and success in business that’s desired. You need to relocate to find a situation that’s more conducive to a fortunate outcome.
Looks like some of you need to look for a different job. Remain calm, resourceful, and take definitive action like getting your resume refreshed. Get onto the Internet’s search engines for jobs and recruiters to see what’s out there for you. Only you can make your career soar!
October 12, 2023: Card O' the Day: Nine of Cups. It looks like taking a minute for yourself and getting organized has proven fortuitous!
Receiving this card indicates you’ve found the secret to emotional happiness by taking full responsibility for and control of it and realize others cannot fill all needs. You’ve entered a period of gratifying emotional fulfillment and satisfaction as the weight of the past has been lifted, you let go of what has already been lived, and proceed with confidence.
By continuing to cultivate inner harmony, energy will increase, physical health will glow, and you’ll experience true joy, liberation, and a readiness to give of yourself as you’ve come to understand being “you” is enough. Circumstances and your good decision making brings hope, pleasure, success, improvement, abundance, wisdom, and spiritual awakening.
October 11, 2023: Card O' the Day: Ace of Wands, reversed (again). The repeat of the reversed Ace tells me we’re still firmly situated in The Hermit’s “cave” of introspection and personal consideration. This isn’t stagnation, but quiet time to get your ducks in a row. Also, it’s good to be quiet and gather your strength before the upcoming holiday season (just sayin’).
While in this quiet period, the more active people may suffer frustration, vexation, ineffectiveness, or powerlessness. Which then leaves you resistant, reluctant, or without interest to take on the important work at hand.
As you chafe at the bit, know this: the right opportunity has yet to come, a situation may be premature, or you’re not energized or prepared enough to move forward. Blasting onwards despite all the obstacles will only set you up for failure. You’d do well to reconsider plans and goals or set something aside for the time being because impatience isn’t the answer.
October 10, 2023: Card O' the Day: Ace of Wands, reversed. While the upright Ace is full of forward impulses, reversed, this card is a “thumbs down”, “no”, or “not now” and counsels inaction. The reversed Ace also speaks of personal authority that has turned sour. Therefore, stay sheltered in your Hermit’s cocoon for a bit longer.
Even when reversed, the Ace indicates new beginnings are afoot and you may feel ready, desiring, and yearning for change. However, those changes might not be “of this world” but more along the lines of spiritual potential without any expectation of concrete results.
October 6, 2023: Card O' the Day: The Hermit. It looks as though tackling—and banishing— the idea that you’re not “enough” requires some alone time to sort things through. Therefore, in order to understand who you are and where you fit in the “big picture”, discover your own path, what truly draws you forward, and initiate the inner work. You’ll need to search the dark corners of the self that are currently being avoided but there’s a fear of (self-)discovery, a failure to face facts, and avoidance of the next step.
The appearance of The Hermit today signifies the beginning a journey alone to find hidden talents and abilities…to figure out just how “enough” you actually are. Others may question your path but the one you’ve been dashing down isn’t working for you. Time for another approach.
Get to really know Self—including all faults—then connect as your True Self with others. If you need help, don’t be shy about asking.
October 5, 2023: Card O' the Day: Five of Pentacles. The pervasive quality of this card is conflict and concerns which evokes the emotion of fear. But fortunately courage, perseverance, and determination are also present. So, while you may feel down, you ain’t out. The stone associated with this card is citrine. It’s said to help you feel secure and more trusting and achieve objectives. You don’t need a big fancy piece of this stuff; a small pebble will do to bring you this healing energy.
Allowing yourself to become paralyzed by your worries prevents you from making the necessary changes to solve them. Remain flexible, adaptable, and go with the flow as real problems come up lest they become ever more serious. Stop wallowing in self-pity and release victim mentality because the “woe is me” act only wastes energy without actually doing something about the problem.
Discern the true cause of troubles in order to deal with them effectively. Find and recognize the roots of painful feelings in your past, face uncomfortable or shameful history, and then let go of that old suffering. Find the clarity and mercy to quit tormenting oneself with the idea that you’re not “enough.”
October 4, 2023: Card O' the Day: The Star, reversed. Yeah, well, a new month didn’t help with all the planets in retrograde.
When The Star is reversed, clarity of vision is lacking, thereby making decisions scattered, unfocused, or delayed. Aspirations may not seem worthwhile or possible and efforts can seem futile or overwhelming during the continuing challenges. Subtlety, trickery, or groundless scandal may be employed as an artificial smoke screen to hide behind. Or, if you’re the one who’s gullible or naive, you could be the victim of deception. Either way, you’re wishing to just disappear from your perceived doubts, insecurity, weakness, and impotence.
However, you need to understand all the puffery used is meant to mask deep insecurity (yours or “theirs”) and indicates an unwillingness to examine yourself and behavior due to fear of what may be found or need to be confronted. When The Star appears reversed, you’re called to shed all ideas of self that falsely depend on status, appearance, and possessions. It’s not a time for recognition or external efforts but for serious truth seeking.
October 1, 2023: Card O' the Day: Prince/Knight of Cups, reversed. About ten days ago, we received this reversed Prince. He’s back today and I’m cautiously optimistic! Dare I say “new month, new ‘tude”?
As opposed to his previous appearance—full of himself, emotional manipulation, and passive/aggressiveness—his energy today is swinging around to more prudence. After all the tricks, deception, and cheating, this reversed Prince is cautioning one to look upon new propositions with suitable suspicion and restraint and to be wary of swindles and fraud. (He should know, after all.)
Obstacles and unpleasant events are also forecast but if you’re prepared for trouble, you won’t get blind-sided and completely devastated. No, you don’t have to encase yourself in armor…just keep your eyes open.
September 30, 2023: Card O' the Day: Page/Princess of Pentacles, reversed. Just over half the cards I’ve pulled for this month have been reversed. I tell my clients that a plethora of reversals indicates volatile or unsettled energy. (Could it be because we have SIX planets in retrograde right now? Venus went direct on September 3rd so at the beginning of the month we had seven.) “Volatile” or “unsettled” can be good or not…I mean, planning a wedding is a good thing but still pretty stressful. Think choppy waters on the surface of a lake rather than glassy smoothness.
The clarity of thinking and practicality of the Princess suffers when this card is reversed. You may lose focus, stop being studious, or have difficulty learning something new or grasping necessary information or facts (as was offered by the Nine of Wands). When so easily distracted, practical matters and issues become lost in confusion or daily trivia. Due to that, career possibilities won’t actualize, you’ll lose patience/interest, or expectations don’t happen. The messages typically heralded by the appearance of the reversed Earth Princess include cancellation of plans or bad news.
What to do? Take yourself by the scruff, give a good shake, and put your ego in a time-out. Even if the wind changes direction every hour, don’t blow with it. Remember your power (The Empress) without being an ass about it and focus your attention. Break down tasks into small jobs and start plowing through. Congratulate yourself for every completion but keep going forward.
September, 29, 2023: Card O' the Day: The Chariot, reversed. The Chariot contains high and directed energy. Once it’s reversed, that energy becomes scattered and surges out of control. (Obviously the reversed Sword Prince is still with us.)
Hubris is at fault here and unrealistic goals, uncontrolled ambition, rash actions, or insufficient expertise or experience cause one to be easily deflected from the course resulting in incomplete work and loss at the last moment. Sometimes conflicts and problems will arise due to opposing ideas and aims or counterproductive efforts. At any rate, under this card one is riding for a fall and defeat. (Let’s hope this is outside energy!)
If it’s NOT outside energy, The Chariot, reversed, asks at what cost is this journey of self-discovery, overcoming obstacles, and/or achieving victory? The dangerously inflated ego may believe that any means justify the ends and you’re being inconsiderate, disregard the rights of others, are overly aggressive, or have an unreasonable attitude. Such inflexible arrogance means you harbor no doubts about the validity of your actions. It also means you’ve become deaf to anyone’s voice but your own. SMH
September 28, 2023: Card O' the Day: Prince/Knight of Swords, reversed. Embracing the power of The Empress and getting YOUR ducks in a row has obviously pissed somebody off. But that can’t be helped, actually, when you suddenly stop allowing yourself to be treated like a doormat. Those who were used to wiping their feet on you are going to be upset by the shift in power dynamics.
The reversed Prince can represent an out of control temper-tantrum that seeks to deliberately cause pain, injury, or physical damage. Ruthless, tyrannical, and vengeful, he/she blames mistakes on others or uses cruel logic to destroy in a destructive rebellion. He/she might become unprincipled, crafty, or deceitful as he/she tries to pursue goals and thereby swindle or con others in an attempt to get away with something fraudulent.
On a more conscious level, (if this reversed Prince energy is coming from within [YIKES!!]) you may be trying to overcome impulsiveness and are deliberately becoming more thoughtful, careful, and less hurried as you wait for opposition to move out of the way. Recall those “adjustments” and “pruning” The Empress advised.
TLDR: avoid the outside negative energy and concentrate on cleaning up your own act.
September 27, 2023: Card O' the Day: Nine of Wands. Well then! We’ve seemed to embrace the personal power of The Empress and are ready for bear. This card represents driven and dynamic energy with a stronger and increased light. It’s your choice whether to accept it and the clarity that comes.
This card indicates achievements through hard work, determination, independence, force, or great power intensified with direction but you’re having trouble accepting such accomplishments and feel as though you don’t know what the hell you’re doing. You can’t see the next steps necessary or feel uncertain or unstable about any possible avenues. In moments of weakness, you cling to safe but unnatural routines that keep the chaos at bay in an effort to keep things familiar.
However, training, development, and discipline result in moral and spiritual character and courage in the convictions that will aid in handling any hardships. (And make the “new” less frightening.) Caution, judgment, and wisdom suggest the need for careful assessment, reevaluation, and attentive pruning to determine what's blocking the good as well as the bad. It may be necessary to make adjustments or overcome objections before completion and success can occur after boldly meeting opposition.
September 26, 2023: Card O' the Day: The Empress. Gee, we seem to be having a lot of repeats lately. The Empress appeared at the end of August and now she’s back. Her recurrence is a request that we be generous with care of self, forgiving of your humanity and needs for Self, and to give yourself permission to be rich, abundant, and even a little decadent. She’s telling you it’s okay to be selfish with your time, energy, and emotional commitments.
Recent cards have indicated some of you are dealing with emotional drama caused by coworkers, friends, or relatives. I acknowledge it’s hard to function optimally when there’s so much going on but you can change your reactions to unfortunate events by creating your own reality of strength and calm.
Therefore, employ your best social skills and practice what you preach. To do so, express your personal power and authority by promoting harmony, safe interactions, and your psycho-emotional and physical wellbeing. Know when to step in and offer help or to back off and let someone’s failure become a teaching moment for them. Not your circus or monkeys.
September 25, 2023: Card O' the Day: Two of Swords, reversed. On the 4th and 7th of this month, the Two of Swords appeared first upright and then reversed. Upright, it indicated there was a problem you needed to address but weren’t too sure how to go about it. The reversal shoved you off the fence and forced you to do something. The ensuing emotional drama (all those reversed Cups we’ve been having) has made you wonder if you came down on the “right” side of the fence.
So, you finally took action to end complacency and superficial accord and tore off the blindfold to look at disturbing issues that required decisions. Deeper truths came out as you finally opened your eyes to reality. Due to your realizations and revelations of the rottenness that’s been hidden, loyalties within a group may become divided (not everyone likes to be faced with truth). This can result, intentionally or not, in lies, duplicity, treachery, superficiality, malice, or misrepresentation among false “friends.” Oh, nice! MORE interpersonal nastiness.
If disagreeable opposites are confined too rigidly without integration, those opposites become treacherous and irreconcilable. The ensuing indecision and frustrated efforts may force you to take sides. However, either side may be equally toxic for you and there’s no possibility of resolution to the current problem. It might just be time to walk away after all this nonsense.
September 24, 2023: Card O' the Day: The Hierophant. Whereas The Emperor represents a person who hands down traditional laws and norms within the family unit, The Hierophant does so on the societal level and upholds the laws of organizations. Ruled by Taurus, the sign that teaches steadiness and consistency, The Hierophant acts as the internal judge or parent and prevailing cultural morality. We’re asked to live life from personal values, align the physical self around moral codes, and feel the truth for ourselves rather than mouthing the words of others without feeling or understanding.
The Hierophant encourages the strong determination to adhere to spiritual foundations of culture and civilization, dependability, and practicality as opposed to the freewheeling nihilism of the reversed Prince of Cups and the vapid daydreaming of the reversed Water Princess. He’s the power of structure that creates comfort and security, the familiarity of the routine, and the conformity to the social norms that imbue a sense of peace and equality for all in the community.
Just like The Star appearing after the reversed Princess of Cups reminding us to guide our energy in positive directions, The Hierophant is here to lay down the law and say enough with the shenanigans of the reversed Prince.
September 23, 2023: Card O' the Day: Nine of Cups, reversed. It’s entirely possible YOU have been behaving or feeling like the recent reversed Princess and/or Prince of Cups rather than having to merely deal with someone like that. Today’s reversed Nine of Cups is here to reprimand you.
When being a spoiled brat with every wish granted, self-indulgence and a tendency to excess dominates and thereby leads to reckless hedonism, debauchery, poor choices, selfish desires, all states of emotional crisis, irresponsibility, and shallowness. Your petty audacity leads to arguments or other difficulties when trying to interact with others. The upright version of this Nine warned of the pitfalls of complacency; when reversed, the danger is real.
Fortunately, someone is going to call you to account and the corner of the rug will be lifted to show what’s been swept under it: poor conduct, picking fights, shirking duties, and everything unpleasant that you’ve attempted to hide from sight. This intervention isn’t made through cruelty but rather sincerity, honesty, loyalty, and the good faith of others to show the error of your ways. This exposure, while possibly embarrassing at first, will provide you with a feeling of liberation as you’re released from superficial or false attachments and former attitudes of smugness and entitlement.
September 21, 2023: Card O' the Day: Prince/Knight of Cups, reversed. We very recently had the reversed Princess of Cups appear, and today we have her reversed cohort, the Prince of Cups. Now, the Princess is an introvert, so she keeps her emotional instability more or less contained and will appear withdrawn. However, the reversed Prince, as an extrovert, will foist his emotional instability on all around him. Swell.
Like an enchanting shadow on the water, this reversed Prince is constantly moving with, and adapting to, any situation in a pliant, liquid way, making him hard to define or grasp. He’s emotionally dishonest, disingenuous, duplicitous, insincere, and can be quite the lying, conniving, deceitful schemer who uses “love”, his own sensuality, and flattery to achieve his opportunistic, fraudulent ends. The more secretive aspects of this reversal include cheating, manipulation, deception, and could indicate a situation isn’t as it seems. Trickery, mischief, baseness, idleness, hypocrisy, and artifice are other keywords associated with the reversed Prince. Oh boy.
Unable to honestly give to anyone else at this time, such people avoid commitments and “move away” from emotional involvement (expect to be ghosted). The reversed Prince could also represent a passive/aggressive person who doesn’t like being pushed toward commitment or action and is resentful of those impositions. Read: they’re impossible to work with, too.
September 20, 2023: Card O' the Day: Seven of Cups. The appearance of this card is an indication it is time for one to get real, grounded, and maintain perspective in this strongly idealistic energy. When faced with so many possibilities and opportunities, you should be cautious of relying too heavily on others for life direction because you’re choosing your OWN happiness. Ask within as to what it is you truly want for yourself, then reach for it, and ask for the best and most for and from yourself.
Some people aren’t what they seem and others may try to influence you in the wrong direction. Thus, stand firm in the face of others’ advice based upon THEIR perceptions and values.
In the end, a single path will stand out from the rest as being the best choice to live up to your destiny. you’ll know it’s the best because it’ll be cohesive, aligned with your inner purpose, made outside of egotism, and feel good. Even though you experience a gut-level sensation of love, appreciation, and affection for this new direction, don’t take yourself too seriously or forget to live in the moment.
September 19, 2023: Card O' the Day: The Star. The Star is an excellent antidote to the reversed Princess of Cups because it warns against blind beliefs that ignore the necessary work and action to build upon them, wasting energy on the past, misusing words, and giving up control for the need for security. You’re asked to understand the duality of actions or relationships (give and take), polarize inwardly (personal boundaries), and reposition energies towards positive prospectives.
The Star indicates good omens and bright prospects. She opens a chance for a joyful personal transformation as more synchronicity happens and you meet more people who can help achieve collective goals. Energy encouraging positive changes abounds for fortuitous opportunity, which will manifest new ideas, creativity, inspiration, and a chance to start over.
The future impact of these happy circumstances suddenly coming available, providential help, the influence of the macrocosm upon you, or the light of Nature will be discernible shortly. Don’t miss this gift of positive energy.
September 14, 2023: Card O' the Day: Princess/Page of Cups, reversed. When reversed, the very emotionally charged Princess of Cups loses touch with true feelings and can signal emotional immaturity and the propensity for holding grudges. Timid and fearful of having sensibilities wounded, the reversed Princess no longer trusts life and relationships and represents a decision to “never be vulnerable again.”
People influenced by this card have nothing to motivate them in the real world, so they withdraw into daydreams or a private kingdom filled with imaginary friends and cohorts. Collectively, no one listens to news or sage advice preferring to stay blind to reality. If outside information is received, it speaks to emotions and rigid beliefs rather than reason and logic.
If any action is taken, it only involves make-believe dreamy inclinations, promises that won't be kept, and/or commitments that mean nothing. Being in such a protected space with equally immature and wounded people as oneself keeps everyone present stifled emotionally and intellectually…much like a cult.
September 12, 2023: card O' the Day: Five of Wands. Fives have inherently chaotic energy wherein creative vision collides with earthly reality (as in, how do we make this actually happen?). When the Fire element of Wands is added, things can get unpredictable and dangerous. This is a card of action, assertiveness, candor, and clearly expressed decisions—and perhaps a bit of combativeness. It’s not one of results or the thought processes that lead to outcomes but rather the physical progress itself.
Under the influence of this card, what may have started out as a collaborative effort, with differing methods, styles, and approaches to the common goal, has become tangled as strong personalities vie for leadership. Comparisons and opinions grow heated, assertive people become downright aggressive as they jockey for position, engage in power struggles, or compete for contracts. All constructive impetus is lost as cohesion and organization falls apart.
However, such conflicts aren’t always serious and can be quite playful. Therefore, lighten up and don’t take disputes so seriously or allow them to escalate into angry fighting, animosity, or destructive criticism. The current conflicts are there to help you question your position, strengthen convictions, and test ideas through divergence and differences of opinions with others. This competition isn’t meant to destroy but to create an energetic atmosphere at work or within a group. Enjoy the chaos, revel in the fast-paced action, and view it all with excitement.
September 11, 2023: Card O' the Day: Ten of Wands, reversed. The most obvious interpretation of the reversal of this card is you lay down your burdens, walk away from difficulties, get relief from the pressure, and generally get out from under oppressive situations. Once you realize you can use energies for a better purpose, it opens a clear path to a new start or lease on life. Most literally, this card can represent clearing out debris, cleaning closets, or getting rid of household clutter.
However, Mercury is in retrograde for a few more days and some of you may be getting even more buried in your burdens. This makes you feel trapped in obstacles, difficulties, inconvenience, petty squabbling, or complaints. Oppressive feelings of despair, hopelessness, bitterness, loss of energy, or failure can keep you preoccupied with self-interest, indecision, and doubt leading to lack of faith in your life. In such a condition, chores and important tasks won’t get done and the smallest stumbling block will be incapacitating.
See if you can’t shoo away the negative energy of Mercury retrograde by doing something mindless yet useful like getting started on a cluttered spot in your home. One small step in that direction will help you feel better and accomplished.
September 8, 2023: Card O' the Day: Five of Swords. Wands and Swords, Swords and Wands…. Lots of energy and whirling thoughts. Not all of which are linear or directed. …And I just checked and we ARE indeed in Mercury retrograde since August 23rd. No wonder!!! Mercury retrogrades commonly affect things like communication, travel, and technology, and these effects can be annoying. But they're not without purpose. Planetary retrogrades give you the opportunity to clear out things in your life that no longer serve you. (lovetoknow.com)
Today’s extra-special Five of Swords can have you fearful of re-experiencing pain so you keep a smile on your face and tell everyone you “FINE!” However, you’ll eventually experience the energy depletion that comes from such posturing not to mention the effect posing has on those around you. A complicated façade is wearying to maintain and endure.
This need for declaring yourself “all good” is probably coming from psychic attack or negative mental energy from outside sources in one’s home, workplace, or community. On the other hand, the negativity may not be from an outside source but is coming from within (because we all know how we beat ourselves up over the slightest thing). Fear of failure, not having the right tools, self-doubt, self-defeat, disappointment, and humiliation all stem from feelings of inadequacy and being less-than.
Reach out for help if the negativity is internal. If it’s coming from the outside, find out the problem, acknowledge any fault of your own, and try to actually solve the problem rather than just gossiping about it.
September 7, 2023: Card O' the Day: Two of Swords, reversed. I promise, I really am shuffling the deck well before I draw a card, but sometimes lingering energy kicks out the same cards. This time, the previous “fence sitting” energy has shifted and you’re beginning to move out of the doldrums.
There was an uneasy balance of power you were resisting but with the reversal of the Two of Swords, you break the peace, take action to end complacency and superficial accord, and tear off the blindfold to look at disturbing issues that require decisions. When you’re figuratively knocked over and the balance between the intellectual/emotional forces is disturbed, deeper truths will be revealed as you opens your eyes to reality. You may discover you’ve been living a lie but at least now you can get on with seeing the truth and begin the process of authentic communication.
That said, there are such things as lost causes, and there may be no possibility of resolution to the current problem. This reversed Two could indicate the failure of a friendship, marriage, or important business partnership or relationship or financial loss due to bad speculation. Such suffering can be very emotionally taxing, even shattering. However, recognizing the problem for what it truly is will help you make decisions going forward.
September 6, 2023: Card O' the Day: Four of Wands, reversed. The Four of Wands is a very balanced and benevolent energy, but when reversed that energy can be a little disconcerted. (We seem to be having difficulty getting on a smooth path. One day all systems are go, the next we’re beset with interferences.)
On occasion the reversed Four signifies becoming too attached to material concerns or allowing complacency to slow one’s progress as one falls into a boring routine. Artistic creativity is reduced to commercial manufacturing or intimacy with one’s partner becomes mere gymnastics. Such monotony leads to dissatisfaction and ennui.
A-HA! The reversed Four is reiterating the Eight’s advice to remember “eat, sleep, and play” lest your current projects, relationships, or hobbies become soul-less rote activities.
September 5, 2023: Card O' the Day: Eight of Wands. Three days ago we had the Eight of Wands, but it was reversed. That reversal indicated a lot of little things could go wrong and miscommunication would be an issue. When upright, the card assures us something is being set in motion during an exciting and all-consuming period of activity and change projected for the future.
With the inevitability of this card, you’ll get a lot done in a short time, so strike now and take advantage of this smoothly flowing energy because it won’t last forever. This type of dynamic swiftness demands quick reactions. Fortunately, the power inherent in this card is non-violent, meaning any conflicts won’t be combative or cause strife with others. The appearance of this high energy and action card means you’ve probably made a decision regarding whatever you were sitting on the fence about with yesterday’s Two of Swords.
Now, just because things have hit high gear, don’t underestimate the power of a well-placed pause. Don’t over-do it with “the big thing” and turn a loved activity into drudgery. Remember to care for your body (eat well, sleep enough, play) so you have the stamina to ride the wave all the way.
September 4, 2023: Card O' the Day: Two of Swords. Feeling unable to take action or make a decision, you deliberately avoid the problem through procrastination, ambivalence, vacillation, and a reluctance to commit to a choice. You feel stuck between two equally unappealing options and so sit on the fence out of fear of upsetting the fragile balance you’re desperate to maintain (better to stick with the devil that you DO know, right?).
While a temporary, uneasy peace may be reached, to truly resolve the issue, the status quo must be broken before energy can move forward again. Waiting for the circumstances to change before taking action is pointless because the unresolved issues have to be dealt with eventually. You’ll need to face some fears or admit some ugly truths to break through the stalemate, confusion, and opposing forces.
Therefore, stop flailing and grinding gears, decide where you want to go, and then figure out how to get there. It’ll take less work than your current avoidance and floundering.
September 3, 2023: Card O' the Day: Six of Swords. The Six of Swords is governed by Mercury (the planet of communication, reason, skill, intelligence, and verbal expression [soooo fortunate after the reversed Eight’s muddled messages]) aligned with Aquarius (sign of free spirit and hope). This alignment creates a balance because the mind is communicating with the soul.
This card also speaks of endings much like the Death card of a couple days ago. We’re advised not to just passively allow unfortunate cycles to pass but to set our sights on the future and actively leave unpleasantness behind. Move beyond mental boundaries and deploy new methods of reasoning to actively resolve issues as you face changes and move towards new ideas and possibilities.
Certainly, there may be some feelings of sadness and loss that things didn’t work as hoped but at the same time there’ll be relief and freedom that “THAT’s” over. Take along only what belongs in the new life, leave all old worries and upsets behind, and let prevailing negative thoughts and self-consciousness go. This transition (physical, material, emotional, or intellectual) will be positive and ultimately soothing and you can hope for steady progress as the difficult times recede both temporally and spatially.
September 2, 2023: Card O' the Day: Eight of Wands, reversed. This card is primarily one of high energy and action but when reversed, the Eight can indicate troubles barring the way or that you’ll run headlong into problems during a moderately adverse period. A burst of little things go wrong all at once causing delays, cancellations, and postponements.
On the other hand, said troubles may be more emotional in nature as agreements fall into dispute causing quarrels and friction. Creative tensions may cause stings of conscience, rivalry, or jealousy that makes working together extremely difficult.
Traditionally, this card is one of “receiving messages.” But its reversal means messages are murky or you’re struggling to receive them. This will result in communications going awry, which then leads to perceived deceptions.
September 1, 2023: Card O' the Day: Ten of Wands. Like Death, 10s speak of endings, which of course then allow new beginnings!
The current situation of severe force and destructive energy is a call to look at how you got to be in a situation of being overloaded. Did you piled on obligations through an obsessive pursuit of power, achievement, status, or recognition? Have you become overbearing to those around you because of the overwhelming need for continued success? Regardless whether the pressures and burdens are coming from the outside or are self-created, eventually you’ll react with anger and resentment against those who rely upon you or who you serve.
What started as a good idea has proliferated through overconfidence into too many projects or iterations of a single concept. Betrayed by your ambitions and caught in a self-created or unplanned quagmire of problems and challenges, the responsibility and obligations of maintaining all that’s needed to keep things running smoothly depletes your virility and represses innate vitality. These unnecessary and distracting expectations from family, your boss, or the government will kill your enthusiasm and creativity for the original project. This card indicates it’s clearly time to release current burdens and responsibilities because Force has become detached from its spiritual source.
August 31, 2023: Card O' the Day: Death. I’ll remind you the Death card in the Tarot deck doesn’t mean anyone’s dying. No need to panic. The body aspect of Death is exhaling lungs. When you’re afraid, you tend not to breathe fully. Breathe to be present and be present to make the necessary changes Death is advising.
Physically (which includes, jobs, living arrangements, people in your life, and anything tangible) Death in dictates a major transformation is coming. “Death” is coming to an old way of being. You’re being asked to totally transform everything you believe yourself to be when they’re based on material trappings like your house, car, the clothes you wear, your friends circle, and the stuff you rely on for your status. Surrender yourself to the changes and release the “keeping up with the Kardashians” ego.
Emotionally this card indicates you’re attached to an old way of thinking but you can’t lie to yourself and pretend it’s all good anymore. The truth of your pain must come out. This is where you forgive Self for not being perfect and ask for help.
Spiritually speaking, Death is pointing out that your spirit self is being overridden by ego and the desire for stuff and status. Your spirit wishes to grow but ego wants to stay put. Allow your spirit guide you through changes that’ll ultimately prove to be good.
August 30, 2023: Card O' the Day: The Empress. Nobody looks after herself the way The Empress does. I believe she’s appeared today to give us permission to stand up for ourselves and needs. The Ten of Swords came the other day to help you release old mind-sets and beliefs (’tis better to give than receive, give until it hurts, think of the “other guy” first) and for once put on your OWN mask first (like they tell us on airplanes if the oxygen drops from the overhead).
And WHY must we be as open to receiving as much as giving? To retain our psycho-emotional and Karmic equilibrium! If you give more than you receive day in and day out, you’ll start getting cranky and resentful.
The Empress is masterful at self-care, appreciates the simple pleasures of daily existence, allows herself to “eat cake” without guilt, and thus is never depleted because she accepts as well as she gives. Her appearance is a request that we be generous with care of self and others, forgiving of our own humanity, and to be abundant and even a little decadent. Tap into the area of the psyche where the self is nurtured and where you receive inspiration and self-aware intelligence.
August 28, 2023: Card O' the Day: The Star. Well durned if’n we’re not gittin’ all the heavy hittin’ cards all in a pile! The High Priestess encouraged us to listen to our instincts, The Magician gave us a goodly shove forward, and yesterday’s Ten urged us to cleanse ourselves of unnecessary negative energy.
Today, The Star casts a cool, clear light of creative imagination and inspiration and encourages the free spread and exchange of all ideas within our tribes. Therefore, the timing is right for you to become involved in a good cause or dedicate yourself to a long-range vision that’s ahead of its time.
The Star indicates good omens and bright prospects. She opens a chance for a joyful transformation as more synchronicity happens and you meet more people who think like you and can help achieve collective goals. Energy encouraging positive changes abounds for fortuitous opportunity, which will manifest new ideas, creativity, inspiration, and a chance to start over. The future impact of these happy circumstances suddenly coming available, providential help, the influence of the macrocosm, or the light of Nature will be discernible shortly. Don’t miss this gift of positive energy!
August 27, 2023: Card O' the Day: Ten of Swords. Okay, stop panicking. Many people associate this card with disaster much like the Death and Tower cards. However, I’m asking you to release the judgment of “good” or “bad” in order to better recognize the beauty and necessity of endings and grasp the harmony of the whole. (“Endings” because this is a 10 and tens indicate endings.) Find and choose positive thoughts, surrender to what is, live life in joy, and don’t allow yourself to feel like a “victim” just because something is over.
This is your chance to remove what’s not working well such as old beliefs, thought patterns, or ways of thinking that no longer serve your highest good. Once the old Self dies, along with accumulated anger and internal anguish, love and forgive yourself enough to set free all associated negativity, find closure, and heal. As the unpredictable winds of change help clear the horizon, you’ll be able to see the future direction to take.
What may feel disastrous in the moment is actually a gift as you separate from those who no longer allow you to be authentic, problems gets solved, or an extremely stressful situation passes. But that leaves room for new beginnings and a chance at evolution! With transformation imminent, you’re ready to grab opportunities, entertain productive ideas, and see the end as a way to create a melding of dark and light.
August 26, 2023: Card O' the Day: The High Priestess (again). Well then! I guess the High Priestess DOES want me to get into her metaphysical definitions. Never mind the enteric neurons of your gut….
The appearance of this card signifies you have a heightened awareness of secret or hidden information or are learning to see the light of a truth you haven’t been ready to see. (That’s what happens when you start listening to your gut!) You're encouraged to be open to all sides of yourself and look upon the things of which you’re afraid. (Like, maybe you’ll fail.) This unconscious “knowing” will be expressed in symbols within your intuition, dreams, inner wisdom, or visions and you’ll enhance your Whole Self through incorporating it into your conscious, rational Self. (As in, you’ll finally get the message and start doing something about it.)
Couple this “knowing” with the dynamic forward force of the recent Magician and I feel like some of you are getting ready to launch a “big thing.” This will be something you’ve thought about for a while but never quite dared to do because you feared you couldn’t do it or the timing wasn’t quite right. A few days ago we received the Six and Seven of Wands; this Fire energy tells me the timing is good so go ahead and risk it.
August 24, 2023: Card O' the Day: The Magician. This card is indicative of beginnings with very strong forward motion so it’s a good time to organize your thoughts and put a sense of determination and order into any plans. You might have already taken a step closer towards a goal as the power of inspiration to start a project or life phase rises. If nothing concrete has yet taken place, you’re impelled with the type of excitement that sustains you to reach goals during a period of rapid-fire, maniacal receiving opens doors all at once and nothing is opposed to a new action or beginning.
The Magician also represents all questions of employment, work, and profession. Combined with the “new projects” energy, you might be cultivating, preparing, or refining materials as the first stage of a larger enterprise. This endeavor may relate to your studies towards a professional goal or the renewal or enhancement of knowledge in your chosen field. (But don’t allow your new “book learning” or concrete reasoning to interfere with the purity of your vision.)
August 23, 2023: Card O' the Day: Four of Cups. Expect profound healing and oracular wisdom as one ruminates, daydreams, and organizes things in the imagination. As sensitivity is enhanced, permit dreams and intuition free rein to help expand perspective and renew a desires.
Nature abhors the vacuum of stagnation and many opportunities are within grasp. It’s time to shake things up, challenge previous assumptions and fantasies, and start something new. You may hesitate when faced with fortuitous openings, but growth requires change and a little daring. Don’t stay stuck in place out of fear or apathy.
August 22, 2023: Card O' the Day: The High Priestess. The High Priestess reminds us to listen to subtle messages. Your intuition can only happen when you slow down and pay close attention to life’s nuances. This card’s appearance today allows me to share something I read recently about our “gut feelings/reactions/instincts” that has nothing to do with “woo-woo” or anything metaphysical. It’s pure science and anatomy.
The enteric nervous system or intrinsic nervous system is one of the main divisions of the autonomic nervous system and consists of a mesh-like system of neurons that governs the function of the gastrointestinal tract. (Wikipedia) (There are MORE sensory neurons in this system than there are in your brain!) This extensive network uses the same chemicals and cells as the brain to help us digest and to alert the brain when something is amiss (your famous “gut” instinct to nope out of a situation). (https://hms.harvard.edu › publications-archive › gut-brain)
Isn’t it amazing that what so many ignore or poo-poo as nonsense is actually scientific fact? So the next time your gut whispers a little something to you, listen and don’t let your head talk you out of it. The gut never lies….
August 17, 2023: Card O' the Day: Seven of Wands. Fire energy continues to build with the Seven today. The Six helped us feel more able but you may be feeling a wee nervous about the strong push forward. Kind of like standing on your surf board when catching a wave…you’re pretty sure you’ve got this but the immense weight and power of the water under your board gives you butterflies in your stomach.
This card may indicate a crisis of your own judgment or a feeling of being completely overloaded as external influences don’t seem to support your intentions. This is normal but you must have courage and persistence in the face of adversity. Present yourself during trials with assertiveness, composure, and confidence and learn the art of the façade or bluff. (The old “fake it until you make it.”)
To win this inner or external battle, it’ll require change, evolution, and trimming of the fat. This may mean doing things differently than the established way, but trust your innovations and gut. You can do this…and if you can’t, embrace the valuable lessons from the failure and try again.
August 16, 2023: Card O' the Day: Six of Wands. Personal epiphany time; I’m sorry to be injecting my own thoughts and journey into what’s supposed to be for everyone. Earlier this summer I required surgery YET AGAIN on my right arm. The recovery time and necessary limited activity kinda sorta p*ssed me off and dimmed my personal “spiritual light” in the process. Here’s the epiphany: I can’t be spiritually connected and open when my physical body is not whole.
A couple days ago we had the Six of Wands reversed, which indicated muddy communication that would throw a wrench in our plans. I see now this INCLUDES muddy communication within yourself! The reversed Six was followed by Strength, which gave us encouragement and a little ass-kicking. Now we’re back to the UPRIGHT Six and all its magic:
Signifying the manifestation of Ki/Chi/Qi, we’re asked to align with Nature, Earth, and Spirit and share the sudden illumination and brilliance while remaining grounded. With drama over, the sense of self is fortified for having had an experience in which our moxie was tested. Reflect upon and appreciate your goodness and strength at doing right by yourself despite everything!
August 15, 2023: Card O' the Day: Strength. Strength signifies a turning point between your instinctive physical energy (ego) and your higher spiritual energy. Your ego, which can be highly dangerous and destructive if allowed free rein (think sociopaths), is at the same time the beginning of your unique individuality. Therefore, you must learn to steer the selfish impulses coming from your lizard brain towards acting in concert with your divine conscience.
With the emergence of a personal “governor” and its expression—thinking/speaking for yourself—you develop a nuanced self mastery where higher and lower Self are not in conflict with desires (because you’re still allowed to have desires!). In this psychological transformation, energy of the unconscious is released and tamed by conscious understanding through self-examination. Intuitive insight allows you to feel your inner permanence, firmness of character, assertion, maturity, quiet fortitude, and strength of will to face yourself honestly.
Genuine strength doesn’t need to be an asshole or one-up anyone else. Genuine strength is quietly confident, caring, generous, and doesn’t need to prove a thing as you move forward in your life.
August 14, 2023: Card O' the Day: Six of Wands, reversed. Now that we’re lurching towards collaborative actions and projects again, clear communication among the group members is vital but the upright Six of Wands’ messages devolve into miscommunications when reversed. Said crossed wires will stymie your actions, thus causing delays, deceleration, and/or abandonment of projects.
As important news or deliveries are waylaid, you may feel like your hot plans will be claimed by adversaries because you couldn’t get your ducks in a row first. You may be tempted to backpedal and try to resist or reject a commitment to reduce damages or save face.
However, forward motion, trust in your decisions, and prudent planning must be allowed to move through this troubling situation. Meaning, don’t give up at the first sign of trouble.
August 11, 2023: Card O' the Day: Three of Pentacles (again). WHUT!?!?! I swear I shuffled…. So what’d we miss. Earlier this spring and summer, a lot of the cards were suggesting trouble with groups and that it might be a good idea to work/live a little more independently. Group think, traditions, “this is the way we’ve always done it”, etc. got stale and you were looking for ways to express yourself closer to what really resonated with you, never mind what others said or thought. Then we spent some time understanding those personal tenets and getting really comfortable in our own skins. The Three’s appearance two days in a row suggests it’s time for collaborations and possibly joining a group of like minded seekers.
This card can indicate collegiate teamwork, the value of working with others, or that it’s time to build a group to achieve a common goal. But it’s also metaphoric and may represent the ideal of people working together to create, getting or seeking help from others, harmonizing all factors, the exuberance combined with industry that fosters inspiration and enthusiasm within a group work or play environment, or celebrating the joy of joint adventures.
Everybody in the group has a vital role, is connected, and brings their ideas to the successful effort. This requires you to honestly recognize personal strengths/weaknesses and work with others who complement your own skills to create something no single person could've successfully done alone. Therefore, be open to giving/receiving guidance, assistance, or critique and communicate effectively with the others in the group to build efficiency. All the friendly cooperation and the utilization of group skills will lead to works of beauty, meaning, and inventive purpose.
August 10, 2023: Card O' the Day: Three of Pentacles. When you combine resources, inspiration, knowledge, and experience, you create your best work. But true wellbeing comes from knowing your Self and walking through open doors rather than pushing too hard on those that are closed. Therefore, if you tie your personal worth to seeking the impossible, receiving this card may be a reminder to use a balanced approach to projects.
This card represents the material establishment of the idea of “Universe” and work as spiritual development. The best work combines technical skill, practicality, and spiritual understanding with energy and desire, raises you to higher levels, and serves as a vehicle for self development. After you’ve laid a solid foundation—the most critical part of any endeavor—the rest of the work will follow with less effort.
August 9, 2023: Card O' the Day: The Empress. The creative energy of yesterday’s Nine of Wands has no direction or focus…yet. Nevertheless, thanks to The Empress of today, this vital impulse of growth represents great intelligent activity, the capacity to adapt, and enormous potential for exceptional regeneration.
The Empress is significant of life renewed and enriched by spiritual awareness, beauty, sensitivity, creative projects bearing fruit, a project nearing completion, or other material benefits, as well as practicality, and a concern with the details of everyday life. She’s shrewd, authoritarian, forceful, open-minded, and opportunistic, with her decisions based on facts. She represents all that’s possible and the richness you deserve, inspires you to bring faith and beliefs into the physical realm, and to take what’s been learned and make it real.
With the Nine’s energy and The Empress’s brains and creativity, I suspect you can make your plans real!
August 8, 2023: Card O' the Day: Nine of Wands. This card represents driven and dynamic energy with a stronger and increased light. However, these gifts can be fiery, unstable, and are potentially very dangerous.
It’s a great strength to know your weaknesses, learn to accept, and love them anyway. This card indicates achievements through hard work, determination, independence, force, or great power intensified with direction but you’re having trouble accepting such accomplishments and feel as though you don’t know what the hell you’re doing. Without a map, you can’t see the next steps necessary or feel uncertain or unstable about any of the possible avenues. (Welcome to life! NO ONE knows for sure what they’re doing but give it a whack!)
However, training, development, and discipline result in moral and spiritual character and courage in the convictions that’ll aid in handling any hardships. Caution, judgment, and wisdom suggest the need for careful assessment, reevaluation, and attentive pruning to determine whether walls are blocking the good as well as the bad. It may be necessary to make adjustments or overcome objections before completion and success can occur after boldly meeting opposition. Have faith, pay heed, protect oneself, and persevere, because one will come out on the other side both internally and externally accomplished. (Which can’t happen if you don’t even TRY!)
August 7, 2023: Card O' the Day: Judgment. Judgment is the courage to look at yourself and recognize what’s lacking. BOO-ya! Spank! Talk about getting down to the nitty-gritty and doing the really hard work. The other “hard work” is actually doing something about those lacks in character but as they say, recognizing there IS problem is most of the effort. Then, as consciousness moves from ego to the heart and spirit, compassion can be felt for others as well as the Self. Old judgments fall away and anger and hatred fade into the past.
The appearance of Judgment indicates you’ve arrived at a place of awareness, discernment, good health, and adaptability where old belief systems no longer hold you rigid and inflexible thereby blocking any progress. Confident but humble, driven but not rushed, grounded but also divinely guided by sound judgment, and ego satisfied with the needs of lower self met, you’re on the way to becoming the truest, best version of Self.
Share this new-found clarity and wisdom with others who’re also searching for doorways into peacefulness. It’s now your turn to be a guide and mentor to the level you’ve come to understand. Take pride in your accomplishment but remember there’s always another’s soul more evolved so don’t get too cocky.
August 6, 2023: Card O' the Day: Queen of Cups, reversed. After receiving yesterday’s dodgy Five of Swords, reversed, and all the recent urging to treat yourself well, live your own dreams, don’t let others dictate your life, etc., it’s very tempting to hide your love or deny emotions altogether and alienate yourself from others like the reversed water Queen. Her influence can make you rigid, lack empathy, appear moody, and be hypersensitive to criticism.
However, this isn’t good either. You need to find balance between looking out for Number 1 and becoming an asshole who ONLY looks out for Number 1.
A healthy aspect to the reversed Queen is being sharp and competent, letting no one take advantage, overcoming illusions about others and yourself, and refusing to be swept away by conflicting emotions or succumbing to feigning maneuvers. Rather than engaging in petty contests of “who’s right”, be direct, honest, and above all kind. (Remember Patrick Swayze in “Roadhouse”? Be nice even as you’re throwing the drunk yahoos out the door.)
August 5, 2023: Card O' the Day: Five of Swords, reversed. You’ll notice the focus of the last few days is about getting ourselves sorted out and getting good with who we are so that we can be strong, fulfilled, and independent beings who can live well despite rough patches. Those who’re too concerned with what others think or do and measure themselves against the “Joneses” will suffer more acutely than those who have more self-assurance.
Today’s reversed Five represents the ability to cognitively focus on what’s good and true for you despite the feelings of others. An extreme example of this may be you deciding you have to leave your family/church/community to embrace a partner/career/lifestyle that’s “unacceptable” in their eyes. With this realization of Truth, you can leave a toxic (to you) environment.
While you may experience despair after bitter defeat or losses, the reversal of this card represents the recovery and aftermath of the situation. It’s possible for rifts to be repaired, amends made, and the air cleared, so look beyond painful facts and see what can be salvaged from the situation. Correct any misunderstandings to avoid emotional upsets and recognize the potential for spiritual growth after such strife.
August 4, 2023: Card O' the Day: The Lovers. The Lovers returns to us after a week of exploring emotions-based cards. This card takes a more rational approach to feelings and the concept of love. While reason controls and contains, passion breaks down all limits. Therefore, the appearance of this card indicates you’re entering a new sphere of deeper understanding about yourself and emotions.
The Lovers is a prompt to question your emotional state and learn the first and foremost lesson of love: to love thyself. Express feelings freely, be true to yourself, follow the heart, and be accepted for who you truly are as you come “home” to Self. Others will be drawn near when you’re fulfilled and so you’re urged to do what YOU’re passionate about. (This’ll make you the most interesting person in the room and vastly attractive).
August 2, 2023: Card O' the Day: The Empress. In alignment with yesterday’s Ace of Cups and its new emotional directions, The Empress’s raw feelings combined with earthy sensuality make for an intensely passionate approach to life. Her presence signals a time of diving into life through feeling and pleasure rather than intellectual or moral consideration.
This leads to satisfaction and understanding gained, emotional well being, and the ability to embrace life in hard times to trust that love will transcend suffering. However, if analysis IS necessary, it can mean a stubborn emotional approach that’s reactionary and irresponsible with self-indulgent pleasure or the refusal to consider facts where restraint is needed.
August 1, 2023: Card O' the Day: Ace of Cups. The Ace of Cups represents a gift of physical healing through love’s curative waters. Thus the appearance of the card in a reading may represent the need for self-care and that it’s an appropriate time to consult a healer, therapist, or support system.
As an Ace, this card represents new beginnings or a time of welcome change. This card is the most powerful of the emotions cards and can indicate upheaval, new feelings replacing old, challenge and transformation, turnabout in emotions towards another, or a total reversal of values.
Therefore, be alert to nurture what’s being manifested through a new stage of life, idea, or opportunity on emotional, psychic, or familial planes. You’re permission to act with determination because results will be satisfying as old restrictions slip away, you have the mental space to think things through, and all the good comes together.
July 31, 2023: Card O' the Day: Six of Swords. The Six of Swords represents having adapted to troubles, which can be a good thing. However, if your difficult situation has carried on for so long that you don’t even feel the pain anymore and you function without ever attacking the problem, then we’ve got issues. These circumstances will NOT change for the better by themselves and your only option is to move on. It’s necessary to change your viewpoint to avoid solutions that only bring dissatisfaction, stagnation, or instability. Deploy new methods of reasoning to actively resolve what’s going on.
Leaving your comfort zone can be unsettling—especially if it’s involuntary—but change is necessary for evolution. Accept help to overcome adversity and escape danger to seek safety and refuge with dignity and calmly made decisions. (A covert plan might be called for.) It’s now time to understand the wisdom of giving up because you can’t stay in this environment without suffering serious harm.
There’ll be feelings of sadness and loss that things didn’t work as hoped but at the same time there’ll be relief and freedom. Take along only that which belongs in the new life, leave all old worries and upsets behind, and let prevailing negative thoughts and self-consciousness go.
July 29, 2023: Card O' the Day: Princess of Cups. The mood of self-reflection and self-improvement continues as we’re being advised to engage in a little self-care to become more energized, inspired, and refreshed physically and spiritually. Explore your inner world through meditation with no outside demands, responsibilities, or desires to disturb that quiet contemplation. All this will help you to create your own situation of happiness, loving relationships, and success.
As a Princess/Page of the Tarot, this card signifies a timid beginning destined to evolve positively and therefore you’re encouraged to be more vulnerable and to embrace something of which you’re a little unsure. This includes love or friendship. What with the recent Lovers and today’s emotionally pure Princess, it hints that interactions with others are going to become more important in the coming weeks.
As you stand on the threshold of spiritual maturation through connections, struggles, or contemplation, you’ll discover new feelings and attachments starting with those of self-love and respect.
July 27, 2023: Card O' the Day: The Lovers. Yeah, yeah, yeah The Lovers portends of mad romances and living happily ever after, right? Sometimes…. But more deeply and in alignment with the recent reassessments of our values, today The Lovers represent the moral responsibilities taught by The Hierophant as they’re applied to human interactions. Having explored the tenets of established society with the innocence and idealism of childhood, it’s now time for self-examination to define your individual values originating in the depths of your consciousness.
Once the superconscious is free from ego, desire, and attachment, it suggests a path of moral integrity where you begin to make choices from a spiritual level. This can help you experience your higher Self once you get past the gender-role stereotypes and fantasies presented in your local culture or religion.
By looking beyond surface social conformities, you’re able to see the hand of Spirit in everything and feel blessed by the divine experience of being human.
July 25, 2023: Card O' the Day: Three of Swords. Many associate the Three of Swords with emotional agony, betrayal, or heartache. While this is often true—because our hearts and minds are very closely intertwined—today I’m not feeling the “typical definition” for this card.
As with all the Swords cards, intellectual activity is present. The Three’s numerological energy gives enthusiasm to said intellect that easily combines with a passion for studying, reading, and desire for intellectual development. In such an excited state, you might conclude certain old belief systems no longer serve and are ready for the scrap heap (hello, reversed King of Pentacles anyone?).
However, the still immature and unrealized intellect and intuition act spontaneously and discern no difference between believing and knowing as fanatic primary ideas, lightning realizations, or first opinions rocket around in your head and come flying out your mouth. While the ideas and plans to be implemented are good, pay attention and make corrections when given the opportunity to do so.
July 24, 2023: Card O' the Day: King of Pentacles, reversed. Yesterday’s reversed Seven of Pentacles indicated plans weren’t going well and— because we’re talking “physical world” here—that means money is also affected. The discontent over your money situation continues with the reversed Earth King.
Those worries may be slight such as frustration at not balancing the checkbook, suffering an inability to fathom finances or taxes, or feeling overwhelmed and unsure about managing or taking care of your valuables. Finances could be sluggish or normally sharp business acumen is off. (Which jibes fully with the “meh” attitude of the reversed Seven.)
The good news is the ordinarily materialistic King of Pentacles, when reversed, starts to actively work to oppose misuse of resources, life, and spiritual energy. Meaning, the lethargy is lifting and you’re ready to start figuring things out. This will lead to inner security, contentment, and wellbeing as you reconsider whether amassing money is the only goal worth having. You may do that by overthrowing materialistic tenets or stepping away from long-held beliefs you learned as a child.
July 23, 2023: Card O' the Day: Seven of Pentacles, reversed. As July drags on and the oppressive heat and humidity make everyone cranky, you might also suffer pervasive dissatisfaction and feelings of entrapment that come from unfulfilling projects or commitments. You become increasingly impatient, restless, or inert in procrastination because you just don’t wanna!
With such unwillingness to work toward goals, things don’t go as planned and you feel like there’s always more to do to the point of exhaustion and overwhelm. However, despite such delays and poor prognoses, there WILL be growth, just perhaps not as fast or impressive as you’d like.
This cranky mood indicates a fracture between body and spirit and slavery to an arbitrary list of “must do’s.” It’s beyond time to return to being of service to Spirit and Self. (Translation from woo-speak: Take a day or two off and ignore the “list.” Reconnect with your soul, have a cheat day on your diet, binge-watch your favorite series, or take a nap. The point is to cut yourself some slack, rest, and start again tomorrow.)
July 21, 2023: Card O' the Day: Six of Wands. Because of the lingering injury to my arm, I must admit to having let the housekeeping go… ({{{CRINGE!}}}). I finally gave in, hired a service, and asked for a deep clean. The results were very much less than I had hoped for and I called the company to follow up. I could have thrown an absolute fit and left a scathing review, but I chose to speak to the manager and make it a “learning” moment for the company and crew. With drama over, the sense of my Self was fortified for having had an experience in which I could prove my integrity by taking the high road.
And that’s the point of the Six of Wands: it signifies the manifestation of Ki/Chi/Qi, to align you with Nature, Earth, and Spirit and share illumination and brilliance while remaining grounded and kind.
While the company offered to send someone back to “fix the problem”, I declined and achieved victory due to my own skill. Following the successful completion of my quest for a clean house comes glory! I’ve earned a healthy boost in self-esteem due to feelings of aptitude and ability after working very hard.
July 20, 2023: Card O' the Day: Four of Wands, reversed. Maybe some of you’ve noticed I haven’t been posting a Card O’ the Day recently…I’ve been very far from my spiritual center and have been wallowing in a fit of crankiness after having yet another operation on my arm. The resulting pain and disability—while no means permanent nor truly gawd awful—pushed me into a royal self pity party that I’m only just finding my way out of. Therefore, today’s reversed Four of Wands is completely appropriate and reflects what I’ve been struggling with.
When upright, the Four is a very balanced and benevolent energy, but when reversed that energy can be a little (ahem, or a LOT) disconcerted, thus allowing inhibitions and insecurities to surface (Oh! Ask me how I know!). This might manifest as getting dissatisfied, disorganized, or there are delays to the completion of a project (yep). Anxiety over incompletion because of unreliability, imbalance, or unreadiness has you rushing the work to be done. Or you don’t do it at all and guilt trip yourself to death over what an incompetent slob you are.
What to do? If you can afford it, hire someone to do the thing you simply can’t bring yourself to do. Or bribe a friend to help you. Or set a date one week from today and ignore the thing until then. (The down side to that is you DO have to do it in a week.) In the end, give yourself permission to wallow, guilt free, for a bit because we all need to throw the occasional temper tantrum after a big disappointment. But then pull up your Big Kid pants and get on with life.
July 11, 2023: Card O' the Day: The Star. Trust in Self and learn to be hopeful that at some point you’ll break through blockages and have the fulfillment and clarity that you want and need. When you can trust Self to make it through all challenges, then you’re truly free.
The Star represents hope, trust, freedom from pain, a ritual of cleansing and self-healing, and love. She is the light of the Higher Self.
Under the guidance of this card, you’ll feel more awake and open to all the options of life. You’ll learned to accept responsibility for actions and make the necessary changes to get back on the correct and true path. Finally, you can see the infinite avenues available.
July 10, 2023: Card O' the Day: Temperance (again). Temperance is back, but the message is in an entirely different vein as it was the other day. It’s speaking of how to find life-long feelings of security and peace to compliment yesterday’s Queen of Pentacles and her financial independence.
The body aspect of this card is the inhaling lungs. (The body aspect of the Tarot’s Death card is exhaling lungs; you forget to breathe when you’re scared.) Temperance follows Death in the order of the Major Arcana and encourages you to breathe deeply to create a new sense of energy and life force. This will help your meditative Feng Shui wherein you commit to tranquility, balance, harmony, moderation, and patience in order to maintain a feeling of security. You’re reminded to find joy in small accomplishments along your way because the journey is the actual goal where you learn about yourself.
The stones associated with this card stepped forward so feel free to get a couple small pieces to meditate upon and/or tap into their frequencies. Sapphire is said to focus and calm the mind as it brings prosperity and attracts gifts. Topaz is also a stone of good fortune that’s supportive of affirmations and manifestations.
July 9, 2023: Card O' the Day: Queen of Pentacles. In addition to all the nurturing aspects of the Queen of Pentacles, she also copes quite well in the material world. While representative of having material abundance, that doesn’t mean she's materialistic. This card is indicative of prosperity, wealth, luxury, and opulence, but also economic caution and thrift—this queen loves to hunt for and find a good bargain. Take care to look after finances, possessions, land, property, and conservation of nature, natural resources, and animals.
The appearance of this card indicates it’s time to safeguard or improve your standard of living, start a prolonged effort to guarantee material security, and become concerned about your own economic safety and material wellbeing. Therefore, you’re reminded to manage personal resources wisely and preserve things of value. Included in creative resource management is knowing when to weed out what’s no longer serving and to consider new directions to take for revitalized growth.
If you have no clue as how to plan for your financial future, make an appointment with a investment planner. Best money you’ll ever spend on yourself.
July 8, 2023: Card O' the Day: Five of Cups. When hopes have been overturned, plans go awry, and it seems nothing is going right, it may feel like you’re enduring a death-like ending when you’re hit with trouble or disturbances from unexpected sources. However, valuable lessons often come from such experiences if you’re willing to own your part in the circumstances. Failure or loss is more easily endured if it’s accepted as part of growth and change and you realize nothing is created without mistakes. Therefore, view the current unfortunate situation as a turn in the road that ultimately brings good.
While it’s very tempting to wallow in regret and melancholy over lost opportunities or departed serenity, it’ll only prevent you from making new and necessary starts. Continued denial of what’s passed or been lost translates into self-pity, self-blame, misery, and depression as you remain in the trench of “if only…” or stay on the “shoulda, woulda, coulda” train.
Focusing too much on losses or dwelling on what went “wrong” prevents you from seeing what remains and moving on with that or keeps you unavailable to appreciate any pleasures which do offer themselves at this moment. Therefore, shift attention from the past (loss) to the future (new gifts) and resist suffering for the sake of suffering.
July 7, 2023, Card O' the Day: Temperance. Sorry, folks, I try to keep my own energies separate from my cards when I do the Card O’ the Day but it looks like Temperance is a reminder for me today. I invite you to come along for the ride. For a bit of context, I’ll tell you I broke my arm rather badly last summer. The reparative process required plates to hold the bones of my forearm in place while it healed. Talented lass that I am, I managed to break the plate in my radius. This necessitated having that plate replaced last week. I feel as though my healing journey has been set back many months…. Which brings us to today’s lesson:
You may be managing, doing your PT, product testing, or making links and connections for facilitating a merger or combining resources to accomplish a particular purpose or goal (like, coming back from a broken arm). Changes and accommodations must be made as the big picture is more important than fine details. Keep the emphasis on balance: think “moderation” rather than “force” as you work with others (doctors and therapists) to create a unified whole. Consider the resulting stress as a creative challenge and errors as a blessing as one achieves success after elaborate maneuvers (LMAO!!!!!).
After all that effort, take heart and a deep breath, because the goal has not yet been reached (sh*t), although what’s required to continue is in sight. The appearance of this card is asking you to dig deep, find the energy for the final push, and acknowledges you’ve passed the first shadows in what you’re trying to master. Access hidden abilities and integrate the divergent aspects of Self as you connect divine wisdom to experiential knowledge through spiritual awakening and learning. Look back to see how far you’ve come, look around to enjoy the journey (insert eye roll), and understand the future will come when it damn well pleases.
July 6, 2023: Card O' the Day: Seven of Swords, reversed. The deceptions found in the upright card are darker and more sinister in the reversed. Malicious gossip, calumny, conspiracy theories, aggressive ideas that could destroy the world, or other toxic knowledge are used for cynical purposes. But such dishonesty, betrayed confidences, cunning, and covert manipulation will be revealed. Fortunately, you’re too honest by nature to go along with such dubious deeds and you decide it’s time to come out into the open and call attention to the nefarious actions of others.
Good advice, instruction, observations, or public announcements regarding impending warnings or reprimands demonstrate to others you’re ready to listen and seek solutions for those problems. With the right attitude and putting energy into correcting any missteps, you’ll receive the help, support, and assistance needed.
Rather than working alone, you may join forces with others in an effort for more serious and meaningful social change. (Again, working with others for the greater good of all.)
June 29, 2023: Card O' the Day: Four of Wands, reversed. WHUT!?!? So, the Four is back, but reversed….
The Four of Wands is a very balanced and benevolent energy, but when reversed that energy can be a little disconcerted, thus allowing inhibitions and insecurities to surface. This might manifest as getting dissatisfied, disorganized, or there are delays to the completion of a project. Anxiety over incompletion because of unreliability, imbalance, or unreadiness has you rushing the work to be done. (Hmmm. Recall the reversed Wheel of fortune we had recently and it’s caution about letting negative thinking and poor attitudes seep in resulting in self-sabotage.)
The “community” aspect of this card can be disturbed when reversed. Somebody in the group may be ready to leave the fold to join a new community. That’s their choice and they’re not leaving in disgust but to further their own career and happiness. Wish them well and appreciate the blessing of having had them on the team. In the end, don’t be afraid to let down your guard and reveal feelings to others to resolve anything troublesome within the tribe.
June 28, 2023: Card O' the Day: Prince of Wands, reversed. The already volatile energies of the upright Prince of Wands becomes completely unstable when reversed causing you to be foolhardy, charge ahead too fast, and indiscriminately scorch everything in sight. However, I feel the appearance of the reversed prince indicates you’re ready to rein in out of control fiery impulses and desires to make constructive use of them. All that energy can be effectively channeled if you try.
By stopping to enjoy the present, rather than perpetually focusing on future progress, you can see current small successes and appreciate them fully. This slower pace makes you more effective and allows for deeper experiences all around.
Review the reversed King of Wands from a four days ago. His message was similar in that tempering your aggressive energy and ceding control where you’re ineffective results in less waste and more focused efforts.
June 27, 2023: Card O' the Day: Four of Wands. On June 10th The Four of Wands appeared and it comes back to us today. If you recall, it encouraged you to join forces with others to be able to create something none of you could have done alone. Since then, we’ve received further persuasion to continue working with others despite the many pitfalls of blending ideas, egos, and abilities into what’s ultimately possible.
I’ll reiterate the key message from the previous post: [This card is] signifi[cant of] a heroic impulse that conquers fear and doubt and the courage and determination necessary to express the self. This card’s success comes from personal ability, driving ambition, and plans carefully laid and brought into being through great enthusiasm, strength, inspiration, intelligence, and self-assurance. It signifies particularly creative, balanced, and prosperous energy.
The cooperative and collaborative energy is still there, too: Upon the solid career/business foundation denoted by this card, you’re urged to consolidate personal ties and establish alliances with important contacts. A new direction is guided by passions and ideas to manifest in an external expression of success. Have confidence in the strong support system in place and take advantage any casual meetings to make more connections.
June 26, 2023: Card O' the Day: Temperance, reversed. When the card of balance and harmony is reversed, the most obvious definition is that something is out of balance, in conflict, or excessive and thereby creates stress. If your emotions are imbalanced and you’re overreacting, over compensating, lacking in compassion, or believing a situation has to be all or nothing (ahem…attitude?), such emotional turmoil could lead to quarrels, discord, and disagreements. When the harmony between different parts of Self or a group are disrupted, this could lead to lack of moderation, excess or deficiency, or disorder. You’re encouraged to calm down and avoid all extremes.
Alternatively, you may have an intuitive sense about the right combination of elements that are necessary to a situation, but are unable to put them into words or to convince others. Because of this, they may seem uncooperative and uncompromising, and that your interests and needs are competing or conflicting with everyone else’s. Such inability to effectively communicate may lead to discord, hostility, dissension within a group, or ugly competition between rivals.
On occasion, Temperance, reversed, may indicate you or members of your group are unwilling to discard something because there’s belief it may still be useful when it’s not. There’s danger present of failing to let old habits and fears die that must be allowed to leave. See the above paragraph about knowing what must happen but having trouble convincing others.
June 25, 2023: Card O' the Day: The Wheel of Fortune, reversed. The Wheel, reversed, is still a beneficial card, but its energy becomes unstable, and the unpredictability of outcomes increases. This could manifest in a superabundance of change with rapid growth, superfluity, expansion, and increases. It’s all happening too fast for any kind of planning and you may fear missing opportunities, have difficulty comprehending the inevitable sudden changes in life, or feel at the mercy of circumstances beyond your control.
You may be feeling anxious and ready for something new, but are blocked and stymied because a situation isn’t yet ripe and movement forward could be premature or reckless. Unfortunately, there is the necessity to move forward or risk stagnation or delayed changes that make circumstances even more precarious.
Mostly, the problem is with your attitude as negativity starts to creep in. Confusion, resistance to Fate, and an irresolute emotional core blocks vital action. Struggle against events is usually doomed, so stand firm, maintain courage and stamina, and learn from past rotations of The Wheel that nothing—good or bad—lasts forever.
June 24, 2023: Card O' the Day: King of Wands, reversed. Oh, well done! The reversed Fire King can be a total a**hole but on rare occasions, he can see the truth despite his ego.
It’s very difficult to recognize a lack of expertise and knowledge and relinquish control of a situation because your effective impact has been blocked, disturbed, or re-channeled, but the influence of this King is helping. If you’re feeling dissatisfied or uneasy about a situation, then continuing under those conditions is pointless as insignificant matters can become magnified or errors in judgment come to light that weaken your position further.
The reversal of this King indicates even without the loss of force, you can become tempered and more understanding. Bravo!
June 23, 2023: Card O' the Day: The Hermit, reversed. The Hermit, upright, indicates a desire for quiet alone time for reflection. Reversed means you don’t want to be alone. The appearance of this card is declaring the time has come to become more active and involved with others and enjoy the benefits of being more social.
The reversed Hermit is reiterating the need to be working with others to create something rather than trying to do it on your own. While you may have dreamed of accomplishing your plans by yourself, the cards of late suggest there’s power in numbers. After all, when you all succeed, you have each other to celebrate with! If you all stumble, there’s someone there to commiserate with you and lean on as you regroup and try again.
June 22, 2023: Card O' the Day: Six of Pentacles. All things are possible in this place of fertile energies and balanced power as unexpected gains of wealth and success in the material world come from concentration and focused labors. Through this unswerving self-discipline for long, hard work and the drive towards a goal with strength of character not to be deterred, you and your group can expect slow and steady success against strong odds and opposition. Receive this hard won material energy and enjoy it through a well-managed economy.
In addition to flowing material energy, this card represents the practical application of resources and energies to your dreams and the ability to have ready solutions to any problems before they arise. Understand that clarity in communication is essential, live by the motto “time is money”, establish a well-organized procedure to achieve your goals, and use caution with regard to speculation and other financial risks.
June 21, 2023: Card O' the Day: Prince of Cups. So, our hidden fears and insecurities were brought to light with the reversed Emperor, but the Prince of Cups has come to our rescue! He offers the gift of absolute trust in moving on to the next thing without any reservations. His appearance is an invitation to challenges or initiatives to be taken on with strength and will.
People influenced by the Water Prince are great with people; have a subtle, sparkling, diplomatic wit; and are wonderful friends. You may take the role of helping others to promote harmony, compliance, or an accord (see group efforts a la the Four of Wands and Two of Cups). Such meaningful “socializing” could actually be valuable networking, and therefore you’re encouraged to participate and listen to the ideas and opinions of others when they’re presented.
Up to now, said “group efforts” haven’t been defined and could be in any field. This Prince suggests you could be participating in music, dance, poetry, film, fantasy entertainment, or other artistic and creative activities. The Water Prince is also a great healer and protector and thus may signify involvement in counseling, catering to the needs of others, missionary work or other humanitarian undertakings, and/or varied spiritual and devotional practices.
June 19, 2023: Card O' the Day: The Emperor, reversed. This card indicates you may feel overburdened, overwhelmed, and insecure, which then prevents you from asserting control, you might vacillate over a decision, have difficulty exerting authority, can’t enforce rules or bring structure to a situation, or back away from a challenge. It’s also indicative of undermined confidence, lack of self-worth or strength, ineffectiveness, or immaturity. The reversed Emperor can be the personification of a weak-willed, lily-livered, submissive, unmanly coward, or one’s false pride.
Actually, that may be overstating things a bit…I think it’s more like the big “thumbs up” we got from the Four of Wands and Two of Cups is just a bit daunting. All this apparent weakness really stems from a loss of direction. Therefore, don’t take on any more responsibility at this time because a possible loss of control may occur. BUT ALSO, remember the Four and the Two bring collaborative energy…you’re not alone! Ask your teammates for help and reassurance.
June 18, 2023: Card O' the Day: Two of Cups. It would seem the Four of Wands’ energy of the last card continues with the Two of Cups. Today’s card emphasizes cooperation, teamwork, partnership, and sharing of gifts to create a whole. We can expect congenial, satisfying, and agreeable partnerships in business, friendship, or social situations that bring comfort and security.
When respectful give and take occurs with others, the parties enjoy a strong connection of reciprocal respect, complementarity, comprehension, and mutual benefit as each gains equally from the exchange. Each wants to give to the other so there are no insecurity-inducing games or excuses. By uniting separate qualities and abilities, both parties have something to offer that’s different but equal in value. They're then able to produce something beyond what either could’ve done alone. Any situation where there’s a meeting of the minds, hearts, and souls creates a fertile working relationship and close and fruitful friendships.
The essence of true friends who are mature, natural, and easy with each other mean there’s no urgency about the connection, no neediness, and no desire to change the other into something else. This influence of mutual love is a fundamental motivator for cooperation with others about choices, options, pledges of mutual agreement, innovative ideas, or seeing eye-to-eye on a collaborative venture. There’s a strong bond of trust, dependability and goodwill, and the good communication that parts of a whole enjoy as minds and hearts with the same intent are able to combine ideas and plans.
June 10, 2023: Card O' the Day: Four of Wands.
June 9, 2023: Card O' the Day: Death, reversed. When Death appears upright, it indicates unavoidable, inevitable change and not that somebody is going to die. When it’s reversed, it indicates a great struggle with, resistance to, or worry and distress about said change. However, by delaying, avoiding, or refusing to accept the ending of something and engaging in self delusion, you only prolong pain, distress, or other strong emotions and prevent necessary new growth. You might also experience inertia, excess sleep, depression, lethargy, stagnation, or constipation. You won’t be able to solve anything unless you’re willing to initiate the process of recouping what can be and letting go of the rest.
On the other hand, you might be emerging from the “dead” and are coming out of a period of sadness as death/rebirth becomes necessary and not merely a possibility. Something once thought to be over may show new life or what was considered “dead” could resurge or reemerge. While change is indeed coming, the reversed card indicates it’s not yet time or you’re blocked, thus giving you time to plan ahead and removed obstacles. (The “not just yet” energy continues….)
June 8, 2023: Card O' the Day: Prince of Swords. Under the influence of the impatient, impetuous, and headstrong Prince of Swords (coupled with the recent Wands energy), you may charge ahead without clear intent, not look where you’re going, and speed towards a goal or go for the quick fix. New ideas, relationships, or interests can suddenly supplant what was there before without thought for the ensuing disruption as you abandon current responsibilities for the next adventure or vision. You’re called to measure everything critically, think, analyze, and use discernment.
Therefore, we’re reminded to ground ideas in reality and be responsible for what’s created because the Sword Prince represents the struggle to sustain the plodding grunt work some projects require. Use subtlety in endeavors to grasp opportunities with the help of sharp vision, controlled momentum, and precise timing (recall the reversed Ace of Wands). Maintain vigilance while proceeding with a plan, and don’t allow impulsiveness to revolt against ideological compliance. Lastly, consider carefully whether you’re willing to see a project through to its end, otherwise time and resources will be wasted.
June 7, 2023: Card O' the Day: Ace of Wands, reversed. Even when reversed, the Ace of Wands indicates new beginnings are afoot and you’re ready, desiring, and yearning for change. However, the right opportunity has yet to come, a situation may be premature, or you’re not energized or prepared enough to move forward. (Check to be sure you don’t already have too much on your plate to start yet another thing.) You’d do well to reconsider plans and goals or set something aside for the time being because impatience is not the answer.
This might cause you frustration, doubt, hesitation, or a feeling of powerlessness, which leaves you reluctant to take on more work. Conversely, if you’re overly enthused, stimulated, or impulsive, it could lead to rash decisions or false starts. Such disordered energy can cause career delays, postponed decisions, or compromised situations unless steps are taken to readjust the governing energies.
June 6, 2023: Card O' the Day: Nine of Wands. Honor the conscious mind and unconscious soul, which are working in harmony and giving you clear direction for the future. Through self-examination, you’ll see beneath the surface lies and deceptions (including oyour own). Once you’re confident with plans, it’ll still be essential to maintain control. Scrutinize outside proposals offered and securely oversee projects and interests. Moderation and negotiation can put things in order and into a state of readiness with your determination to succeed. The resulting mature, advanced wisdom could possibly indicate stepping into a guardianship or leadership role.
Training, development, and discipline result in moral and spiritual character and courage in the convictions that’ll aid in handling any hardships. Caution, judgment, and wisdom suggest the need for careful assessment, reevaluation, and attentive pruning to determine whether walls are blocking the good as well as the bad.
Have faith, pay heed, protect yourself, and persevere, because you’ll come out on the other side both internally and externally accomplished. Fulfillment, inspiration, and purpose are just ahead so keep going!
May 28, 2023: Card O' the Day: The Magician. Recently, we’ve had a lot of Pentacles and have been urged to find the spiritual aspects contained in the material world. We’ve also been advised to get our ducks in a row and try to focus energies and thoughts. Apparently, The Magician has been at work this whole time.
As the director of the quest for “Self”, this card is the basis of “me”, “myself”, and “I” as you learn to contact the Life Force, find the hidden parts of yourself, and come to understand them to create your best life. The Magician helps us with self-knowledge, direction, conscious awareness, concentration, unity of thought and emotion, and the transformation that comes with all that juicy information. He represents our own gut-level “knowing” that helps us discern what’s really important—which isn’t necessarily what you think is important. Once you drop useless burdens and reminders of the past, fear of the future, and are absolutely present in the moment, you’ll find the concept of “home” as a quality of inner acceptance and relaxation rather than a place.
Making life choices in harmony with your deepest will shall bring an awareness of personal power and Spirit. This card is indicative of beginnings with very strong forward motion so it’s a good time to organize your thoughts and put a sense of determination and order into any plans. You’re urged to act now and not procrastinate as you have the option of going beyond possibility and moving into the reality of deeds and necessary choices or decisions.
May 25, 2023: Card O' the Day: The Empress. Representative of physical care and nurturing of the Self and others through love, acceptance, and forgiveness, this card encourages us to go back to basics by eating right, sleeping more, and enjoy life. Take family time, relax, and allow Earth’s energy to heal and balance life’s chaos. (Go hug a tree, run barefoot in your backyard, and/or hike a bit!) All things in nature are interconnected and Earth always supports the evolution of the soul.
The appearance of the Empress expresses our desire to protect and defend those who are important to us, show kindness to those less fortunate, learn to be emotionally available, and look to where we may be of assistance. All this can start with absorbing negativity and transmuting it for the good of the whole through your own Divine Light.
May 24, 2023: Card O' the Day: The Star, reversed. When upright, The Star asks you to get in touch with your inner guiding light, emotions, and sense of Self in order to understand how the outside world affects your psyche. Once reversed, you indeed recognize how the outside influences have injured you and so you react by holding back, have difficulty opening up emotionally, hide feelings, or turn away from offered calm and hope.
Bottling up emotions and closing yourself off can lead to skepticism or disbelief about the good in the world. Uncertain and thinking you lack talent, grace, or beauty, you deny your true gifts. Furthermore, self-esteem sinks and you’re unable to see yourself as a star.
This card indicates a loss of touch with sources of inspiration and that the imagination has dried up. Your clarity of vision is lacking, thereby making decisions scattered, unfocused, or delayed. Which then puts you in danger of allowing opportunities to pass out of inertia or lack of self-worth.
May 19, 2023: Card O' the Day: Eight of Pentacles, reversed. Lately, we’ve had a bunch of Pentacles in a row that ask you to reconnect with Spirit and your spiritual self as you reevaluate what you truly NEED to keep your skin suit safe and fed while you figure out what happiness means to you. But when you ignore all that and just pursue money and stuff, you risk the dangers of the reversed Eight of Pentacles.
Lack of a sense of spiritual purpose leads to meaningless, dead-end jobs or unsatisfying work that calls for no skill, personal involvement, or pride. It’s only redeeming value is the paycheck. In this atmosphere of spiritual lack, bills begin to weigh heavily, worry sets in, and you run up credit cards for retail therapy.
The good news is this card can indicate you’ve considered, or are engaged in, treatment to examine and work through old patterns that keep you stuck on the material treadmill. The mere act of reaching out to talk to a professional about any career dissatisfaction indicates your psyche recognizes you aren’t happy and are looking for answers on how to become so. I highly encourage this search because life is too short to stay stuck running after money and never achieving happiness.
May 18, 2023: Card O' the Day: Prince of Pentacles. In addition to all things material, Pentacles represent the spiritualization of the material world. The suit’s Prince offers a bridge to higher dimensions and freedom, safety while traversing space and time, and going beyond matter into creativity. In making something new or finding a new purpose beyond material considerations, you can achieve a higher state of awareness that opens new horizons.
The Prince of Pentacles represents being self-contained and free of attachments, letting go of expectations about self and others, and acceptance of what “is” and being okay with it. He has no need to hurry or seek shelter elsewhere because he recognizes he’s already “home” as he rests in the fullness of who he is.
His appearance today encourages you to make space for a new quality of stillness, take responsibility for any illusions you may be carrying about yourself, and, at the deepest core, remain at ease and centered. Don’t lose sight of the source and meaning of your strength of understanding abstract or metaphysical concepts that allow you to stay centered and connected to the material world while the mind and thoughts are free to roam.
May 17, 2023: Card O' the Day: Four of Pentacles, reversed. When the Four of pentacles is reversed, material slavishness is relinquished as you release earth energies, become more generous, and risk change. You let go of the need for absolute power, responsibilities that have been all-consuming, or strip away protections to express your true feelings.
It is time to reconsider what's really needed to feel secure. I’ll bet you’d be surprised at how much you can let go of and still have an abundant life. And I’m not talking just material wealth. Reconsider the need for control by being the chair of every committee in town, status by having the latest in fashion or electronics, or complete authority at work and at home.
No, you don’t have to let go of dreams and ambitions. You can still work towards becoming partner at your firm, getting a plumb promotion, or retiring early. What I’m suggesting is that you place less importance on material goals and spend more time gently being you. That’s truly enough!
May 16, 2023: Card O' the Day: Seven of Pentacles, reversed. Because the suit of Pentacles represents the spiritualization of matter and sevens are imbued with serious magic, when the Seven of Pentacles is reversed, it brings out the worst in both symbols. This reversed card indicates a fracture between body and spirit and slavery to economic voraciousness (meaning: greed for “stuff”). Destruction of the environment, drug cartels, and Big Pharma are a few examples of rampant scorn of Spirit and the overvaluation of material life on a global scale. It’s beyond time to return to work in being of service to Mother Earth.
You may think you, personally, can’t really make a difference but you can. Join volunteer groups that periodically clean up trash from roadsides. RECYCLE!!!! Not only household goods but used paint cans, tires, old solvents, etc. at the appropriate places. (Look for the “special recycle events” in your local newspaper.) Vote for green environmental legislation. Save water in drought stricken areas. If everyone does a little, collectively it becomes a lot
May 14, 2023: Card O' the Day: Princess of Pentacles, reversed. Today is my birthday so I asked Universe what I could draw for my coming year AND that which I could share with all of you. (Reminder: It’s also Mother’s day; call your moms.)
This card invites you to turn away from material matters and shift focus to the spiritual and ephemeral thereby giving your own inner sight more importance. You might do that through learning scrying, crystal gazing, how to use Ouija boards, or other esoteric studies. If you’re shy about this new passion, you may indulge it quietly by yourself. In any case, there’s a declaration of independence from trivial fixations to seek and find a new world of perception.
Now, the messages typically heralded by the appearance of the reversed Earth Princess include cancellation of plans or bad news, which actually would then allow relaxation after a difficult task has been completed! Nap time!!!!
May 12, 2023: Card O' the Day: Four of Swords. Oh THANK you, Universe. I was getting worried about our recent trend of demanding autocrats, divided loyalties among people who should be working together, and power struggles. The Four of Swords signifies calm, order, and the experience of things coming back to center to integrate and create a state of tolerance and serenity.
When you have the the intellectual maturity to know when vulnerability and surrender are more productive than argument and debate, you’re able to mindfully respond to the world rather than being governed by reaction. Take a step back from any conflicts to reassess the situation from a place of equanimity rather than the heat of contention.
With steady fearlessness, remove outside influential energy by working on breaking the ties that connect you—emotionally—to toxic people. Meaning, if your job depends on working with toxic people, CARING less about what they think of you will make their shenanigans less painful. Ditto with regard to people you must have in your life. For those you DON’T have to have in your life, dump ‘em.
May 11, 2023: Card O' the Day: The Hierophant, reversed. Whereas The Emperor is a leader of Earthly endeavors, The Hierophant is the leader of spiritual and cultural norms of civilizations. Think religious superiors, town managers, educational figureheads. But, of course, all such people are mere humans and when reversed, The Hierophant’s energy can go awry just as The Emperor’s. It would seem our trend of being challenged to swim against the tide continues.
This reversed card indicates someone with more power than you is being too rigid, dogmatic, or is clinging to outdated ideas or inappropriate principles. By clinging to unproved or improvable tenets with sheer blind faith, it shows ruts in thinking and rusty intellectual habits. You may be judging yourself harshly or are allowing others to judge and are accepting their censure or negative viewpoint. Beware of being dominated and manipulated.
Sometimes people are not the oppressors but circumstances or ideas create the prison. A path to a new venture, which looks exciting, might prove to be limited and restrictive and you’re cautioned not to get locked into a commitment. Listen to the whole story before making a decision because extra time and concentration is needed. This card may represent the concepts of hypocrisy, fanaticism, false knowledge, mistaken beliefs that interfere with the resolution of an issue, or rigid religious or spiritual dogma that stifles development and learning.
May 10, 2023: Card O' the Day: The Emperor, reversed. The Emperor, reversed, represents the autocratic, self-righteous tyranny of a not-so-benevolent “dictator” in your life who’s oppressive, totally self-centered, overly critical, and/or competitive. The boss/authority/team leader figure represented by this card leaves no room for alternate opinions. Expect from this person betrayed trust, abdication of support, inability to protect those they should, or not standing for important principles.
All the negative characteristics of power are present in this card and someone is misusing their superior position or intellectual strength to dominate others. Regardless of who or what is abusing power given, expect degeneration of the current circumstances.
You’re being faced with making a harsh decision and are struggling to carry it through (yesterday’s Two of Swords, reversed).
May 9, 2023: Card O' the Day: Two of Swords, reversed. We seem to be picking up right where the Two of Wands left off…
There’s been an uneasy balance of power, which you’ve been resisting, contained in the group dynamic of late. When this Two is reversed, you break the status quo, take action to end complacency and superficial accord, and tear off the blindfold to look at disturbing issues that require decisions. During the ensuing kerfuffle, deeper truths will be revealed as you open your eyes to reality. You might discover you’ve been living a lie, but at least now you can get on with seeing the truth and begin the process of authentic communication.
Loyalties within the group will become divided (some will want to keep the “same old, same old” just so they don’t have to change). This can result, intentionally or not, in lies, deception, treachery, superficiality, or misrepresentation among false “friends.” If disagreeable opposites are confined too rigidly without integration, those opposites become irreconcilable. The ensuing indecision and frustrated efforts may force you to take sides. To ensure you don’t pick the losing team, act only when fully satisfied with the facts and keep moving forward to put space between this energy and yourself.
May 4, 2023: Card O' the Day: Two of Wands. The number 2 suggests a conflict; the suit of Wands signifies fiery action and determination. You actually have the power to resolve this conflict through a new approach or well-timed, bold move. The necessary vitality and inspiration is present to find novel solutions around obstacles and you have ample inner resources to make wise, informed decisions. (See the recent Queen and Prince of Swords.) Doing nothing isn’t an option.
Unfortunately, an accumulation of desire has caused rivalry and opposing forces to arise thus creating the conflict. Someone may be trying to intimidate or influence others or cause confrontation in your work. Because this card indicates a collaboration, partnership, cooperation, alliance of forces, connection, or balance of power, one must use tact and be prepared to be open to discussion and negotiations (much like yesterday’s Three of Pentacles). Flexibility will bring the most promising results.
If there is any uncertainty when deciding about the next project, it’ll be cleared by careful deliberation, strategic planning, and evaluation. Gather important details regarding any agreements or transactions to establish your position now that can be expanded later. Look at several alternatives, pause, consult instincts, and consider all options before making the choice
May 3, 2023: Card O' the Day: Three of Pentacles, reversed. In the midst of all the soul-searching and mental gymnastics of the past few days, we’re also suffering job-related problems such as criticism, interviews and presentations going poorly, trouble with coworkers or superiors, plans and diagrams that contain mistakes, or having insufficient data or information. But because we ARE currently exploring within, we’re more likely to discover what, exactly, is unsatisfying in out lives.
Under the Queen of Sword’s nit-picky influence you may be polite to the point of abasement and approach all work with fussy meticulousness and intricacy in an effort to show off your superlative work ethic or brilliant ideas. However, due to a conflict between those who should be working together, you’re acting alone and feel unseen or unnoticed. Inexperienced or inefficient management means you’re asked to do the impossible, something dishonest, or hazardous or has you constantly looking over your shoulder.
Consider the intangible value of your livelihood and whether you’re doing what you love. Is it time to dust off your resume?
May 2, 2023: Card O' the Day: Queen of Swords. The Queen of Swords combines an ability to focus the mind with a powerful intellect capable of useful and effective ideas that are rational, astute, and scientifically sound. Personal strength, freedom, and independence of thought give you the feeling you can change the world as new concepts take form and plans begin developing. Fortunately, you’re capable of expressing yourself clearly and defending those plans with great stubbornness and conviction of beliefs.
The Queen’s (as well as the King of Cups’) influence allows us to temper honesty with wit, the ability to understand others’ emotions, and insight gained by courageously learning from one’s own painful experiences. But the incredibly high ideals inherent in this card are often used as a defense against being human and vulnerable to hurt. However, we have an immense capacity to bear sorrow without breaking! Through experiencing pain and facing it with courage, acceptance, and honesty, you’ll find the connection between sorrow and wisdom.
May 1, 2023: Card O' the Day: King of Cups. This card calls you to see clearly, assess honestly, know yourself, and claim authority. It champions self-exploration and encourages all to learn everything about themselves. So, while diving deep into your own emotional realm, stay present, maintain a no-nonsense approach to sentiments, strive to remain steady amidst natural waves of emotion, and keep an open mind in all things along the way.
Similar to the King of Wands, this card represents responsibility or commitments to society and leadership as the “maintainer of society.” Unlike the Fire King, the Water King places human relationships and love above all else and understands there’s no greater wisdom than kindness. His appearance today is encouraging us to accept people for who they are, take a mature and committed approach to relationships, and feel warmth and affection for others simply because they’re fellow humans.
The King is seen as a source of excellent advice and wise counsel. Therefore, receiving this card indicates you have the opportunity to act in a dependable, sensitive, loving, and compassionate way, or serving as a genial host, good friend, and confidant to others. You’ll anticipate and satisfy the needs of others, be a source of comfort, and give back what you receive
April 30, 2023: Card O' the Day: Prince of Swords. This card is indicative of revolutionizing energies, quicksilver ideas, sudden shifts in perspective, rapid thoughts, quick answers, brisk insightful commentary, and a penetrating wit with clarity that cuts to the chase. Therefore, prepare for “a-HA!” moments that blow up your world. This card represents the very essence of the mind cleansed of all parasitical concepts that weigh you down and prevent you from going beyond mere thought.
But under the influence of the impatient, impetuous, and headstrong Prince of Swords, one tends to charge ahead without clear intent, not look where one is going, and speed towards a goal or go for the quick fix. Therefore, you’re called to measure everything critically, think, analyze, and use discernment because health wise, the Prince signifies a proclivity to accidents and wounds—especially to the arms and legs and where speed is involved.
April 28, 2023: Card O' the Day: Justice, reversed. Upright, Justice represents equilibrium or balance. However, when reversed, it can indicate internal struggles with a divided self or faithlessness in yourself as you navigate a difficult circumstance. This may result in indecision and inaction because of over-reliance on rationality or facts or ignoring them altogether. Sometimes we get stuck for fear of mishandling a situation but further delay would only hinder it more.
Often people who have a run of perceived misfortunes will develop the attitude that “life’s unfair and I’m always the underdog.” This displays an unwillingness to see the meaning of events, dishonesty with self and others, and missing an opportunity for a greater understanding of life and it’s Cosmic Lessons.
Therefore, skip the pity party and ask for advice. Your own brain seems a bit muddled and you’re reacting with what your emotions dictate.
April 27, 2023: Card O' the Day: The Moon. The appearance of this card can indicate a difficult emotional or psychological process ahead. Lack of clarity, hampered vision, loss of control and feeling adrift, disconnection between emotion and understanding, or the interference of the unconscious results. But like the Moon, your life goes through phases and cycles, and such unsettling experiences will come to a natural end.
Much like The Hermit, The Moon signifies a time of passivity rather than action, turning away from outer concerns to become more introspective and reflective, and a period of withdrawal. Use the moment to rest, recuperate, and regenerate through awareness of the body’s needs.
Spiritually speaking, under the Moon’s influence we’re asked to take a leap of faith into the void of unfulfilled dreams. Surrender and trust; you’re stronger than you realize.
April 26, 2023: Card O' the Day: The Hierophant, reversed. The Hierophant, upright, is indicative of societal rules, but when reversed, you’re ready to question conventional mores, disobey rules, and/or reject religious training. You might be bucking traditional “authority”, choosing your own standards, and going your own way rather than just accepting the dictates of the “powers that be” (especially if the those “powers” are like yesterday’s reversed Sword King!).
Rather than rebelling from someone or a situation, it could be your sense of creativity and inspiration is being unleashed and recognized. Such freedom and expression of original ideas shouldn’t be limited, and you’re encouraged to do your own thing, be your own person, and allow the restrictions to melt away (as in, “what would the neighbors say if you did..?”). Revel in this personal sense of the avant garde because when it’s within the bounds of laws and ethics, prosperity results.
April 25, 2023: Card O' the Day: King of Swords, reversed. Just when we get a card encouraging us to be a little softer and nicer, our egos freak the eff out and scramble to protect us. Just look where that’ll get us if we go there:
The reversed Sword King will take “his” version of order and discipline to extremes with excessive rationality and methodicalness. (Nit pick, much?) When energies are restricted with all this micromanaging, it could lead to limited choices and feelings of helplessness because you’re so mired in place with minutia. The normally strong mind and voice of the King can manifest, when reversed, in not being able to clearly and concisely assert beliefs or express feelings. You might be sharp in some areas and totally oblivious in others or completely lack any intellectual ability. Faulty thinking can lead you to accept prejudice as fact.
Worst of all, when your ego is in the way, getting any power or authority under your wings will lead to temptation, corruption, or trying to avoid consequences for actions.
April 24, 2023: Card O' the Day: Princess of Cups. So our recent cards have represented the need to reach out to others with love, compassion, or in the spirit of collaboration. The Tower appeared a couple times to kick you towards changing your mind about how you relate to your fellow beings.
The Princess, as a romantic dreamer who tends to idealize relationships and likes to bring joy and pleasure, promote harmony, good feelings, and friendship with everyone she meets, is here to lead the way. Significant of the fantasies and expectations of love and intimacy, the appearance of this card may represent a longing for romance or openness to any type of relationship at this time. This discovery of emotions both tempts and terrifies and leaves you caught between the the desire to give all and live fully and the fear and anticipation of refusal or hurt. In the eagerness to avoid conflict or unpleasantness, the chance of running away is great.
Self love has also been on our agenda. Therefore, it might be time to take a breather to renew yourself, listen to your heart, and discover your worthiness of being loved. Following a little self-care, you’ll be more energized, inspired, refreshed physically and spiritually, and have the inner confidence to serve those in need. Remember to take time to enjoy simple pleasures in life, and enjoy being human. Create your own situation of happiness, loving relationships, and success.
April 23, 2023: Card O' the Day: The Tower, reversed. We received The Tower a couple days ago and today’s reversal indicates it can lessen the degree and impact of the upright meanings OR increase them! Swell…. Even reversed, receiving this card is always a divine kick in the butt and it’s pointless to try to stop the inevitable transformation that’s already begun.
Some of you are unwilling to heed warning signs, prefer to cling to established structures and the status quo, or believe the needed change is unnecessary. But crisis and true catastrophe come if the energy of The Tower and its inevitable and obvious changes are resisted. Without forward motion and the required change, you can expect continued oppression or entrapment in old ways or habits.
The stagnation inherent in the reversed Tower may be on the psycho-emotional plane rather than the physical. In that case, you’d tend to deny responsibility for, or knowledge of, any tensions with others; turn a blind eye to oppression; refuse to accept a shocking discovery; or insist there are no problems through ignoring reality and self-deception even though life is crumbling before your very eyes. Y’all reeeeaaaalllly need to allow the full release The Tower promises!
April 22, 2023: Card O' the Day: Six of Swords, reversed. The mental energies of the upright Swords is being stymied in the reversed card thereby making one resistant to new perspectives, stuck mentally, and clinging to prejudices for the security of the “known.”
This tells me some of you’re shying away from the “union” concept because you’ve been burned in the past by a lover or partner (back to the recent Cups and the residual emotions thereof). However, being resistant to anyone new or new collaborations smack of holding a grudge…not against a specific person but against the IDEA of joining with another.
But by perceiving everything subjectively from within, with no external verification of the facts, it’s easy to stick to what’s true in YOUR mind and ignore energy shifts that result in entirely different circumstances. In truth, all this stems from a lack of self-confidence and only makes your journey that much harder and emotionally difficult. Refuse to give in to the negative thoughts and release the past to begin again.
April 21, 2023: Card O' the Day: Two of Wands. Again, the number 2 suggests a conflict, decision, or union. The suit of Wands signifies fiery action and determination. And while this energy is still passive and contained, it’s nevertheless quite intense and in need of direction. Since yesterday’s Two of Cups suggested the “2” energy was leaning towards unions, I want to stay with the union idea rather than get caught up in conflict or decisions.
Regardless of the reason for the union, opposites come together with a shared passion as one mirrors another to allow both to channel efforts in a common direction. The suggested union could be a meaningful but short-lived connection with someone or a strong and equal creative partnership. Perhaps you develop a union with your higher Self (as represented in the Two of Cups) and grow more loving to yourself and more self-contained, which results in the ability to work more easily with others.
At this time, you have ambition combined with talent and determination and enough power, influence, control, and dominion over resources to do anything you want in the world. What’s desired is defined, and action has begun as passions unite with gestational creative potential to manifest concrete results. As mental cloudiness and confusion disperses, you’re fortified and validated in ideas and encouraged to be fearless in decisions.
April 20, 2023: Card O' the Day: Two of Cups. The energy of the 2 creates the possibilities of conflict, decision, or union. However, the suit of Cups means those dynamics are explored within relationships with Self or others. By learning to let love from others into your life and to allow that intimacy to heal, uplift, and open your heart, you actually learn to love Self. Having received this card, Universe is reassuring us we’re now ready to follow impulses to reach out to others who’re different from ourselves to explore how they can add to our lives what’s otherwise missing.
When respectful give and take occurs with others, each enjoys a strong connection of reciprocal respect, attraction, affection, complementarity, comprehension, and mutual benefit as each gains equally from the exchange. By uniting separate qualities and abilities through love, both parties have something to offer that’s different but equal in value. They’re then able to produce something beyond what either could have done alone.
April 19, 2023: Card O' the Day: The Tower. If you’re not willing to move on voluntarily, the The Tower is here to kick your ass into gear and maybe do it FOR you. But trust me, you’d really rather do it on your own terms…. Each of the major Arcana have three levels of impact; the following are those of The Tower:
Physical—represents the breakdown of physical health and personal wellbeing. View this not as a failure but as a reconstruction. Sometimes death energy needs to be forcefully removed. This is a hard transition; take it slowly but nevertheless, DO it.
Emotional—deep emotional breakdown and loss. It is time to admit to a certain amount of failure. You may feel lost in despair, depressed, and down. This is okay; just let it all out. Once the suppressed pain and emotion is released, you’ll see a way out of this mess but you don’t need to have it all figured out with all the answers right this minute.
Spiritual—one’s spirit seems broken. Disillusionment is the key teaching point of this card. Let go of old pictures of the Self and look at the ugly, yet divine, True Self. Do you have the guts to find your true path and come to love the True Self?
With the world swept clean, you can rebuild upon truth without false consciousness and depression.
April 18, 2023: Card O' the Day: Ace of Cups, reversed. Limits, barriers, or boundaries have been set on emotional, psychic, mystical, intuitive, or dream-time experiences because you don’t believe them trustworthy or have lost faith in them. Meaning, you’re in denial about your feelings or the messages Universe is trying to send.
Preoccupation with your past emotions about unfortunate events can leave you feeling adrift and unable to focus or commit to any one direction or goal. These unpleasant memories of old disappointments make you resistant to new ideas or relationships.
Clinging to these old sentiments or melancholy leaves you unable to shake off deeply held grudges or with a neediness that smothers anyone who comes near. When being so unwelcoming to change and unwilling to let go of past emotional pain, you risk delays and loss of forward motion.
TLDR: What’s done is done. Move on.
April 12, 2023: Card O' the Day: Queen of Swords. Okay…second queen…what’s up with the queens? Queens wield a formidable behind-the-scenes influence and power. Tread lightly, however, because they can be manipulative and smothering (thus the need to master queen energy lest you become an asshole). Their suit will give you a hint at the area of opportunity that must be tended. In today’s case, we’re looking at intellectual energy and rationality. Representative of a thinking, decision making function, Swords asks “why?” or “what is reality?”
The Queen of Swords combines an ability to focus the mind with a powerful mind capable of useful and effective ideas that are rational, astute, and scientifically sound. Therefore, now is the time for you share opinions and perspectives. Personal strength, freedom, and independence of thought give you the feeling you can change the world as new concepts take form and plans begin developing.
However, this card is also indicative of being in a situation of uneven power. Therefore, this card’s appearance may indicate you’re trying to present your brilliant ideas to rather closed minded higher-ups. Therefore, knowing how it feels to be in a lesser position, you’re encouraged to be dead sure of the viability of your plans and be WELL prepared to be tested and questioned. (Go back to the Four of Swords for this one; April 10th)
April 11, 2023: Card O' the Day: Queen of Wands (again). I think the Queen of Wands has shown up again today to offer a couple more caveats regarding her powerful influence. It’s not that you’re meant to be “less”, just be careful with this energy; it can easily overwhelm you and everything you do.
The Queen of Wands denotes strength of character, a likable person who gets along well with others, and someone who’s interested in spiritual growth, philanthropic works, and inspirational philosophies. Analytical and self-motivated, such persons governed by the Queen hold themselves to the highest ethical and professional standards. However, there’s a tendency for perfectionism and dogged determination so be sure to be mindful of when to take a break and draw personal boundaries carefully.
Go ahead and stir passions and assert your enterprising spirit to inspire whatever you do! But MASTER your personal boldness, courage, and power. (Read: train and harness those qualities very well lest they become obnoxious.)
April 10, 2023: Card O' the Day: Four of Swords. The changing, eclectic, and highly charged positive energies right now haven’t yet solidified and you might be suffering too much “what if” activity in your mind. Resist the urge to become attached or committed to anything at this moment and hold off until more information is gathered.
Fortunately, the Four of Swords advises contemplation before action and quiet preparation because it’s through centered stillness that you can best prepare to manifest your projects. Quiet the mind for reflection, perspective, and contemplation of the world. You already have the inner knowledge to solve any problems so pay attention as it’s revealed through intuition, visions, and dreams. Balanced and useful introspection involves contemplation, a safe foundation of solidly positioned thought, a practical mind capable of acting usefully upon reality, and an intellect that’s organized and stable.
April 7, 2023: Card O' the Day: Queen of Wands. When the Queen of Wands appears, it signifies things “coming together” and you’re encouraged to let the abundance within overflow! With a deep inner conviction that things will turn out okay, the Queen supports intuitive faith in your own abilities and limits.
It’s perfectly okay to know what you want and how to get it and this card provides a gentle force that allows changes to proceed with the least disruption. However, always use this ambition and passion inventively while offering courteous understanding to others. Be careful of holding grudges or undermining the plans of colleagues. (The Queen of Wands can be kinda pushy.)
Receiving this card may signify hosting or attending a party, social gathering, business opportunity, chairing a committee, overseeing a big project, volunteering, or engaging in charitable work. Regardless of the form such connecting takes, it’s an opportunity to share joy, love, laughter, and feeling more blessed and full because of it.
April 6, 2023: Card O' the Day: Ten of Pentacles. Today is the anniversary of my father’s death. I asked him to step in a choose our card for the dad.
This card encourages you to seek the divinity present within the Self and acknowledge the beauty of your inner child. See yourself as perfect without guilt, shame, judgment, or disappointment. The wild and vibrant Universe exists in the center of all that’s ordinary and you’re blessed to be experiencing it. (* All references to “family” below don’t necessarily mean blood relatives. You have the power to create your own “family” with whomever you choose.)
The Ten of Pentacles signals harmony and the growth of spirit that comes from deep sharing and communication between family and friends so that many enjoy the abundance of a good life instead of just a few. Your labors have provided for a good harvest, which allows you to be generous with wealth and establish a comfortable position and home in the world. Therefore, you’re able to meet responsibilities, loyalties, or the need to care for an elderly parent and provide a stable, secure, and supportive environment that offers emotional and financial security.
The appearance of this card indicates it’s time to become more aware of the familial environment, to devote time to celebrating or resolving the past, tracing the family tree or examining archives, or attending a reunion as all matters involving your clan, friends, community, domestic affairs, and relationships become important. Traditions, convention, values, stories, wisdom, and knowledge handed down creates a heritage in the sense of family/tribal continuity and represents subtle forces that prevent the everyday world from devolving into chaos.
April 5, 2023: Card O' the Day: Ten of Wands, reversed. The reversed Ten of Wands is giving us two roads to follow. It’s your choice how you want to handle it.
The most obvious interpretation of this card is that you lay down your burdens, walk away from difficulties, get relief from the pressure, and generally get out from under oppressive situations. Sometimes this involves getting help or asking others to take a greater role. Once you realize you can use energies for a better purpose, it opens a clear path to a new start or lease on life.
Conversely, your actions could enhance your burdens in weight and number to the point you can’t maintain footing physically or emotionally and you become trapped in obstacles, difficulties, inconvenience, petty squabbling, or complaints. Oppressive feelings of despair, hopelessness, bitterness, loss of energy, or failure keep you preoccupied with self-interest, indecision, and doubt leading to lack of faith in your path.
April 4, 2023: Card O' the Day: Seven of Wands, reversed. With the reversed Seven of Wands, you’re ready to overcome fears and objections and participate in negotiations to gain favor or popularity (Ooo, your Sun’s nerviness is stepping forward but Virgo is saving you from being too pushy).
Defenses, walls, and barriers between yourself and others come down as you discover inner resources and refuse to be intimidated. Certain minor victories may require conforming to established procedures and protocols or seeking an otherwise more co-operative approach (I can so hear Sun’s eye-roll!). Don’t be shy about accepting assistance when navigating these diplomatic waters (again with the Virgo…).
If you can come to a clear course of action, natural self-confidence will return because you’re truly stronger than you think!
April 3, 2023: Card O' the Day: Eight of Pentacles. Astrologically, this card is governed by the Sun (star of light and clarity; ego, identity, radiant spirit, and individuality) in balance with Virgo (sign of perfection and details). However, a conflict between the two lies in the urge of ambition and the restrictions of a prudent, analytical mind. To minimize the conflict, plan ahead (Sun) and prepare for the future with perseverance (Virgo).
In Tarot, the Eight of Pentacles represents the celebration of the natural creative flow to all life and all things, and having it in a reading indicates you’re in tune with this flow and the importance of said flow isn’t lost. It signifies an ideal situation of harmonious balance of accumulation, wealth, and prosperity wherein all needs of the mind and body’s health are met. (Caveat: “needs are met” does NOT equate huge house, fancy car, or lavish life-style.)
It’s sometimes said that work is love in action. Meaning, it’s the work that matters, not the result. This “work” includes your actual J.O.B. but ALSO your hobbies, mundane chores, and any personal journeys on which you work at being a better version of your highest Self.
April 2, 2023: Card O' the Day: Six of Wands. This card echos the gifts and warnings of the Nine of Cups we had a few days ago but also acknowledges the work you’ve been doing to get here.
Optimism has allowed you to triumph over forces that were trying to stop progress and growth and you’ve come out ahead after your labors. But be careful of arrogance or conceit. Pride in accomplishments must always be tempered by humility and respect with recognition of the role of advocacy and support from others when achieving supremacy.
As you learn to appreciate the small victories attained during the long haul to the “big goal”, you can begin to enjoy the journey more rather than fixating on The Goal and seeing nothing else. The triumph inherent in this card comes from loving who you are, being happy in your skin, and doing work that’s joyful creation rather than stultifying toil.
April 1, 2023: Card O' the Day: Four of Wands, reversed. The Four of Wands is a very fortuitous card. The stability of the number 4 balances the fire element of Wands and the Wands’ fire livens up the dull 4. However, when it’s reversed, all bets are off and it slides into the familiar territory we’ve been dealing with for the past few days.
The reversed Four of Wands signifies becoming too attached to material concerns or allowing complacency to slow your progress as you falls into a boring routine. Artistic creativity (if you can still tap into it) is reduced to commercial manufacturing or intimacy with your partner becomes mere sexual gymnastics. Such monotony leads to dissatisfaction and ennui and the desire for “more.”
Thus the necessity of learning to appreciate all blessings no matter the shape or form they take. As in, do you have transportation? It might be a Lexus, a beat up Ford, the bus, a bicycle, or your own two feet. Be thankful. Do you have shelter? Mansion, that beat up Ford, tent, or cardboard box? Be thankful. Etc., etc. Rinse and repeat every single damn day.
March 31, 2023: Card O' the Day: The Devil. As one struggles to control the material world and lets desire rule, this card appears as a test of personal will, determination, and internal discipline. The Devil represents the shadows of one’s psyche as well as the most negative and inferior qualities of one’s personality and behavior such as lying, ignorance and wanting to stay ignorant, doubt, pessimism, greed, pride, seeing only the surface, acting without discernment, and being superficial, materialistic, and overly dogmatic.
Materialism can also represent a prison-like commitment to something all-consuming, oppressive, and limiting that one can’t imagine life without: an unfulfilling job or loveless relationship, an endless cycle of despair or bad habits in one’s emotional life, undesirable burdens, compulsions, self-preservation, rigidity, or self-righteousness. One can become so obsessed and attached to things, others, or activities that define oneself that one struggles not to lose control over them.
Part of The Devil’s power rests in the illusion of materialism—that nothing exists beyond the world of the senses. The materialist pursues only personal desires for tangible wealth or possession, denies any spiritual component to life, and disconnects from Divine Source. This narrow view seeks to prevent the light of the spirit from being actualized and focuses solely upon “having” at all costs
March 30, 2023: Card O' the Day: Four of Pentacles. …And here we have the card illustrating of the down-side to the Nine of Cups: greed, hoarding, and defending your position at all costs.
Fours are about stability, and Pentacles, being of the Earth, are also stable; combine the two and such compounded stability can become too confining. While selfishness is sometimes necessary and an orderly mind gives structure and meaning to the chaos of the material world, good working order in all things is assured by NOT allowing anything to stagnate. This overly stable combination of elements isn’t ideal.
Under the influence of this card, your feelings of safety and security are linked to the accumulation of material goods, public power, and wealth and your efforts to keep them. Amassing assets becomes paramount as the need to collect things and property possesses you more than you possess them. But focusing too much on material gain thwarts creativity and joy. Earth energy that’s too heavily grounded becomes an obstacle rather than an asset and thereby works directly against your best interests. Loosen your grip to feel freedom and expansiveness.
March 29, 2023: Card O' the Day: Nine of Cups. Receiving this card in a spread indicates you’ve found the secret to emotional happiness by taking full responsibility for and control of it and realize others can’t fill all your needs. You’ve entered a period of gratifying emotional fulfillment and satisfaction as the weight of the past has been lifted, you let go of what’s already been lived, and proceed with confidence. By cultivating inner harmony, energy will increase, physical health will glow, and you’ll experience true joy, liberation, and a readiness to give of yourself as you’ve come to understand being “you” is enough.
The only caveat of this card is you must be careful for what you wish. “Having it all” can be very lonely as you defend your position “at the top.” Although all success brings contentment, this card is a warning that everything is ripest before it rots (think bananas and avocados). There’s the danger of becoming smug, self-indulgent, self-righteous, greedy, and flaunting your triumphs. Don’t gloat or overindulge now that you’ve received a clean bill of health and wellbeing because it’s quite possible you’ve swept that embarrassing thing under the rug to keep it hidden lest it mar your “perfect image.”
TLDR: A very satisfying bowel movement will nevertheless stink. Spray and turn on the fan.
March 23, 2023: Card O' the Day: Prince of Pentacles. The suit of Pentacles is concerned with all things of the material world including money and your way of earning it, the Earth itself, and your physical body and health. Therefore, look to protecting and conducting wise distribution of your financial and personal resources and investments because rapid and dynamic gain is indicated by this card. Also, you’re called to pay attention to improving physical health and wellbeing through exercise and nutrition.
The Prince of Pentacles represents being self-contained and free of attachments, letting go of expectations about self and others, and acceptance of what “is” and being okay with it. He encourages one to make space for a new quality of stillness, take responsibility for any illusions you might be carrying, and at the deepest core, remain at ease, calm, cool, and centered.
This sounds like solid advice for navigating the ups and downs of the reversed Wheel of Fortune.
March 22, 2023: Card O' the Day: The Wheel of Fortune, reversed (again). Welp. I dunno what to tell you. I shuffled, cut, asked Universe to help me choose a card, and we got the same card as yesterday. So, whu’d’I miss?
Yesterday I spoke of scattered and unpredictable energies, which may lead to small gains and short-term success (yay!) but just as easily to failure, bad luck, and unexpected losses (boo!) I did mention “unpredictable” did I not? I also spoke of how your negative attitude can cause you trouble. You might be feeling anxious and ready for something new but are blocked because a situation is not yet ripe and movement forward could be premature or reckless.
Nothing stays the same, fortunately, so this period of upset won’t last. It’s much like early spring weather…warm and sunny one day and cold and sleeting the next. Now it’s true that premature warmth can cause the trees to blossom and the late frosts then kill those blooms, thereby dashing all hopes for fruit later in the summer. What to do? Ride it out and make your decisions based upon the best knowledge you have at the moment. Adjust later when your data changes. That’s why it’s good to have a Plan B.
March 21, 2023: Card O' the Day: The Wheel of Fortune, reversed. The Wheel, reversed, is still a beneficial card, but its energy becomes unstable, and the unpredictability of outcomes increases. This could manifest in a superabundance of change with rapid growth, superfluity, expansion, or increases. It's all happening too fast for any kind of planning and you may fear missing opportunities, have difficulty comprehending the inevitable sudden changes in life, or feel at the mercy of circumstances beyond your control.
Mostly, however, the problem is with your attitude as negativity starts to creep in. Confusion, resistance to Fate, and an irresolute emotional core blocks vital action. Struggle against events is usually doomed, so stand firm, maintain courage and stamina, and learn from past rotations of The Wheel that nothing—good or bad—lasts forever. Know that your individual, responsible efforts will allow you to overcome the forces that seem to be against you.
On the physical plane, you may experience delays, petty annoyances, or issues with your travel plans. Alternatively, the thrill of a whirling social life could start to feel hectic and unrelieved. (I hear tell Spring Break in Miami isn’t going well….)
March 16, 2023: Card O' the Day: Two of Cups, reversed. When I think about the big “love card” of the Tarot deck being reversed, I’m feeling like many people are struggling with the whole concept of love. Not relationship “love” but “love thy neighbor” love. And if you can’t wrap your head around loving your neighbor despite the differences between you, then how are you ever going to be able to love in a relationship?
If you’re hoping to find love but are hitting a dry spell, you’re advised to use this alone time to think about how you feel about yourself. Does your self-esteem and willingness to relate to others hinge upon how you’re treated by them? Unless someone’s kissing your ass, do you think they’re not worthy of your notice? Do a random act of kindness and see how that makes you (and the recipient) feel. That’s the first step towards opening your heart to loving—and being loved by—others.
March 15, 2023: Card O' the Day: King of Wands, reversed. Reversed, the King of Wands represents an arrogant tyrant with exaggerated regal tendencies, and pride that becomes over-bearing. The tender ego and vanity depend on bluster, show, and flattery. But all that hot air is really hiding weakness and insecurity as that person may be having difficulty adjusting to obstacles, defeats, or changes and he/she grows cynical or frightened. Such persons may become ineffective, excessively lenient, or retreats from a position of authority, shirks power, moves away from responsibilities, and lets others take charge. If expectations of leadership cannot be deferred, he/she is resentful of those demands.
More favorably, it’s also possible the reversed King has recognized a lack of expertise and knowledge and relinquishes control of a situation because his/her effective impact has been blocked, disturbed, or re-channeled. If this is you feeling dissatisfied or uneasy about such a situation, then continuing under those conditions is pointless as insignificant matters can become magnified or errors in judgment come to light that only weaken your position further.
March 13, 2023: Card O' the Day: Judgment, reversed. When upright, this card indicates big changes (similar to “Death”); when reversed, it signifies difficult transitions, hesitation, or resentfulness towards or doubting the value of the necessary changes. All such objections are excuses that become dominant as you attempt to work toward improvement or correct past mistakes.
You may have difficulty believing the changes have already begun and reject new laws, lack perspective, or be unable to see the big picture. This puts you at risk of bad judgments, poor decisions (or avoiding them), confusion, and delays from missing (or being resistant to) new information. As the feelings of overburden dull the desire to correct the situation, you fail to face facts and dig in refusing to move forward. Stagnation, disappointment, and impeded creative output may follow.
March 10, 2023: Card O' the Day: Death. The Death card rarely shows up in these daily picks—or even in a client’s spread—so I feel like we need to sit up and listen. Death represents an ending that allows transformation, clearing of the old to make way for the new, letting go of unneeded stuff, and the catalyst for a metamorphosis.
It’s an organic and natural conclusion to something that you’ve probably been feeling as coming for some time or it appears as unexpected circumstances that provide the impetus to bring something to a close. You might be uprooting yourself from a stagnant environment or phase of life or leaving outgrown or stale relationships. On occasion, the revolution necessary for renewal feels like unwelcome but it ends up being a “good thing.” Some changes come quickly and bring great relief with a liberating explosion.
Regardless of the forms the changes take—they may be dramatic or traumatic—the appearance of this card indicates changes are already at work or soon will be. Resistance means holding on to something that is not yours anymore and you’ll keep going in the same destructive circles or remain stuck in loss of hope, stagnation, or lack of growth. Conversely, acceptance leads to new life and beginnings.
March 9, 2023: Card O' the Day: Four of Swords. The Four of Swords signifies calm, order, and the experience of things coming back to center to integrate and create a state of tolerance and serenity.
Quiet your mind for reflection, perspective, and regard of the world; by doing so, you’re more likely to receive the inspiration of solutions to solve problems. Balanced introspection involves contemplation, a safe foundation of solidly positioned thought, a practical mind capable of acting usefully upon reality, and an intellect that’s organized and stable.
Take time to rest, retreat to an inner state, and find refuge from mental chaos. This withdrawal leads to healing and renewed strength wherein you leave muddled thoughts and feelings behind to find a place of calm beyond fears. With steady courage, remove outside influential energy by meditating on breaking the ties that connect you to toxic people.
March 8, 2023: Card O' the Day: Price of Wands, reversed. This card is explaining with whom you’re having a reversed Two of Swords moment and may have to walk the other way.
When reversed, the Prince of Wands indicates you’re having to deal with someone that’s a haphazard dabbler, smashing rogue, rebel/champion without a cause, self-serving thrill seeker, showoff, or a rowdy and contentious bully. Other unhealthy social interaction could include gang involvement or with someone who’s in a gang.
Such persons, male or female, are not people you can have meaningful and productive relationships with, especially since you’re rein in fiery impulses. You’re now in a place in your life where you want to enjoy the present, rather than perpetually focusing on future conquests. This slower pace will make you a more effective son/daughter, parent, employee, partner, and allow for deeper experiences all around.
March 7, 2023: Card O' the Day: Two of Swords, reversed. There’s been an uneasy balance of power you’ve been resisting and if disagreeable opposites are confined too rigidly without integration, those opposites become treacherous and irreconcilable.
When this Two is reversed, you finally break the peace, take action to end complacency and superficial accord, and tear off the blindfold to look at disturbing issues that require decisions. Deeper truths will be revealed as you open your eyes to reality. You might discover you’ve been living a lie, but at least now you can get on with seeing the truth and begin the process of authentic communication and actually fixing the problem.
Now, there ARE such things as lost causes and there may be no possibility of resolution to the current problem. If such is the case, walk away and chalk it up to experience.
March 2, 2023: Card O' the Day: Temperance, reversed. Temperance, reversed, can indicate you’re unwilling to discard something because there’s a belief it may still be useful when it’s not. Because of this hope/belief, there’s danger present of failing to let old habits, fears, or relationships die that must be allowed to leave. (We talked yesterday about letting some people in your circle go as you pursue more rewarding and important endeavors or relationships.)
This card can be associated with anything to do with churches or religions so your hesitation to remove such long-standing influence is understandable. However, all signs point to you having moved beyond what such perspectives can offer you.
In all likelihood, you have an intuitive sense about the right combination of elements that are necessary to your situation, but you’re unable to put this into words or to convince others abut your choices. Because of this, they may seem uncooperative and uncompromising, and that your interests and needs are competing or conflicting with everyone else’s. Such inability to effectively communicate will lead to discord, disunion, hostility, and dissension within your group
March 1, 2023: Card O' the Day: Three of Cups, reversed. …And THIS would be why you’re over the drama and feeling battle-worn.
You’ve become disenchanted with comrades or associates and are cutting back and no longer socializing with the old crowd. The usual pleasures seem empty and unfulfilling as they whine about their crappy bosses or partners, politics, or how they were “done wrong” in one way or another. It’s the same tired complaints over and over and they do nothing to fix their problems.
Your own beliefs have shifted and those of your usual associates haven’t as they continue to ignore the deeper values of life, society, and community. Whatever the reason you’ve separated from your group, the reversed Three signifies the end of empty celebrations and the need to look at some hard realities. As in, you’ve grown up but they haven’t.
February 28, 2023: Card O' the Day: Prince of Swords, reversed. The reversal of the Prince of Swords might indicate you’re feeling battle-worn or wounded by sharp words. Drama at work, school, or within your tribe has left you so over it you want to just run away or stay in bed with your head buried in the covers. A better idea would be to try to overcome impulsiveness on your part and deliberately become more thoughtful, careful, and less hurried as you deal with the people in your life and the tasks at hand.
Also, if you have any travel plans this card does not bode well for transportation. Consider doing business by phone, remotely, or shopping on line. If you must, be extra careful and leave the house a few minutes early to allow for detours, traffic jams, or flat tires.
February 23, 2023: Card O' the Day: Nine of Cups, reversed. The upright version of this card warns of the pitfalls of complacency; when reversed, the danger is real. With every wish granted, self-indulgence and a tendency to excess could dominate and thereby lead to reckless hedonism, debauchery, poor choices, selfish desires, all states of emotional crisis, irresponsibility, shallowness, etc. Conversely, you might wallow in self-denial of pleasure, unrealized happiness, fear of lack, or despair because you feel you simply can’t catch a break, you’re blocked at every turn, and wishes are never granted. Meaning, you could act like an ass if you don’t get what you want IMMEDIATELY.
Fortunately, someone is going to call you to account and give you a reality check. This intervention isn’t made through cruelty but rather sincerity, honesty, loyalty, and the good faith of another to show the error of your ways. This exposure, while possibly embarrassing at first, will provide you with a feeling of liberation as you’re released from superficial or false attachments and former attitudes of smugness and entitlement. Through such release, you’ll find inner—rather than outer—happiness and gratitude.
TLDR: Your shit will ALWAYS stink; count your blessings.
February 20, 2023: Card O' the Day: Five of Cups, reversed. The reversed Five of Cups can impart quite a hopeful outlook indicating recovery and renewal as you move away from upsets and get on with life. You become more aware that what remained after the recent distress is important and permanent even in the face of disappointment. The fallen Cups (usually depicted as three out of five) represent something less significant than what you originally thought and those still standing form a solid base that’s not easily knocked over. After making some very hard decisions, difficulties will be overcome, there’ll be a change in lifestyle, and an opportunity to share your abundance.
As you transforms resistance, disappointment, or prudence into something better, you’ll develop emotional stability, coping skills, determination, and fortitude to conquer any future misfortune or anxiety. You’re urged to take control lest others take control for you; expect rewards for doing so. Now, move on; it’s time.
February 18, 2023: Card O' the Day: Queen of Wands. It being the third day in a row a queen has shown up, let’s explore what queens, in general, can mean in a spread. They can mark a time of inner growth or transformation and are linked to dreams and emotions (not just the Queen of Cups). Queens represent the fruits of your labors and validate the hard work completed thus far. While efforts are not yet complete, the appearance of a queen indicates you’re on the right track and you can feel confident in continuing your path.
The Queen of Wands is governed by the angel of Expansion of One’s Potential and her stone is Topaz. It’s supposed to inspire loftier thoughts, liberate the soul, and intensify concentration. Maybe keeping a piece of it nearby is a good idea…doesn’t have to be fancy.
When you receive the Queen of Wands, in particular, in a reading, it signifies things “coming together” and you’re encouraged to let the abundance within overflow! With a deep inner conviction that things will turn out okay, this card provides a gentle force that allows changes to proceed with the least disruption. The Queen indicates you need to rely upon, and trust, your own judgment and power without influencing or overriding others in the process (um, remember those personal boundaries we worked on with the Queen of Cups?).
February 17, 2023: Card O' the Day: Queen of Cups, reversed. I shuffled and cut, I swear!! The reversal of the Queen is warning you about what could happen if you don’t develop and maintain practical personal boundaries.
The Water Queen has a tendency to merge psychically with the object of her desire, but when reversed she can become lost in her emotions—and those of others she feels empathically—and be so seduced that it leaves her subject to possession by evil entities, negative energy, or just really rotten people. On the other hand, be careful that you don’t deny emotions altogether and alienate yourself from others, thereby become indifferent, cold, and unfeeling in your efforts to have personal boundaries. Rigidity, lack of empathy, moodiness, and hypersensitivity to criticism also speak of too rigid boundaries. Charity of spirit and heart becomes false.
A healthier aspect to the upright or reversed Queen is being sharp and competent, letting no one take advantage, overcoming illusions, and refusing to be swept away by conflicting emotions or succumbing to feigning maneuvers. TLDR: Keep your kind heart but remember you’re not responsible for everyone’s success or happiness.
February 16, 2023: Card O' the Day: Queen of Cups. The Queen of Cups represents warmth, kindness, affection, caring, loving, understanding, the willingness to help, being supportive, and accepting others. Her influence allows you to unite hopes, imagination, love, and creativity with vision, valuable action, and social usefulness. It also refers to professions in counseling and healing. Regardless of the form your endeavors take, this card indicates they will give lasting pleasure.
This card is a catalyst for the emergence of deep feelings and deepening development of your inner life and generosity of love. Representative of favorable emotional energy, you’re encouraged to make something whole and alive out of opportunities and elements given by life, including your emotional goals. However, this card has appeared to remind you to be self-aware, set personal boundaries, and protect personal sensitivity by becoming a bit reserved and more self-reliant. You’re urged to develop better physical and emotional limits with others in your life. Learn to say “no” and allow others to find their own way.
February 15, 2023: Card O' the Day: Wheel of Fortune, reversed. The Wheel, reversed, is still a beneficial card, but its energy becomes unstable, and the unpredictability of outcomes increases. This could manifest in a superabundance of change with rapid growth, expansion, and increases. You might be feeling anxious and ready for something new, but are blocked because a situation is not yet ripe and movement forward could be premature or reckless. In other words, plan well.
Mostly, the problem is with your attitude as negativity starts to creep in and you alternate between hope and despondency. Confusion, resistance, and an irresolute emotional core blocks vital action. Struggle against events is usually doomed, so stand firm, maintain courage and stamina, and learn from past rotations of The Wheel that nothing—good or bad—lasts forever. Know that your individual, responsible efforts will allow you to overcome all forces seemingly against you at this time.
February 14, 2023: Card O' the Day: King of Wands, reversed. Oh, lordy, lordy, lordy. Some of you may be involved with a reversed King of Wands on this Valentine’s Day. Check the following description…if 30% of it’s true, RUN for the door. If ANY of it’s true, get thee both in couples’ counseling to understand why the power dynamic is so off.
Reversed, the King of Wands represents an arrogant tyrant with exaggerated regal tendencies and pride that becomes over-bearing. Such people abuse personal power by self-righteously insisting on absolute authority even though they’re apt to make imprudent decisions. Just because they can, they’ll aggressively oppose others simply as a display of one-upmanship. A big bully on a small playground, they’ll focus all energies on dominating a tiny niche (or just one person) and will seek to overthrow any other leader or idea that’s not their own. Like all dictatorial autocrats, they’ll demand unquestioning obedience from those around them—including lovers. When in bed with this version of the “King”, expect sex without love. And not very good sex, at that.
If you’re feeling dissatisfied or uneasy about a relationship with such a person, then continuing under those conditions is pointless as insignificant matters can become magnified or errors in judgment weaken your position further. Because it WILL be “all your fault.”
February 13, 2023: Card O' the Day: Three of Wands, reversed. Well, for heaven’s sake! The last card I pulled at the end of January was the Three of Wands and now it’s back but reversed. Looks like some o’ y’all got a bit big fer yer britches.
There’s a tendency to be careless, overly confident, and allowing pride to interfere with goals that could lead to problems from this over-ambitiousness, arrogance, or obstinacy. Delusions of grandeur, abuse of power, and/or gratuitous performances are other presentations of excessive pride. Because you imagine yourself to be so impossibly fabulous, you may hesitate to ask for help from others. When reversed, the fiery energy of this card may cause you to become overly speculative and indulge in impractical schemes that suffer from scattered energy and lack of attention to important details. Lack of foresight, characterized by rash activity, will bring on exhaustion, mishaps, difficulty putting plans into action, or creative blocks.
In other words, cool your jets and get back to dotting i’s and crossing t’s because you’re not infallible.
January 31, 2023: Card O' the Day: Three of Wands. The Three of Wands bestows the necessary force, clarity, strength, authority, daring, confidence, and boldness to launch enterprises by bringing factors together to pursue adventures and opportunities. Such virile energy is a grand gift for the hidden potential spoken of yesterday in the High Priestess.
This card also represents collective energy as opposed to that of the individual and depicts the absorption of the individual into something greater. (Apparently, the difficulty interacting with others signified in the recent Five of Cups has resolved.) While on the lookout for new prospects and territory, work in harmony and bond with others as you take on business or creative undertakings. Such teamwork allows all involved to reap their portion of the rewards as you all achieve goals set by the group.
January 30, 2023: Card O' the Day: The High Priestess. The appearance of this card signifies you have a heightened awareness of secret or hidden information or are learning to see the light of a truth you’ve not been ready to see. You’re encouraged to be open to all sides of yourself and examine the things of which you’re afraid. Access the place of unconditional love for Self (the cellulite on your thighs is FINE!!!); this requires that you expand trust in your own process and ability to grow.
You’re encouraged to see hidden potential and reminded that negative mental and emotional patterns can inhibit or help self-expression and adjustment. Therefore, tap into the one place which has not been wounded, touched, or exploited and dream big dreams. This attitude of self-discovery is a pure, exalted, and gracious influence that may enliven the seed of change that’s waiting in the dark. There’s potential for very strong possibilities you’ve not yet realized!
January 29, 2023: Card O' the Day: Four of Wands. This card may indicate you’re feeling a bit hemmed in and limited by the routines of life and are experiencing rigidity in decisions that lead to emotional, physical, or financial stress. But the Four of Wands signifies a heroic impulse that conquers fear and doubt and the courage and determination necessary to express the self. Therefore, when you learns to love yourself, and act true to the heart, it allows healing that settles all conflict and crises will abate.
Though a recent phase of self-exploration may seem to have ended, the future calls you to continue. A renewed appreciation of life’s magic will awaken you to spiritual gifts, but try not to overwhelm others with your new-found passion for all things esoteric. Shine your light and let the natural glow attract what’s needed. This illumination will be a guide through confusion and will mark the beginning of a new path that leads to happiness and personal transformation.
January 27, 2023: Card O' the Day: The Devil. The soul is restless and furious; it wants to tear itself apart and cure itself from being human. —Unknown
The dualistic judgement of “right v. wrong” is actually an illusion and Capricorn’s lesson is about balancing one’s inner light (“right”) with primal life force (“wrong”). The Devil epitomizes the shadow aspects that are denied, unacknowledged, or hidden. This includes all the emotions rejected, repressed, deemed “bad”, and separated from Self such as fear, anger, shame, self loathing, childhood guilt, and lust. Obsessions, negative thoughts, and/or secret physical pleasures can also hold you hostage in your own mind. Self-punishing behavior, any form of self-imposed misery, feeling chained or imprisoned and believing the illusion there are no alternatives, worries that fill the consciousness and interfere with peace, wounds you were born with or were inflicted early and often, or any other negative aspects of the ego are all examples of the shadow side of the psyche.
However, your inner shadow aspects are not “bad” per se, and need to be integrated into the whole being because there can’t be light without dark. You’re advised to see yourself authentically, get to know the “devil” within, and identify the unconscious roots of all your physical/mental dependencies. Egotistical weakness and fears only intensify and become dangerous if not recognized and acknowledged. Certainly some of those weaknesses must be controlled to peacefully co-exist with others. But always remember that however “dark” you think a part of yourself is, there’s an equally brightly illuminated part, too.
January 26, 2023: Card O' the Day: Five of Cups. Interactions with others isn’t going well at this moment. You may have endured a friendship or partnership of some kind which ends unhappily. A marriage may be filled with bitterness or frustration as the “cup” of the relationship is viewed as half-empty. Old fears of abandonment are realized through said endings and you’re struggling with this difficult and painful experience.
However, valuable lessons often comes from such experiences if you’re willing to own your part in the circumstances. Failure or loss is more easily endured if it’s accepted as part of growth and change and you realize nothing is created without mistakes. There’s ALWAYS hope for better things to come and you must find the courage to continue. Therefore, view the current unfortunate situation as a turn in the road that ultimately brings good. (If you’re not willing to take responsibility for your actions and are reacting in anger, expect to be slapped with the fallout of rage-based decisions.)
Maybe cutting losses and making big changes are really necessary as you consciously let go of the old to clear the path for new possibilities. Sometimes “losing” something on purpose and disrupting your comfortable patterns is what’s needed to foster and encourage new growth. In this card, three of the five cups have spilled, representing the losses. But two cups remain standing and signify that ALL is not lost and there are new possibilities ahead.
January 25, 2023: Card O the Day: Queen of Cups. The Queen of Cups represents warmth, kindness, affection, caring, loving, understanding, the willingness to help, being supportive, and accepting others. She embodies fantasies of the perfect woman who personifies gratitude without expectations or demands. She's very desiring to please and because of that, loved ones can do no wrong in her eyes.
However, there’s great danger in being overly emotional and giving. One becomes cut off from one’s own feelings and becomes dependent upon others for one’s happiness. Because this type puts the spotlight on everyone else, neither duty, thought of merit, or reward are important, and such persons are self-conscious about taking up too much space.
The Queen of Cups identifies herself by caring for others and setting personal boundaries is hardest for her of all the court cards. By being so emotionally involved—and evolved—with everyone, it can be difficult to know oneself. Therefore, protect personal sensitivity by becoming a bit reserved, more self-reliant, and refrain from taking over what’s not offered. This card is a reminder to develop better physical and emotional limits with others in one’s life. Learn to say “no” and allow others to find their own way even if that means you must watch them fail.
January 16, 2023: Card O' the Day: Nine of Wands, reversed. The emotion-based obstacles and difficulties of the upright Nine of Wands become more extreme in the reversal. When your basic defenses are weakened and impaired, you become overly defensive to prevent getting caught off guard. Rage or otherwise raw uncontrollable feelings directed in impulsive and negative manners only waste energy or force.
To cover those negative feelings of defeat, loneliness, or a sense of alienation that feels like banishment, you tend to put up a false front to reassure others and yourself that you’re all “good.” But you’re not and hiding or swallowing your feelings prolongs your upset and delays fixing the problem.
Receiving this card is a suggestion to let go of defensiveness and redo or reconsider the situation.
January 15, 2023: Card O' the Day: Three of Cups. Threes signify expansion, contentment, congenial relationships, and the synthesis of love. Receiving the Three of Cups is a sign you’re becoming more available to the many opportunities there are to explore the world with an open heart, precise intuition, and inquisitive mind.
As you mature and accept the feelings necessary for successful other relationships, you must widen interactions and make them more public. Receiving this card is a signal it is time to leave familiar ground and encounter life outside your safety zone. Therefore, allow yourself to receive this nourishment and positive energy that only true friends can give.
Appropriately for me today, this card can indicate single sex coming-of-age rituals or the bonding moments found in team sports. The Maiden, Mother, Crone triad is represented as a unity of women and could be pointing to a specific social event geared towards women such as baby or bridal showers wherein feminine energy and support are significant.
January 14, 2023: Card O' the Day: Temperance. Temperance is the card of Sagittarius and is all about tempering, management, refining, improving, and sharpening personal factors for better use and performance. The Death card is right before Temperance in the order of the Major Arcana and as Death brings about endings that make space for new beginnings, Temperance brings peace and light to fill that emptiness. As the primary healing card of the deck, it allows healing to occur holistically by concentrating on timing, temperature, pitch, and emotional disposition.
Reunification of apparent opposites through reconciliation comes from the sacrifice of ego. Once the rigid fixation of ego is broken, you can connect to the true heart and the capacity to discern and face reality is sharpened. Without ego shouting to be heard, you’ll renew the connection between the conscious and unconscious. This’ll aid in the ability to forgive, quell hysteria, diffuse volatility, enable creative problem solving, and allow for transformational giving and receiving.
TLDR: After all the hub-bub-ing of the holidays, the pendulum swung us into lethargy, crankiness, and stagnation. Now we’re swinging back to center with a balance of activity and rest.
January 13, 2023: Card O' the Day: King of Wands, reversed. Kings, in general, symbolize wisdom, power, outward manifestations (rather than inner journeying), stabilization, accomplishment, and success. Kings can be bossy, dominating, and controlling, and represent people with socially minded authority who will affect the outcome of a situation. They make decisions, delegate tasks, and take responsibility for society on a whole. More than the other ranks, they’re concerned with maintaining the status quo and community, and therefore, can get rather stuck in their ways.
When a King is reversed, (like the Sword King we had on the 8th) he’s apt to unwisely abuse power by self-righteously insisting on absolute authority. The reversed Wand King—just because he can—will aggressively oppose others simply as a display of one-upmanship. But being a big bully on a small playground, all that hot air is really hiding weakness and insecurity as he may be having difficulty adjusting to obstacles, defeats, or losses. Continuing under such conditions is pointless as insignificant matters can become magnified or errors in judgment come to light that weaken his position further.
Now, is this you, someone in your life, or someone you have to deal with often? Because you cannot control anyone’s behavior except your own, if this is NOT you, then avoidance of this energy is your best bet. However, if this IS you right now, you’re invited to become even tempered and more understanding of slight glitches in life. But this is a hard thing to do for such powerful personalities.
January 10, 2023: Card O' the Day: The Devil, reversed. Is the tide beginning to turn!? The Devil, reversed, shows greater extremes than any other card, i.e. black v. white or evil v. good. By suffering spiritual blindness, you may have been wallowing in a feeling of petty superiority to others’ weaknesses and frailties as you boast of being excessively upright, moral, and virtuous. (Again with the reversed Sword King!) However, such persons generally make excuses and blame everyone else instead of facing how bad they’ve become. But the soft underbelly of indecision is becoming exposed as you feel discontented and unhappy.
Fortunately, when The Devil is reversed, it can indicate a liberation from bondages that are holding you hostage or a respite from troubles. You’re ready to finally stop accepting a situation and move towards freedom as you begin to see through the illusions of material life to get to the truth. And as you become more conscious of your destructive behaviors and misuses of power, you experience a release from false inhibitions and patterns of manipulation and codependency.
January 9, 2023: Card O' the Day: Four of Swords, reversed. Upright, the Four of Swords signifies deep intellectual activity and productive thought processes. Reversed, however, it speaks of obtuse rationalism, fixed notions, and tyrannical intellect. (King of Swords, reversed, anyone?) The mind becomes a blind prisoner of its concepts and refuses to recognize and/or heed the intuition that whispers “you’re wrong.”
However, reversal can ALSO represent being stuck on the horns of a dilemma…like hearing that whispered “you’re wrong” while your ego keeps kicking and screaming. Which internal dialogue do you follow?
Take advantage of this moment of hearing to do some in-depth searching to find the way to truly solve the problem. As you recuperate from losses or personal difficulties, through prudent care and wise administration carefully resume activities with circumspection and precaution. Tread softly and look for clues regarding potential stumbling blocks that may set you back again.
January 8, 2023: Card O' the Day: King of Swords, reversed. Oh dear…. The King of Swords might just be my least favorite card in the Tarot Deck because he’s such a harsh truth-teller. When reversed, he skips the truth part and just becomes an asshole.
The reversed Sword King will take HIS version of truth, order, and discipline to extremes through anger or by becoming inhumane, unsympathetic, unfeeling, and unwavering in his actions. His forms of authoritarian power are excessively severe and without mercy. As a father figure or boss, the reversed King may be ill-natured, exact unreasonable punishments, be an excessive disciplinarian, or dominate with excessive rationality and methodicalness. (Think “hanging judge” who’ll throw someone in the clink for shoplifting a loaf of bread because they’re hungry.)
Persons under the influence of this card may act perversely or hurt someone intentionally without looking back. The sheer willfulness and arrogance of the reversed King represents a powerful mind turned in on itself that recognizes only the desire for control. He may imagine himself to be the most “interesting man in the room” but actually is just a vicious bully.
Steer clear of such persons for a couple days or—if this is YOUR current mood—go back to bed!
January 7, 2023: Card O' the Day: Six of Wands, reversed. A FB follower commented on Strength, reversed, yesterday. She suggested that a lot of our current inner torments could be attributed to Mercury being in retrograde. I reminded her that Mars is ALSO in retrograde until the 12th. And now we have the Six of Wands, reversed, for today….
When upright, this card speaks to personal victories. But when reversed, said perceived victory or success ends up being transitory as pride, arrogance, and condescending attitude towards subordinates causes an embarrassing fall from a pinnacle of achievement. Vanity, excessive narcissism, or self-complacency allowed you to overestimate your abilities, thereby making true and lasting victory elusive.
Such high expectations for yourself will have you running in circles, so you’d do well to consider plans and input from others or risk being all show with no substance. Now’s not a time for self-pity, ego-centricity, superficiality, or to let self-importance get in the way. (Ahem. Remember forever and always: Your shit stinks just as much as anyone else’s.)
January 6, 2023: Card O' the Day: Strength, reversed. This card, reversed, denotes inner torment or a fear of personal passions, urges, or instincts. Failure, cowardliness, emotionalism, doubt, insecurity, or personal weakness may also be manifestations of this reversal. In any case, you’re feeling fragile and “to blame” for a lot of things. (Maybe that’s why you can’t allow yourself to enjoy any good fortunes or think straight.)
Now might be the point in time when you’re called to account for all that you need to make restitution or amends. Because of that, feelings of guilt and fear of having to answer for actions are flooding your psyche. When struggling to deal with consequences, you’d well to recognize and accept mistakes with humility and acceptance of the Karmic lesson. Then forgive yourself for screwing up and move on.
January 5, 2023: Card O' the Day: Princess of Pentacles, reversed. The clarity of thinking and practicality of the Princess suffers when this card is reversed. You lose focus, stop being studious regarding something that previously held your attention, or have difficulty learning something new or grasping necessary information or facts. You might even change your mind about beliefs or ideals, which causes you to lose purpose or not know what your place in the world is anymore. When so easily distracted, practical matters and issues become lost in confusion or daily trivia.
However, when this card is reversed, despite the confused thinking represented here, it also suggests you’re on the cusp of declaring independence from trivial fixations to seek and find a new world of perception. A perception and discovery of deeper meaning and motives for this lifetime.
The messages typically heralded by the appearance of the reversed Earth Princess include cancellation of plans or bad news, which actually would then allow relaxation and shift of your focus.
January 4, 2023: Card O' the Day: Nine of Pentacles, reversed. Okey-dokey…The feelings of ennui and “is this ALL there is to life?” continue. Like the previous cards, the reversed Nine indicates we should engage in inner work that would bring peace and serenity. Yeah, yeah, yeah…what else?
All is not well and you have a desire for freedom and to roam as feelings of entrapment grow. When not knowing what’s really wanted or matters in life, you may lack self-awareness or discipline, not be able to channel energy into useful purpose, or take up projects only to abandon them thus suffering failure through faithlessness to Self and others.
Prosperity still reigns in the reversed Nine of Pentacles (yay) but values seem false or cover up a certain disquiet because you can’t recognize what the concept of “enough” (money, stuff, friends, social media followers, etc.) means. In denial of personal wellbeing or good fortune, the good life seems just out of reach.
January 3, 2023: Card O' the Day: Four of Cups. While there’s sufficient external well-being, you still want something more and are restlessly looking for greener pastures because internal contentment is being questioned. And yet you continue to be uncertain about possible opportunities….
The “hurry up and wait” energy of the reversed Ace and the cautiousness of the sevens continues here with the Four of Cups. This card represents active waiting and contemplation as you take some time to reevaluate circumstances and shift perspectives. Keep in mind that your overactive imagination and needy ego are perfectly capable of turning a good situation into something awful by rushing or overthinking.
The Four represents the recognition of the role the unconscious plays in the physical world to hold you back from making bad choices or self-sabotaging. Something good may be on offer, but you shouldn’t rush to take it before considering all options carefully and looking for limitations you may not recognize immediately.
January 2, 2023: Card O' the Day: Ace of Wands, reversed. Even when reversed, the Ace indicates new beginnings are afoot and you may feel ready, desiring, and yearning for change! However, right this minute isn’t the most opportune time. Therefore, expect to be turned down, vetoed, forbidden to act as you’re left to stagnate or perish, or suffer setbacks or delays as the means of realizing goals or energies signified by the upright version of this card are blocked.
The right opportunity has yet to come, a situation may be premature, or you’re not energized or prepared enough to move forward. You’d do well to reconsider plans and goals or set something aside for the time being because impatience and pushing forward despite all the obstacles isn’t the answer.
Remember the messages of the past days’ sevens: consider possibilities carefully and take into account the spiritual nature of any projects and whether they align with yours.
January 1, 2023: Card O' the Day: Seven of Cups. Today we have another 7. Sevens generally indicate magic, spirituality, and development of the soul that requires complex choices. Coupled with yesterday’s Seven of Pentacles, it looks like 2023 is going to be a year of looking within for many of us.
Often this card signifies we’re lost in ungrounded, dream-like energy within our creative and cognitive world as we’re pulled and dazzled by many seemingly promising opportunities. When overwhelmed by the “beauty of the world”, we can’t differentiate between illusion or sound possibilities, try to avoid the real work of honestly exploring options, and drift off into fantasies thereby delaying reality. There’s a real danger of becoming so entranced by visions that we wallow in reveries and allow energy to dissipate and promises go unfulfilled. It can become difficult to trust our own judgment or that of others when we’re consumed by so many feelings without any focus and aren’t fully aware of our expectations or desires.
The appearance of this card is an indication it’s time for you to get real, grounded, and maintain perspective in this strongly idealistic energy. When faced with so many possibilities and opportunities, you should be cautious of relying too heavily on others for life direction because you’re choosing your own happiness. Ask within as to what it is you truly want for yourself, then reach for it, and ask for the best and most for and from yourself
December 31, 2022: Card O' the Day: Seven of Pentacles. Yesterday, I learned dear friend of mine passed; I asked her to give us any wisdom she wished to pass on via today’s card. She chose the Seven of Pentacles, a card which has the quality of “inner work.” Appropriate since she was passionate about her own inner journeys and helping others with theirs.
We’ve come to a creative crossroads, with potential for revelations and possible changes of direction but inventiveness on this plane can only come from a relaxed and focused mind. Ignore the clamor of ambition for “greatness” or material wealth and truly listen to what experiences are being offered to you during your time here on this plane. Pause to ponder and look deeply within; explore daydreams, visions, musings that might lead you to inner-world treasure, and be open to internal guidance.
All that’s required right now is to be alert as you passively allow nature to take its course. Be ready for something momentous; in this silence and waiting, your authentic self grows.
December 30, 2022: Card O' the Day: Nine of Wands, reversed. Any obstacles and difficulties of the upright card become more extreme in the reversal. Raw uncontrollable force directed in impulsive and negative manners continue to waste energy or force.
This energetic card, when reversed, suggests there isn’t enough substance to make ideas work, insufficient or impractical preparation negates an issue, or you may have to overcome someone else’s resistance. Seemingly constant adversity, hurdles, trouble, inconvenience, misfortune, uncertainties, delays, or disasters may feel like your personal “cross” to bear as you try to reach goals. With so many blockages, defenses fail and you might start to reconsider commitments, shirk responsibility, or allow rash impulses to overtake normal discipline. (Oh, hel-LO Prince of Swords!)
However, even though problems feel insurmountable, don’t give up fighting and look for a different approach or solutions. Receiving this card is a suggestion to redo or reconsider the situation. Even though this period of cleansing, complications, and protracted evaluations slow the process of expansion, a good harvest will come in the end. (Recall the reversed Moon and its promise that difficult times are out to end.)
December 29, 2022: Card O' the Day: Prince of Swords. Good News: This card is indicative of revolutionizing energies, quicksilver ideas, sudden shifts in perspective, rapid thoughts, quick answers, brisk insightful commentary, and a penetrating wit with clarity that cuts to the chase. Bad News: Under the influence of the impatient, impetuous, and headstrong Prince of Swords, one may charge ahead without clear intent, not look where one is going, and speed towards a goal or go for the quick fix. New ideas, relationships, or interests can suddenly supplant what was there before without thought for the ensuing disruption as one abandons responsibilities for the next adventure or vision. All that speed may lead to injuries or accidents (especially to your arms and legs)!
Therefore, we’re reminded to ground ideas in reality and be responsible for what we’re trying to create because this Prince represents the struggle to sustain the plodding grunt work some projects require. Use subtlety in endeavors to grasp opportunities with the help of sharp vision, controlled momentum, and precise timing. Maintain vigilance while proceeding with a solid plan, and don’t allow impulsiveness to revolt against ideological compliance.
December 28, 2022: Card O' the Day: The Moon, reversed. The instability, error, and deception indicated in the upright Moon might not seem so threatening when The Moon is reversed. You’re actually able to face “perils” with calm and confidence. With the gift of insight into the imagery of the psyche and acceptance of that, you can digest and clarify certain experiences as you come to the end of a difficult time.
Hmmmm. Well, my family has cleared out after a long weekend. The weather is warming up. The leftovers in the fridge are steadily diminishing. Chores that were put off are getting done. I’d say I’m returning to normal! (Caveat: we still have Mars in retrograde for a couple more weeks. That could still put a stick in your spokes….)
December 22, 2022: Card O' the Day: Seven of Wands. LMAO!!!! How appropriate to receive this card today. My family will show up in a few hours to spend the Christmas weekend with me.
There are times when one must find the courage to defend one’s position, principles, beliefs, or ideals using natural instincts and past experience. Perhaps one takes a stand against opposing views in a speech, discussion, or on the Internet. Resist aggression and paranoia and maintain a strong sense of self and inner strength to correctly see toxic energies or unhealthy competition as one separates from others and rises above the fray. Combat frustration and impatience with the complementary positive quality of kindness and understand that’s good for oneself and is aligned with one’s heart.
I don’t know what the rest of you have planned, but I think this card is good for us all. Try your best to remain diplomatic, even-tempered, and gracious at all gatherings. You have my permission to escort truly obnoxious guests to the door or walk away from people, but like Patrick Swayze said in “Roadhouse”, be nice. You’ll thank yourself later for keeping your dignity.
December 21, 2022: Card O' the Day: Six of Cups, reversed. By focusing too much on the past, you can become so preoccupied with family traditions/stuff or your childhood home that you can’t live fully in the present. I know this is true for me this Christmas as I’m forced to make accommodations for my weakened right hand. Therefore, I invite you to consider what you’re capable of NOW. Never mind what you’ve “always” done or what you did last year. What can you do NOW without losing your marbles or strength?
Another good idea is to release old emotional ties and destructive unconscious patterns to develop a healthy relationship with your past. Consider this a call to liberate yourself from former obligations and responsibilities, overcome past disappointments, and embrace new trust regarding what “is” today, the future, and your active participation in all of it.
December 19, 2022: Card O' the Day: Nine of Cups. Receiving this card indicates you can find the secret to emotional happiness by taking full responsibility for and control of it and realizing others cannot fill all needs. You can have gratifying emotional fulfillment and satisfaction when the weight of the past is lifted, you let go of what’s already been lived, and proceed with confidence. By cultivating inner harmony, energy will increase, physical health will glow, and you’ll experience true joy, liberation, and a readiness to give of yourself as you come to understand being “you” is enough.
You’re called to listen to your accurate and strong intuition, learn to trust instincts, rely on inner strength, persist with courage and determination, and follow what attracts you. Take control of desires, observe what makes you happy, and find what it is that drives you forward.
Be aware of your thoughts and behaviors…are they directed from the outside or controlled by the feelings of others? If so, then your personal boundaries need a little TLC and remembering “you can find the secret to [YOUR] emotional happiness by taking full responsibility for and control of it.”
December 18, 2022: Card O' the Day: Ace of Swords. The Ace of Swords is a dynamic card aligned with high ideals, pursuing truth, and maintaining balance. It’s also indicative of the need to resolve a pressing issue or commit to a new direction or specific action.
Focus attention, sharpen thoughts, and reason impartially to find the way, clear any confusion, or deliver an opportunity to cut free from attachments to beliefs that no longer serve you. Liberate energies for action, inspired ideas, and new perspectives as “aha” moments or epiphanies push aside outworn views. Replace old anxieties with a new belief and determination in yourself as you use the power of the intellect to triumph over obstacles through the application of sound judgment, careful planning, and mental agility.
Take advantage of this new way of thinking, understanding, and consciousness by using your mind for positive thinking, constructive ideas, and affirmations as you seek solutions that work best for you.
December 17, 2022: Card O' the Day: Temperance, reversed. When the card of balance and harmony is reversed, the most obvious definition is that something is out of whack, in conflict, or excessive and thereby creates stress and/or ill health. If your emotions are imbalanced and you’re overreacting, overcompensating, or believing a situation has to be all or nothing, such emotional turmoil could lead to quarrels, discord, and disagreements. You’re encouraged to calm down and avoid all extremes.
Ha! Does this sound like Holiday prep or what!?!?!? This year we finally have a little breathing room and feelings of safety with regards to getting together with friends, family, and colleagues. Parties are back on and we’re eager to let loose. However, just because you haven’t had or gone to a party in recent memory, that doesn’t mean you have to make up for lost time.
If you’re hosting, do what you always did. You don’t have to blow the bank on food and drink and decorate like it you’re in competition with Martha Stewart. When attending parties or going out, keep a balance between libations and hydrations. Step away from the food table and get out on the dance floor. Pick your parties carefully; you don’t have to attend EVERY. SINGLE. ONE. Cheers!
December 15, 2022: Card O' the Day: Seven of Wands. There are times when we must find the courage to defend our position, principles, beliefs, or ideals using natural instincts and past experience. Perhaps you’re taking a stand against opposing views in a speech, discussion, or on the Internet.
However, this card also demands honest self-reflection regarding your personal tenets; it’s fine to remain steadfast, but be open-minded, too. If you find yourself standing alone too often, maybe it’s time to reevaluate what you believe. (You could be wrong, ya know.)
While fighting for what you believe in is all well and good, just be certain you’re not fighting something that’s no longer a threat or that you even need to be so combative.
December 14, 2022: Card O' the Day: Three of Pentacles, reversed. Threes indicate a product from a “union”, and Pentacles, of the physical plane, most often represent money and work. Thus, the reversal of this card means trouble in this realm.
You may be stuck in a boring job for which you’re over- or under-qualified or in which you undervalue your own work and that of others. Hate or immaturity in management means you’re asked to do the impossible, something dishonest, or hazardous or has you constantly looking over your shoulder (recall the abuse of power in the reversed Ace a couple days ago). In any case, the work, whether physical or spiritual, goes badly from weakness within the work force.
Consider the intangible value of your livelihood and whether you’re doing what you love. To go further requires more effort to refine your ideas so look at the whole picture and then focus on the basics before moving forward or on.
December 12, 2022: Card O' the Day: Ace of Wands, reversed. The reversed Ace speaks of personal authority that has turned sour. You might be abusing your power in some way as you strive to get ahead. Be aware such actions bring severe consequences because Karma will catch up to you.
Emotionally speaking you may suffer frustration, rejection, or hesitation, which leaves you resistant, reluctant, or without interest to take on the vital work necessary to clean up your act (recall Mars retrograde…). Under these conditions, you can expect career delays, postponed decisions, or compromised situations unless steps are taken to readjust your governing energies.
All reversed cards indicate the possibility of illness, but the reversed Ace of Wands is particularly indicative of deflation or impotency. This may be manifested in a general loss of vital energy.
December 11, 2022: Card O' the Day: The Chariot, reversed. The Chariot contains high and directed energy. Once it is reversed, that energy becomes scattered, surges out of control, or restricted. Yesterday, the Princess urged us to learn…more about ourselves, a new skill, advancing what we already know, etc. But this card asks at what cost is this journey of self-discovery, overcoming obstacles, and/or achieving victory?
If you’re embarking on this “learning” path with a dangerously inflated ego, you may believe any means justify the ends. Such inflexible arrogance means you harbor no doubts about the validity of your actions. However, you must come to understand the “will power” approach is not and will not be successful. You need to solve problems rather than simply try to overpower them. Everything needs to change, so get busy and do what must be done to correct the many faults present.
December 10, 2022: Card O' the Day: Princess of Pentacles. This card is indicative of abilities not yet discovered or a creative learner committed to the study of a new subject or art form. (On the other hand, learning and study are acquired skills, so one may be just learning how to learn.) You may be going back to school or getting additional training in your field (or at least thinking about it). You could take continued education classes or learn new skills during on-the-job training.
While the suit of Pentacles concerns money, the Princess teaches you the ability to have money but not be ruled by it and to use it for creating beauty and well-being. You’re invited to examine things with awe and wonder as you find novel uses for familiar objects and inventive solutions to new situations.
That said, the appearance of the Earth Princess is a reminder to live life fully and be present and aware of all possibilities—not just those of your own making or that which is tangible—because magic and opportunity surround us awaiting discovery!
December 8, 2022: Card O' the Day: The Emperor. The Emperor is the guardian of the realm who thoughtfully administers his family, community, and/or business while protecting his tribe and creations.
His appearance today reminds us it’s time to become responsible and understand there are consequences for all choices. The Emperor reminds all that as a global family, we must learn to work as a cohesive unit. While strength of will and self-determination is represented by this card and we’re encouraged to stand up for our beliefs, to be truly powerful, you don’t have to be a bully. When you stand in your power, you CAN show mercy and compassion as you come to recognize where the REAL threats lie.
Moving forward through Mars retrograde with The Emperor’s guidance means you’ll learn your lessons well, solve problems, and reap all the “gain” with less “pain.” After all, you know when you resist change and self-improvement, you only make things 10 times worse for yourself.
December 6, 2022: Card O' the Day: Prince of Wands, reversed. A week ago we had the Prince of Wands, but upright. Today, he’s back but reversed…along with every other card in the past few days. In fact, just the day before the upright Prince of Wands, the Prince of Cups appeared reversed. I feel like we’re caught in a cycle of crankiness, self-pity, and PMS (gentlemen, y’all can have PMS, too). Mercury must be in retrograde or something for energy to be this pissy for so long. Yeah, no. MARS is in retrograde (I looked it up)!
When Mars is in retrograde, “it will force all of us to rethink the way we act on our impulses….. As a retrograde turns a planet’s energy inward, it forces us to retrace our steps, tie off loose ends and solve lingering problems….. In other words, retrogrades mean that life is about to get a little worse before it [gets] a *lot* better. After all, retrogrades force us to face the problems we’ve been avoiding so…we can finally put [them] behind us.
Mars retrograde is no exception, as this almost three-month-long [October ’22-January ’23] rollercoaster ride will lead to multiple breakthroughs and a deepened confidence in ourselves. But first, we need to be willing to step up to the plate and do the work. As with all things related to red-hot Mars, when there is no pain, there will be no gain. And because it happens to span throughout the entirety of the holiday season, you can expect the next few months to be incredibly unpredictable.”
Swell. To read more, see “How Mars Retrograde Will Affect Each Zodiac Sign” by Roya Backlund at www.stylecaster.com.
December 4, 2022: Card O' the Day: Justice, reversed. Formerly held values, old rules of thumb, and social expectations are not reliable, and you must respond with few cues through a cloudy perception and uncertainty (echos of the reversed Ten of Cups). But when trying to justify your actions, you may be reacting emotionally when cool reason is required.
Now, if the imbalance isn’t external, you must assume it’s internal and you’re struggling with a divided self and are suffering the inner discord of intellect v. instinct. This mires you in indecision and inaction because of over-reliance on rationality or facts (or ignoring them altogether). Because of fear of mishandling a situation, you remain stuck but further delay would only hinder it more.
Often people who’ve had a run of misfortune will develop the attitude that “life’s unfair and I’m always the underdog.” This displays an unwillingness to see the meaning of events, dishonesty with yourself and others, and missing an opportunity for a greater understanding of life and Cosmic Lessons. (Damn those pesky “lessons” that make us so miserable!!!)
December 3, 2022: Card O' the Day: Three of Cups, reversed. This is the second 3 we’ve received in a couple days. The other day, the reversed Three of Swords spoke of having to deal with unpleasant truths. Yesterday, the reversed Ten of Cups called us out for some possibly bad behavior (that we didn’t really want to admit to).
However, self-indulgence or self-pity will inevitably lead to unpredictable circumstances that generate all around confusion and displeasure. What was once plentiful and alive (warm feelings among a group or tribe) becomes barren and dies as something hoped for doesn’t come about. It's important to maintain emotional control and further examination of the circumstances is required before moving on to prevent further loss of happiness, lack of cooperation, and loss of personal prestige.
The second three is reminding us it represents the Middle Way, or the harmonious synthesis that can arise when two apparently opposing positions are reconciled. Meaning, you’re allowed to have different opinions and/or ideas but you need to be gracious and diplomatic with them if you expect to keep the *peace.
(*In this case “peace” means cordial if only superficial relations. You can have deeper connections with those who’re like-minded and not apt to blow up in your face.)
December 2, 2022: Card O' the Day: Ten of Cups, reversed. The instability and strains signified in this reversal are more likely to involve tribal or family values and beliefs, rather than individual ones. At any rate, this card indicates a highly charged situation gone wrong in which all emotion turns against itself.
If you’re the disruptive actor and have been given the role of scapegoat, expect feelings of shame and indignation as your reputation is trashed. Negative interactions with others has resulted in thoughtlessness and disagreement to the point upcoming celebrations are cancelled or emotionally draining.
Remember your Big Kid pants, take the high road, and make amends where you can. This doesn’t mean you have to grovel and debase yourself; just be the bigger person. The good news is this card is a 10, and that means this uncomfortable mess will end shortly and new beginnings can take shape.
December 1, 2022: Card O' the Day: Three of Swords, reversed. The reversed Three of Swords MAY bring relief after a narrowly averted disaster or old wounds heal and pain lessens as you accept your responsibilities for the part you played (recall the reversed Prince of Cups from two days ago).
However, unless you put on your big kid pants, you’ll have difficulty accepting an unpleasant truth, deny jealousy, sorrow, or inner pain. By not addressing the issue in an adult manner, expect escalating disaster and under such circumstances, nothing more can be gained by anyone. If you fight acceptance and don’t allow cathartic tears to flow, the healing process becomes blocked, which then keeps the pain within and increases its hold. You must let go of the hurt and begin the process of recovery before it creates an entirely different picture.
Tap into yesterday’s Princess of Wands’ energy and allow your Highest Self to step out of ego and take care of lingering business. It’ll clear the way for your blooming wonder.
November 30, 2022: Card O' the day: Princess of Wands. You’re experiencing a drive to know the self and are searching for new directions for self-growth and improvement. (Thus the recent withdrawal and self-protection.) You’re encouraged to feed creativity and inspiration, sharpen the senses, attune to nature, expand your outlook, and engage in life more robustly. Remain open, full of wonder, and joyful at simply being alive as you follow your spirit.
The appearance of this card may indicate the initial spark of a new career (or ambition for working your way up in your current career), project, or relationship, the beginning of a new phase of activity, exploring new territories, or gaining new responsibilities. The youthful, eager personality of the Princess acts as a dare and may represent someone—or yourself—with unusual ideas and original perspectives which encourage innovation and expression.
The appearance of this card is a reminder to be realistic in goals and remain authentic while reaching to attain them, however. Wisdom must be balanced with wonder as creative, passionate energy is expressed in a grounded, practical manner. This is a note to stay on your toes, appreciate humor, and to think outside the box. Be willing to try anything at the first opportunity for a little excitement, explore things that are close at hand with a fearless grace, and view it all as a catalyst for positive change.
November 29, 2022: Card O' the Day: Prince of Cups, reversed. Becoming overtaken by moodiness, tears, and emotional insecurity, you’re submerged in an undersea realm of watery connections and beset by bad dreams and fantasy. The conflict lies between your inner fascination with self and real-world responsibilities.
Being psycho-emotionally false to your higher Self and others means you’ll continue to stagnate when it comes to having healthy relationships with others and wallowing in your own crap. This means you’re unable to honestly give to anyone else, will avoid commitments, and are moving away from emotional involvement.
And that’s very sad because if you continue to isolate yourself, know that such dodging may result in invitations being withdrawn permanently. If you can’t manage to see past your nose on your own, then by all means seek professional help to get you over the hump.
November 28, 2022: Card O' the Day: King of Wands, reversed. When a King becomes reversed, it indicates weakness and insecurity as one may be having difficulty adjusting to obstacles, defeats, or losses and this causes one to grow cynical or frightened. One may become ineffective when the world no longer operates according to one’s expectations. As one sinks into decline, the larger world may be ignored as one retreats from a position of authority, shirks power, and moves away from responsibilities. (Thus the Four of Pentacles yesterday.)
If one is feeling dissatisfied or uneasy about such a situation, then continuing under those conditions is pointless as insignificant matters can become magnified or errors in judgment come to light that weaken one’s position further.
Therefore, I encourage you to “Always remember the law of Karma: Each act of selfless protection and mercy for those in need revitalizes your spiritual center with a sense of peace and divinity. Therefore, find the stability to let go, be secure of your possessions, and embrace what you DO have.”
November 27, 2022: Card O' the Day: Four of Pentacles. Fours are about stability and Pentacles, being of the Earth, are also stable; combine the two and such compounded stability can become too confining and encourages stagnation. As we learn about personal power, force, and inner love for Self, we come to understand that manifesting integrity, strength of character, kindness, and generosity are actually somewhat self-serving in that they provide stability, focus, comfort, and security coming from our own body center.
However, in the need to feel psycho-emotionally safe, you may actually be strangling and blocking off yourself from the world by excluding others or withholding affection. Creating a closed structure, either of material things or by turning emotional and mental energy inward, you leave no room for abundance.
You’d do well to examine attitudes toward prosperity, monetary motivation, and what you tend to protect with fortress-like strength because greed and possessiveness don’t equal prudence. Always remember the law of Karma: Each act of selfless protection and mercy for those in need revitalizes your spiritual center with a sense of peace and divinity. Therefore, find the stability to let go, be secure ofyour possessions, and embrace what you do have.
November 23, 2022: Card O' the Day: Nine of Swords, reversed. You may be the object of slanderous gossip that colludes with your own self-criticism, self-doubt, shame, mental uncertainty, and timidity. (Your turkey was dry last year and the gravy was lumpy.) Oppressed by troubles, feeling unfairly treated, one hides from “villainous” acquaintances and avoids public view or facing others. (You’re ready to un-invite EVERYone and regret you ever thought you could pull off a dinner for 30.)
Such shrinking from PERCEIVED dangers is reaction to something that weighs heavily on the mind and heart rather than an actual tragedy on the physical plane. (Who REALLY cares if the pie crust is soggy?)
It’s time to begin the process of climbing out of despair, come out of a depressive episode, and pull yourself out of the rut of self-doubt. Alleviate heavy guilt and self-blame and restore your reputation with patience and unselfishness. Do the very best you can and shut down any haters with the invitation for them to host next year.
November 22, 2022: Card O' the Day: Ten of Wands. How appropriate as we head into the holiday season!!!
What started as a good idea has proliferated through overconfidence into too many projects or iterations of a single concept. Betrayed by your own ambitions and caught in a self-created or unplanned quagmire of problems and challenges, the responsibility and obligations of maintaining all that’s needed to keep things running smoothly depletes your energy and represses innate vitality. These unnecessary and distracting expectations will kill your enthusiasm and creativity for the original project.
Receiving this card indicates it’s clearly time to release current burdens and responsibilities. Reassess values and priorities to put what really matters first by generally simplifying and letting go. Certainly use discernment when deciding what to release, severing cords that bind, or discontinuing relationships with people who hold you back. But without making an effort to relieve the current oppression, you’ll be unable or simply too tired to celebrate or appreciate the success you earn.
November 18, 2022: Card O' the Day: Two of Wands. The number 2 suggests a conflict, decision, or union (but I’m not feeling a “union” issue here). The suit of Wands signifies fiery action and determination. While energy is passive and contained, it’s nevertheless quite intense and in need of direction.
If this card represents conflict, things aren’t going well. The question is whether the discord comes from within you or an outside source. Either way, a tremendous amount of energy is trying to move, but it’s blocked by something that needs to be overcome to claim the prize. You actually have the power to resolve this conflict through a new approach or well-timed, bold move. On the other hand, the Two may have appeared to demand a decision regarding which of several opportunities to pursue. (And therein may lie your conflict.) They’re all good, but you must choose what you hope to accomplish within a particular sphere of influence.
Once energies have been effectively harnessed and responsibilities managed, new possibilities or brilliant original ideas are released or current projects are given new meaning. In the process, you might need to fashion a new mental discipline or return to a previously effective one after applying lessons learned and skills honed.
November 17, 2022: Card O' the Day: The High Priestess, reversed. The reversed High Priestess indicates a period of coming out of your shell after a time of controversy and chaos. It was “loud” and messy and that kept you separated from your higher Self and instincts. Now that things are quieting down, go ahead and reconnect with your spiritual side, be self-reliant, and exercise your sense of independence as you set new standards.
This may look like becoming more business-like or formal as you discern who and what are really worth your time and attention.
November 16, 2022: Card O' the Day: Prince of Swords, reversed. Much like the reversed Prince of Wands, this reversed Sword Prince is ready to settle down.
The reversal may indicate that you’re feeling battle-worn or wounded by sharp words after last week’s frenzy of decisions, debates, and verbose opining from all sides. This could render you fearful, doubtful, or cautious and you may want to fall back or hastily retreat rather than advance forward with an endeavor.
On a more conscious level, you might be trying to overcome impulsiveness and are deliberately becoming more thoughtful, careful, and less hurried as you wait for any opposition to move out of the way. And that’s okay because I think many of us could use a little quiet time before the holiday hub-bub is upon us.
November 14, 2022: Card O' the Day: Prince of Wands, reversed. Another Prince reversed! Well… while the elections are over, the haggling and vote counting are not. However, I don’t think this particular card has anything to do with that chaotic energy.
This particular reversed prince may indicate you’re ready to rein in fiery impulses to stop and enjoy the present, rather than perpetually focusing on future progress. This slower pace could make you more effective and allow for deeper experiences all around. In fact I know that to be true.
Concretely, it could indicate you’re looking for a new job…along with lots of failed politicians!
November 13, 2022: Card O' the Day: Two of Swords. The journey to peace begins when you step out of judgment to see similarities rather than differences…especially between yourself and others. The Two of Swords comes to a reading when you’re feeling conflicted, are at crossed purposes, have complementary or opposing thoughts held in balance, or are holding two contradictory ideas or characteristics as true and valid at the same time (ex. He’s an asshole but still a really good dad.)
This might manifest in struggling with a personal dilemma or having a fear of someone unduly influencing you to make a choice. You’d do well to block outside opinions, listen to your intuition, and choose the path that’s best for YOU rather than what’s popular or recommended by others. Take the time to feel deeply and then choose wisely.
November 10, 2022: Card O' the Day: The World. The World is representative of all the elements of the material condition—earth, water, air, and fire—combined with the fifth essence of Spirit. One is imbued with limitless potential to achieve all things possible and is one with the creative force of Universe.
As the final card in the Major Arcana series of the Tarot deck, this card represents one’s arduous journey and the final completion of the work of cutting through illusions and falsehoods to perceive what one believes is the truth. That realization is the final experience of the original goal—though that goal is probably quite different from when one started. Be aware and receptive of this energy as one steps forward to see what’s next and dares to travel outside one’s previous comfort zone.
Now that our elections are over, I feel like this card is for all those running for office who were elected or not. It’s also for us “mere mortals” who only went to the polls to vote. The World is marking the end to a huge cycle in our country and now we figure out what to do with the end results of our efforts. I invite you to reread the first paragraph of this post and go from there
November 8, 2022: Card O' the Day: Prince of Cups, reversed. Oof! More of the same with the reversed Prince of Cups!
Like a shadow on the water, the reversed Prince of Cups is constantly moving with, and adapting to, any situation in a pliant, liquid way, making him hard to define or grasp. He is emotionally dishonest, disingenuous, duplicitous, insincere, and can be quite the lying, conniving, deceitful schemer who uses flattery to achieve his opportunistic, fraudulent ends. The more secretive aspects of this reversal include cheating, manipulation, deception, and could indicate a situation is not as it seems. Trickery, mischief, baseness, idleness, hypocrisy, and artifice are other keywords associated with the reversed Prince. See also obstacles and unpleasant events.
Swell. If this describes your feelings regarding our current election cycle, be grateful it’ll end soon. However, if yesterday’s and today’s reversed Princes describe a person with whom you must deal with on a daily basis, may I suggest you do your best to remove him/her/them from your life? Or at the very least severely limit your exposure. You don’t have to suffer such oafs.
November 7, 2022: Card O' the Day: Prince of Swords, reversed. Wow, this feels like 99% of the politicians out there as they frantically campaign down to the very last minute. Ditto the news pundits trying to predict the outcomes of every race.
The normally sharp intellect of the Sword Prince slides into the fanatical or ridiculous when reversed and he appears imprudent, inept, and full of hot air. One may argue theories that are impractical, irrelevant, or empty; one’s words sound like nonsense; or arguments are irrational. Impulsive or foolish incompetence may lead to stupid mistakes that waste time and/or endanger others. At worst, those under the influence of this card tend to carelessly and recklessly charge ahead without listening to advice in a wild response to a situation that calls for a quieter, more careful approach.
On a more conscious level, one would do well to overcome impulsiveness and deliberately become more thoughtful, careful, and less hurried as one listens to one’s own gut and makes choices according to the best knowledge one has at hand at hand. Vote tomorrow if you haven’t already!
November 4, 2022: Card O' the Day: Four of Pentacles.I’m not surprised to see the Four of Pentacles right after the King. Both of them can indicate hoarding or miserly tendencies, which is not necessarily a “bad thing.” This propensity can stem from sheer meanness (most definitely a “bad thing!”), but I’m feeling it’s driven by the need for stability and protection.
As you learn about personal power, force, and inner love for Self, you'll come to understand that manifesting integrity, strength of character, kindness, and generosity are actually somewhat self-serving in that they provide stability, focus, comfort, and security coming from your own body center. Greed for the sake of accumulation or grasping for power just to be the “big man on campus”, on the other hand, interferes with the creation of balance and community. By knowing the Self, personal protection is complete and others can’t take you down because you see yourself as beautiful and deserving of the things you earn.
While selfishness is sometimes necessary, this card is a call to learn the correct use of power and property for the sake of community and ultimately yourself.
November 3, 2022: Card O' the Day: King of Pentacles. The King of Pentacles is governed by Taurus (my sign) and is steadfast and determined in all things. His greatest talents lie in organization and control of physical matter.
As with all kings, this card signifies the ambition, power, social responsibility, and integrity of good leaders who are strong and impatient to get things done. This particular king doesn’t struggle in his role of social leader or “benevolent ruler” the way the Kings of Wands and Cups do and is happily in charge of a settled world. A tireless worker himself who places an emphasis on quality and reliability, the Earth King rewards the loyalty of those who work equally hard for him.
This card is significant of good physical health and one is called to focus on one’s body, diet, and exercise, and apply energy to practical matters and physical wellbeing.
November 2, 2022: Card O' the Day: Nine of Swords. Sorry folks…try as I might my current situation does intrude on my impartiality regarding the Card O’ the Day. This morning, my hand feels extra stiff and I’m fighting the “what if I never get my hand back” feelings. Thus the appearance of the Nine of Swords.
Often, this card indicates personal mental anguish, pessimism, or the tendency to brood or imagine the worst case scenario without any idea of how to avoid crashing. Perhaps the suffering stems from the feeling of being victimized or tortured by circumstances or that unwelcome energies are at work. This kind of hopelessness and overly active imagination with dark thoughts and visions predominating wreaks havoc on one’s peace of mind to the point that over-obsessing on all things fearful, negative, or anxious begins to infiltrate dreams and day-to-day life.
To be clear, this card signifies the mental discomfort one has created in reaction to a situation, not the situation itself. Therefore, one is advised to look at the problem giving one such anguish objectively because often one’s deepest fears or visions of terror are not real. Use the mind to separate each illogical fear or worry from the pack, cooly analyze it, meet negative thoughts with intellect, cease the mental punishment, and turn fear into positive daily action. (For me that means pressing forward with my physical therapy.)
November 1, 2022: Card O' the Day: Princess of Cups. The other day we had the Ace of Wands, reversed. It was significant of new starts but the reversal meant we weren’t quite ready, the timing wasn’t right, or there were snags in the way. Today’s Princess signifies a timid beginning destined to evolve positively and therefore we’re encouraged to be more vulnerable and to embrace something of which we're a little unsure. Especially since that may be a phase of opportunity to follow an artistic, musical, or literary inspiration. (By definition such endeavors are always tenuous so that can make you feel even more unsure of yourself.)
And yet, the Water Princess is indicative of youthful energy and being lighthearted about the future. Her appearance is a reminder to let life flow as you learn to accept and incorporate feelings into reactions, contemplate things with a tender heart, trust, and serve with love. As you stand on the threshold of emotional maturation through relationships, struggles to develop your talents, or imagination regarding projects, you’ll discover new feelings starting with those of self-love and respect. (SUPER important right now lest you get discouraged.)
October 27, 2022: Card O' the Day: Ace of Wands, reversed. Even when reversed, the Ace indicates new beginnings are afoot and you may feel ready, desiring, and yearning for change. However, the right opportunity has yet to come, a situation may be premature, or you’re not energized or prepared enough to move forward. Alternatively, there may be simply too much activity and you’re engaged in too many “new starts.”
Emotionally speaking, this could cause you to suffer frustration, vexation, rejection, weakness, doubt, hesitation, ineffectiveness, or powerlessness. Which then means you fall into desperation that clouds your joy and prevents you seeing the parts that ARE going well. (Always, always, ALWAYS acknowledge the full part of your glass!)
Any one of these factors could lead to unrealized ambitions. You’d do well to reconsider plans and goals or set something aside for the time being because impatience is not the answer
October 26, 2022: Card O' the Day: Eight of Pentacles. This card represents the celebration of the natural creative flow to all life and all things, and having it in a reading indicates you’re in tune with this flow and the importance is not lost. The Eight of Pentacles represents an ideal situation of harmonious balance of prosperity wherein all needs of the mind, emotions, and body’s health are met. This steadiness extends to your tribe in which all have found their place and the community is in full understanding of each other.
The appearance of the Eight indicates it’s a good time to have equal persistence and patience while you work together with your environment and improvise when necessary to build a strong foundation from which you can grow. Use all available resources with an eye for durability, conservation, and incorporating artistry with function as you meld inner vision with technical knowledge thereby applying your intelligence to material matters. Such endeavors will create inner happiness and satisfaction within yourself while bettering the world.
October 25, 2022: Card O' the Day: Judgment, reversed. When upright, this card indicates big changes; when reversed, it signifies difficult transitions, hesitation, or resentfulness towards or doubting the value of the necessary changes. This puts you at risk of bad judgments, poor decisions (or avoiding them), confusion, and delays.
The reversal of this card may indicate a deep dread of the ultimate and inevitable changes of old age, loneliness, sickness, and death. Such insecurities may tempt you to remain closed off or closeted from others. However, self-pity only makes things worse and feelings of unease and unrest will continue until you decide to do something about the circumstances.
Always remember and never forget, you’re in complete control of your life! React badly to unfortunate news or circumstances, and your “bad luck” will compound. React with objectivity and imagination, and you’ll remain in charge of turning your destiny towards all that you desire.
October 24, 2022: Card O' the day: Queen of Swords, reversed. It’s interesting that right after we’re encouraged to be more open and accepting of our emotions and to make certain decisions based upon what we desire rather than strict practicality, the Queen of Swords appears…and reversed no less.
The Queen’s feelings and feminine side can become buried under an aloof mantle of authority out of self-protection. (Read: super logical and NEVER emotionally out of control.) Because she showed up today in the face of Universe telling us to allow emotions free rein, it could be some of you are controlling grief, suppressing anger, resisting sorrow or an ending of some nature, or delaying an emotional decision. You may be having difficulty accepting a death, divorce, or separation. Such tight control of emotions will come across as coldness, a closed heart, distance, unreasonableness, or self-imposed solitude.
I agree emotions can be really messy. But they’re a vital piece of the human experience. Try not to miss that part of your earthly life.
October 23, 2022: Card O' the Day: The Empress. Apparently, The Empress wasn’t finished….
The Empress’s raw emotions combined with earthy sensuality make for an intensely passionate approach to life. Sometimes it’s necessary to make decisions based upon emotions and her presence signals a time of diving into life through feeling and pleasure rather than intellectual or moral consideration. In the right context, this allows for expression of desires with great confidence and prepares you to go beyond boundaries as you abandon yourself to the energy that fuels the birth of all things. This may lead to satisfaction and understanding gained, emotional wellbeing, and the ability to embrace life in hard times to trust that love will transcend suffering.
The Empress also signifies spiritual hope and awakening to the possibility of letting go of the concept of the solid world being all there is and accepting the wider, intangible universe. Tap into the area of the psyche where the Self is nurtured and where you receive your inspiration and self-aware intelligence.
October 22, 2022: Card O' the Day: Ace of Cups, reversed. Oof. I’m afraid this one might be for me…. As I was choosing the card for today, bicycling flashed across my mind. It’s one of my hobbies and I haven’t been able to ride since I fell off a ladder in June and broke my arm. I’ve been working hard on rehabilitating my hand and wrist to previous levels of strength and flexibility but there’s a chance some of it won’t be recovered. Also, this card came to us on the 11th…just a few days ago. So, what are we (am I) NOT getting?
The reversed Ace of Cups signifies we’re sabotaging our hearts by not recognizing or being dissatisfied with the gifts and joy life offers. Examples of non-recognition include (but are not limited to) rejecting a friendly overture or emotional gift, turning down an opportunity, clinging to old sentiments or melancholy, or refusing to shake off deeply held grudges. But that’s not possible when we’re unwelcoming to change and unwilling to let go of past emotional pain.
I repeat my suggestion from the 11th: create a list of what’s going RIGHT in life right now; focus on that and not so much on all the “wrong."
October 21, 2022: Card O' the Day: The Empress. The Empress is significant of fulfilling relationships and a life enriched by spiritual awareness. She also represents physical care and nurturing of the self and others through love, acceptance, and forgiveness. We’re encouraged to protect and defend those who are important, show kindness to those less fortunate, and learn to be emotionally available to others.
The caveat here is you must also be as open to receiving as much as giving to retain one’s psycho-emotional and Karmic equilibrium. Therefore, step into Mother Earth’s energy to heal and balance life’s chaos at the first hint of personal depletion. (Tarot-speak for maintain your boundaries and don’t be afraid to say no when you need to.)
October 20, 2022: Card O' the Day: Ten of Pentacles.The Ten of Pentacles signals harmony and the growth of spirit that comes from deep sharing and communication between family (“chosen” family counts, too) and friends so that many may enjoy the abundance of a good life instead of just a few. The appearance of this card indicates it’s time to become more aware of this communal environment and to devote time to celebrating or resolving the past as all matters involving one’s clan, friends, community, and relationships become important.
The stone associated with this card is Tiger’s Eye. It teaches the tolerance of different points of view, helps you see unity rather than “other”, and helps you be more flexible to attract the people and things which are important for your psycho/emotional and spiritual development.
October 19, 2022: Card O' the Day: Four of Cups, reversed. This reversal turns stagnation into a feeling of healthy restlessness that leads to thirsting for fresh experiences and new healthy relationships. You’re looking for new opportunities to overcome passivity and discontentment!
However, in that search for “better” you might become so eager to make new acquaintances that you’re not too discriminating about it as you get caught up in the newness of it all. Therefore, merely seeking mindless distractions among new people may lead to troublesome relationships.
You’re encouraged to make new friends, but cautioned not to go “all in” too quickly for or with them. Be sure they’re worth your loyalty, time, and energy.
October 17, 2022: Card O' the Day: Three of Cups. The Three of Cups is a card of joy, festivity, light, and energy. Threes signify expansion, contentment, congenial relationships, and the synthesis of love. The appearance of this card is a sign you’re becoming more available to the many opportunities there are to explore the world with an open heart, precise intuition, and inquisitive mind.
This card recognizes and luxuriates in the ties that bind and drinks deeply of the wine of friendship and those who’ll help navigate hard times as well as make good times that much sweeter. These are the people you call your posse, homies, or tribe with whom you have a soul-level connection and upon which you may fully rely.
Nature and sympathy help balance and control emotions as you release the need to impress others and trust in their essential goodness. Allow yourself to receive this nourishment and positive energy that only true friends can give. (If you don’t have a solid posse, this card is indicating the need of it.)
October 16, 2022: Card O' the Day: The Moon, reversed. When faced with confusion and perceived irrationality, you’d rather cling to what appears to be concrete reality, reason, literalness, and practicality. You may go so far as to block or resist all imagination, psychic information, or any intuitive impressions. Thus, you retreat within the bastions of conventionality and conformity, or withdraw into immobility or mental weariness to hide from all that’s challenging.
However, the instability, error, and deception indicated in the upright Moon might not seem so threatening when The Moon is reversed. You’re actually able to face perils with calm and confidence if you try. With the gift of insight into the imagery of the psyche and acceptance of that, you can digest and clarify alternative experiences, concepts, or choices as you come to the end of a difficult time.
October 15, 2022: Card O' the Day: Seven of Swords. Like all cards in the mentally focused suit of Swords, the heart chakra governs, which illustrates how the mind can affect the heart and emotions…most often cruelly.
Emotional insecurity is often behind one’s greatest fears and self-destructive actions as we fake our way through life with bravado to appear independent and strong. But all that is just a cover for perceived deficiencies or inadequacies. Insecurity is often rooted in issues of trust and trustworthiness, and we must find the true cause of it and do the work necessary to stabilize life for ourselves.
Don’t allow your mind to hold you trapped and crippled in past trauma that stops you from making decisions lest you make the “wrong” one. While opposition seems to be coming from all sides, it’s really all in your mind and within your power to end the cycle of insecurity and futility.
October 14, 2022: Card O' the Day: Justice. I feel like we’re repeating messages here because we can’t quite “get it.” Justice appeared about two weeks ago and indicated potential for emotional disturbance. We were directed to look at life to see what could cause disruption, chaos, and recklessness (which we all know is rooted in ego and hubris).
“The notion of judicious or prudent intelligence applies to the Justice card in that it represents the power of the intellect and mental alertness to make choices based upon dispassionate, impersonal evaluation and fighting battles with strategy and skill rather than brute force. Conceptual thinking, fairness, and intellect become the arbiters between opposing ideas rather than desire (i.e. what you waaaaaant).” This advice from September 30th still holds true since we continue to argue with our egos, passions, and negative self-talk.
Again, it’s time to look at your life and see what you’re doing that doesn’t allow balance. Through lucid thinking, objective planning, and weighing all factors, you can reach fully informed and aware decisions using logic, reasoning, and fact-based evidence.
October 13, 2022: Card O the Day: Five of Wands, reversed. The internal conflicts present in the upright version of this card can also be represented in the reversal.
You may be so hesitant to create anything resembling controversy that your desires for personal evolution cannot be acted upon or are ignored due to crippling doubts and indecision. If you ARE capable of tapping into creativity, you can only do so with the help of unhealthy “crutches” like drugs, alcohol, excessive food, or pointless sex.
Go back to your list of what’s going right for you at this time. It may seem stupid to list your blessings but it actually forces you to think positively. And while you’re doing that, it’s impossible to kick yourself or indulge in self-destructive habits.
October 12, 2022: Card O' the Day: Princess of Wands. You’re experiencing a drive to know the self and are searching for new directions for self-growth and improvement. However, the influence of the Fire Princess will will prevent you from living by someone else’s terms (think boss) or being told what to do. Ego becomes so important you can be crippled by it.
This card also represents young energy that by definition doesn’t have extensive experience upon which to draw. However, experience, knowledge, or skill aren’t specifically required, only openness and desire is needed as you take on life’s problems without worry about the likelihood of success. This lack of hands-on training is more than made up for in grit, intuition, and stubbornness…if you can control ego enough to accept advice and dare to make mistakes.
October 11, 2022: Card O' the Day: Ace of Cups, reversed. Just as the Nine of Swords represented mental discomfort of your own making, the reversed Ace of Cups signifies you’re sabotaging your heart, too, by not recognizing or being dissatisfied with the gifts and joy life offers. Examples of non-recognition include (but are not limited to) rejecting a friendly overture or emotional gift, turning down an opportunity, clinging to old sentiments or melancholy, and refusing to shake off deeply held grudges.
To receive love, you must be willing to give love. But that’s not possible when you’re unwelcoming to change and unwilling to let go of past emotional pain. You also need to be sufficiently interested in others’ perspectives if you expect any kind of support from them.
Might I suggest you create a list of what’s going RIGHT in your life right now? Focus on that and not so much on all the “wrong."
October 9, 2022: Card O' the Day: Nine of Swords. Back to Swords and the hard work it represents…. The suit of Swords, at its best, represents logic, rational thought, and truth and at worst a sharp intellect that can cruelly wound yourself when turned inward. To be clear, this card signifies the mental discomfort you’ve created in reaction to a situation, not the situation itself.
Often, this card indicates personal mental anguish, pessimism, or the tendency to brood or imagine the worst case scenario without any idea of how to avoid crashing. This kind of hopelessness and overly active imagination with dark thoughts and visions predominating wreaks havoc on your peace of mind to the point that over-obsessing on all things fearful, negative, or anxious takes over your life.
Therefore, you’re advised to look at the problems giving you such anguish objectively because often your deepest fears or visions of terror are not rational, logical, or real. Cognitively recognize negative thought patterns and observe how they’re affecting your life. Use the mind to separate each illogical fear or worry from the pack, cooly analyze it, meet negative thoughts with intellect, cease the mental punishment, and turn fear into positive daily action.
October 8, 2022: Card O' the Day: Five of Pentacles, reversed. Apparently, Universe wants us to take the “alternative approach” rather than just chucking the whole thing and escaping to Tahiti.
In order to change your luck, you’re required to create alternative structures and take a different approach because the “standard way” of doing things isn't working. The appearance of this card is an indication you’ve reached a turning point in facing material or spiritual troubles as you persist through transformations. The recent bad trend is reversed and the situation improves as problems are overcome and money is regained after renewed commitment to severe toil and labor.
Heretofore hidden possibilities become accessible and you’re encouraged to take a risk because these unexpected circumstances can reveal opportunity and gain. However, as your intelligence is applied to your work, be careful excessive “dynamism” and “velocity” (read: pushy and reckless) don’t make the situation unstable thereby causing worries, disorder, and going back to where you started.
October 7, 2022: Card O' the Day: Ace of Swords, reversed. When Swords are reversed, it indicates mental balance is under stress and may manifest in inaction, self-destruction, denial of disturbing thoughts, difficulty in thinking clearly, or you might be resistant to a painful truth. At the same time, the suit of Swords also governs the heart and the darkness existing in the mind can easily break your heart.
Without a clear sense of logical reality, you fall prey to mistakes created by your emotions. When everything appears more important that it actually is, current problems could lie in how you’re reacting to them more than anything else.
If one approach is not working to solve an “unsolvable” problem, then logic dictates something new must be applied to find solution. One the other hand, you might just come to see a situation for what it is—a lost cause—and just walk away because sometimes you really do have to throw in the towel.
October 6, 2022: Card O' the Day: The Wheel of Fortune, reversed. The Wheel, reversed, is still a beneficial card, but its energy becomes unstable, and the unpredictability of outcomes increases. This could manifest in a superabundance of change with rapid growth, superfluity, expansion, and increases.
You could become anxious because you just don’t feel “ready” for what’s next. In attempts to slow it all down so you can think, you might become overly prudent, inflexible, or conservative. Unfortunately, there’s the necessity to move forward or you’ll risk stagnation that makes circumstances even more precarious.
Mostly, the problem is with your attitude as negativity starts to creep in and you alternate between hope and despondency. Confusion, resistance to Fate, and an irresolute emotional core blocks the vital action. Struggle against events is usually doomed, so stand firm, maintain courage and stamina, and learn from past rotations of The Wheel that nothing—good or bad—lasts forever.
October 5, 2022: Card O the Day: Death. Death heralds a major transformation…the ditching of an old way of being. We’re being asked to totally transform everything we believe ourselves to be. Surrender the self to the changes and release ego. Enormous energy is being used to maintain an illusion so simplify life and don’t allow ego to create power drains trying to “keep up with the Joneses.”
Keywords or concepts associated with Death: ending that allows transformation, clearing of the old to make way for the new, letting go of unneeded stuff, cleansing, a natural end, closure, release, essential movement, and deliverance.
With those dire proclamations made, understand creativity, nourishment, and growth occur when fears and attachments are released and the future is accepted. Don’t look at this as an ending; it’s a transformation. Nothing is ever destroyed but simply changes shape. Allow yourself to be fully conscious and aware as you leave one state of being and are simultaneously reborn into another.
October 2, 2022: Card O' the Day: Three of Swords. As with all the Swords cards, intellectual activity is present. The Three’s energy gives enthusiasm to your intellect that easily combines with a passion for studying, reading, and desire for intellectual development. In such an excited state, you might come to realize certain old belief systems no longer serve and are ready for the scrap heap.
However, the still immature and unrealized intellect and intuition act spontaneously and discern no difference between believing and knowing as fanatic primary ideas, lightning realizations, or first opinions rocket out your mouth. While the ideas and plans to be implemented are good, pay attention and make corrections when given the opportunity to do so.
If any of your bright ideas and grand plans involve money, be faithful in all promises and totally honest! This card can indicate trouble in business or financial situations if you’re not vigilant.
October 1, 2022: Card O' the Day: The Fool. The Fool returns, but upright this time. Now that Justice has helped us get our emotions in balance with our thinking, we’re ready for a change in environment, to evaluate the tangible steps necessary to make this change, and acknowledge all lessons learned from past failures and use them for future success. Don’t freak out about changes and taking necessary risks; change is good! Stay grounded and aware throughout the process as you look for any pitfalls.
Fortunately, in your balanced state, expect an expansion of awareness to new ideas, as your spirit looks forward to limitless opportunities. As the bearer of the original essential boundless energy, this card represents advancing towards developing all of your personal capabilities whether obvious or still latent.
However, this fundamental creative urge, potential of the spirit’s force, or need to take action has yet to be directed. Thus the need for grounding emotions and ideas in facts, concrete realities, and plausible possibilities. Use your intellect well and consider it a tether for your dreams and aspirations.
September 30, 2022: Card O' the Day: Justice. There’s potential emotional disturbance present; therefore, look at your life to see what could cause disruption and chaos (your own recklessness?). This card is here to bring you all things that help you feel safe and neutral.
The notion of judicious or prudent intelligence applies to the Justice card in that it represents the power of the intellect and mental alertness to make choices based upon dispassionate, impersonal evaluation and fighting battles with strategy and skill rather than brute force. Conceptual thinking, fairness, and intellect become the arbiters between opposing ideas rather than desire.
It’s time to honestly look at life and see what you’re doing that doesn’t allow balance in life. Through lucid thinking, objective planning, and weighing all factors, you can transform the untamed and nebulous to reach fully informed and aware decisions using logic, reasoning, and evidence.
That said, while there’s definitely a positive need for a balanced mind, true justice isn’t devoid of sentiment but integrates passion, ethics, logic, and experience that‘s all used to gauge a situation. Consider Justice to be the meeting place of emotional intelligence and critical thought.
September 29, 2022: Card O' the Day: Queen of Pentacles, reversed. And the general mood of “I don’t want to grow up” continues with our reversed Queen. Normally indicative of nurturing, handling responsibilities, and maintaining resources, the reversed Queen ain’t havin’ none of it as she abjures security and family values and seeks to enjoy a more carefree, adventurous existence.
The Eight of Cups’ wallowing continues as the reversed Queen struggles with self-worth, feels that her efforts are never enough, and/or doubts her value as a person. She may be perplexed by basic management tasks, is indecisive and uncertain, fears failure, and lacks trust in herself.
Here’s the thing: no one is born KNOWING what to do. Being a grown-up is basically having the cojones to just give life a whack! You WILL screw up and fall down…just like you did when you were learning to walk. The trick is to learn from mistakes and try again. Trust me, everyone else is blundering through life, too. Your gaffes will hardly get noticed. Especially when everyone is watching and waiting for Kim Kardashian to mess up.
September 28, 2022: Card O' the day: Eight of Cups. The astrological combination governing this card causes destructive emotional patterns to surface. Saturn (planet of struggle and hard work) opposes Pisces (sign of emotional healing and life completion). This creates a conflict between logical, common sense and personal sympathy (i.e. wallowing).
You’re all ready to abandon what formerly attracted, nurtured, emotionally sustained, or fascinated you with regards to an enterprise, undertakings, or previous concerns. In an effort to avoid the real work of adulting, you’re indulging in changeability, romantic flitting from one idea to another, or pursuing amusing pastimes.
Your immature personality is unable to make permanent commitments, the intellect grasps at many subjects in a superficial way, and there’s little real mastery in anything. Such a variety of pursuits are unlikely to really succeed as you simply wander from place to place and idea to idea. It’s time to make some radical shifts in your mental processes to find a deeper satisfaction with your life.
September 27, 2022: Card O' the Day: The Fool, reversed. The reversed Fool indicates a false carefreeness and happy-go-lucky attitude, which prevents you from taking a chance at a critical time because of fear or dependence upon plans or advice of others. Worse yet, you may engage in crazy, reckless schemes that come from a reluctance to listen to advice and a failure to act from your innate wisdom or to follow instincts. Bad decisions and the ensuing irresponsibility for your foolish—or downright idiotic—actions result in disorder and chaos.
The reversed Fool suggests it’s time to grow up, listen to your higher self, and take on adult responsibilities (I know, it’s hard). Take a period of reflection to contemplate and clarify what’s going on now and what has come to pass. If performances and events have not lived up to what was envisioned and you’re feeling overwhelmed, it would be well to discover why.
Only then will you have the awareness that big chances must be taken at the right time and when, precisely, that is.
September 23, 2022: Card O' the Day: Eight of Swords. Eights signify completion and manifestation and Swords signify the mind. Together, this card suggests the completion or the ending of a current problem exists in the correct use of the mind.
Without proper psycho-emotional tools, you can feel disoriented, trapped, powerless, and limited by fear. Negative thinking, over-analyzing, caving into anxiety, self-consciousness, or waiting for “rescue” only furthers the illusion of lack or imprisonment. When you perceive you’re in a bind, thoughts are stifled or short-circuited and the self-sabotaging, critical mind hampers every move as self-imposed beliefs, rather than objective circumstances.
While you can’t control what life brings, you CAN control how you feel, think, and react. The way you’re looking at problems exacerbates them; You’re not being kept down by direct force but your BELIEF that you’re helpless. When beginning the road to recovery, consider the reason for or actual source of the problem. Then use yer noodle to figure it out.
September 22, 2022: Card O' the Day: The World. As the final card in the Major Arcana series of the Tarot deck, this card represents our arduous journey and the final completion of the work of cutting through illusions and falsehoods to perceive the truth. We’ve successfully “danced within our limits” as we found individual freedom within the inescapable boundaries of like as a human.
Challenging, all-encompassing experiences were handled with aplomb and you might receive rewards, honors, or promotion for work well done. Your recognized expertise will lead to even greater responsibility and advancement. Relish this feeling of coming to a dazzling and exciting completion for as long as it lasts and congratulate yourself for this personal accomplishment after struggling to fulfill goals and attain objectives.
Prosperity and abundance is assured if you remember to pursue excellence of Self and wisdom of the soul. Therefore, because there’s more to come, you’re encouraged to perform a ritual of gratitude to celebrate the end of this cycle and joy of achievement, thank all those who have assisted along this road, and find a way to give back or help those in need. Acknowledge this happy ending or satisfactory outcome as a prelude to the next beginning because the journey of the Tarot will take place many times in life. Face the inevitable changes with hope and optimism.
September 21, 2022: Card O' the Day: Seven of Cups. With this card, we’re faced with the Seven Deadly Sins, which can be fatal to our spiritual progress and it’s strongly advised to maintain balance between having fun and complete impropriety.
One might self-medicate and self-soothe with overindulgence in recreational drugs, food, or alcohol or abandon oneself in debauchery, sin, and corrupted sensual pleasure. Often this card signifies one is lost in ungrounded, dream-like energy within one’s creative and cognitive world in which one is pulled and dazzled by many seemingly promising opportunities.
When overwhelmed by the “beauty of the world”, one cannot differentiate between illusion or sound possibilities, tries to avoid the real work of honestly exploring options, and drifts off into fantasies thereby delaying reality. There’s a real danger of becoming so entranced by visions that one wallows in reveries and allows energy to dissipate and promises go unfulfilled.
September 19, 2022: Card O' the Day: The Moon. “Be careful, lest in casting out your demons you exorcize the best thing in you.” — Nietzsche
It's time to face any issues of insecurity or fear and trust a higher consciousness. Question: Are those fears real or created to keep you "safe"?
September 18, 2022: Card O' the Day: Seven of Pentacles. Truly meaningful work generates more than material benefits and you’re being asked to take a step back to consider what those might be. A creative crossroads, with potential for revelations and possible changes of direction, is in the near future. But inventiveness can only come from a relaxed and focused mind, so you’re being asked to refresh yourself and appreciate each goal achieved thus far.
While a little self care is needed, it doesn’t mean you have to spend wads on a vacation, fancy dinner, or spontaneous plane ticket. Pause to ponder and look deeply within; explore daydreams, visions, and musings that might lead you to inner-world treasure and be open to internal guidance to see the magic taking root in your everyday life.
September 16, 2022: Card O' the Day: Four of Pentacles, reversed. Obstacles, delays, setbacks, and constraints aren’t of your own making or fault. Circumscribed by limits that prevent advancement, you’re being blocked at every turn, which means you can’t blossom through new challenges and grow.
Impracticality, lack of grounding, or powerlessness could hamper decisions. Obstruction may be tied to literal physical issues or something more intangible such as commitments or responsibilities. When falling prey to such superior external forces, life may feel overwhelming and you’re unable to give it structure.
It’s time to reconsider what you really needed to feel secure. Find where the center of your power lies and be patient because despite perceived opposition, you can still work towards goals.
September 12, 2022: Card O' the Day: The Magician. The card of The Magician represents the “magic” of Self. Everybody has this magic, whether you acknowledge it or ignore it. As the director of the quest for “Self”, you can learn how to contact the Life Force, find the hidden parts of yourself, and come to understand them to live your best life. After all, without you, there’d be something missing from existence and no other can replace it.
The appearance of this card may indicate you’re beginning a quest for wisdom. You’re encouraged to trust your own inner experiences, allow imagination free rein, and listen to higher planes of consciousness.
While The Fool signifies infinite hopes and beginnings, The Magician is the personification of those possibilities coupled with the energy of life in its most electric forms: consciousness, creation, intuition, intellect, desire, and action. Indicative of you on the rise, feeling confident and capable, and taking your rightful place in line, this card recognizes the awareness you have of everything unexplored.
Go get ‘em tiger!
September 9, 2022: Card O' the Day: Six of Pentacles. So, we JUST had the Six three days ago. However, today’s message is about balance, rather than reciprocity, and examines the equilibrium between our material, spiritual, and social life and the restoration thereof. Such balance within your environment would provide a happy, relaxed atmosphere in which you can enjoy the fruits of your labor with good company and job prospects.
Sometimes balance is not ideal yet is very stable. It could be you’re in a relationship wherein one party dominates the other by giving from a place of superiority. The hierarchy may not indicate a dominant person but a situation in which one party remains submissive. The circumstances offer just enough to keep you from looking for something better and you’re too passive or apathetic to endanger the little bit of security you have. In the end, nothing becomes truly reconciled and the situation remains static and continues.
Therefore, look for areas in your life where you’re not completely thrilled but put up with the situation just so you don’t make waves. You’re allowed to be happy, too, and don’t have to sacrifice it so everyone else is comfy. Speak up and claim your share of the pie.
September 7, 2022: Card O' the Day: Eight of Cups, reversed. We live in a society where striving and competing are rewarded and almost expected. But beware of using inner journeys (yes, it’s possible to try to be more “woke” than the next guy) or outer goals as escapism or flights from reality causing one to drift aimlessly and hopelessly searching for the ever elusive “more.”
This card cautions us to solidify goals first and not recklessly leap at or force changes just for the sake of doing something else. Changing “just because” isn’t the smart answer right now because what you’re thinking of leaving may still have some value. In actuality, there could be a new window of opportunity, being reinstated in a nurturing situation, or sticking with a current process will bring ultimate success, joy, and happiness after some corrections have been made.
Allow cautious optimism and creative impulses to flow…there’s potential for improvement.
September 6, 2022: Card O' the Day: Six of Pentacles. This card can be summed up in one word: reciprocity. It’s representative of the action of giving/receiving, never mind who’s the beneficiary or the benefactor. The rewards of such action—without regard for keeping score—connects society and uplifts all its members. Even the simplest acts of kindness are always affordable by the richest and poorest alike.
The makers of and believers in magic understand giving—even just a smile—to those in need returns spiritual benefits. Soul-based exchanges that flow from love embody true generosity, Spirit in all life, and strength through gentleness. Even though we’re grounded in the material/physical world, how we value and handle sacred spirit exchanges determines our future.
The main message for today is to accept gladly and give freely. Notice acceptance comes before giving. We’re taught that to give is “better” than to receive but if all you do is give, give, give, then you end up with the dregs. To maintain energetic balance, you must also accept gifts as they’re offered.
September 2, 2022: Card O' the Day: Four of Swords, reversed. The stability of the Four of Swords allows for a stilling of the mind; upon reversal, this recent period of thoughtful peace and tranquility comes to an end as concerns are resolved and one awakens from a literal or metaphorical sleep with more clarity or a different perspective. One exits self-isolation and reenters the world, begins to feel like one’s old self, and is again capable of feeling sympathy for others.
As one recuperates from personal difficulties, through prudent care, wise administration, and economies, carefully resume activities with circumspection and precaution. Tread softly and look for clues regarding potential stumbling blocks that may set one back again.
September 1, 2022: Card O' the Day: Seven of Wands, reversed. The reversed Seven of Wands is back but today it’s more aligned with yesterday’s reversed Ten…as in accepting assistance when navigating diplomatic waters. Furthermore, you may be ready to overcome fears and objections and actively participate in negotiations rather than accepting decrees or allowing others to make decisions for you.
Defenses, walls, and barriers between oneself and others come down as you discover inner resources and refuse to be intimidated. Certain minor victories may require conforming to established procedures and protocols or seeking an otherwise more co-operative approach. If you can come to a clear course of action, natural self-confidence will return.
August 31, 2022: Card O' the Day: Ten of Wands, reversed. Sometimes a false front is assumed and one denies that a labor is too great, avoids issues, dissembles, or hides one’s light. This self-sacrifice or generosity in a destructive oppressive situation will lead to a painful surrender of power. So, don’t.
Instead, lay down one’s burdens, get relief from the pressure, and generally get out from under oppressive situations by getting help or asking others to take a greater role. Once one realizes one can use energies for a better purpose, it opens a clear path to a new start or lease on life.
August 29, 2022: Card O' the Day: Prince of Pentacles, reversed. This prince, when reversed, may view work and/or life as useless or meaningless and become grumpy, antisocial, stubborn, complacent, intolerant, idle, stagnant, tired, listless, or apathetic. (Nice.) When not completely nailed to the sofa, one is a stick-in-the-mud deadweight at social gatherings. (Stay home.)
The appearance of this card may indicate one is stuck in a dead-end job or lack direction, which results in loss of persistence, initiative, or interest. Under the influence of this card, time, efforts, or resources may be wasted and opportunities are missed through inattention, negligence, or lack of courage. Such negativity is compounded as one abandons people, projects, or efforts through sheer inertia. (Swell.)
And thus the reason for keeping people at a distance…. It’s okay to take a personal day sometimes because it looks like y’all need one.
August 28, 2022: Card O' the Day: Seven of Wands, reversed. So, the reversed Seven of Wands appeared about a month ago but today I feel it’s more about the number seven rather than the Seven of Wands because we also had a seven yesterday. Therefore, let’s look more closely at the numerology of the number seven.
With sevens, each element is in degeneration and at its weakest on the material plane. It can represent battles, defense, and courage that lead to complex choices, change, experimentation, and risk-taking.
For protection, you may set up barricades to keep people at a distance. However, that’s not be such a bad idea since such barricades can allow you time and space for reflection before making decisions. You’ll be able to work out difficulties in isolation and make adjustments in peace.
August 27, 2022: Card O' the Day: Seven of Pentacles. “I didn’t fail. I just found 10,000 ways that didn’t work.”—Thomas Edison The Seven of Pentacles represents the tendency to endure tough times in pursuit of a goal, the willingness to work hard for it (including the actual labor itself), and further prospects of growth.
During the journey, take time to assess and concretely evaluate growth and methods. All that has been earned, won, or generated comes in stages as you advance towards goals. Therefore, small adjustments may be necessary, and making minor tweaks now will save huge corrections later.
With the vast material power inherent in this card, ideas come to the physical plane successfully and you can enjoy the fruits of labors that bring long-term goals to fulfillment.
August 26, 2022: Card O' the Day: Three of Cups, reversed. Thanks to the recent Ace of Wands and reversed Five of pentacles, you’re going to be really busy with projects and the snags that are par for the course. This will lead to you having less time for hanging out with friends due to over commitments.
On the other hand, it could be you’ve become disenchanted with comrades or associates and thus are cutting back and no longer socializing with the old crowd. The usual pleasures seem empty and unfulfilling as you eat, drink, and play when there’s work to be done.
Also, the previous days’ cards indicate you’re growing up and are ready for some tough or new challenges. Your ideals have shifted and those of your usual associates haven’t as they continue to ignore deeper values.
August 25, 2022: Card O the Day: Five of Pentacles, reversed. Conflict inherent in the number five manifests on the physical plane when accompanied by the suit of Pentacles. It may manifest in suffering material losses through disorder or misuse and squandering of resources. If your own actions aren’t at issue, you may be the victim of another whose conduct isn’t honest. (Did I not say to “prepare well” yesterday?)
In order to change your luck, you need to create alternative structures and take a different approach because the standard way of doing things isn’t working. The appearance of this card is an indication you’ve reached a turning point in facing material or spiritual troubles as you persist through transformations, are determined to return to work after joblessness, or emerge from bankruptcy.
The recent bad trend will be reversed and the situation improves as problems are overcome and money is regained after renewed interest in material matters, severe toil, and labor.
August 24, 2022: Card O' the Day: Ace of Wands. A couple days ago the Ace of Wands also appeared but it was reversed. That indicated whatever you might have had in the works was not quite ripe or an opportunity hadn’t arrived. Welp, hang on to yer hat….
Though you may’ve been yearning for a change, this passionate, transforming, irreversible, raw, and powerful energy is not for the fainthearted! This is a card of imagination, aspiration, adventure, excitement, invention, and inspiration as a sudden and unexpected magic spark within or around you gets things going and generates new ideas into movement. Expect action and confrontation that can be exhilarating or devastating.
The Ace energy has ignited something within, but it may not yet have a home or direction. The spark seeks what it needs to change your situation, so allow that spark all the fuel necessary by following impulses. But remember that with all aces, this moment is fleeting. You must prepare well for this willfulness that’s ready to be put to use. Be clear of your intent because that, more than anything, determines the direction events take.
August 23, 2022: Card O' the Day: The Hanged Man, reversed. When upright, The Hanged Man indicates a moment of pause and contemplation; when reversed, you’re on the verge of becoming unstuck and at a spiritual turning point. However, having just woken up to your situation, you’re not yet aware of options and are unsure where to start and thus looking for directions. There’s a readiness for action with nothing to do or a sense of moving quickly yet going nowhere as you want things to go right and are impatient to get going.
Once a decision has been made regarding next steps, however, slow down and take inventory, avoid leaning on unreliable sources, and establish a realistic plan. Doing what others tell or demand you to do or allowing others’ opinions to sway you, rather than listening to your own inner voice, means you’re in denial of a basic part of Self. Fighting this inherent guidance may lead to pointless sacrifice, suffering, punishment, a fall from grace that damages reputations and relationships, or being in a constant state of battling life.
August 22, 2022: Card O' the Day: Ten of Cups. Okay, so I’m sitting on hold for some insurance claims issue and the hold music was a Mozart piano sonata. I LOVE Mozart! Because I had nothing better to do while on hold, I decided to start the Card O’ the Day. I shuffled and chose while listening to lovely Mozart. With my eyes closed and grinning from ear to ear over the music, I chose the Ten of Cups! Influence from the past!?!?! Who knows but I do see Spirit at work….
The Ten of Cups represents culmination of the Way of the Heart wherein you’ve truly connected with your heart and move into the world with playfulness and intelligence. Allowing yourself to be softer and more receptive to the inexpressible joy already present deep inside means discovering that solid grounded happiness does not come from possessions. At this apex of divine yin power, you finally bear witness to your own inner radiance and magnetism, understands personal value, and are secure in being “enough.”
August 19, 2022: Card O' the Day: Ace of Wands, reversed. Even when reversed, the Ace indicates new beginnings are afoot and you may feel ready, desiring, and yearning for change. But while the upright Ace is full of forward impulses, reversed, this card is a “thumbs down”, “no”, or “not now” and counsels inaction or reduced action.
Chin up, though. The right opportunity has yet to come, a situation may be premature, or you’re not energized or prepared enough to move forward. On the other hand, there may be simply too much activity and you’re engaged in too many “new starts.” Any one of these factors could lead to unrealized ambitions. You’d do well to reconsider plans and goals or set something aside for the time being because impatience is not the answer (Eye roll!).
Emotionally speaking you may suffer frustration, vexation, rejection, weakness, doubt, or hesitation, which leaves one resistant, reluctant, or without interest to take on more and burdensome work. (Yeah, when we get thwarted it IS kind of a buzz-kill.)
August 17, 2022: Card O' the Day: Princess of Cups. I guess I got so excited about using my right hand on the computer for the first time since I broke my arm, the Princess showed up for me. However, we can all learn from her….
Her appearance is a reminder to let life flow as you enter into a phase of learning to accept and incorporate feelings into reactions and trust because she signifies a timid beginning destined to evolve positively (I had my first physical therapy appointment yesterday).
It might be time to take a breather to renew yourself if you’ve been working hard or recuperating from a serious illness. Following a little self-care, you’ll be more energized, inspired, refreshed physically and spiritually, and have the inner confidence to serve those in need. (YESSSSSSS! I’m getting my hair cut today!!)
August 16, 2022: Card O' the Day: Ten of Wands, reversed. Oppressive feelings of despair, hopelessness, bitterness, loss of energy, or failure can keep you preoccupied with self-interest, indecision, and doubt leading to lack of faith in your life. In such a condition, chores and important tasks will not get done and the smallest stumbling block will be incapacitating. The misuse or neglect of skills and abilities result in tepid efforts rendering long-held dreams or ambitions fruitless.
However, this card is a ten! And just a couple days ago we also had a ten. As we all know, tens indicate endings that will allow new beginnings. Therefore, I’m inclined to think the current sh*t show is coming to an end.
The most obvious interpretation of the reversal of the Ten of Wands is that you’ll lay down burdens, walk away from difficulties, get relief from the pressure, and generally get out from under oppressive situations. Sometimes this involves getting help or asking others to take a greater role. Once you realize you can use energies for a better purpose, it opens a clear path to a new start or lease on life. (Caveat: In your efforts to gain relief, burdens may not be shifted conscientiously and you’ll just pass the buck. Be careful here…karma WILL catch up to you.)
August 15, 2022: Card O' the Day: The Chariot, reversed. The Chariot contains high and directed energy. Once it is reversed, that energy becomes scattered, surges out of control, or restricted. Forward motion is halted and you’re defeated through inaction, indecisions, impatience, or lack of energy.
You could be mired in a situation from which extraction is difficult. Nothing is working as originally planned and expected and life seems uphill with an obstacle at every turn. You’ve got to understand the “will power” approach isn’t and won’t be successful. You need to find ways to SOLVE the problems rather than simply try to overpower them.
But first ask yourself “Am I truly committed to the change needed at this time?” and “Am I willing to follow through?”
August 14, 2022: Card O' the Day: The Fool, reversed. The normally bright energy of The Fool is lost in apathy, indecision, confusion, and hesitation to trust when the card is reversed. With no idea where to begin, you’re adrift in unfocused energy. Unfortunately, this may lead to not taking a chance at a critical time.
Furthermore, you may be averse to taking any risks at all for fear of looking foolish or making a mistake or excessive concern of doing something stupid and suffering embarrassment. You could be sticking to conventional and safe approaches, accepting limits as absolutes, being careful, and doing anything to avoid the possibility of a misstep.
Take a period of reflection to contemplate and clarify what’s going on now and what’s come to pass to make you so very cautious. Once you understand why you’re stagnating out of fear, you can do something about it.
August 13, 2020: Card O' the Day: Ten of Pentacles, reversed. When the Ten is reversed, some shadows lift and you can gain relief from stress. Keep looking forward to liberation and exciting breakthroughs that are forthcoming because it’s time for recovery and rebirth now that you’ve turned the corner and things are looking up. After an extreme situation has cleared the way, the change in your cycle provides a new outlook and rightly has you on pins and needles about the future.
However, unless you take advantage of the reprieve in difficulty and makes REAL changes to prevent the situation from repeating, all gains and success will be fleeting.
During the sweeping alterations required by this card, your emotional reactions to the previous unhappiness or any disputes, ingratitude, and doubts will hamper true progress and make new gains precarious or impermanent. Therefore, it’s important to let go of the past, release the need to intellectualize what all went wrong, and concentrate on repairing any weak spots in your boundaries.
August 12, 2022: Card O' the Day: Four of Pentacles, reversed. As with all card reversals, the extremes of every card come into play. However, today, instead of grasping more tightly than ever (a common interpretation of the Four of Pentacles), I feel the opposite.
Some of you feel it’s time to reconsider what’s really needed to feel secure. You’re ready to risk change, find where the center of your power lies, and establish a realistic budget for the near future. Be patient with yourself because despite perceived opposition, you can still work towards your goals. Relaxation and relief of tensions is possible….
August 11, 2022: Card O' the Day: Nine of Wands. Welp. It looks like y’all’s requests for power from Universe have been answered! The Nine represents perseverance, stamina, tremendous power, and heroic action. We have here driven and dynamic energy with a stronger and increased light. It’s your choice whether to accept them and the clarity that comes. However, these gifts can be fiery, unstable, and are potentially very dangerous.
Sometimes you can have trouble accepting the accomplishments that come with your hard work, determination, and independence intensified with good direction because it feels as though you don’t know what the hell you’re doing. Without a clear map, you can’t see the next steps necessary or feel uncertain or unstable about any possible avenues.
In moments of weakness, you want to cling to safe but unnatural routines that keep the chaos at bay in an effort to keep things familiar. However, training, development, and discipline result in moral and spiritual character and courage in the convictions that will aid in handling any hardships. (Meaning, you got this.)
August 10, 2022: Card O' the Day: Eight of Wands. The appearance of the Eight of Wands assures you something is being set in motion and change is projected for the future. It’s prime time to send out energy asking Universe for the power to meet the many new opportunities that are coming with great anticipation. Spirit is at work here, so ask to be moved in an unmistakeable direction, imagine anything is possible, and get out of your own way to follow creative forces and realize greatest passions. Instincts and intuition will enable you to get the job done and move through that which is immovable.
However, all the great ideas, enthusiasm, and the accompanying adrenaline rush could carry you away. Therefore, you must use caution, prioritize energy, and make sure to avoid hasty decisions that offer only temporary solutions without laying proper foundations for long-term gain. Balance and blend your passion and insight, trust instincts, and then weigh all dangers before moving forward.
August 9, 2022: Card O' the Day: Four of Cups. Nature abhors the vacuum of stagnation and many opportunities are within grasp. It’s time to shake things up, challenge previous assumptions and fantasies, and start something new to get moving again. You may hesitate when faced with fortuitous openings, but growth requires change. Life is urging you to participate, so take the time to commune with nature, purify yourself, use the comfort and safety of the inner world, and wait for the proper flow before moving forward to emerge at the best time.
Occasionally, you can be uncertain about an opportunity (perfectly normal). Keep in mind your own overactive imagination and needy ego are perfectly capable of turning a good situation into something awful. The Four of Cups represents the recognition of the role the unconscious plays in the physical world to hold yourself back from making bad choices or self-sabotaging. That said, even though something good may be on offer, don’t rush to take it before considering all options carefully and looking for limitations you may not recognize immediately.
August 8, 2022: Card O' the Day: Princess of Pentacles, reversed. This is our second reversed Princess/Page in a row. In general, they represent exploration, beginnings, new situations, or that one is at the beginning of a stage in personal growth. However, when this court card is reversed, it tells me there’s lots of resistance to the “new.”
Specifically to the reversed Princess of Pentacles, clarity of thinking and practicality suffers as one loses focus or has difficulty grasping necessary information or facts. One may change one’s mind about beliefs or something previously though important and this may cause one to lose purpose or not know what one’s place is in the world anymore. This muddled mind might mean “dropping the ball” on something important so be aware of deadlines and appointments.
The good news is the messages typically heralded by the appearance of the reversed Earth Princess include cancellation of plans or bad news. But this actually would then allow relaxation after a difficult task has been completed. So, silver lining!
August 7, 2022: Card O' The Day: Princess of Wands, reversed. Out of fear of change or disappointment, those under the influence of the reversed Fire Princess may resist something new or reject an opportunity or plan. The needed details and drudgery are simply “too much” and the idea of starting over requires exhausting effort.
In a fit of resistance, energy goes awry like a bomb waiting to explode or a child throwing a tantrum because of not getting what it wanted or having had something taken away. Thoughtless, rash, and insensitive, one flails through busy work and snaps at colleagues. However, one doesn’t want to appear childish and thus affects a passive-aggressive attitude of superiority or disdain.
Once conscious of the challenges ahead, hesitation and clumsy uncertainty in one’s actions lead to excessive delay, inconclusiveness, and indecision. Therefore, one must either get away from complexity or develop the maturity to deal with it.*
*Meaning: suck it up, put on your Big Kid pants, and get to work.
August 5, 2022: Card O' the Day: Six of Cups. New relations, environments, and knowledge exist to open one’s mind and accept others as they are. Which will be highly useful when working with or leading others. These relationships are deeply felt and there’s sincere concern for everyone’s feelings. One is urged to nurture and celebrate these warm connections with sensitivity and kindness, for these connections may allow for manifestation of past dreams here in the present.
By working on integrating the gifts and experiences of the past with consciousness in the present, one receives reassurance that the correct path was taken and decisions were based on valid and honest instincts and motivations. Shift one’s view from linear to circular: remember the past, see the present, and envision the future. Former dreams will then seem possible, and achievable, after being tempered and strengthened by time.
August 1, 2022: Card O' the Day: King of Cups, reversed. Somebody out there doesn’t feel like they’re worthy of or ready for the leadership position they’ve taken on or have been elected to. The reversed King often will fake a role to fulfill someone’s needs and gain credit for being a “good guy.” Secretly they feel their creativity—for which they were hired—is insignificant or immature or there has yet to be a proven body of work to prove abilities.
Because the King of Cups represents a leader/authority figure—as do all kings—in the realm of emotions, the reversal of this card may indicate you need to experiment with new approaches towards expressing your inner life and creativity. This may be manifested by breaking through societal or personal concepts about what a leadership role looks like. Meaning, you don’t gotta lead like the last guy or the person in the other department. You do you to get the results you need.
July 31, 2022: Card O' the Day: Five of Pentacles. With the help of your tribe, you may enjoy a position of prominence and authority earned through hard work and the acceptance of responsibility. An executive position, handled with discipline and thoughtfulness, will bring good results. Learn where trust is best placed, engage talents, and express oneself authentically.
This card can also indicate a transitory period in your life during which there’s a positive evolution towards the future (taking leader type roles has a learning curve). New interests on the material plane open up or you find new solutions for current problems. The transitions may also include moving to a new place, so be patient with yourself as you settle into a new space and routine.
July 30, 2022: Card O' the Day: Three of Cups. Is anyone else out there getting reeeeaaaallllyyy tired of all the bad news in our world? People often lose the ability to feel authentic joy in life because of the fear associated with loss or grief at the passing of said joy. Be strong and stoical enough to understand life’s trials and blessings are cyclic by nature. Thus, give yourself the permission to experience joy at the time it’s deserved.
Receiving the Three of Cups is a sign we could become more available to the many opportunities there still are to explore the world with an open heart, precise intuition, and inquisitive mind. It’s a reminder to enjoy the camaraderie of tribes, mixed friendships, or friendly work affiliations and to savor the good times as they come.
July 29, 2022: Card O' the Day: Seven of Wands, reversed. The Seven of Wands indicates strong interpersonal energies that are already a bit uncomfortable and confrontational when upright. But when it becomes reversed, that discomfort devolves into you feeling anxious, self-doubt, or feeling overwhelmed or tempted to back down. If one seems to be at a disadvantage or in an inferior position, one may become faint-hearted, overly cautious, and sink into cowardice or defeat. Such self-conscious distress, may lead to indecision, vacillation about what to do next, or discouragement. (Recall yesterday’s super confident and gung-ho Prince. Somebody or something has questioned his ideas and now he’s unsure.)
Sometimes an overabundance of brilliant ideas creates complications and in a fit of hesitation or uncertainty one becomes excessively conservative. Which then causes undue discussion, indecision, and friction.
What to do? TRUST your brilliant ideas! And trust that your nay-sayers aren’t putting you down but are seeing the problems you didn’t. Listen to them and don’t take it personally. With their help, you’ll get the bugs out of the system/process/idea and move forward with your plan.
July 28, 2022: Card O' the Day: Prince of Swords. This card is indicative of revolutionizing energies, quicksilver ideas, sudden shifts in perspective, rapid thoughts, quick answers, brisk insightful commentary, and a penetrating wit with clarity that cuts to the chase. Therefore, prepare for “a-HA!” moments that’ll blow up your world. This is the very essence of the mind cleansed of all parasitical concepts that weigh you down and prevent you from going beyond mere thought.
However, you’re called to measure everything critically, think, analyze, and use discernment. New ideas, relationships, or interests can suddenly supplant what was there before without thought for the ensuing disruption as you abandon responsibilities for the next adventure or vision. The Prince reminds you to ground ideas in reality and be responsible for what’s created because he represents the struggle to sustain the plodding grunt work some projects require.
Therefore, maintain vigilance while proceeding with a plan, and don’t allow impulsiveness to revolt against ideological compliance. Lastly, consider carefully whether you’re willing to see a project through to its end; otherwise time and resources will be wasted.
July 25, 2022: Card O' the Day: The Devil, reversed. When The Devil is reversed, it may indicate a liberation from bondages that are holding one hostage or a respite from troubles. One has finally stopped accepting a situation as one’s lot in life and is moving towards freedom. Regardless of the depths of one’s problems, before slipping free of the chains that bind, one must first become aware of and acknowledge them.
Also, since the Devil represents, in part, illusions, when the card is reversed it could signify one is beginning to see through them to the truth. And as one becomes more conscious of destructive behaviors and misuses of power, one experiences a release from false inhibitions and patterns of manipulation and codependency.
This liberation and recognition of truths will allow one to begin the path to spiritual enlightenment and a new level of facing—and enjoying—life.
July 24, 2022: Card O' the Day: The Star, reversed. When upright, The Star asks one to get in touch with one’s inner guiding light, emotions, and sense of Self in order to understand how the outside world affects one’s psyche. Once reversed, one recognizes how the outside influences have injured one and reacts by holding back, having difficulty opening up emotionally, hiding feelings, or turning away from offered calm and hope. One may have the sense of being dammed or bottled up inside. Tired and depressed, one sinks into negative thinking and loses touch with sources of inspiration.
If one is able to recognize one’s own role in difficult periods, then acknowledge one’s mistakes and transgressions and do what’s necessary to atone for one’s errors. One is called to shed all false ideas of self. It’s not a time for recognition or external efforts but rather for inner contemplation—for “being” rather than “doing.”
GAH! There it is again! Being still and understanding one’s own perfection REGARDLESS of how much you can check off your “to-do list”! I wonder what would happen if I just embraced the boredom and stopped screaming at my bones to heal already? Spiritual epiphanies? Faster healing? Less pain? Probably just more patience and serenity. THERE’s a thought….
July 22, 2022: Card O' the Day: Ace of Swords, reversed. When Swords are reversed, it indicates mental balance is under stress and may manifest in inaction, self-destruction, mental pain, denial of disturbing thoughts, or difficulty in thinking clearly. One may be resistant to a truth or suffer confused ideas. Without a clear sense of reality, one may fall prey to mistakes created by one’s emotions.
The suit of Swords also governs the heart because the darkness existing in the mind can easily break one’s heart. Thus nervous conditions may manifest in pessimism, lack of confidence, or overpowering or confused emotions. Tempers become quick and volatile and problems become more exaggerated.
However, current problems could lie in how one is reacting to them more than anything else…. Well, sheeee-it. You mean I can control all this drama merely by relaxing into the pain and actually figuring things out rather than hollering how “woe is me”? Crap. But inner work and facing truths is so haaaaaaard
July 21, 2022: Card O' the Day: Nine of Pentacles, reversed. In denial of personal wellbeing or good fortune, a certain disquiet creeps in because one cannot recognize what the concept of “enough” means. Threats to contentment and safety, regardless of the source, make it difficult to relax. All is not well and one has a desire for freedom and to roam as feelings of entrapment grow.
Yep, yep, and hell yep! I’m counting the days when I see my doctor again to evaluate the progress on my broken arm! I’m soooooo done with sitting still, pain, and watching my summer slip by! AAAARRRRRRGGGGHHHHH!
Or, spiritually speaking, this card could indicate one is called to engage in inner work that would bring peace and serenity…………………………… OH STFU AND LEMME BE CRANKY! Feckin’ Universe comin’ in wit’ its lessons and all….
July 20, 2022: Card O' the Day: Judgment. Recently, a new and improved telescope has been sending us stunning views of Universe! I mean, who knew? This leads us to our card today: Judgment.
When one focuses on Earthly trivia, one gets caught up in judgments of saintly/evil or desired/useless. But these judgements keep one trapped in the illusion of “good” or “bad.” With the appearance of this card, one’s Higher Self is at work to show one something not seen before. This revelation causes a paradigm shift, “aha” moments, startling or transfiguring revelations, and the sudden manifestation of a new perspective, meaning, or quality of life. The discovery one is important to Universe (yes, that enormous Universe shown to us in the telescope’s photos!) leads to an epiphany that creates deep significant change. In such an aware, “born again” state, one is able to embrace one’s destiny of a new path, intellectual idea, great truth, or mission in life.
By releasing assumptions and expectations and cultivating good judgment, one opens to beauty that results in an influx of psychic awareness, spiritual unfolding, opening of the mind, and understanding of the purity of one’s spirit. As one looks within to see what’s real, what is, steps beyond Earthly illusions of lack, and emerges from 3-dimensional thinking, one comes to recognize the True Self and that one actually exists along side the stars.
July 18, 2022: Card O' the Day: The Hermit. So, it looks as though the daily cards continue to be about me. Could it be the muscle relaxers keep me in this body and don’t allow me to travel too far away to choose a card from the ether? I dunno. I’m trying to reach for objectivity but I’m thinking Universe has something to say to me.
Keywords for The Hermit include retirement, repose, patience, and hibernation. (The “patience” part is reeeeeeeaaaaalllllly hard!) To any of you joining me on this path, we’re being asked to find our inner truth and identify with the Cosmic Self. To do this, we need solitude and retreat for self-reflection, meaningful self-discovery, and spiritual awareness to find the answers one seeks. Therefore, it’s important to withdraw from ordinary life, involvement in groups or organizations, or other distracting concerns and influences that may have once seemed vitally important to reevaluate and reconsider existence for clearer understanding, to gain introspection and wisdom, and have the time and clarity of thought to search for inner truth and guidance. (Have been forced to do that…..)
Now, for some of you, it’s possible you’re not undergoing any exercises in spiritual journeys at all and are merely spending more time alone and are trying to finding comfort and ease in that solitude. This solitariness may feel like a welcome rest or an enforced loneliness that’s partly protecting and partly imprisoning. Be aware of how you view aloneness and take responsibility for that choice. Loneliness is a negative state wherein there’s an absence of another; aloneness is a positive state where you’re happily present with yourself.
July 17, 2022: Card O' the Day: Queen of Swords, reversed. Today’s card continues the crankiness of yesterday’s reversed King of Wands.
When reversed, the Sword Queen’s cool reserve devolves into downright bitchiness. Her cruelty, narrow-mindedness, and intolerance are not usually truly malicious but rather arise from deep disappointments, heartbreak, pain, pressure, and self-deception. The ill-temper and negative behavior connected with this card comes out of frustrated ambitions, ideals that have turned sour, or abilities that have been sacrificed or unused. One may be wallowing in despair and placing an overemphasis on sorrow. Life is made to seem vastly worse than it actually is by ignoring all the good things with which one is blessed. This excess of gloom and egoism indicates a lost commitment to truth and reality.
I can really relate to the part about frustrated ambitions as my brand new berry patch is mostly going to the birds, literally. Therefore, no berry jam this year. I had to cancel my bicycling tour with my brother and my Reiki 3 class. HOWEVER, I refuse to wallow or ignore my abundant blessings both tangible and intangible. I think being…erm…”presented” (slapped?) with these ever-so-cranky cards is a firm reminder to let plans go with minimum of whining and to accept life as it comes.
July 16, 2022: Card O' the Day: King of Wands, reversed. Three weeks ago I fell off a tall ladder while trying to put a baby bird back in its nest. The resulting broken bones have confined me to bedrest and severely curtailed my plans for the summer. The reversed King of Wands is kinda how I feel….
Reversed, the King of Wands represents an arrogant tyrant with exaggerated PRIDE that becomes over-bearing. The tender ego and vanity depend on bluster and an “I can do this” attitude. Absent proper deference, one will lose one’s temper at the drop of a hat. One unwisely abuses power by self-righteously insisting on absolute authority even though one is apt to make imprudent decisions under the influence of this card. (Thank goodness I have a sane and realistic person holding me down…)
All that hot air is really hiding weakness and insecurity as one may be having difficulty adjusting to obstacles, defeats, or losses and this causes one to grow cynical or frightened. In my case, I must become tempered and more understanding that resting long enough for broken bones to heal is my ONLY option right now. Once higher authorities (my doctors) have determined my injuries are healed, I can step back into my own power without limits.
June 21, 2022: Card O' the Day: Nine of Swords (again). I guess the Nine of Swords had more to say…. The number Nine, with its association with idealism, altruism, and healing in its deepest sense, is often associated with leadership, moral authority, and high standards. However, true authority requires compromise during problem solving as well as idealism, otherwise self-righteousness can develop. Nine represents the balance one must maintain between idealism and realism. (Echos of The Lovers’ message of a few days ago.)
Specifically, this card’s an omen for change and you're challenged to find your path, speak your truth, and clarify your purpose as you gather and integrate denied aspects of Self to manifest the true, whole Self. Regardless of the form finding the path back to Self takes, dedication to any calling requires sincerity, discipline, and hard work. (King of Swords, anyone?)
The reward for all this “clean living” could manifest as better understanding and cooperation within a marriage or friendship, day-to-day activities comfortably shared with others, a well-meshing business partnership, or problems being solved easily and amicably. And who doesn’t want that?
June 20, 2022: Card O' the Day: King of Swords. This king is a totem of strength, intelligence, and wisdom who sees clearly, thinks quickly, communicates well, and has the capacity to innovate changes through perception that penetrates to the core of an issue or idea. He wields discrimination, mental prowess, and knowledge together with logic and diplomacy. The appearance of this card is calling us to expand small-minded viewpoints, widen perspective, and champion new ideas. Critical, objective, and cool-headed examination of circumstances is required. To accomplish this, blend creative passion with existing knowledge and the willpower to act.
The first step to towards doing all this is to be responsible for yourself and your actions. To be so, use inner resources wisely and your gifts for the greatest good. Be professional, disciplined, and focused on what needs to be done. Set high limits and standards, operate under strict requirements, and enforce consequences for every action.
Finally, learn to trust your gut and strength and stop expecting the worst from others.
June 19, 2022: Card O' the Day: Nine of Swords. The suit of Swords, at its best, represents logic, rational thought, and truth and is appearing today as guidance to help you find the path back from the extremes of yesterday’s reversed Queen of Cups.
This card signifies the mental discomfort you may have created in reaction to a situation, not the situation itself. Therefore, you’re advised to look at the problem giving such anguish objectively because often your deepest fears or visions of terror are not rational, logical, or real. Cognitively recognize negative thought patterns and observe how they’re affecting your life. Use the mind to separate each illogical fear or worry from the pack, cooly analyze it, cease the mental punishment, and turn fear into positive daily action.
Self or spiritual exploration can cause you to disconnect from others or your “normal” life. However, the resulting psycho-emotional unease isn’t meant to make you miserable but to make you face an injury or sorrow that must be acknowledged. Feelings of disquiet, refusal to accept an ending, or an impending sense of doom must move through on its way out. This great sorrow has the potential to be transforming but you must go very deeply to the roots of the pain to experience it as it is without blame or self-pity.
During the difficult process, calm the mind to find the courage to break old mental habits that don’t serve you and intellectually let go of them. The results will be illumination and new understanding.
June 18, 2022: Card O' the Day: Queen of Cups, reversed. Oh, dear…. It would appear that some have gotten a little punch drunk on all the introspective psycho-emotional energy currently swirling about.
The Queen of Cups is already close to the spiritual world and when the card appears reversed, all those qualities are taken to the extremes as esoteric energies lurch out of control. So ethereal and angelic, those under her influence mentally leave this world, become oblivious to time considerations and regulations, and attempt such a deep mystical connection or devotion to God or Spirit that one denies the physical senses. In an effort to retreat further into unrealistic fantasy and the “woo-woo world”, one may abuse sex, drugs (including all plant-based hallucinogens, no matter how “organic” or “natural”), or alcohol or engage in other vices all in the name of spiritual expansion.
A healthier aspect to the reversed Queen would be approaching your spiritualism with a sharp and competent mind, letting no one take advantage, overcoming illusions, and refusing to be swept away by conflicting emotions or succumbing to the feigning maneuvers and manipulations of false gurus. Finding love and spirituality doesn’t mean you have to forsake your common sense.
June 17, 2022: Card O' the Day: Ten of Cups. The Ten of Cups represents culmination of the Way of the Heart wherein one has truly connected with one’s heart to find lasting contentment. Allowing yourself to be softer and more receptive to the inexpressible joy already present deep inside means discovering that solid, grounded happiness doesn’t come from mere possessions. At this apex of divine yin power, you can finally see to your own inner radiance and magnetism and understand your personal value.
Under the influence of this card, the conscious and subconscious join to create a well balanced state of being where you have the ability to go into emotions and rise out of them without getting caught up in blame or guilt. Once you’ve learned to understand the emotional self and love all parts, there comes a feeling of deep inner satisfaction, all things possible, and being in a high cycle with much to look forward to. Trust in your feelings with confidence.
June 16, 2022: Card O' the day: The Moon, reversed. Upright, The Moon is significant of all things intuitive (subconscious or super-conscious); reversed, it indicates one is denying the possibility of the unseen world. And, when faced with confusion and perceived irrationality, one would rather cling to concrete reality, reason, literalness, and practicality (the conscious mind and ego). One may go so far as to block or resist all imagination, psychic information, or any intuitive impressions. Thus, one retreats within the bastions of conventionality and conformity, or withdraws into silence and intellectual immobility to hide from what’s challenging.
But when The Moon’s calming side isn’t allowed to emerge, one may suffer confusion, mental chaos, fear of the unknown, or poorly defined or other disturbed emotions. With the gift of insight into the imagery of the psyche and acceptance of that, one can digest and clarify experiences outside of said concrete reality, reason, literalness, and practicality.
Recall the lesson of The Lovers…listening to all levels of your human consciousness.
June 15, 2022: Card O' the Day: The Lovers. The Lovers represents all levels of human consciousness. First, there’s the conscious mind that leads to practical thinking. Then there’s the subconscious mind where dreams and images first take shape. Finally, the super-conscious is the realm of the spiritual source of all inspiration, knowledge, wisdom, and love. In practice, the conscious intellect appeals to the subconscious, which is intuitively aware of the divine guidance of the superconscious. The superconscious is free from ego, desire, and attachment and suggests a path of moral integrity where one makes choices from a spiritual level. This is where reality meets “ideal" tempered by common sense.
Great. Now what does all that MEAN?
It means you have to approach relating to others with your whole brain and not just the naughty bits. It means loving yourself enough to watch for red-flag deal-breakers and stomping your own heart to walk away when it’s not right for YOU. (News flash: when it’s not right for you, it’s not right for your partner either.) It means listening to your gut, daring to risk it all to get what you want, and compromising or sacrificing. I repeat: This is where reality meets “ideal" tempered by common sense.
June 13, 2022: Card O' the Day: Queen of Pentacles. A couple days ago the Queen of Cups materialized to tell us it was a good time to open our hearts and experience love. Then we got the Ace of Wands, which indicates lots of creative energy that has yet to be directed. Today, the Queen of Pentacles shows up….
She’s significant of the ability of those in “power” to care for the less fortunate and think of others rather than oneself. Therefore, the appearance of this card suggests you might be coming into a position to help someone. Now, the Earth Queen breaks down all distinction between giver and receiver and understands to help others is actually helping herself; so, no skin off your nose. (Read: she understands being nice is a win-win.)
This card represents thriving in all areas that call for creativity (Ace of Wands), physical connection to others or the world, and elemental understanding (Queen of Pentacles). In the process of finding what you really want from life, develop truthfulness, overcome any conceit, be innovative with solving unexpected problems, and create your perfect dream (Queen of Cups).
June 12, 2022: Card O' the Day: Ace of Wands. As a symbol of healing, restoration, and spiritual awakening, the root chakra is being grounded and centered. All the elemental qualities of Fire—enthusiasm, vitality, and intuition—are enhanced at this time as you feel a restlessness to get moving again.
This Ace assists in exploring the deepest parts of your Self to show truth and an authentic new perspective. It’s the basic life force energy of spontaneous generation that drives the flower to bloom or the soul to animate the physical body. As the spark behind all beginnings, it’s vital energy in the state of potential.
While the energy has ignited something within, it may not yet have a home or direction. The spark seeks what it needs to change your situation, so allow that spark all the fuel it needs by following impulses. But remember that with all aces, this moment is fleeting. Prepare well for this willfulness that’s ready to be put to use. Be clear of your intent because that, more than anything, determines the direction events take.
June 11, 2022: Card O' the Day: Queen of Cups. The Queen of Cups is able to unite hopes, imagination, love, and creativity with vision, valuable action, and social usefulness and so the appearance of this card may denote a profession in the arts where dreams are turned into creative endeavors. It also refers to professions in counseling and healing. However, regardless of the form your endeavors take, this card indicates they’ll give lasting pleasure. (Thumbs up!)
We're being reminded to be self-aware and accept intuitive abilities to aid in any situation and explore natural rhythms, listen to intuitive knowing, trust inner wisdom, sense nuance and undercurrents, and deepen the connections with self and soul. By doing so, we can bring soulful feelings to the surface for healing and revelation and develop the “inner life.” As we develop and trust intuitive insights, we can use those psychic and empathic talents to better understand others. This may manifest as the ability to act on trust and see something through without having to know the outcome ahead of time or intuitively connect to any healing modality whether spiritual or otherwise.
This card is a catalyst for the emergence of deep feelings and deepening development of the generosity of love. Representative of favorable emotional energy, we’re encouraged to make something whole and alive out of opportunities and elements given to us in life including emotional goals such as creating a family unit.
TLDR: Don’t be afraid to open your heart. ’Tis better to love and get hurt than never love at all.
June 10, 2022: Card O' the Day: The Empress. On occasion, this card may indicate one has missed an opportunity through thoughtless actions and dangers not heeded. Today, this one’s for me because I played with fire and got burned. I didn’t wear a mask to a recent psychic fair and now I have Covid. While I’m not horrendously ill, I do have to cancel my next two shows in an abundance of caution so I don’t infect anyone else.
Bitter and resentful (yep!) of life’s required changes and separations that must occur, one becomes a hand that takes (nope! not gonna!). However, one may change one’s reactions to unfortunate events by creating one’s own reality of strength and calm (that’s my plan).
The Empress is masterful at self-care and knows her body to be a beautiful gift. Her appearance is a request that one be generous with care of self and others and forgiving of one’s own humanity (in this case, I’m trying to forgive my own hubris that I was somehow immune to The Big Bad Bug). Tap into the area of the psyche where the self is nurtured and where one receives inspiration and self-aware intelligence. (Tapping. And I’m reading “self-aware intelligence” as accepting my stupidity, taking my lumps, and staying home.)
June 9, 2022: Card O' the Day: The World, reversed. All the qualities of the upright card remain the same, but to a slightly lesser degree. Upright, The World represents that inner moment of perfection in which one releases what holds one back from participating in the divine dance of creation. But when reversed, such “letting go” may call for sacrifice, but any made will rise from wisdom and compassion. Meaning, you see the necessity and you can do it without too much disruption.
Responsibilities and obligations may feel restricting or energies are uncomfortably constrained, overly protected, and limited by your environment. Being so tightly leashed results in frustration and the sense that something is missing as movement and growth slow to a stop. As one of the “endings/beginnings” cards of the Tarot deck and as the last of the Major Arcana, this card carries a lot weight in this concept. When reversed, however, it may signify difficult beginnings or that too much is expected of a small beginning.
This is not to say things are going to absolute hell in a handbasket but you might have to redo something you thought was finished or suffer other setbacks.
June 8, 2022: Card O' the Day: Princess/Page of Pentacles, reversed. When the Princess/Page of Pentacles is reversed, there’s a declaration of independence from trivial fixations to seek and find a new world of perception. As you turn away from material matters and shift focus to the spiritual and ephemeral, you’ll give your inner sight, hunches, and dreams more importance. You’ll change your mind about beliefs or something previously desired.
Now, this shift from the material plane to the more esoteric might temporarily cause you to lose purpose or not know what your place in the world is anymore. Without the sense of hard work this card normally carries, its energy gives way to dissipation and prodigality and because of that, plans could be canceled or you’ll receive somewhat lousy news.
However, this will provide space for you to relax and settle into to your more spiritual pursuits. It’s perfectly normal for such shifts in perspectives and rather radical changes of viewpoint to leave you feeling a little unbalanced. Receive the release from responsibilities as the blessing it is and find your footing on this new foundation.
June 1, 2022: Card O' the Day: The Chariot, reversed. The Chariot contains high and directed energy. Once it’s reversed, that energy becomes scattered, surges out of control, or restricted as you uselessly spinning your wheels. Nothing works as originally planned and expected and life seems uphill with an obstacle at every turn. Forward motion is halted and one is defeated through inaction, indecisions, impatience, or lack of energy or stamina.
Check your ego to see if unrealistic goals, uncontrolled ambition, rash actions, or insufficient expertise or experience are the reason you get deflected from your plans that result in incomplete work and loss at the last moment. Sometimes we can become caught up in a runaway idea that seems really good.
The solution? Do your research and don’t be too proud to ask for help with the parts you’re not too sure about.
May 30, 2022: Card O' the Day: Ten of Swords, reversed. When the Ten of Swords is reversed, shadows lift and you can gain relief from stress. Add that to the Eight of Pentacles and we’re back on track, right? Unless some of you are clinging to negative energy and not accepting losses, setbacks, or new responsibilities. (To be fair, we all have good days and bad days. Nobody can be 100% on top of it all the time so do the best you can.)
Denial of problems and refusing to let go of what’s not working creates a psychic block that conflicts with your intellectual understanding of a situation. During the sweeping alterations required by this card, your emotional reactions to the previous unhappiness or any disputes, doubts, and/or low self-esteem will hamper true progress and make new gains precarious or impermanent. Therefore, it’s important to release the need to intellectualize what all went wrong and concentrate on repairing any weak spots
May 29, 2022: Card O' the Day: Eight of Pentacles. The appearance of the Eight indicates it's a good time to have equal persistence and patience while you work together with your environment and improvise when necessary to build a strong foundation. Use all available resources with an eye for durability, conservation, and incorporating artistry with function as you meld inner vision with technical knowledge thereby applying your intelligence to material matters.
In addition to the obvious material rewards, such endeavors will create happiness and satisfaction within while bettering the world. Once the pace is set, your craftsmanship, punctuality, and precision means you’ll achieve goals, meet quotas, fill sales orders, amass stock and inventory, and develop efficiency and streamlined production. Through hard work, intent, and full application of yourself to goals, you can expect reward based upon the amount of effort and energy put in.
TLDR: The reversed Queen’s crankiness is shifting or you’re not letting it get to you as you work around those who’re just getting in your way. Today’s Eight represents how much you can get done if you put your mind to it.
May 28, 2022: Card O' the Day: Six of Wands, reversed. When the Six of Wands is upright, it indicates one is feeling pretty confident and ready to take on the world. Reversed, insecurity and doubt come into play. But that’s because you’re not getting complete information…like when you start to wonder if you’ve offended someone when they don’t answer your texts or calls right away.
The reversed Six indicates miscommunications that stymie your actions thus causing delays, deceleration, or abandonment of projects as important news or deliveries are messed up. Since 95% of the stuff we do hinges in part upon interactions with others, try not to jump to the conclusion that you’re being stabbed in the back and everything is about to collapse. First, find out if there’s an innocent explanation at the root of the problem because sh*t happens. Then carry on as normal.
IF, and only if, someone was acting purposely to undermine you, take the high road by NOT causing a scene and just don’t rely on that person again.
May 27, 2022: Card O' the Day: Queen of Swords, reversed. After my last post, I went to Vermont for a little family vacation. While there, I picked up a bug (NOT Covid) and was down for a week upon my return home. Naturally, I gave my bug to my adoring husband as a token of my everlasting love and having missed him while I was away. In typical “guy” fashion, he’s been suffering said bug with…erm…the “masculine stoicism” all husbands have when catching a virus. Therefore, today’s reversed Queen of Swords might be reflective of what’s going on in my house.
The ill-temper and negative behavior connected with this card comes out of frustrated ambitions to carry on with one’s normal and desired activities that have been somehow thwarted. This excess of gloom and egoism indicates a lost commitment to truth and reality and life is made to seem vastly worse than it actually is by ignoring all the good things with which one is blessed. This causes an overemphasis on sorrow as one wallows in despair.
I get that when we feel sick or blocked in some way it can lead to crankiness. However, if you’re able to read this, you’re not three. Examine your problems, look for reasonable solutions, and set about implementing them. Now is not the time to be mean, snivel, or otherwise spread your pain. Big kid pants are your wardrobe choice for today.
May 12, 2022: Card O' the Day: Eight of Cups, reversed. Upright, the Eight of Cups represents the need to abandon what formerly attracted, nurtured, emotionally sustained, or fascinated one because those longed-for goals have ceased to matter as interest wanes and one has a yearning for something more meaningful. However, the reversal may indicate a new window of opportunity or that sticking with a current process will bring ultimate success, joy, and happiness after some corrections have been made. Allow cautious optimism and creative impulses to flow because there’s potential for improvement.
If you reeeeeeaaalllllyy feel like you’ve got to dump something that might still have value, solidify goals first and don’t recklessly leap at or force changes just for the sake of doing something else. Changing “just because” isn’t the smart answer right now. Beware of flitting from person to person or project to project as a form of escapism or flight from reality which then causes you to drift aimlessly and hopelessly searching for the ever elusive “more.”
May 10, 2022: Card O' the Day: The Hierophant. This card embodies the concept of a higher power for which there is no concrete evidence of existence. It represents simple faith or taking vows that commit you to a certain path of tapping into the collective universal wisdom and training your conscience. It reflects the need humans have for a strong spiritual foundation and the tendency to identify with a like-minded group.
By accepting this gift spiritual or inner hearing, along with natural intuitive perception, comes discipline and discrimination in following the dictates of the inner voice. Quenching spiritual curiosity—or at least exploring it—may bring you clarification, self-mastery, and more expansive views of the world around you.
The best part is you have the freedom to take knowledge and advice and decide what can be used or ignored on your journey. Cherry-pick what works for you and find the balance between spiritual awareness and wisdom. Feel the truth for yourself rather than mouthing the words of others without feeling or understanding. As you live your life from personal values, align the physical self around the moral codes that you adopt*. (Meaning, walk what you talk.)
*NOT meant as a “get out of jail free” card! Certain societal rules must be followed lest you end up having ALL freedoms revoked. Just sayin’….
May 9, 2022: Card O' the Day: Seven of Cups, reversed. Out of the fog and indecision comes the reversed Seven of Cups. This manifests in battling any of the seven deadly sins with the opposing virtues: humility against pride, kindness against envy, abstinence against gluttony, chastity against lust, patience against anger, liberality against covetousness, and/or diligence against sloth. Desires of the past hold less appeal and you’re able to bypass temporary pleasures in favor of a greater reward, spiritual purpose, or to achieve some other goal.
This card stresses clear and logical thinking, making realistic plans, setting priorities and intentions, and finding solutions that are well-conceived. With resoluteness of purpose, determination, and premeditation, you’re asked to invest intellectually and emotionally on your goals.
TLDR: getting your sh*t together!
May 8, 2022: Card O' the Day: Ace of Wands, reversed. As previously mentioned, reversed cards represent the extremes of the upright card. This concept is illustrated again today with the reversed Ace of Wands.
Emotionally speaking, you may be frustrated or feel rejected, weak, doubtful, hesitant, ineffective, or powerless, which leaves you lethargic and resistant to taking on new projects. On the other hand, if you’re overly enthused or impulsive, it could lead to rash or false starts or your eagerness could be misplaced if a goal is illusory or criminal in nature. Such disordered energy can make you too milquetoast or overbearing in relationships because of your lack of finesse and sensitivity to the other’s needs. Under these conditions, you can expect career delays, postponed decisions, or compromised situations unless steps are taken to readjust the governing energies.
Now, I don’t feel this discombobulation is because you’ve planted your crown chakra up your root chakra. I think it has to do with dipping your toe into the realm of spiritual potential. But because you’re still new to the idea there IS such a “realm”, you’re not expecting any real results. You’re hoping…but not expecting. This waffling and believing/not believing is what has your head and heart so wonked and that’s okay! You’re exploring something new; see where it takes you.
May 7, 2022: Card O' the Day: Seven of Swords, again. This is so weird…. A few days ago we were warned against the dangers of being a crap-nasty person (Prince of Wands, reversed). A stronger warning came with the Seven of Swords’ typical interpretation. Then The Star showed up to remind us of our Higher Selves and THAT’s who we’re supposed to be. And now we have the softer side of the Seven….
Even though this card is of the intellect, the heart chakra governs, which illustrates how the mind can affect the heart and emotions. The Seven’s intelligence doesn’t necessarily have to be used for sneaking and back-stabbing. It also represents ingenuity, resourcefulness, or strategic and prudent planning. Self-confidence and self-reliance bestowed by The Star clear the way for novel and grounded ideas and show the mental acuity and perception that allows for completion of challenging projects. Subtle action is necessary as you move forward and learn to maneuver in a new, self-effacing way that cultivates honest behavior, truthfulness, and generosity.
There are also deep spiritual components to this card and we’re called to pay attention and realign with our centers. Nothing is quite as it seems and you need be open to unusual ideas and divine sparks of insight such as leaving behind a part of yourself that was once useful but no longer serves. Beneath the surface may be found truth and hidden opportunities.
May 6, 2022: Card O' the Day: The Star. The Star represents a new cycle and bright prospects and receiving her is a good omen for renewed hope, optimism, and faith in life. As the light of your Higher Self—that part of you that’s beyond greed, petty ego, and knows what’s inherently right—The Star invites you to trust in Self and learn to be hopeful that at some point you’ll break through blockages and have the fulfillment and clarity that you want and need.
This is a sign you’ve learned (or are learning) to accept responsibility for actions and make the necessary changes to get back on the correct and true path. This beginning of spiritual adulthood includes increased awareness of Self, inspiration and regaining motivation, realizing inner strength, seeing clearly, and being stimulated on a higher level. When you understand your importance to Universe, you’ll feel self-respect, charisma, and confidence in the purity of the inner and outer qualities. This core of self-esteem and faith in the betterment of humanity makes wishes, hopes, and dreams come true.
In this revelation of the True Self, trust suggestions from Nature, Spirit, clairvoyance, and dreams as you develop the objectivity needed to be truly thankful for all that is your life.
May 5, 2022: Card O' the Day: Seven of Swords. The most prevalent energy behind the Seven of Swords is sneakiness. Sometimes, in an effort to regain something lost, to pursue idealistic goals, or win a coveted prize, the ends may seem to justify any means. One may plan, scheme, play games, or otherwise dishonestly manipulate situations to gain advantages through the misfortune of others. However, such attitudes or schemes don’t really solve problems or create anything new and achievements made through double-dealing and chicanery generally turn to dust.
Sometimes people tell me I’m such a “lovely, kind person” like I’m some kind of saint for sacrificing myself for the greater good of others. I call bullsh*t. I’m not nice because I care so much for others; I’m nice because it’s EASIER FOR ME! Being an asshole is hard work and makes me feel lousy. I’m nice, fair, and honest because it makes ME feel good. Never mind how others feel! Yes! I’m a selfish bastard who is nice only because it serves ME well!
Remember how it is when you fall in love? You smile so much your cheeks cramp and your teeth dry out. Being kind to others gives you that same boost of dopamine and norepinephrine that you get when you’re falling in love. Who doesn’t want that? If this card indicates you’re being consciously and willfully a dishonest and rotten person, you’re actually lying to and damaging yourself the most. You’re depriving yourself of “happy brain”, which is directly linked to “squishy loving heart.” Therefore, it’s in YOUR best interests to be kind, honest, and generous—even just a little—to others.
May 4, 2022: Card O' the Day: Prince of Wands, reversed. As we know, when a card is reversed, it pushes the “normal” attributes of the card to the extremes. We’ve got a couple of viable options here today with our reversed Prince.
Option A: The already volatile energies of the upright card become completely unstable when reversed causing one to be foolhardy and indiscriminately scorch everything in sight. One’s impatience, recklessness, and thoughtlessness bring discord, disharmony, and disunity to any situation. This may manifest as interrupted activity, disrupted projects, disagreements in relationships, or (worst of all) evil-mindedness, cruelty, bigotry, or brutality in general behaviors. In such a state of turmoil, desire seethes and simmers beneath the surface without focus or outlet and surfaces randomly as a frustrated and short-fused temper that flares into rage.
Option B: The reversed Prince may indicate one is ready to rein in fiery impulses and desires to stop and enjoy the present, rather than perpetually focusing on future progress. This slower pace could make one more effective and allow for deeper experiences all around. I highly suggest you choose this course of action lest you get yourself fired, dumped, or arrested. If you can’t help yourself from being an utter asshole, avoid everyone and spare them from your histrionics.
May 3, 2022: Card O' the Day: Queen of Cups. Have you ever noticed that when others (or you) start to cry they’ll try to suppress and/or stop the tears and if they can’t, they apologize? It’s as if tears are a “bad thing” that shouldn’t be seen. However, we laugh openly; we let the foul language rip when we’re angry; we dab happily at our eyes when we’re overcome with joy. But crying because we’re sad is kept under wraps and is a cause of embarrassment.
The Queen of Cups is a reminder that though we may fear emotions getting out of control, it’s through emotion (good, bad, and ugly) that we’re fully alive. She represents kindness, caring, understanding, and the willingness to help and accept others regardless of whatever emotions are being displayed at the moment. This card is an invitation to “hold space” with someone as they process feelings and permit them to express themselves (without danger to you, of course) in whatever way they need to.
There is a caveat, though. Being a solid shoulder to cry on can wear you down if you don’t have good physical and emotional limits. Sometimes your job is just to pass the tea and tissues and then allow others to find their own way even if that means you must watch them fail. That’s the only way they’ll learn and you’re not responsible for their success or failure. Listen to the sob story, give pearls of wisdom gently, and then step back.
May 2, 2022: Card O' the Day. Ace of Cups. Dear Readers, I have (notice I didn’t say “suffer”) chronic clinical depression that I manage most of the time. I’m not embarrassed to admit this. My brain has a glitch and I consider it no more shameful than admitting I have diabetes or eczema. This past weekend I had a dip that left me inexplicably sad and psycho-emotionally weak. In the middle of the night, last night, I woke briefly and felt a new emotional balance. This morning I still feel a little fragile but Universe sent me the card I needed most and I share it most willingly with you all.
The Ace of Cups signifies the buoyancy and depth one feels as one attunes to Spirit and pursues heart-based meaning and purpose in life. Upon recognizing this gift of spiritual healing, with love, deeper compassion, and ever-flowing spiritual and material favors, one can achieve unity with Universe. Receiving this card is a call to more deeply explore the nature of one’s emotional landscape and spiritual experiences and initiate a search within the soul for one’s true purpose or desire.
In actions radiating out from the hidden center of the soul, one creates a more spiritually alive new world after the breakdown of the old. As one becomes available to the currents of life and is able to float trusting that life will support one in relaxation, believe one will be taken to where one is needed most. Allow these feelings of faith and peace because everything is happening as it should.
April 30, 2022: card O' the Day: The Devil, reversed. When The Devil is reversed, it indicates you finally stop accepting a long standing lousy situation or the liberation from internal beliefs that hold you hostage such as the self-view that you’re paltry, slight, or a failure. However, before slipping free of these chains, you first need to become aware of and acknowledge them. As in, “gee whiz! I’ve had enough of this crap” or “ya know, I’m not all that bad."
The Devil represents, in part, illusions, and when the card is reversed it signifies you’re beginning to see through them to the truth (I don’t deserve this!). And as you become more conscious of self-destructive behaviors and misuses of power, you experience a release from false inhibitions and patterns of manipulation and codependency.
Finally, you can turn away from “evil” and “bondage” to begin the path to spiritual enlightenment wherein you begin to understand your value as a person. By saying no to the temptation of just being nice so others like you (at your own expense), you remove tethers and escape an unpleasant situation.
April 29, 2022: Card O' the Day: Six of Wands. Well, SOMEbody was paying attention yesterday and took the significance of the Five of Pentacles to heart! The Six of Wands represents result of efforts, success through energy and industry, pride, and desires realized through the exercise of your personal power. Concretely, you can expect career advancement and interests long desired coming to fruition in the culmination of all your efforts towards defeating strife.
Following the successful completion of a quest, creative project, or job that has reached its goal comes being praised for the accomplishments or receiving recognition. Furthermore, you’ll receive a healthy boost in self-esteem due to feelings of aptitude, ability, and/or good financial returns. Finally, there’s a breakthrough, spiritual insight, or psycho-emotional expansion represented by this card wherein you realize you can actually come to like challenges that enhance your strength and quick thinking.
Astrologically, the Six is governed by Jupiter (planet of abundance) coming into balance with Leo (sign of authority and power). This is generally fortuitous but there’s a slight conflict between the desire to be generous and the necessity of being absolutely fair to yourself. Fortunately, the internal process of developing self-leadership will prevent you from giving too much away.
April 28, 2022: Card O' the Day: Five of Pentacles. The pervading energy of this card—living in any kind of lack, whether real or imagined—reduces what can be accomplished. Consider the whole issue and see what can be done to conclude and ease the difficult situation. You’re encouraged to shift perspectives and recognize your anxieties and fear are what keep you off-balance. Find the clarity and mercy to quit tormenting yourself with the idea that you’re not “enough.” (Ahem… Ellen.)
True charity is the recognition of your worth in your community/tribe/circle. When you need assistance during low periods, don’t be a martyr and turn away from those offering aid because of foolish pride, embarrassment, or fear. Help is available! Ask for support in hard times.
Lastly, take heart because the current situation is only temporary as hidden solutions will soon become evident. Patience and endurance is called for as change is indeed coming and you’re actually closer to goals than you realize. For a little crystal comfort, citrine stepped forward today. It’s supposed to bring protection and feelings of trust, security, and help you achieve objectives and overcome difficulties.
April 25, 2022: Card O' the Day: Prince of Pentacles, reversed. Ha! Now that the lights are on and somebody IS at home, you are in the position of making discoveries others overlooked. (Or maybe YOU had overlooked….) With your heart moving into the right place and your mind getting on the ball, you might begin overturning materialist obsessions and focusing on inner worth, value, and security of spirit. (Didn’t the Ace of Cups say something about shifts in values and new feelings replacing old?)
This focus on Self has you questioning your commitment to a cause, duty, or career and seeking something new as you awaken to other concepts besides work and practicality. So take time to let yourself off the gerbil wheel and play a bit.
However, if significance in that play is lacking, it’ll only be an empty and meaningless diversion distracting you from a lack of self-worth or any sense of purpose. Meaning, solo hours and hours on your Play Station isn’t the “play” I’m talking about. Get with other people to share an activity. Even if it’s just to go to a movie and get a slice after, the interaction, conversation, and camaraderie will be good for all.
April 24, 2022: Card O' the Day: Two of Swords, reversed. The reversed Two might be an indication of a lazy or foolish mind. Inactivity, indecision, intellectual pessimism, or lack of concentration can trap you on a train of thought that makes no stops for logic or reason. Not to mention you stay stuck on the same old tracks with no thoughts of improvement.
However, the good news is the uneasy balance of power you’ve been ignoring comes to a breaking point. You have no choice but to take action to end complacency and superficial accord and tear off the blindfold to finally look at disturbing issues that require decisions. Deeper truths will be revealed as you’re forced to open your eyes to reality. You may discover you’ve been living a lie or have been stuck in a deep rut but at least now you can get on with seeing the truth and begin the process of getting your crown chakra out of your root chakra.
Once you’re emerged from the …erm… “darkness”, you’ll be able to see what must be done in your life to improve your heart, mind, physical body, and spiritual connections to Universe. And from there, the sky’s the limit!
April 23, 2022: Card O' the Day: Ace of Cups. The Ace of Cups is considered the base of communication and religion, the source of emotional life, and the spiritual basis that gives meaning to and protection from corruption, society’s laws, moral order, and social structure. As the most auspicious card of the Minor Arcana, the Ace represents idealistic love, a gift of blessings, and spiritual nurturing. It’s the pure receiving and expression of the truest feelings of the heart through a relationship with the Divine.
As the first card of its suit, this Ace represents love in potential, a capacity for love that’s yet untapped, a fresh start emotionally, or new beginnings and abundance in love and spiritual wellbeing. Possibilities and endeavors will be rooted in emotions; therefore, allow your heart to speak rather than relying wholly upon intellectual analysis.
As the most powerful of the emotions cards, it can indicate upheaval, new feelings replacing old, challenge and transformation, turnabout in emotions towards another, and/or a total reversal of values. This may be very overwhelming. Stay calm and connected with your heart while you harness your emotions for positive ends.
April 22, 2022: Card O' the Day: Princess of Wands. The Princess of Wands epitomizes boundless yet grounded and stable fire energy that's powerful when controlled and contained. However, this card also indicates indecision, unease, and lack of confidence, which shows how “young” and fragile the energy is despite all its brightness.
Those influenced by this card are experiencing a drive to know the Self and are searching for new directions for personal growth and improvement. Therefore, you’re encouraged to feed creativity and inspiration, sharpen the senses, attune to nature, expand your outlook, and engage in life more robustly. Remain open, full of wonder, and joyful at simply being alive as you follow your spirit on its latest path. (Caveat: be realistic in goals and remain authentic while reaching to attain them.)
The downside is the Princess’s impact can cause one to give too much away, expect the same in return, and then get cranky when taken advantage of. This will cause burn-out and cynicism unless you hold healthy personal boundaries. Fortunately, innate resilience will save you.
April 21, 2022: Card O' the Day: Queen of Cups, reversed. The Queen of Cups can be a little “airy-fairy” because she’s so very connected to her feelings and to the feelings of everyone around her. People under the influence of this queen can also be super spiritual and delve into alternative beliefs and holistic healing and latch onto all the accouterments of that realm.
Reversed, she can go two ways: either she goes completely into “woo-woo land” or she becomes very rational. This second, clearer version is what I’m feeling today especially following on the heels of The Fool, who encouraged us to find our existential purpose in this life.
The reversed Queen is sharp and competent, lets no one take advantage, overcomes illusions, and refuses to be swept away by conflicting emotions or succumbing to faux maneuvers or manipulations. However, this somewhat out-of-character directness can catch people off guard when they’re so used to a softer mode of communication. Therefore, it may be best to keep feelings and opinions private at this moment rather than engage in petty contests of “who’s right.”
April 20, 2022: Card O' the Day: The Fool. The Fool personifies the youthful aspect of Spirit or Universe and is the divine light in human form. Bearer of the original, essential boundless energy, this card represents advancing towards developing all of one’s personal capabilities whether obvious or still latent. He personifies humanness, fallibility, and making mistakes. As an ambiguous symbol of ultimate wisdom and/or poorest folly, The Fool is symbolic of the wanderings of the individual towards spiritual wholeness. On this journey, you may feel ambivalent as you seek spiritual understanding and purpose while still being stuck in a “skin suit.”
As your awareness expands to new ideas and your spirit looks forward to the limitless opportunities, present beliefs and values may be challenged. This card speaks of being ready for new beginnings and embodies “all potential” or “all possibilities” as it addresses the totality of your capacity and the possibility of everything and anything…or nothing. Your choice. And that choice must be your true choice, the right choice for YOU, not the choice motivated by others’ opinions.
The stone associated with The Fool is sugilite. It’s said to help answer existential questions and open all your chakras in preparation for coming shifts in perspectives and paths.
April 18, 2022: Card O' the Day: The High Priestess, reversed. I see we have zero shift since Friday’s reversed Nine of Pentacles…. @!#%$
The High Priestess is representative of all things pertaining to inner sight and esoteric yin wisdom. But when reversed, this card is indicative of significant difficulties accessing or ignoring intuition, having clouded insight, remembering dreams, or knowing your own feelings as you lose touch with or deny inherent wisdom. Pure spiritual principles become corrupted as they conflict with ignorance, shortsightedness, and lack of understanding on the material plane (Hello reversed Nine of Pentacles and the reversed King of Cups). You could be mistaking the desires of the ego for the intuition of the unconscious mind and have severed the connection with and sense of your Higher Self.
If it’s not you who’s suffered a schism from the divine yin wisdom, be wary of plots in which you might be betrayed, secrets are revealed or denied, or confidences are broken. You could feel an increase in the superficiality or distance in a relationship or it feels like you’re doing all the work to maintain it. If you’ve acted as a muse or inspiration to someone else, there may be feelings of loss of Self or identity as your spiritual beliefs are manipulated for material gain. Such social plots or deceptions could disrupt personal or business interactions and therefore discretion in all things is advised.
April 15, 2022: Card O' the Day: Nine of Pentacles, reversed. Prosperity still reigns in the reversed Nine of Pentacles but there’s a certain disquiet because you’re struggling to recognize what the concept of “enough” means. In denial of personal wellbeing or good fortune (as in, you DO have enough), the fine life seems just out of reach. When not knowing what’s wanted or what really matters in your life, you can’t channel energy into useful purpose. The responsibility for your possessions and the desire for more leave you feeling trapped.
Now, if you’re good with what you have and are capable of enjoying it, beware of those who aren’t. You’re cautioned against becoming overly involved in the difficulties of those with whom you have relationships. If you become financially embroiled (your good natured self just can’t say “no”), you may be taken advantage of or become an easy victim. (Didn’t we just talk about fraud or swindles?)
April 13, 2022: Card O' the Day: King of Cups, reversed. Ugh. I loathe reversed kings. And when the “king of feelings” is reversed, emotions become artificial.
This very vibrant energy is turned away from helping others towards vice and corruption as egoism and hypocrisy allow one to rationalize one’s merciless actions. Someone like this tends to take advantage of others or indulge in embezzlement, shifty or double dealing, and dishonesty. They appear closed off from others or heartless and often escape into work, alcohol, and/or illicit drugs to basically sulk.
Now, this card may not represent an actual person but a situation like your work environment, company policies, or a firm you’re looking to hire to provide a service. If that’s the case, look out for false advertising, fraud, and/or swindles. Do your research and go forward carefully.
April 8, 2022: Card O' the Day: The World. Well, then. From The Fool to The World…and everything in between. This card encompasses all of the different aspects of The Wheel of Life (Karmic Wheel, Cycle of Life, etc.) and the human aspects of the Major Arcana. There’s a heavy emphasis on community to keep encouraging you to connect with others even though it sometimes can feel easier to do things on your own.
Emotionally, The World creates a feeling as if one has finally found the final pieces of the puzzle. As everything seems to makes sense and you understand the big picture of life, the positive and negative qualities within merge to create new form. The internal light and shadow enable you to cut through previous limitations and restrictions and allow forward motion. It feels as though the world holds infinite opportunities. Spiritually, though his moment may feel complete, there’s always more to learn. Remember, the goal is not the prize; it’s the journey that’s the true gift.
New ideas and creative projects are falling on fertile soil. You’re in the moment of reconciling your human self with the limitlessness of the spiritual self. You’re imbued with potential to achieve all things possible and are one with the creative force of Universe. Be aware and receptive of this energy as you step forward to see what’s next and dare to travel outside your previous comfort zone.
April 7, 2022: Card O' the Day: The Fool, reversed. The reversed Fool may represent not taking a chance at a critical time because of fear or dependence upon plans or advice of others. Or you’re afraid to take any risks at all for fear of looking foolish, making a mistake, or excessive concern of doing something stupid and suffering embarrassment. Feelings of ineptitude increase your inability to produce anything of value (in your mind).
I mean, now that you’re working in a group setting, others can see you floundering and you have the unfortunate chance of letting others down, amirite? But in your hesitation to trust yourself (and your teammates), you’re actually dumbing yourself down and making yourself LESS useful, wasting resources, and reducing the entire group’s efficiency.
Therefore, it’s better to ask questions and seek guidance on stuff you don’t know how to do. Then you’ll know how to do it next time. Stride forward confidently on the stuff you’re sure of! And if you only kinda sorta know, give it a whack. Any small errors will only improve your performance in the future.
April 6, 2022: Card O' the Day: Four of Wands. And it seems those of you who’ve been trying to islands have paid heed to the suggestions of the Tarot. The Four of Wands is all about community, tribe, participation therein, and relief from being alone.
This card places heavy emphasis on families, tribes, teams, communities, or other groups of people who come together for a common goal. Receiving this card indicates it’s time to unwind and regroup for pleasure and social concord. Without rest and friendship to refresh your soul, you become stale and ground down. Add to your current circle by discovering a new friend who shares the same views and enthusiasms or reinforce casual connections into something deeper.
Also, by combining your creativity with many like-minded people, it allows all to take part in a unified and vital whole and each to make a unique contribution. By rejoining your group, you have an opportunity to participate with others and add a precious piece to something greater and more beautiful than each of you could have managed alone. Often, success is found in numbers.
April 5, 2022: Card O' the Day: Ten of Pentacles, reversed. Interesting that the message from the reversed Hierophant continues today. I guess my Tarot deck wasn’t finished making its point.
When the “family” card—Ten of Pentacles—is reversed, it indicates you’re turning away from or rejecting the norms and values of your family/tribe/peeps. And, just as straying too far from the norms of society can get you in trouble, if you stray too far from the traditions and rules of your family, you might find yourself treated as an outsider and no longer welcomed into the fold.
Further indications of this card are that material resources are wasted and misused causing losses on that plane. But maybe you have so much in that department you really don’t care about any losses because you’re impatient and unsatisfied with it all anyway. Regardless of your level of abundance, concentrating solely on the material in your life will prevent you from noticing and/or accepting gifts of wisdom about yourself and your place in Universe.
Be very careful in your pursuit of doing it “my way” that you don’t end up feeling as though you’ve wasted your life.
April 1, 2022: Card O' the Day: The Hierophant, reversed. I see the reversed Prince of a couple days ago is getting another warning shot across his bow….
Somebody in your life (you?) is rejecting traditional “authority”, choosing their own standards, and going their own way rather than just accepting the dictates of the “powers that be.” The “shoulds" and “oughts” in life are wearing them down to the point they’re contemplating something immoral, unethical, or unprincipled. In fact, they may be past mere unorthodox expression, are ready for confrontation with responsibilities, and is moving into disobedience or outright rebellion.
However, you must realize that excessive individuality can be dangerous, uncontrollable, and disruptive to the order of your life. A path to a new venture, which looks exciting, might prove to be limited and restrictive in a whole new way that’s just as uncomfortable as what you’re trying to escape. Listen to the whole story before making a decision because extra time and concentration is needed before you leap from the frying pan into the fire. Be sure you’re aware of the nits and grits involved to avoid financial loss, mental struggle, career chaos, or emotional distress.
March 31, 2022: Card O' the Day: Three of Swords. The appearance of this card is letting you know it’s time to get your mind out of the destructive loop it’s in and stop reworking old issues (shoulda, woulda, coulda…). It’s completely pointless and only makes you miserable. Also, be cautious of developing a negatively idealistic or unrealistic approach to life during any “pity parties” and stay present with and rational about what’s bothering you.
This is where you get super dry and put all emotion aside. Coolly analyze your current upset: what’s your fault (apologize for it), what’s NOT your fault (refuse to take blame), and consider what you’d do differently next time. Notice the content of thoughts and how they make you feel and identify any painful life patterns. Then let it all go as you release upset emotions, move forward, and resolve lingering issues.
In other words, the Three of Swords is telling the reversed Prince of Cups from yesterday to pull his crown chakra out of his root chakra and up his game.
March 30, 2022: Card O' the Day: Prince of Cups, reversed. The reversed Prince of Cups is constantly moving with, and adapting to, any situation in a pliant, liquid way, making him hard to define or grasp. He’s* emotionally dishonest and disingenuous—even to himself—by pretending he’s not as invested in something as he really is. This is an avoidance technique to prevent personal disappointment or public shame should that something fail. A conflict lies between one’s inner fantasies and outer attractions and/or real-world responsibilities.
Unable to honestly give to anyone else (or anything) at this time, people influenced by this card avoid commitments and move away from emotional involvement. They don’t like being pushed toward commitment or action and are resentful of those impositions. However, know that such dodging may result in invitations being withdrawn permanently. Therefore one may need to rouse oneself to act upon increased demands from the outside world or one’s own physical desires before one is forever side-lined.
(*Remember, no gender definitions with Tarot court cards; I’m just using this pronoun for convenience.)
March 29, 2022: Card O' the Day: Judgment. I’ve discovered in my studies each of the Major Arcana of the Tarot deck impacts us physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Today, those points regarding Judgment have stepped forward in a big way.
Physically, this card reminds us to become adaptable to changes in life. Review the mind, heart, and body to see where you’re inflexible. Take steps to change. When done, notice new emotional balance coming from that willingness to adapt. Take note of the calmness one feels and remember how to get there again during times of stress (because that’s when you’ll revert back to old ways). Spiritually, take pride in your accomplishment of physical/emotional change but remember there’s always another’s soul more evolved than yours and that your sh*t still stinks (but so does theirs…just sayin’).
The appearance of Judgment indicates you’re getting to a place of awareness, discernment, and adaptability where old belief systems no longer hold you rigid and inflexible thereby blocking your progress. Confident but humble, driven but not rushed, grounded but also divinely guided by sound judgment, and ego satisfied with the needs of lower self met, you’re becoming the truest, best version of Self.
March 28, 2022: Card O' the Day: King of Wands. The King of Wands, an Aries (Duh!), is charismatic, intelligent, and dominant but also generous and kind-hearted. The energy behind this card gives one support to claim power and personal truth. It’s governing Angel is Expansion of the Individual’s Potential and you’re directed too see clearly, express truly, and take charge of yourself. Hematite is one of the King’s stones and is said to strengthen intellect; provide emotional, mental, and spiritual cleansing; and boost drive and will-power to carry out plans for a new project.
As a competent, dramatic yet brilliant and solid entrepreneur, King types dare to take risks and be creative, which will appear pushy and aggressive to others. You may try to do it all as you have a strong desire to express yourself and ideas in a constant quest for new adventure/challenges/goals. And, being intolerant of limits, a bad loser, and allowing little or no discussion about those goals, you’ll get in trouble if you don’t develop diplomacy and patience.
You’re being challenged to without doubt embrace power, creative energy, and your impulses to move into bold and daring action. It’s time to take charge, initiate new patterns, and aim high for complete success of anything attempted. RELEASE THE DESIRE TO FIT INTO A SPACE THAT’S NOT AN AUTHENTIC FIT and take control of yourself directly and simply on your way to the best version of Self.
March 27, 2022: Card O' the Day: The Empress and The Devil, both reversed. We got a two-fer today….
The Empress signifies feminine energy and all that it means to identify as female. When the card is reversed, it indicates ways feminine energy becomes blocked or generally negative images of women. You might want to follow the established practices of womankind but are constructively denied them because others don’t see you for who you truly are. This can lead to feeling slighted, alone, or useless because of gender or feminine traits. The Devil, reversed, continues in this vein as you view yourself as paltry, slight, and a failure, which leads to feelings of inhibition, unhappiness, and discontent.
Fortunately, both cards offer a light at the end of the tunnel. Literally speaking, The Empress represents the absence of light; reversed she signifies daylight, brightness, splendor, illumination, manifestation, and/or truth. Something is brought into light or into being (the real you?). When The Devil is reversed, it indicates a liberation from societal or internal bondages that hold you hostage. This card also signifies you’re beginning to see through to the truth. It’s time to remove tethers and access the guarded, hidden treasure of your own spectacular Self.
March 26, 2022: Card O' the Day: Eight of Wands. The Eight of Wands is a highly energetic card! Regardless of pushed you may feel, there's a quality of order, efficiency, synchronicity, and serendipity to the speed of events that confirms you’re moving in the right direction. Trust the forward motion and the frenetic energy flow of the activities because you’re headed for an end which promises assured felicity. If things still seem a bit slow at the moment, expect sudden progress, an unexpected breakthrough, great transformation, and advancement as progress is finally made.
It’s prime time to send out energy asking Universe for the power to meet the many new opportunities that are coming. Spirit’s at work here, so ask to be moved in an unmistakeable direction, imagine anything is possible, and get out of your own way to follow creative forces. Balance and blend your passion and insight, trust instincts, and then weigh all dangers before moving forward. However, use caution, prioritize energy, and make sure to avoid hasty decisions that offer only temporary solutions without laying proper foundations for long-term gain.
Pyrite, which is associated with this card, stepped forward today. It’s supposed to lead you to problems so you can recognize the only possible solution is to change your way of thinking and dissolve fixed ideas. It takes you beyond doubts and mental blocks and facilitates perception and further development. Flexibility in your mind will lead to ease of making necessary changes without freaking out.
March 14, 2022: Card O' the Day: Seven of Wands. While I’m not one to argue and swing my dick around to prove my “superior knowledge”, there ARE times when you must find the courage to defend your position, principles, beliefs, or ideals using natural instincts and past experience. You might take a stand against opposing views in a speech, discussion, or on the Internet. You’ll develop confidence in your self-worth by handling problems, rivalry, competition, confrontation, or disapproval with cool persistence and restraint.
However, this card also demands honest self-reflection regarding your personal tenets; it’s fine to remain steadfast, but be open-minded, too. If you find yourself standing alone too often, maybe it’s time to reevaluate what you believe (you could be wrong…).
The best lessons are learned through struggle and knowledge, wisdom, character, and strength will grow with each example. Therefore, stay present and aware of all learning moments.
March 11, 2022: Card O' the Day: Prince/Knight of Swords, reversed. I’m wearing my late grandmother’s rose quartz beads right this minute so I asked her to help me pick today’s card. She was German and survived the two World Wars. My aunt and her family still live in Germany whereas my mother emigrated to the U.S. as my American father’s wife. I’m afraid Oma is reminding us of leaders of the past…and how history is in danger of repeating itself.
The normally sharp intellect of the Sword Prince slides into the fanatical or ridiculous when reversed and he appears imprudent and full of hot air. Those under his influence may argue theories that are irrelevant or empty, one’s words sound like nonsense, and arguments are irrational. Being excessively extravagant and impulsive leads to stupid mistakes that waste resources and/or endanger others.
At worst, one tends to carelessly and recklessly charge ahead without listening to advice in a wild response to a situation of one’s own making to deliberately cause pain, injury, or physical damage. Ruthless, tyrannical, and vengeful, one blames mistakes on others or uses cruel logic to destroy. Unprincipled, crafty, and deceitful, one’s ego leads the way to ruin.
March 10, 2022: Card O' the Day: Three of Cups. There are the people one calls one’s posse, homies, or tribe with whom one has a soul-level connection and upon which one may fully rely. The strength found in each other carries one confidently into the future. (If one does not have a solid posse, this card is indicating the need of it.) This protective environment is where all essential physical, emotional, and security needs are met and one finds protection. It’s the center of strength where one may safely withdraw.
However, such a secure environment with its inherent limits can be a blessing or prison. Be aware of how often one replays patterns of behavior to be part of the group. As one matures and accepts the feelings necessary for successful other relationships, one must widen interactions. The Three of Cups is a signal it’s time to leave familiar ground and encounter life outside one’s usual circle.
March 9, 2022: Card O' the Day: Seven of Swords, reversed. The deceptions found in the upright card are deeper in the reversal of the Seven of Swords as compared to the upright version. But as such dishonesty or betrayed confidences is revealed—as it always is—one is inclined to deny those shameful acts or to say they were unintentional to save face. But you know, just don’t. Don’t “weasel” and squirm. Just come out into the open rather than living with the fear of secrets coming to light.
After raising your hand and saying, “Yep. My bad.” Accept good advice, instruction, observations, or public announcements regarding impending warnings or reprimands resulting from your mistakes. Doing so will demonstrate to others one is ready to listen and seek help for problems because one has nothing to hide. With the right attitude, willingness to make amends where necessary, and putting energy into correcting any missteps, one will receive the support and assistance needed to clean up your mess.
(And try reeeeeeeeaaallllly hard not to beat yourself up too badly. We all f*ck up.)
March8, 2022: Card O' the Day: Eight of Pentacles, reversed. When the “work card” Eight of Pentacles is reversed, it indicates many of you may be having difficulty with your careers, jobs, or mundane daily chores. Tedious and boring tasks become deadening, which results in impatience, frustration, shoddy work product, cutting corners, and accidents. Lack of concentration or focus leads to procrastination or things falling through the cracks and going unnoticed. Wasted efforts and lack of enterprise drain resources thereby further squandering time and assets.
Sometimes the negative energy is external. You might feel like others are using you as an ATM of concrete resources like convenient possessions they don’t have (“Dude, can I borrow your truck to move next weekend?”) or “spare” cash. Intangible resources may also be milked such as your time or psycho-emotional energy or you’re constantly being asked for favors that are rarely reciprocated.
In this atmosphere of imbalance, do the best you can. Prioritize your tasks and do only what’s absolutely necessary until you feel more energetic and focused. If the negativity is external, now would be a good time to enforce your personal boundaries and practice saying “no.”
March 3, 2022: Card O' the Day: Seven of Cups, reversed. The reversed Seven of Cups stresses clear and logical thinking, making realistic plans, setting priorities and intentions, and finding solutions that are well-conceived. With resoluteness of purpose, determination, and premeditation, focus on the goal of getting the team back on track and petty arguments solved.
The reversed Seven may represent battling any of the seven deadly sins with the opposing virtues: humility against pride, kindness against envy, patience against anger, and diligence against sloth. (The other three sins aren’t relevant here.) But notice you’re going to battle against the current adversary with the virtues of humility, kindness, patience, and diligence. With such true righteousness on your side, it should put some wind back in your sails.
This reversed card also advocates for physical relaxation, loosening up, and letting go. Take time out to decompress and recharge during a moment of respite. Looks like Friday night Happy Hour is gonna be a thing this week for you and the others on your team. (Direct the “pot-stirer” to the wrong bar. I’ll allow that much pettiness.)
March 2, 2022: Card O' the Day: Three of Pentacles, reversed. Threes also represent balance, understanding, cooperation, and the Middle Way, or the harmonious synthesis that can arise when two apparently opposing positions are creatively reconciled or transcended into the initial stage of a completion. Combine the number with this suit and we’re put on the physical plane that more than likely pertains to work/money. Reverse that puppy and we get trouble.
More than likely, there’s a boss-type person (immediate superior or team leader) who’s getting a little big for their britches and is causing conflict among the members of the main group. The person in charge is acting the tyrant and gives you impossible deadlines, cuts corners, and/or micro-manages everyone to appear more powerful and competent. (This person could also be a “mere” team member but has delusions of grandeur and is stirring the pot to try to get a promotion.)
This lovely atmosphere will have everyone sane hiding out in their cubicles or offices to escape notice. But that has the downside of making you feel alone and your work unnoticed. So, those of you who’re still giving it your A-game, work together behind the asshole’s back. Use extreme diplomacy when having to actually face the culprit. And, if it gets really bad, collectively go to HR or up the next rung of the ladder and state your case (with documentation, of course).
March 1, 2022: Card O' the Day: Three of Cups. Threes signify expansion, contentment, congenial relationships, and the synthesis of love. Receiving the Three of Cups is a sign you’re becoming more available to the many opportunities there are to explore the world with an open heart, precise intuition, and inquisitive mind. And all this is possible because of the recent resolution of problems with accompanying healing.
As you mature and accept the feelings necessary for successful other relationships (outside a close-knit family unit), you need to widen interactions into the general population. The Three is a signal it’s time to leave familiar ground and encounter life outside your safety zone and to enjoy the camaraderie of tribes, mixed friendships, or friendly work affiliations.
Such happy times aren’t merely confined to your interpersonal relationships and this card may be indicating career advancement, the completion of a project, or the successful conclusion of any work-related matter. With ample flexibility and helpful and supportive peers, all are profiting from shared advice and information as problems are solved and you all glide towards a happy outcome. If something is still in the latter stages of development, relish the process of working with others to attain a common goal.
February 24, 2022: Card O' the Day: Five of Wands. I don’t mean to interject my personal feelings into these daily cards, but sometimes world events upset me enough I can’t stay neutral. Or, the current war energy in the Ukraine is rippling all they way to Ohio and I’m picking it up. At any rate, I have nothing nice to say about the Five of Wands today.
This card is governed by Saturn (the planet of struggle and hardship) intersecting with Leo (the sign of power and authority). This clash foments conflict, cruelty, violence, deception, antagonism, thoughtless and aggressive actions, and rashness all driven primarily by pride. Fives have inherently chaotic energy and when the Fire element of Wands is added, things can get dangerous. All this tension is pure drama for the sake of drama and being right doesn’t matter.
If you’ve got war in your own life or are following the news, understand that we all must fight ego and the rampant desire for “more.” Your Higher Self abhors chaos and only desires growth to further the greater good. Tap into your heart energy and blast your immediate surroundings with warm thoughts of peace and love. While your efforts may not stop the conflicts in the next town over, never mind the Ukraine, I guarantee they’ll improve your own corner of Universe. Namaste.
February 23, 2022: Card O' the Day: The Devil, reversed. The reversed Devil is providing yet another caution against caving in when faced with unpleasant truths. Whereas the reversed Seven warned against being weak and retreating, The Devil, reversed, warns against another type of weakness: being an insufferable asshole who has feelings of petty superiority over others’ frailties and boasts of being excessively “perfect.” However, such persons generally make excuses instead of facing how bad a situation really is and doing something about it. Therefore, before you shrink and retreat or over-puff yourself, begin to make corrections and put back a sense of order to your higher Self (the place from where you act with intelligence, compassion, and truth).
Since the Devil represents, in part, illusions, when the card is reversed it could signify you’re beginning to see through them to the truth. (That “truth” the reversed Two of Swords first announced and that has proven to be so uncomfortable.) As you become more conscious of the destructive behaviors and misuses of power of others, you’re better able to release false inhibitions and patterns of manipulation and codependency in yourself. As in, you see how rotten “Bob” is and decide you’re not gonna be another “Bob.”
February 22, 2022: Card O' the Day: Seven of Wands, reversed. Did I not say reality and truth would suck? This reversed Seven indicates strong interpersonal energies that were already a bit uncomfortable and confrontational devolve further. Swell. In the face of all this “negativity”, one may be tempted to back down and return to the previous situation (that you hated enough to disturb in the first place) for the sake of peace. Because, after all, was it really that bad?
Oh no you don’t! Use the power of Wands energy to overcome fears and objections and participate in negotiations. You’ll have to eloquently defend your position (with facts and examples, which you’ve been documenting, right?). This will allow defenses between yourself and others to come down as you discover inner resources and refuse to be intimidated.
Now, certain minor victories may require conforming to established procedures and protocols or seeking an otherwise more co-operative approach. (True cooperation means nobody’s 100% happy but things do come out better for everyone.) If one can come to a clear course of action, your natural self-confidence will return and you’ll be seen as a “team player” who’s rapidly becoming a leader.
February 21, 2022: Card O' the Day: Two of Swords, reversed. Well, now. The Two of Swords has returned but reversed. The reversal, however, shows us progress is being made! It would seem the reversed Princess’s rash and hasty efforts actually did some good in that the reversed Two indicates we’ve broken the uneasy balance of a situation or an uncomfortable status quo. The tenuous “peace” is broken as you take action to end complacency and superficial accord and seriously look at disturbing issues that require decisions.
When we’ve been figuratively knocked over and the balance between the intellectual/emotional forces is disturbed, deeper truths are revealed as you open your eyes to reality. You may discover you’ve been living a lie but at least now one can get on with the process of authentic communication and living.
All this reality and truth might result in loyalties becoming divided. You may discover lies, deceptions, treachery, or superficiality among people you thought were friends or at least solid colleagues. This will suck. However, now you know where you stand with everyone and you can weed your contacts file accordingly. Furthermore, this harsh information will help you make decisions about your own future without worrying about how it may impact others.
February 20, 2022: Card O' the Day: Princess of Wands, reversed. Obviously, I over-encouraged somebody because we went from the self-assurance and confident personal power of the King to the still clueless and finding-her-way Princess in just a day. And reversed no less! The King’s power is big and the reversed Princess can’t handle it. Yet.
When channeling the King of Wands, we can’t just dash forward on an adrenaline rush of taking risks or gambling on complete unknowns. Yes, you may want to try something new, like the upright Princess of Wands, but when she’s reversed it's done in a hasty, impatient, indiscriminate way that makes no time for good judgment. Basically, it’s like being a 16 year-old who got a very fast and powerful car before the ink is even dry on their license.
I suggest you allow yourself the power of “driving a car” but swap it out for something practical until you become a more experienced driver. Learn the ropes, don’t be too proud to do the grunt work, pay your dues on the way up, and foster sincere relationships with people who might be able to help you.
February 19, 2022: Card O' the Day: King of Wands. So, about a month ago, the King of Wands appeared—twice!—reversed. This indicated a lot of blustering ego and hot air, which is a dead give away for feeling less than your best. Now he’s back, but upright. I see this as coming out on the other side of the previous reversed Queen of Swords (see the 14th’s post) with all her cranky indecision. The Four of Wands let us know things were looking up but yesterday’s Two of Swords was a remnant of that pesky Queen. However, y’all have done your homework and are ready for this upright King.
We’re looking at self-possessed will power with charismatic creativity. His governing angel is that of Expansion of an Individual’s Potential. As with the recent Four, where I mentioned assuming your personal power, the King validates that and encourages you to take on leadership roles. Be proactive…when you see a job that needs to be done, do it even if it’s not technically “your job.” Soon enough you’ll be promoted to more demanding roles. (And if you’re not, go to HR and ask for a promotion/raise. This is why you always document all your projects and the extra work you do. Presenting your boss/HR with black and white proof of your value makes it harder for them to ignore your work for the company.)
February 18, 2022: Card O' the Day: Two of Swords. This card really illustrates how deeply intertwined our heads, hearts, and guts are. What goes on in our heads can mess with your self-esteem, trust, morals and values…. But always remember and never forget: your head can and will lie to justify ANYthing whereas your gut instinct and more likely than not your heart will steer you towards your highest good. Therefore, this card advises you to feel around in your essential being and THEN go to your head and make wise choices.
How to do that? See similarities between choices rather than all the differences. Instead of considering a choice based on DOING, what does it look like NOT to do? You may have to face some awkward truths or fears so dig deeply and observe your inner rhythms to better know your Self.
Patience with this issue is necessary and you’ve got the time. If you can, take a step back from the decision making process to have things in place or ready to be implemented once the final choice is made. This preliminary “arranging” of nuts and bolts may help you decide or show you an alternate route. Wait until you’re clearly aware of all options and information before taking the plunge.
February 16, 2022: Card O' the Day: Four of Wands. The Four of Wands signifies a heroic impulse that helped you conquer fear and doubt and gave you the courage and determination necessary to express yourself in your interactions with that reversed queen of the other day. This success comes from personal ability and your subtlety in handling the situation.
In addition, the Four represents particularly creative, balanced, and prosperous energy. Thus your new diplomacy will work well for you regarding collaborative efforts, opposing factions, and agreements that need to be negotiated to maintain harmony and balance within a group. By assuming your power and pioneering the way with sincerity and honesty, you can expect respect, admiration, or elevation within the group with a promotion or new assignment.
Which is vastly helpful because this card places heavy emphasis on families, teams, or other groups of people who come together for a common goal. By combining creativity with many like-minded people, it allows all to take part in a unified and vital whole and each to make a unique contribution. You have an opportunity to participate with others and add a precious piece to something greater than each one could have managed alone.
February 15, 2022: Card O' the Day: Six of Wands. And here we have the results of being strong enough to be kind to cranky people!
Your efforts to be nice in the face of “un-nice-ness” has allowed you to triumph over forces that were trying to stop your progress and growth and to do it with personal power and dignity. The more often you can be nice with dignity you develop self-leadership, marshal skills, improve relationships, and achieve success according to your definition of it. The Six signifies the manifestation of Ki/Chi/Qi and you’re asked to align with Nature, Earth, and Spirit and share the sudden illumination and brilliance while remaining grounded. Meaning, you fold this new-found or enhanced personal light into your life without fanfare.
With the drama over, the sense of self is fortified for having had an experience in which you could prove your integrity by taking the high road. You may now congratulate yourself with a little private smugness and a high-five in the mirror.
February 14, 2022: Card O' the Day: Queen of Swords, reversed. Well, SOMEbody is pissed about the Superbowl’s outcome! Or ya got out of bed on the wrong side. Or somebody you know and have to deal with on a daily basis is grumpy. Bottom line: this card indicates extreme crankiness.
The intolerance present rises from deep disappointments, heartbreak, pain, pressure, and/or self-deception. Also, ill-temper and negative behavior comes out of frustrated ambitions or relied-upon ideals have turned sour. Meaning, in all probability, you, or the person who’s in your life who’s like this, isn’t evil but just in a lot of psycho-emotional pain. The very rational and truth-oriented Sword Queen’s thinking also suffers. “Her” (remember, the Tarot’s court cards are genderless) strong mind has been turned away from clarity by personal biases and incomplete information. This mind-emotion discord then results in ignoring all the good things with which “her” life is blessed and the excess gloom and egoism stems from the loss of her truth and reality.
What to do? If it’s you, go back to bed or avoid everyone so as not to disturb the psyche of others. It’s the least you can do. If it’s someone else, avoid them until they feel better. If you can’t, you’ve got the inside scoop on why that person is so bitchy today and can be a little more compassionate by cutting them some slack. Be kind because you never know what sort of personal hell others are going through.
February 11, 2022: Card O' the Day: Justice, reversed. I think Justice, reversed, must be the Sword King’s worst nightmare. Something stable, ordered, or normally unvarying has been disturbed or disrupted and we’re having to adjust to imbalances in life and/or relationships. (Current events, anyone?) In order to limit mistakes or snags, you resist change or adjustment and attempt a “perfection” so rigid it hampers carrying on with daily life.
If you’re handling empty store shelves with a “c’est la vie” attitude, the imbalance may be internal and you’re struggling with a divided self as you suffer the inner discord of intellect v. instincts. Suddenly, formerly held values, old rules of thumb, and social expectations aren’t reliable and you have to respond with few cues through a cloudy perception and uncertainty. This leaves you mired in indecision and inaction because of over-reliance on the rationality that’s being proposed by others.
Go back to the King. Cool reason and thorough research of an issue through many sources (not just what your aunt’s best friend’s cousin’s trainer said) is required to navigate current times. Emotional reactions will not serve you well.
February 10, 2022: Card O' the Day: King of Swords. I think the Sword King showed up today to help us know how to handle The World’s energy. This King is the epitome of integrity in all his material pursuits, equality, and fairness. He understands the first step to his success is to be responsible for himself and his actions. However, because he’s a king, he knows his responsibility also extends to others or society in general. As an impartial arbiter of truth and justice, he bases his choices on logic, rationality, ethics, and hard facts and not on what he may or may not believe.
The King’s dominance and control over emotions allows you to let go of defensiveness and see that logic, rather than your feelings, is needed when pursuing goals. Critical, objective, and cool-headed examination of circumstances and careful evaluation of any consequences of planned actions or strategies is required. Meaning, put your gut and heart on a time-out while you do your research through a broad spectrum of solid sources.
Finally, The King of Swords may signify good news or unexpected advantages regarding the ability to improve yourself. Thus, eyes and ears open to everything from LinkedIn to hair salon gossip.
February 9, 2022: Card O' the day: The World (again!). We just got The World on the 5th…four days ago. And at that time it felt like “completion” was happening for many. However, yesterday’s Nine of Pentacles tells me we’re not quite there yet. (Maybe I’m projecting with my own book thing….) Anyway, remember what I said the other day: Receiving The World in a spread is proof of a life filled with even more potential for major realizations. It represents the power of the will to manifest results, attain all that’s good or desirable in being, living, and behaving, practical use of knowledge, and learning to take control of your life. You’ve got limitless potential to achieve anything you want!
Prosperity and abundance is assured if you remember to pursue excellence of Self and wisdom of the soul. Therefore, because there IS more to come, face the inevitable changes with hope and optimism. Even though you’re never done done, there’ll be little completions along the way. Accept those endings because by reaching the goal, you've now cleared space for the next steps. (Face it kids, there will ALWAYS be next steps. *sigh*)
As you continue forward, you’ll learn more and more about yourself, how you operate, what you’ll stand for and what you won’t. This will help you define a personal “world” where you set physical and psychic boundaries, say “no” to what’s beyond your ability, and establish personal security and protection where necessary.
February 8, 2022: Card O' the Day: Nine of Pentacles. During my years of studying the Tarot, I’m amassed a great deal of information that pertains to the symbology and ideology of the cards. They come from vastly different sources—ie. astrology, Feng Shui, numerology, botany, etc. and to organize all these concepts, I’ve written a book. I’m now in the process of editing and annotating it for publication.
Today’s Nine of Pentacles reflects the process of manifestation (publishing my book) through the ability to deal with the grunt-work details (editing and annotating). This card represents the ongoing struggle against all odds to produce a tangible, beneficial “thing” and completion of a journey before the more concrete establishment of the 10 wherein the “thing” is done and you can turn your attention to something else.
Good self-esteem from knowing your own value and worth will assist in reaching full potential, being content, and confident even if others initially aren’t as excited about your creation as you. You may very well have to make substantial changes and compromises and now is the time to do it. Remind yourself those alterations are NOT a reflection on you personally, but they are merely tweaks to perfect your “thing.”
February 7, 2022: Card O' the Day: Two of Cups. Another two…. The energy of the number Two creates the possibilities of conflict, choice, integration of experiences, understanding, and/or unions in truce. The suit of Cups means those dynamics are explored within relationships with Self or others.
When respectful give and take occurs with another, the parties enjoy a strong connection of reciprocal respect, complementarity, comprehension, and mutual benefit as each gains equally from the exchange. By uniting separate qualities and abilities through love (capital “L” love, not just bumping uglies), both parties have something to offer that’s different but equal in value. Together, they’re able to produce something beyond what either could’ve done alone.
Some of you may fear losing leverage through cooperation that allows the other to “win.” But remember, love isn’t pie! Imbuing a situation with your Love doesn’t diminish your power…it increases the overall power of the whole thing BECAUSE it’s infused with Love. Once you understand the incredible power of your Love, you’ll understand you can never be powerless about anything.
February 6, 2022: Card O' the Day: Two of Wands. The suit of Wands signifies fiery action and determination. This energy is quite intense and in need of direction. The Two signifies we’re in early days yet, still planning, and a decision regarding which of several opportunities to pursue is required. While they're all good, you’ve got to choose what you hope to accomplish within a particular sphere of influence.
Once energies have been effectively harnessed and responsibly managed, new possibilities or brilliant original ideas are released or current projects are given new meaning. In the process, you may need to fashion a new mental discipline or return to a previously effective one after applying lessons learned and skills honed. (This is where yesterday’s reflections and Monday-morning-quarterbacking proves useful.)
If there’s any uncertainty when deciding about the next project, it’ll be cleared by careful deliberation, strategic planning, and evaluation. Proceed with enthusiasm!
February 5, 2022: card O' the Day: The World. As the final card in the series of the major arcana of the Tarot deck, its presence today may indicate the finale of one phase of your life or an all-consuming endeavor. You can either despair at the ending or be grateful and accepting of the fact life is all about endings and beginnings and by reaching the goal, you now have cleared space for something new. Receive this break or moment of slowing down gratefully and relax for a minute.
During this down time, reflect upon what’s been done and integrate the perfection in each of the past missteps, mistakes, struggles, and wrong turns. Do a little Monday-morning-quarterbacking, review the films, and see where you can strengthen weaknesses or make better use of assets.
Receiving The World in a spread is proof of a life filled with even more potential for major realizations—physical, spiritual, and/or emotional. It represents the power of the will to manifest results, attain all that’s good or desirable in being, living, and behaving, and practical use of knowledge and learning to take control of your life. You’ve got limitless potential to achieve anything you want so be aware and receptive of this energy as you step forward to see what’s next and dare to travel outside your previous comfort zone.
February 3, 2022: Card O' the Day: Five Wands, reversed. With the reversal of the competitive Five of Wands, the tension of its energy is released allowing forward motion again or ends a period of conflict and stress so you can relax. Perhaps one recognizes and regrets one’s selfish and self-centered ways and returns to being more generous and aware of the needs of others. (ahem....) Either way, transformation of doubts, troubles, and glitches is imminent.
Having become stronger, focused your energies, and communicated effectively to avoid misunderstandings, you’re able to release petty concerns, concentrate on what truly matters, and let go of defensiveness. Once you’re not spoiling for a fight at every turn, you’ll find that working with others without hostilities is possible when you all look for common ground to better navigate any disagreements. Use the fire of Wands to energize, not consume!
February 2, 2022: Card O' the Day: Four of Cups, reversed. I never used to read reversals (many Tarot readers don’t) because I just didn’t buy that a reversal meant the opposite of the upright. The cards are waaaay more nuanced than that. Then I read a great book about reversals that explained it all to me and it made perfect sense. Tarot card meanings fall on a spectrum; the uprights are in the middle area while the reversals fit on the far ends. Therefore….
One of the energetic signatures of the reversed Four becomes more extreme: the ennui of the upright card deepens into restricted feelings of boredom, weariness, stultifying apathy, insecurity, lack of freedom, smothering, and burn out as one longs for something better. OR…. (and I much prefer this option but it’s your choice whether you want to continue to be “meh.”)
The reversal turns stagnation into a feeling of healthy restlessness that leads to the inability to sit still or meditate. Looking for new options to overcome passivity and break out of the fallow period of discontentment and thirsting for fresh experiences, we consider new events, ideas, relationships, and possibilities. Old problems can be tackled with new, unforeseen solutions or options formerly rejected can be reconsidered, slightly reworked, and applied in a novel approach. Past boredom is transformed as action overcomes passivity and we enthusiastically seize opportunities.
February 1, 2022: Card O' the Day: The Hermit. We got several Pentacles in the last few days that represent the physical plane where ego is primarily in control. Then we got the internal fire and enthusiasm of the Prince of Wands. The appearance of this card indicates it’s time to merge the ego with your soul (fire guy) in the opportunity to know yourself well and deeply. The Hermit acts as a bridge between the conscious and unconscious, a ligament uniting body and psyche, and the link between the mind and spiritual awareness.
Approach this time to work on self-development with patience and a sense of deliberate purpose. In order to understand all this and where you fit in the “big picture”, discover your own path. You might need help with figuring it out so don’t be shy about asking for a little advice from someone who’s been there or trained to teach what you want to learn.
It’s possible you’re not undergoing any exercises in spiritual journeys, are merely spending more time alone, and are finding comfort and ease in that solitude. Be aware of how you view aloneness and take responsibility for that choice. Loneliness is a negative state wherein there’s an absence of another; aloneness is a positive state where you’re happily present with yourself and appreciate your own company.
January 31, 2022: Card O' the day: Prince/Knight of Wands. The Prince of Wands represents the spark of enthusiasm, pure dynamism of all Fire signs, and spirit of enterprise that gives vigor, hope, optimism, and a positive boost of self-confidence—all the things you need to jump-start internal engines and achieve great things. His transformative power takes what’s poisonous and transforms it into beauty and is able to harness raw energy toward the mind and away from self-satisfaction or totalitarianism. We’re encouraged to renew our Qi through playfulness, laughter and a heart-centered life…. That’s the good news.
There’s all kinds of intuition and imagination present with this card but the limits of reality have been lost. Because the Fire Prince usually acts before thinking, he’ll have problems with details, routines, and the final follow-through. All that powerful, but unfocused, energy will dissipate if one tries—like the Prince—to fly in all directions at once. One would do well to cultivate reliability, use caution and thought, curb recklessness, pay attention to fine points, and develop commitment and the ability to deliver on promises. That’s the bad news.
Nevertheless, the appearance of this card could indicate leaving old ways behind or a chance for action and to shake things up. Therefore, go ahead and seek movement and new experiences; follow passions to find new flavors, textures, sights, and sounds; pounce on any opportunity to explore new realms; and rebel against stodgy or old-fashioned beliefs, mindsets, habits, or physical stuff.
January 30, 2022: Card O' the Day: Two of Swords. There’s a hard choice that must be made and your emotions won’t stay out of it. The Two of Swords shows up when you’re feeling conflicted, at crossed purposes, or are holding two contradictory ideas or thoughts as true and valid at the same time (i.e. your brilliant boss/spouse/bestie is an utter asshole in some areas).
Feeling unable to take action or make a decision, you deliberately avoid the problem through procrastination and a reluctance to commit to a choice. Feeling stuck between two equally unappealing options, you sit on the fence out of fear of upsetting the fragile balance you’re desperate to maintain. While a temporary, uneasy peace may be reached, to truly resolve the issue, the status quo must be broken before energy can move forward again.
First of all, step out of judgment to see similarities rather than differences (stop seeing things in a “me” v. “them” light). You’ll need to face some fears or admit some ugly truths to break through the stalemate and opposing forces. Then stop flailing and grinding gears, decide which way to go, and figure out how to get there. It’ll take less work than your current avoidance and floundering and you’ll release the stuck material energy we’ve been suffering with all the reversed Pentacles of late.
January 29, 2022: Card O' the Day: Ace of Pentacles, reversed. We continue on the material plane with another reversed Pentacle. There are warnings about becoming too focused on material gain and avidness for “more” in this card, as well. This current over-dependence on security and comfort might be in reaction to the current economic situation. The stock market is pretty yippsie, supply chains are rendering store shelves empty, and inflation is taking more from our pockets for the usual stuff we need. It’s scary, I agree.
However, Aces mean new beginnings (even when reversed!) and new beginnings require changes to your routine. Failure to recognize the need to adjust may be because you’re terrified of doing without that which you’re used to having. But choices will dwindle further as you fear ANY loss. To soften the blow, you’d do well to take material things more lightly and learn to do without (gracefully) until you can get on more solid financial footing.
The material plane includes your physical body, and the stifled energy flow of the reversal could mean that you’re losing mobility, flexibility, or require increased attention to the body. Check to see if your physical discomfort is due to ill health, physical neglect, malnutrition, or other limitations. Most bland of all, you may simply be stuck in a rut or literally constipated. So, in addition to pinching pennies harder, you need to bundle up and take a hike around the block.
January 28, 2022: Card O' the Day: Princess/Page Pentacles, reversed. The influence of yesterday’s reversed Seven continues…. The clarity of thinking of this Princess suffers when she’s reversed. Loss of focus will lead to having difficulty learning something new or grasping necessary information. When so easily distracted, practical matters and issues become lost in confusion or daily trivia. (Social media or games on your phone anyone? [Hanging MY head….])
You may change your mind about something previously desired and this could cause you to lose purpose or not know where you fit anymore. Now, we all shift perspectives or outgrow interests—and that’s normal—but if your waining engagement stems from your mood slump, don’t throw in the towel just yet. However, remaining inactive will lead to premature waste and superficial investment in the “thing” you’ve worked so hard on up to now. Try to continue your work if only at a snail’s pace.
The good news here is the messages typically heralded by the appearance of the reversed Earth Princess include cancellation of plans, which actually would then allow relaxation during your slump. It’s like Universe is recognizing your need for a nap and is making things so you CAN have a nap.
January 27, 2022: Card O' the Day: Seven of Pentacles, reversed. Sorry, kids, this one may be on me. We received the upright Seven of Pentacles just a few days ago and I was all encouraging about long-term goals and working hard for them. Today’s reversal might just be a reflection of my own ‘tude regarding a big project of mine. (I AM, after all, pulling these cards so it follows that my energies will interfere on occasion.)
The reversed Seven indicates I (and possibly some of you) are getting a little crispy around the edges when it comes to your goals and ideas for the future. We start out all gung-ho and work in high gear for a stretch making great progress. But none of us can keep up that pace for long before getting tired, bored, and dispirited about the long way yet to go.
Therefore, before you get bogged down in inertia and procrastination, take a conscious break. Rather than doggedly pushing forward and doing “just Part A at the very least”, chefs, put down your knives and step away from your station. Trust me on this: By continuing on in this mood, your work will be shit. Do something completely different (even banal busy work) to refresh your mind and regenerate your eagerness for the Major Thing you’re working on.
January 26, 2022: Card O' the Day: Five of Pentacles. We were just talking about the concept of “enough” yesterday but that was more along the lines of HAVING enough. This card is about BEING enough and equating your self-worth with your material abundance. The pervading energy of this card is about living in lack, whether real or imagined, and anxiety in general as one fears becoming (or being viewed as) a “have not.”
Experiencing poverty in the presence of plenty may signal it’s time for a mental, spiritual, and physical makeover. Engage your inner wisdom for solutions to see clearly the reason for struggles and to accept any responsibility for your role in them. (Are you un- or under-employed? un- or under-educated? spend more than you can afford on unnecessary things?)
To fix this, first release any victim mentality (I NEVER catch a break….), deal with issues, and discern the true cause of troubles. Lack of or thin resources will require adaptations so consider what can be done to ease the pinch. You’re encouraged to shift perspectives and recognize the easy path is not always your best path for long-term growth.
January 25, 2022: Card O' the Day: Queen of Pentacles. While the Queen of Swords from the other day indicated an uneven power structure, today’s queen is significant of the ability of those in power to care for the less fortunate and suggests you’re in a position to help others. (Fortunately, we understand the sneaky concept that to help others is actually helping yourself. Karmic bonus!) Today’s Earth Queen is on board with the inner work stuff indicated by the recent Sevens and finds grounded and practical applications for her emotional energy with her reliability and resourcefulness.
This queen is a very capable business woman and her appearance represents running your own business from home, going back into the workforce, or furthering your education—which will go miles in developing your self-confidence and financial security. Speaking of which, as your business/career grows, take time to safeguard or improve your standard of living and start a prolonged effort to guarantee material wealth. Therefore, manage personal resources wisely and look to where you can weed out what’s no longer serving and to consider new directions to take to enhance your growth.
Lastly, while you’re certainly “permitted” to be happy and celebrate when you reach goals and everything to which you aspire, you’re asked to find satisfaction and contentment with those achievements and not be ever desperate for more, More, MORE. As I’ve said before, learn to know when enough is enough so you can turn your attention to other matters besides accumulation.
January 24, 2022: Card O' the Day: Seven of Pentacles. Another 7…. Sevens indicate inner work that produce exciting thoughts and creativity that then leads to complex choices. Some of you might be embarking on a “learning path” (about anything) because this number is associated with study, research, knowledge, and analysis.
When combined with the earth element, this Seven indicates the tendency to endure tough times in pursuit of a goal, the willingness to work hard for it (including the actual grunt work), and further prospects of growth. Take your time to ponder all the creative possibilities and beware of difficult decisions. Your choices will be made upon the knowledge and information you have AT THE MOMENT but success isn’t guaranteed. Therefore, cut yourself slack if things don’t work out precisely as planned.
Small adjustments may be necessary and making minor tweaks now will save huge corrections later. This procedural inventory may show the need for purging or eliminating damaged goods, clearing out closets, dropping figurative “baggage”, or culling to ensure quality and make room for new growth. The project at hand is meant to be long-term, and though there has been some progress with slight and isolated gains, there’s still much work to be done.
January 23, 2022: Card O' the Day: Seven of Wands, reversed. The last couple days’ cards indicated some of you are dealing with shake-ups in “personnel.” (This “change within a group” can mean at work, church, friends clique, book club, or anywhere you’ve been dealing with a set group that has recently changed where people left and/or new members joined. [You might be the leaver or joiner.]) I feel like this card speaks to the adjustments that happen when this kind of situation occurs.
Following the leaving/additions, you may feel overwhelmed by or tempted to retreat from the strong interpersonal energies that are foreign to you. The new pecking order seems to put you at a disadvantage or in an inferior position leaving you self-conscious, distressed, indecisive, confused about what to do next, or discouraged. For protection, you may set up personal barricades to keep the new people at a distance.
That actually may not be such a dumb idea since such barricades can allow you time and space for reflection and to observe the interpersonal dynamics from a safe distance. It also gives you room to work out any difficulties in solitude and make your own adjustments in peace. Once you’ve assessed the situation and come to a clear course of action, natural self-confidence will return.
January 22, 2022: Card O' the Day: Six of Cups. While the Queen of Swords spoke of separations yesterday, there’s still a special association where a group is of greater importance than the individuals in it. The relationships between the members are deeply felt, and there’s sincere concern for the feelings of others in the group that the person who left (you?) will be missed. However, if you shift your view from linear to circular and remember the past, see the present, and envision the future, you’ll understand the reason for the separation.
New relations, environments, and knowledge that come from the shifts in the group exist to open your mind and accept how things must change for the greater good of the whole. Enjoyment returns with your willingness to pass through heroic growth-building labors and difficulties. By working on integrating the gifts and experiences of the past with consciousness in the present, you’ll be reassured the correct path was taken and decisions were based on valid and honest instincts and motivations.
January 21, 2022: Card O' the Day: Queen of Swords. This card is indicative of being in a situation of uneven power or alludes to a separation, breakup, or absence (personal or professional). The influence of the reversed King of Wands, perhaps? But by being the “clear-visioned” one of all the queens and embodying pure and absolute awareness of truth and knowledge, she encourages us to focus the mind with useful and effective ideas that are rational, astute, and scientifically sound.
When this card shows up, detach yourself from emotional influences—internal and external—and get to the point when discussing the issue. Speak frankly and honestly, cut away the inessential, and be meticulously clear and factual with any criticism you need to voice. (This is where documentation of events comes in handy.) Set clear ground rules and personal boundaries to avoid misunderstandings or being pushed into something you don’t agree with.
By being super calm, cool, and collected, you’ll be able to deal with unfortunate situations impartially and handle disappointment with dignity and integrity.
January 20, 2022: Card O' the Day: King of Wands, reversed (again). Now, why would HE show up again? I mean, didn’t we get the memo to be chill, generous, and nice from the previous reversed King and Queen of Wands? We also heard the message not to get smug and rest on laurels after a big accomplishment. So…Mr. Crabby Pants is back?
The reversed King can get a little big for his britches and throw his weight around when he’s been given the lead with accompanying responsibilities. However, he doesn’t actually want the extra work and is secretly resentful when asked to do more. His pride, on the other hand, won’t let him show any weakness or insecurity he might be feeling over his new role. Thus he pushes forward with bluster and mucks up everything he touches.
Some of you may have gotten some big wishes (yesterday’s Nine of Cups) recently and now you have to live up to the expectations that come with the new position, responsibilities, or management necessary to keep the Big Wish going. Yesterday, I told you not to gloat about winning. Today’s reversed King is regretting having won.
January 19, 2022: Card O' the Day: Nine of Cups. There’s danger of becoming complacent, smug, or lazy after you’ve achieved something big in your life when this card shows up. I don’t want to rain on your parade, but it can be easy to forget how hard you worked to get to the prize while you celebrate the achievement. Yes, enjoy and embrace this period of contentment and comfort and don’t apologize for or downplay your blessings. But in return, give back to Spirit, be honest and generous in your happiness (no gloating), share the wealth, and pay it forward.
Alternatively, you might be riding high because you found the secret to your emotional happiness by taking full responsibility for and control of it and realize others can’t fill all your needs. You finally understand being “you” is enough! This period of gratifying emotional fulfillment and satisfaction allows you to let go of what’s already been lived and proceed with confidence. When embracing your inner harmony, energy will increase and you’ll feel true joy, liberation, and a readiness to give to others.
(Coincidentally, I drew this card 20 seconds after I “loved” a post of my friend holding the new baby in her family. This 9 can also indicate literal babies coming into your life or regarding a pet project about which you’re passionate and care deeply.)
January 18, 2022: Card O' the Day: Temperance. In line with the reversed King of Wands, our message of peace, softening, and thoughtfulness continues. Receiving this card in a spread is a call to return to center: a place of compromise and where there is no room for extreme views or prejudice. This puts you in a position to sooth tensions, offer solace, or bring about reconciliation by maintaining a calm temperament and a relaxed energy. When you’re chill, you can see beyond the current chaos and recognize your own confidence and strength.
Once the rigid fixation of ego is broken (the desperate need to be right, in control, etc.), you can connect to your true heart and your capacity to discern and face reality is sharpened. Without ego shouting to be heard, you’re able renew the connection between the conscious and unconscious (the voices in your head v. the whispering truth in your gut that you really do have—and ARE—enough). This will aid in the ability to forgive, quell hysteria, diffuse volatility, enable creative problem solving, and allow for transformational giving and receiving.
January 16, 2022: Card O' the Day: King of Wands, reversed. Much like the reversed Queen of Wands from the other day, the reversed King represents powerful energy that’s gone awry. Expect hissy fits, tantrums, or feelings of weakness and ineffectualness from yourself (if the reversed King is you today) or from the people you have to be in contact with on a regular basis. (Avoid them where you can.)
Now, for those who’re really self-aware and have a healthy sense of personal power, they/you may recognize their/your lack of expertise and knowledge and relinquish control of a situation since their/your effective impact has been blocked, disturbed, or re-channeled. After all, continuing under those conditions is pointless as insignificant matters can become magnified or errors in judgment come to light that weaken their/your position further.
Such magnanimous, tempered, and well-adjusted persons know how to cede control or leave things for another day without losing face or personal force. Let us aspire….
January 15, 2022: Card O' the Day: Four of Wands. Recently, a high school pal of mine announced the death of her wife after an illness. Today, not even a week later, she announced the birth of another grandchild. The Four of Wands reflects my friend’s heroism that conquers fear and doubt and gives her the courage and determination necessary to continue her life as a widow.
This card represents happiness, hearth and home, fertility, successful birth, and rites of passage (such as death) and places heavy emphasis on families or tribes who come together to support each other in times of woe or to celebrate happy events. Having this card appear today indicates it’s a good time to unwind and regroup for pleasure and social concord. Join your besties or family this weekend to become immersed in joyful camaraderie or share burdens.
Such participation in your circle nourishes the individual and you’re encouraged to take part and not be a mere spectator. Wands energy actually finds its greatest fulfillment when you overcome your tendency to be alone.
January 14, 2022: Card O' the Day: Queen of Wands, reversed. For the third day in a row we get a card with inherent dynamic energy that comes up reversed. Again, reversals of such cards indicate the energy becomes scattered leaving us with a tendency towards easy irritation, insecurity, and losing focus on our direction. Personal growth also suffers when you hang your hat too far in the future. Meaning, you’re so concentrated on your Five Year Plan and accompanying vision board you lose touch with the important foundation building of Year 1.
And like the other two cards (the reversed Wheel and Chariot), we’re advised to soften our approach. The reversed Queen asks us to get out of our heads by becoming involved with others. Offer your advice, consultation, wisdom, and emotional support that comes from a natural impulse rather than duty. This obliging and serviceable instinct is invaluable in a crisis or disaster and distracts you nicely from your own insecurities.
However, don’t sacrifice yourself by rendering aid for an extended difficulty (some people are just bottomless pits of need and angst). If your own needs are set aside or delayed too much while serving others, you’ll get burned out. Maintain personal boundaries even when offering assistance.
January 13, 2022: Card O' the Day: The Chariot, reversed. When I first turned this card over, my first thought was “huh-UNH!” Because the high and directed energy of The Chariot, when reversed—in theory—is scattered, restricted, or surges out of control as one is caught in the doldrums uselessly spinning one’s wheels. Sometimes conflicts and problems will arise due to opposing ideas and aims, counterproductive efforts, or one becomes caught up in a runaway idea.
Firstly, one must come to understand the “will power” approach is not and will not be successful. Meaning, you can’t force things to get better. You’ve got to SOLVE the problems rather than simply try to overpower them. Therefore, whether your energy is FOC or you’re blobbed out on your couch, conflicts are internal or external, or you just can’t keep it together anymore, stop trying to put a Band-Aid on your problems. Fix them already!
Now for what I REALLY felt when I turned over the card: the reversal of such traditionally yang-oriented strength may indicate that it’s time to be more yin-like. Use gentle influence, benevolence, charity, compassion, and commiseration to find answers to your conundrums. Put down the keys to the bulldozer, put on a pair of angora mittens, and try “nice.” You know, honey over vinegar and all that.
January 12, 2022: Card O' the Day: The Wheel of Fortune, reversed. The Wheel, reversed, is still a beneficial card but its energy is unstable and the unpredictability of outcomes increases. This could manifest in a superabundance of change with rapid growth, superfluity, and expansion (yay?) or only small gains and short-term success, bad luck, or unexpected losses (crap).
While you might be feeling anxious and ready for something new, changes are blocked because a situation is not yet ripe and movement forward could be premature or reckless. (You don’t want to have to redo or repeat something when you botch it.) Unfortunately, there IS the necessity to move forward or risk stagnation or delayed changes. (Conflicting information much? Yep. That’s the reversed Wheel for ya.)
Mostly, the problem is with your attitude. Confusion, resistance to Fate, and an irresolute emotional core prevents your best action. Struggle against events is usually doomed, so stand firm, maintain courage and stamina, and learn from past rotations of The Wheel that nothing—good or bad—lasts forever.
January 10, 2022: Card O' the Day: King of Pentacles. The King of Pentacles conveys the energy of Spirit, the feeling of connectedness to Earth, and embodies the dual nature of intuition and introspection. He’s also significant of good physical health and you’re called to focus on your body, diet, and exercise and apply energy to practical matters and physical wellbeing. (Have you, too, been ignoring your New Year’s resolutions about diet and exercise?)
As with all kings, this card signifies the ambition, prominence, power, social responsibility, and integrity of good business and financial leaders who’re strong, uncompromising, and impatient to get things done. This particular king’s greatest talents lie in organization and control of physical matter and he encourages us to become competent in personal financial management. (OMG!!!!! Ugh…. This guy is such an “adult.” My Mom AND Dad rolled into one….)
Because the Tarot cards are infamous for pulling up the rug, opening closets, and poking your mid belly muffin-top, I think we got the grown up of the deck to reiterate the message of the previous days to be grounded and practical. We are being human right now and that requires a certain level of maintenance. I, personally, would be happy to sit in front of a roaring fire, daydream or shop on-line, and eat grilled cheese sandwiches all day. But noooooooo! I have to be fiscally responsible, eat a balanced diet, and move my ass. (Eye. Roll.)
January 9, 2022: Card O' the Day: Four of Pentacles. As you learn about personal power, force, and inner love for Self, you’ll come to understand that manifesting integrity, strength of character, kindness, and generosity are actually somewhat self-serving in that they provide stability, focus, comfort, and security coming from your own body center. By knowing the Self, personal protection is complete and others can’t take you down because you see yourself as beautiful and deserving. (In other words, you’re worthy and you’re allowed to be worthy!)
These are valuable assets essential to accomplishing things on the physical plane and you’d do well to embrace them in order to motivate others through your skill in the direction and management of physical forces. By building on a stable foundation of ethical beliefs, personal limits, and skills, you’re self-assured and secure in your own knowledge and confidence during any tests in life as you watch, prioritize, and trust yourself and Universe during personal crises.
January 8, 2022: Card O' the Day: Princess of Pentacles. Yesterday’s reversed Princess of Cups was introducing her sister, the Princess of Pentacles. This card reiterates the existence of magic and opportunity awaiting discovery and to live life fully and be present and aware of all possibilities. At the same time, we’re encouraged to pay special attention to tangible things such as your health, possessions, work, and other down to earth practical matters. Mix the magic with the practical and you can find wonder in and novel uses for familiar objects as well as inventive solutions to new situations.
Princesses/Pages, in general, represent exploration, beginnings, reflection, study, and a time in life where contemplation and fantasy are completely proper. They have the ability to experience something purely for the experience without external pressure that it “mean” something. A second Princess appearing so soon may indicated you’re beginning a stage in personal growth or you’ve nearly finished all your planning and are eager and prepared to see how ideas play out in the real world.
What does all that mean? It means dream big, determine whether it has real-world applications, study how to get it off the drawing board, and then make it happen!
January 7, 2022: Card O' the Day: Princess of Cups, reversed. Shortly after Christmas we received the Princess of Cups in all her Pollyanna glory. A mere ten days later she reappears but reversed. Upon consideration, I see some may have taken yesterday's High Priestess’s esoterica a little too literally.
Finding nothing terribly interesting in the real world, you tend to withdraw into daydreams, romance, or a private kingdom filled with imaginary friends and lovers. Developing psychic abilities becomes all-consuming and you allow yourself to be utterly mesmerized by, or obsessed with, guides, spirits, and/or divination or exotic divinatory tools. But getting lost in the “woo-woo world” leaves you open to being easily swayed, influenced, and hurt by others. Some unscrupulous “fortune tellers” may make you their victim to deception, artifice, or false psychic messages and charge you a bucket load to mentor your development, remove imaginary curses, or sell you a “completely necessary $5000 candle (with embedded magic crystals, of course).
I think our good Princess has come to us reversed to remind us to calm down and ground ourselves in reality. Yes, there is magic in all of life. Yes, there truly is stuff that’s intangible and nevertheless important. But, no, you don’t get to ignore your human experience. Maybe in your next lifetime you can be a faerie but until then you’ve got to eat, sleep, and poop just like the rest of us.
January 6, 2022: Card O' the Day: The High Priestess. While yesterday’s Sword Queen is super “thinky”, the High Priestess is super “feely.” The Priestess has appeared today in contrast to the Queen to remind you to look past truth “on paper” and put some credence in what you know in your gut to be true. In other words, when faced with a problem, don’t think too much but let some natural flow happen. You may have to let go of some conventional mindsets and emotional habits as you dig around in your psyche to find the stuff you’re hiding from.
You already know on a subconscious level where things are unfair and imbalanced in your life. You’re now being asked to look at your patently obvious fears (being alone or unemployed, for example) and do some “what-if-ing” with regards to your life and happiness. Listen to deep feelings and instincts to recognize your emotional needs that aren’t being met because of the Sword Queen.
Since some truths can’t be explained or studied and are simply internally known, don’t ask why you’re not happy, just accept you’re not. With that acknowledgement comes the courage to do something about it and stop the excuses about how it’s good enough, you have no other choice, or this is your fate. You’re in charge of your own happiness. If it’s broke, you gotta fix it.
January 5, 2022: Card O' the Day: Queen of Swords. As always, the court cards of the Tarot deck are genderless…anyone can have the attributes of the Queen of Swords. Also, today’s queen may represent you right now or someone you must deal with on a pretty regular basis. Meaning, their energy impacts your energy.
People under the influence of this card have very high ideals, perfectionist standards, and maintain a rigorous professionalism. Sword Queen types have finely honed, complex minds that allow them to deal with intricate situations but make them seem heedless of the feelings of others. Think Miranda Priestly in “The Devil Wears Prada.”
The appearance of this card indicates some of you may be in an unhappy situation of uneven power. The power dynamic might be caused by rigid beliefs regarding “good” v. “bad” or the view “it’s my way or the highway.” If the problem stems from your own convictions, you may want to rethink things to make your life a little easier. If power imbalance comes from an outside source, look for ways you can stick up for yourself or leave the situation. In the end, knowing how it feels to be in a lesser position, you’re encouraged to be mindful of developing compassion for others.
January 3, 2022, Card O' the Day: Seven of Pentacles. The Seven of Pentacles, reversed, showed up right before Christmas as I was prepping for my family to come for the Big Holiday Visit. I was frantically cleaning, decorating, and pre-cooking as a way to feel in control of my environment before other people—who I can’t control!—invaded my sacred space. The message of that moment was to freakin’ relax and let things just…be.
The upright version reminds us hard work brings results and that your mindset is you’re willing to put in the hours. Don’t lock yourself into one path, either, because you WILL need to make adjustments to your plans along the way. (Like if somebody brought a “plus 1” to dinner who’s vegan!) Don’t give up on your path even if it feels like you’re making so many detours and adjustments that your original plan is gone. Sometimes the end result turns out completely differently than we’d imagined and that’s okay!
At the end of the day, assess whether the whole effort was worth it to you. Did you receive more or less equal to what you expended? If not, where can you pare things down next time so it’s more equitable? Like, turfing the big celebration to your sister’s house next year. Which isn’t a failure on your part but more like prudent self-care of your sanity.
January 2, 2022: Card O' the Day: Six of Cups. This card signifies an invitation to remember, nostalgia, and fond memories of simpler, happier times of youth and childhood dreams. We’re still looking backwards and are not yet ready to move forward into the new year. It’s only Day 2, so it’s okay to take a minute before jumping into the “new me” mind set that often comes at this time of year.
Bouts of sentimentality and nostalgia, sometimes weepy and affectionate (or sobbing and regretful), can bring solace after having failed at or lost something in the present. Memories can help to distract just as much as fantasies of the future. Certainly, you might find consolation in old memories, but don’t hide from the future and dwell in the past because memories are illusory and can easily be over romanticized, idealized, or dramatized.
By meditating on an old issue with new wisdom, an acceptance of personal responsibility, and forgiveness, you can reclaim your peace of mind and heart with the knowledge you tried your best with the information and tools you had at the moment. Allow happy memories to come, once the grief and sadness are put behind you and you’re free from wistfulness for the past. In the reality of the present, soften your heart by forgiving what was and trusting what will be.
January 1, 2022: Card O' the Year: Nine of Wands, reversed. Today, I didn’t ask Universe for a Card O’ the Day but more for a lesson to consider for the coming year. I was expecting something profound like The World or the Two of Cups but the reversed Nine of Wands appeared. It’s not a romantic or “Kumbaya” kind of card yet it has depth and meat on its bones.
Rage or otherwise raw uncontrollable force directed in impulsive and negative manners is a colossal waste of your energy or force. Learn to tell the difference between situations that qualify for justified anger and petty snit fits your ego is having. Conversely, don’t “chill” to the point you’ve checked out of your life and then complain you’re bored or your luck never seems to change for the better.
This year, discover the inner knowledge or experience that’s not shareable on social media in a “profound” GIF. It’s bigger than that. Receiving this card is a suggestion to let go of your defensiveness about truly small inconveniences and reconsider your actual situation. We can wish and hope this coming year will be waaaaaaay better than 2021 and I promise it will be…and won’t. We’ll have new uh-MAZING relationships, get dream jobs, have babies, and get our books published. We’ll also crash our cars, lose loved ones, get passed over for the big promotion, and have painful break-ups.
The lesson here is not to waste your time and energy on bullshit but to save it for the important stuff where you need to truly mourn a loss or crushing blow. Or spend a goodly number of calories celebrating EVERY TINY LITTLE VICTORY as if it’s the best thing since sliced bread! You deserve it because you tried and won.
December 31, 2021: Card O' the Day: Judgment, reversed. When upright, this card indicates big changes but many of us loathe change and make excuses not to. When reversed, those excuses take over and hesitation or resentfulness towards, or doubting the value of, the necessary changes dominates making any transitions that much more difficult. It could be you simply feel overwhelmed and need more time to adjust but the longer you drag your feet, the longer you’ll stay stuck with nothing being gained or lost.
The previous days’ cards speak of a joyful attitude (Page of Cups), optimism and success on our physical planes (Nine of Pentacles), and wine and roses (The Sun). Some may have read those cards and thought, “yeah, but that never happens for me.” It could, though. If you made some changes….
December 30, 2021: Card O' the Day: The Sun. And the joy continues…. In my area, it’s foggy and gloomy outside and yet The Sun still shines!
The Sun imparts clarity that brings us joy, inspires us to find and accept our individuality and uniqueness, and points us in the direction of the soul’s fulfillment. It signifies a breakthrough, awakening of consciousness, understanding, and enlightenment stemming from an insight, new directions, or a suddenly realized inner truth…like that you’re actually something pretty special. With this mindset and view, you can now see, feel, and sense the great beauty of life and the world as spiritual and eternal rather than merely a day to day existence of drudgery and confusion.
Generally a card of health, vitality, and regeneration, this card indicates the easing of seasonal affective disorder, fear, and anxiety. The Sun also represents positive changes and you’re encouraged to share your abundance, light, and joy with others.
December 29, 2021: Card O' the Day: Nine of Pentacles. Looky here what we found when turning love inwards and contemplating our worthiness! We discover actual happiness with Self and our unique places within Universe.
This card brings awareness to all the good things in your life. The people, your achievements, the discipline and training it took to accomplish those successes, and the self-satisfaction of having done well are recognized and appreciated when you just take a minute to observe. Nurture that warm glow into optimism for continued development and the seeds of future possibilities.
In this mindset, you’ll have a natural motivation for more growth that comes from your internal being and not from an external place of lack or scarcity. because Your inner Self is feeling rich and ready to share so allow this joyful flow of energy influence generosity of every kind and to every being.
December 28, 2021: Card O' the Day: Princess/Page of Cups. This Princess represents idealism and devotion to living life in pursuit of a higher, nobler cause than their own self-enrichment. Under her influence, you’ll tend to rely on feeling and intuition rather than logic when forming associations at work or in private life. Because she helps you see the best in others, you can be a miracle worker that inspires others to great achievements…which then reflects back on you very favorably. So, win-win.
However, this discovery of deep emotions both tempts and terrifies and can leave you caught between the desire to give all and love fully and the fear and anticipation of being ghosted or dumped. Because of that and the desire to avoid conflict or unpleasantness, the chances of running away are high. Nevertheless, you’re encouraged to let life flow as you enter into a phase of learning to accept and incorporate feelings into reactions, contemplate things with a tender heart, trust, and serve with love.
If you’re not turning your love outward to others, then you may want to explore your inner world through meditation with no outside demands or responsibilities that disturb your quiet contemplation. Take a breather, listen to your heart, and discover your worthiness of being loved. Following a little self-care, you’ll be more energized, inspired, refreshed physically and spiritually, and have the inner confidence to serve those in need after you’ve created your own situation of happiness, loving relationships, and success.
December 27, 2021: Card O' the Day: Eight of Swords. Eights signify completion and manifestation and Swords signify the mind. Together, this card suggests the completion or the ending of a current problem exists in the correct use of the mind. But without proper tools, you can experience disorientation, powerlessness, and limits.
Feelings of being psycho-emotionally trapped can come from a lot of different places. Ordinary circumstances, negative thinking, over-analysis, caving into your anxiety or self-consciousness, a rigid belief system, and/or social conventions are to name only a few. And some of us, I’m sure, have been struggling with several of these during the last few days…amirite? Getting all wadded up means you’re allowing destructive, uncontrolled, or intense emotions to dictate your actions and form a barrier against rational thought so that you can’t see a clear path out of the quagmire.
Now, while you can’t control what life brings, you CAN control how you feel, think, and react. Don’t fear any necessary transformations, still the mind, and examine the circumstances that prevent you from being free. It could be there’s nothing you can really do to change things. But consciously thinking about what triggers your negative emotions and thoughts will help you take a step back, make corrections to your reactions, and bring your blood pressure down a notch or two.
December 23, 2021: Card O' the Day: Ten of Cups, reversed. Holiday season generally means getting together with family and friends but when you get more than one person in a room, there WILL be differences of opinion. Once the rich food is served and the wine is flowing, people tend to get a little too comfortable and their thoughts are liable to be spoken aloud resulting in disputes, strains within the group, and interrupted peace. This stems from not fully appreciating what you all have. You HAVE a place to meet, food and drink, and each other. Why ruin it with nebby snark?
If you’ve been designated the family Black Sheep or Caregiver, you might easily drown in everyone’s needs, wants, and expectations. Such an emotional pounding from the outside can leave you feeling overwhelmed, saturated, and too stimulated by well-meaning suggestions and advice. Hold firm to your personal boundaries and refuse to allow everyone else to determine what’s best for you.
Despite all that, this card represents a psychic wholeness and harmony within. In the midst of the hubbub, get still and look around. Look at the people in the room—flawed and annoying as they are—but they’re YOUR tribe, for better or worse. Tap into your serenity and just love them for who they are (the way you wish they’d love you….)
December 22, 2021: Card O' the Day: Two of Pentacles, reversed. The Two of Pentacles heralds changes on one’s material plane. When reversed, it indicates the changes introduce inconsistency into one’s schedule and things can start to feel like a plate-spinning hamster wheel (hel-LOOOOO holiday season!). Numerous obligations make it difficult to establish a routine and it feels as though you can’t catch a break or a breath.
If you lack enthusiasm for these shifts or projects, others can too easily sway you to leave it for another day. The consequences of that include lack of focus in efforts and/or procrastination. On the other hand, some of you may be frenetically planning, organizing, and running in circles as you pretend everything is under control.
The current situation requires careful balance. Consider how to lighten your load and live within means and resources—including your time! There are only 24 hours in the day and you need at least 10 of those to eat, sleep, bathe, and poop. So, no, you can’t bake 47 dozen cookies for the Christmas bazaar. To achieve YOUR goals, the order of things must be changed and the whole schedule reorganized…and a lot of stuff dropped altogether.
December 21, 2021: Card O' the Day: Judgment, reversed. Oh for Pete’s sake! Why are our tiny little brains so fearful all the time? Because, dear Readers, we’re basically still cave men ruled by our primitive lizard brains and haven’t TRULY evolved enough to trust Universe and see the big picture.
When upright, Judgment indicates big changes; when reversed, it signifies difficult transitions, hesitation, or resentfulness towards or doubting the value of said necessary changes. If you’re having difficulty believing the changes have begun and lack perspective about them, you’re in danger of making bad judgments, poor decisions (or avoiding them), confusion, and delays from missing important information. As the feelings of overburden dull your outlook, you fail to face facts and dig in refusing to move forward. Stagnation, disappointment, and impeded creative output result. Furthermore, this card may indicate a deep dread of the ultimate and inevitable changes that advancing time demands. Fear of failure, lack of success, defeat, not meeting goals, crisis, or other unnamed insecurities may keep you closed off from others or behave with weakness, cowardice, and/or ignorance.
What to do? Keep putting one foot in front of the other and try your very best to adjust to new circumstances and situations. Choose to be happy with what you have even while you strive for a little more. And resign yourself to the fact our worlds and The World are in constant flux. Fighting it only makes you nuts.
December 20, 2021: Card O' the Day: Seven of Pentacles, reversed. Sorry to butt in personally here, but today this card feel like it’s coming directly from my heart…or rather my anxious, nervous, afraid-of-change root chakra. It’s probably due to the relatives coming for Christmas…extra cooking (I panic-made casseroles in advance to freeze them), spit shining the house and making extra beds (I’m NOT the best housekeeper, so added stress there), and decorating everything (and keeping the cat from climbing the tree).
No wonder I feel there’s more to do to the point of exhaustion and overwhelm! Which then makes me unwilling to work toward my goals, become impatient, restless, or inert in procrastination (my favorite!) when faced with the expectations I pile on myself.
Despite such delays and poor prognoses, there will be growth. Meaning, I really am getting things done and checked off my list in a timely manner. The question is, is it enough? Will I be satisfied with all my preparations? Will I be able to enjoy my family’s company, the lively conversations, the puzzle building, and the shared meals? Or will I be constantly nervous that people are noticing the cat hair on the sofa, think my decorations are tacky, or my cooking lacking in some way? Or MAYBE (here’s a wild-ass thought) I should just let all these old ideas and fears go and just be me. Ya think?
December 19, 2021: Card O' the Day: Queen of Wands. If anyone can handle the volatile energy of yesterday’s Nine of Wands, it’s the Queen herself. She’s the strongest of all the queens with a depth, reserve, and patience juxtaposed with vigorous, unpredictable, and spontaneous action. She’s also kindness, responsibility, helpfulness, courtesy, and understanding personified, which means she plays well with others. The fully well rounded Queen of Wands denotes strength of character and someone who is interested in spiritual growth, philanthropic works, and inspirational philosophies.
Her appearance today indicates you need to rely upon, and trust, your own judgment and power without influencing or overriding others in the process. It’s perfectly okay to know what you want and how to get it—just don’t be an ass about it. And because you know what you’re doing, you can understand what others can’t see and easily overcomes obstacles. Being like the Queen means you sustain visions with constancy and strength and use your resources wisely.
This queen is also super social and she just may be indicating going to or hosting parties. Either way, it’s an opportunity to share joy, love, laughter, and feeling more blessed and full because of it. (However, right now you may want to do those parties via ZOOM or abstain from the goodies table and keep your mask on. Ask your host/hostess if you can take home a doggy bag for later. Party responsibly.)
December 18, 2021: Card O' the Day: Nine of Wands. This card represents driven and dynamic energy with a stronger and increased light shone upon your weaknesses. As you come to know, learn to accept, and love those weaknesses anyway, healing can take place, which results in great strength. Unfortunately, these gifts can be fiery, unstable, and are potentially very dangerous to your emotional state.
The Nine indicates achievements through hard work, determination, independence, force, or great power intensified with direction but you’re having trouble accepting your accomplishments and feel as though you don’t know what the hell you’re doing. Without a map, you can’t see the next steps necessary or feel uncertain about the possible avenues you do see. Out of fear you cling to safe but unnatural routines that keep the chaos at bay in an effort to make things stay the same.
However, training, development, and discipline will give you the moral and spiritual character and courage necessary to help you handle hardships. Look deeply into the meaning behind forces that block you and examine how you might have contributed to the problem and/or attracted the negative energy through psychic wounds (victim mentality, living in lack, etc.) or past mistakes. An evolved spirit can acknowledge past failures without bitterness and self-torment and move forward grateful for the learning experience gathered during the test.
December 17, 2021: Card O' the Day: Three of Wands. This card encourages personal improvement and virtue through the ability, under all circumstances, to practice the following things: generosity of the soul, sincerity, and kindness. When you’re able to do this, you’ll have explosive, vital energy and space inside to be generous and permit an outpouring of benevolence and charity. (Remember, it’s not pie. It’s really quite selfish to help and create happiness for others because of how good it makes YOU feel.)
In addition to becoming a really awesome person, you’ll find fortune as you follow visions—especially in the areas of business, career, communications, writing, and invention, and put new plans into action through creativity or study. Sometimes an initial completion leads to larger goals. Through the exploration and discovery process of the original “thing”, you can see how it can be improved upon and made “more.”
Be open to additional and unexpected resources and listen to hunches to broaden your perspective. Magic really is out there. You don’t have to understand, believe, or do any special rituals to tap into it. Merely accept when wonderful things happen and don’t worry your pretty little head about where it came from.
December 16, 2021: Card O' the Day: Ten of Cups. I think the qualities of the Ten of Cups represent what CAN happen when you embrace your personal power and strength represented by yesterday’s Magician.
This card’s implied happiness—and not just lack of pain—is inspired from Universe. It’s a vital energy that gives you playfulness and intelligence allowing you to connect with the heart and move into the world from there. Your heart contains inexpressible joy waiting for discovery and to be shared fully. And don’t worry, it’s not pie…sharing such joy will NOT deplete you or leave less for your loved ones. In fact, the more you give, the more you have.
As you bear witness to this personal radiance, you begin to understand your own infinite value. This allows you to recognize the up-sides of ANY situation and continue to be joyful under all circumstances.
December 15, 2021: Card O' the Day: The Magician. I’m so excited for The Magician to appear today! The Five of Pentacles was all about fear, doubt, and lack; today’s card reminds us as long as we’re breathing there’s unlimited possibility and potential for any beginning you desire. This card is ruled (in part) by the planet Uranus—the first ruler of the universe—that creates upheaval that forces you to look at things from another angle. The Magician represents the magic and director of “Self”, helps you to contact the Life Force, find the hidden parts of yourself, and come to understand them to find your best life.
I read somewhere recently there’s a belief when the Big Bang that created Universe, all that light and energy was too much for Universe to hold. So bits of that light had to be put into every living being to handle the overflow! This concept gives me great joy and fulfillment to know we’re ALL related to existence and existence cares for each of us.
This card is indicative of beginnings with very strong forward motion so it’s a good time to organize your thoughts and put a sense of determination and order into any plans. The strength and power here imbues you with the willingness and motivation to embark in any new direction alone or where you’re solely responsible for an outcome. Feel, trust, and use the force within yourself!
December 13, 2021: Card O' the Day: Five of Pentacles. The pervading energy of this card—living in lack, whether real or imagined—allows nothing to be accomplished. Broodiness, pessimism, and anxiety keep you off-balance and in danger of becoming paralyze by worries, which prevent you from making the necessary changes to solve problems. Therefore, stop wallowing in self-pity, release any victim mentality, discern the true cause of troubles, and deal with those issues.
If you allow our fear to control your life, it’ll affect how others will want to interact or communicate with you (nobody likes a Debbie Downer). So, when you need assistance during your low periods, don’t be a martyr and turn away from those offering aid because of pride or embarrassment. I’ll bet you’ve helped your friends a bunch and they’ll be glad to have the opportunity to balance their Karma with you. Ask.
December 12, 2021: Card O' the Day: King of Wands. When the King of Wands shows up, it might be that you’re being “kingly” right now or there’s someone in your life who is. Forceful, charismatic, and intelligent, he/she’s all about his social responsibility. But also difficult, impatient, and domineering so he/she must hold himself to the HIGHEST standards of honor to stay in integrity and find healthy outlets for his/her excess energy. This type tries to do it all him/herself, is intolerant of limits, unquestionably a bad loser, and allows little or no discussion about goals, which can be exhausting or inspiring for those who work with him/her. This king defines him/herself through work and actions, and therefore doesn't permit his/her authority to be questioned.
I think this card has shown up to challenge us to without doubt embrace power and creative energy and move into bold and daring action. It’s a blatant push to aim high for complete success of anything attempted because this is where fire meets structure. Step up to the challenge, believe in yourself, and learn to motivate and inspire others. When your path is directly following convictions and energy is controlled, it’ll be turned into useful projects or long-term careers.
Just be careful that power is used appropriately and self-confidence doesn’t turn into arrogance.
December 11, 2021: Card O' the Day: Nine of Cups, reversed. The Nine of Cups gets reversed when we’re just a wee too full of ourselves. It indicates irresponsibility, complacency, and poor choices, which lead to problems and road blocks that you’re causing with your behavior.
What to do? Slap your ego up-side the figurative head, eat a slice of humble pie, and start being nice, diplomatic, cooperative, and a lot less of an asshole. Clear communications, sincerity, honesty, and apologies will get you off the hook and help you repair any damage to your reputation as a stand up sorta person.
Bonus: a little embarrassment in the short term leads to deeper and more meaningful relationships and your higher purpose. Who doesn’t want to be better at being a human? Those miserable cows you know and avoid like the plague are miserable INSIDE, too. Trust me, being an irritating, contemptible person sucks for you as much as it does for everyone around. Maybe even more….
December 9, 2021: Card O' the Day: The Emperor. The Emperor reminds us all that, in this family we call “humans”, we must learn to work as a cohesive unit. The Emperor is the basis for authority, regulation, organization, government, administration, and/or bureaucracy and represents the natural function of yang energy structure that maintains order so others may succeed within it. This includes the rules of fairness and honesty because a just and truthful society allows a stability that nurtures and foments new life.
As a compassionate champion of the weak and oppressed, he provides support, comfort, and strength and works tirelessly and transparently so others can feel safe. His rule/leadership is without ego or hunger for power and comes from loving responsibility and the understanding of the importance of a healthy social order.
The appearance of this card indicates it’s time to become responsible for your failures, learn from them, and understand there are consequences for all your choices. Yes, you may make choices that are for your own good, but The Emperor asks you to also consider whether any of those choices hurt others or Mother Nature.
December 8, 2021: Card O' the Day: Strength, reversed. This card reiterates the message of the Princes and the cards of the past week. All the fighting, self-doubt, etc. have culminated in this card today.
Strength, reversed, denotes inner torment or a fear of personal passions, urges, or instincts that may result in timidity or submissiveness. Failure, cowardliness, over-emotionalism, insecurity, or highlights on your personal weaknesses may also be manifestations of this reversal. See also: lack of enthusiasm or passion for, or pessimism about, upcoming events or matters. (None too excited about this year’s company Christmas party, huh?)
In the end, my best guess is you’re overwhelmed and burned out and simply need time to rest and regenerate. Have you got any sick or personal days left?If you do, TAKE THEM.
December 7, 2021: Card O' the Day: Seven of Wands. Thanks to the good Princes and recent Sword energy, you might be having a crisis of your own judgment (IF you’re self aware) or are feeling completely overloaded by aggression, defiance, struggle, defensiveness, confrontation, and/or perceived opposition. Astrologically, this card is governed by Mars opposing Leo (swell). This opposition indicates you’re struggling against yourself or forces in the external world. This creates a conflict between a desire for supremacy and the tendency to scatter, or diversify, interests.
When defending your convictions, you may take on a survivalist’s approach in this individual action—“me against the world”—in a quasi-military manner. With a charge of adrenaline and the expectation of winning, you only end up waging a disorganized and disordered battle with an uncertain outcome.
The work required by this card demands honest self-reflection regarding your personal tenets, as in it’s fine to remain steadfast but be open-minded, too. If you find yourself standing alone too often, maybe it’s time to reevaluate what you believe. (Could it possibly be that you’re wrong or under-informed?) While fighting for your truth is all well and good, just be sure you’re not fighting something that’s no longer a threat or that you even need to be so combative about it.
December 6, 2021: Card O' the Day: Prince of Swords. It’s so interesting to me how the Tarot cards come to us in sequences when I do them one at a time like the Card O’ the Day. Last Wednesday we go the Two of Swords, reversed, followed by the Prince of Pentacles. Yesterday, the Two reappeared upright and got a little more forceful with its message. Today we get ANOTHER Prince. Princes are indicative of huge bursts of outwardly directed energy—even the relatively stodgy Prince of Pentacles. I think he was the hint but Universe decided we didn’t get the hint so he sent the wilder Prince of Swords to shout a little louder at us.
The Sword Prince signifies impatience and holding a grudge when things don’t happen fast enough for your tastes. Expect revolutionizing energies, quicksilver ideas, sudden shifts in perspective, rapid thoughts, and quick answers to all your burning questions. However, those answers may not be the correct ones so prepare for “a-HA!” moments that blow up your world. You must measure everything critically, think, analyze, and use discernment because under influence of this card you may charge ahead without clear intent, not look where you’re going, and go for the quick fix.
These new ideas, relationships, or interests can suddenly supplant what was there before without thought for the ensuing disruption as you go all in for the next adventure or vision. Your singularity in focus, urgency in mission, and tendency toward fanaticism is unlimited. You’re being reminded to ground ideas in reality and be responsible for what is created because this Prince represents the struggle to sustain the plodding grunt work some projects require.
December 5, 2021: Card O' the Day: Two of Swords. The Two of Swords has circled back around today (last seen on Wednesday, the 1st) only this time it’s upright. That’s because some of you looked at the work required, thought about it, and then said, “Nah. Don’t wanna.” Upright, the Two slaps you in the face with the problem (as if you already didn’t know).
This card comes to us when we’re feeling conflicted, are at crossed purposes, have opposing thoughts held in balanced, or are holding two contradictory ideas as true and valid at the same time. You may be struggling with a personal dilemma or have conflict with people in your life.
But because you “don’t wanna”, you deliberately avoid the problem through procrastination, ambivalence, vacillation, and a reluctance to commit to a choice. You feel stuck between two equally unappealing options and so sit on the fence out of fear of upsetting the fragile balance you’re desperate to maintain. Waiting for the circumstances to change before taking action is pointless because the unresolved issues have to be dealt with eventually. Therefore, stop flailing and grinding gears, decide where you want to go, and then figure out how to get there. It’ll take less work than pretending and floundering.
December 4, 2021: Card O' the Day: The Fool. The Fool represents the Soul at the beginning of its journey that contains a guiding light, indicates new experiences, ideas, and adventures, and urges you to step out of what’s known. It embodies all duality within itself and is infinite in its possibilities. It represents the essence of life, the divine light within the human form, and the secret of reincarnation.
However, while under the influence of this card we tend to be more concerned with trivia than substance and/or are blissfully unaware of Life’s initiations and the lessons lying ahead. Like a newborn entering the world of experience, we can feel the need to act spontaneously, rashly, without plans or thoughts, and forge ahead. Too uninformed to be afraid and without real knowledge, forethought, or discipline we fearlessly dive into the new obsession that’s calling. However, just as The Fool has no direction for his energy, he also lacks assertiveness or follow-through.
Thus, the appearance of this card ask you to prepare for a change in environment, evaluate the tangible steps necessary to make this change, or acknowledge lessons learned from past failures and use them for future success. Don’t fear those changes and taking the necessary risks because change is good. Stay grounded and aware throughout the process and look forward for any pitfalls. Embrace expansion of awareness to new ideas because your present beliefs and values are going to be challenged.
December 3, 2021: Card O' the Day: Temperance. Receiving this card is a call to return to your center: a place of compromise and where there’s no room for extreme views. With a lack of prejudice, you’ll better find your way between the opposite ends of the dinner table where you can correct imbalances and reconcile opposing beliefs between reality and idealism…or at the very least eat in peace without flinging the mashed potatoes. Practically speaking, this translates into good people skills and the ability to effectively communicate with others while you sooth tensions, offer solace, or bring about reconciliation.
The appearance of Temperance may indicate forced compromise or the addition of something that avoids traumatic cuts when you’re stuck between two points of view with no way of uniting them. Patience and diplomacy will be required to bring forth the problem, and solution, in a way that can be understood by all involved. This will allow you to act based on accurate calculation, intelligent faculty of choice, and assessment of feeling as opposed to wild reactive emotions.
Reunification of apparent opposites through reconciliation comes from the sacrifice of your ego. That’s the reeeeaaaaallllly hard part. To be clear, I’m not saying you have to become a doormat. I’m saying you have to listen to the “other side” and possibly admit you’re a little bit wrong.
December 2, 2021: Card O' the Day: Prince of Pentacles. The Prince of Pentacles represents being self-contained and free of attachments, letting go of expectations about self and others, and acceptance of what “is” and being okay with it. He has no need to hurry or seek shelter elsewhere because he recognizes he’s already “home” as he rests in the fullness of who he is. He encourages you to make space for a new quality of stillness, take responsibility for any illusions you may be carrying, and at the deepest core, remain at ease, calm, cool, and centered.
However, this card also represents skepticism of spirituality because of the above mentioned deep rooting to the outer world and simplicity. Enjoyment of such non-tangible blessings could be blocked by self-consciousness, embarrassment, guilt, or shame if you identify yourself only through your visible functions. By becoming overly grounded in and dedicated to purely practical matters, you’re in danger of cutting yourself off from the deeper, more magical things Earth offers.
Concretely, this card may indicate overland travel or a move by truck, bus, or train. Fortunately, it could also represent a more esoteric journey or quest connected to the body, creativity, and your place in Universe. Might I suggest you put away the truck keys and take the second alternative?
December 1, 2021: Card O' the Day: Two of Swords, reversed. The cards of the past few days have indicated clouded thinking, indecisiveness, and/or feeling lost and getting your shorts in a twist over it. Today’s reversed Two is telling you you’re ready to be done with the unpleasant status quo that’s been lingering for a while. It’s time to break the peace, take action to end complacency and superficial accord, and get your crown chakra out of your root chakra to look at disturbing issues that require decisions.
When you’re figuratively knocked over, aroused from deep contemplation, and the balance between the intellectual/emotional forces is disturbed, deeper truths will be revealed as you open your eyes to reality. You could discover you’ve been living a lie, but at least now you can get on with seeing the truth and begin the process of your authentic life.
Prepare for loyalties within a group to become divided because not everyone is going to be happy with the bright lights of truth. The ensuing indecision and frustrated efforts may force you to take sides. To ensure you don’t pick the losing team, act only when fully satisfied with the facts. Remember, there ARE such things as lost causes, and there could be no possibility of resolution to the current problem. You may have to move forward to put space between this energy and yourself.
November 30, 2021: Card O' the Day: Queen of Swords, reversed. All the court cards in the suit of Swords have a bit of a chip on their shoulders and when reversed, the chip becomes downright defensive hubris. With the Queen, her cool reserve devolves into malvolence.
Her cruelty, narrow-mindedness, intolerance, ill-temper, and negative behavior arise from disappointments, pressure, and self-deception. Because the Queen of Swords represents centered analytical discernment, the reversal indicates extreme resistance to intellectualization or reasoning. As a strong mind is turned away from clarity, there is a danger of personal bias.
In other words, the Queen is much like the Princess of yesterday…she’s just older and had more time to pickle in her own acid. It’s time to close your mouth and open your ears, mind, and heart. You don’t know everything (nobody does!). If you can get your head out of your ass and allow that stellar brain of yours to work, you might just see some light that will allow you to soften and dump the bitchiness.
November 29, 2021: Card O' the Day: Princess/Page of Swords, reversed. When faced with the challenges of changes, endings, and sacrifices, yesterday’s Hanged Man asked you to handle them gracefully. For those of you who can, this card is mostly not for you. (Notice I said “mostly.” Read it anyway and look for read flags or inklings of such behavior in yourself.) For those who can’t, make some personal space around you and warn others you’re not at your best right now.
The intellectual and language oriented energy of Swords can be very caustic, vituperative, and scathing when reversed. Under the influence of this card, you might be apt to lash out unexpectedly, derive immature satisfaction from hurting and belittling others, seek revenge, or enjoy argument or verbal aggression for its own sake. (Didn’t we just have “drama for the sake of drama” with the Five of Wands?) And when I say “others”, include yourself in that group because you might be keeping your yap shut and putting on a polite face but those words are dancing in your head and aimed at yourself.
Halting and poorly organized thought and intellectual confusion can make you obsess over your problems and leave you too weak to actually do anything about them. On the physical plane, there may be oral or written misunderstandings, stalemates, frivolous changes of plans, or the inability to form commitments. A project or process at work could lack logic or planning, fall into disagreement and thus remain unfinished, corners are cut, or there is a buildup of tensions between coworkers because you think you’re too stupid or underprepared to do your part.
November 28, 2021: Card O' the Day: The Hanged Man. The gist of yesterday’s Ten continues with The Hanged Man. This guy falls right before Death in the order of the Tarot’s Major Arcana and invites you to see something is over, has run its course, or is dying and ready to go. You’re not abandoning anything; it’s just that in order to grow and find the freedom of expansion, you have to leave behind the original and let it end.
While your mind wants security and stability, your soul yearns for liberation and renewal. You're about to experience or are experiencing a period of enlightened “suffering” that will lead to a new phase, inner peace, and long-term gains following the pause. This suffering is caused by the upheaval of your “normal”, the sadness of having to admit some things are over, or that you realize you’re just not into “that” anymore. Making a choice, even a difficult one, is now necessary. Sacrifice will be required; try to do it gracefully.
Now would be a good time to become “snowed in”, catch a “cold”, or otherwise remove yourself from society for a moment. This self-imposed isolation will turn out to be a meditative way to remove yourself from worries and racing thoughts in order to gain objectivity and spiritual perspective. Only in blocking out the daily noise can you attain peace of mind to prioritize and plan.
November 27, 2021: Card O' the Day: Ten of Swords. After all the lead ups and prepping and cooking and eating, now that Thanksgiving is over, you might have a case of the post-holiday blues. It could also be you over-spent yesterday during the Black Friday sales and you’re now dreading next month’s credit card bills. Generally speaking, this card represents hitting bottom and smacking up against a lot of limits…literally or the figurative kind you have swirling around in your brain.
The good news this is a ten, and tens mean endings that allow for new beginnings and transformations. This weekend you’ll probably wallow a bit. But while you’re flat out on the sofa eating leftover stuffing, think about how you got to this low point. Then start taking steps to actually SOLVING your problems rather than just living with them or making half-assed temporary fixes.
The Ten of Swords brings clear vision and productive ideas so you’ll be able to see the way forward…which is up because there’s nowhere else to go. First of all, though, you need to forgive yourself for any perceived failures, faults, or lacks. This is the very first step towards healing what ails your heart.
November 26, 2021: Card O' the Day: Seven of Pentacles. The fear of failure is something we all must grapple with during our lives. For example, did my first time ever Thanksgiving lemon tart turn out flawlessly? No. Nevertheless, we ate it and it was darned tasty. Don’t allow the performance anxiety surrounding your project or endeavor freeze you into the self-sabotage of unobtainable perfectionism or procrastination that doesn’t even allow you to get started.
Some could have called my tart a failure but I just considered how I would tweak the recipe because those “failures” of mine taught me how to do it better the next time. I don’t hold regrets or blame myself over the soupiness of the glaze or the too many lemon slices on top (in my defense, the recipe CALLED for that many!). I’ll just cook the glaze longer and use fewer lemons.
This card is also about having the willingness to work towards a goal but knowing when to let things just go at their own time. A tart crust will only bake so fast and the one hour required for the lemons to sit in their sugar syrup can’t be made to elapse any faster. In fact, I think I’ll let those lemon slices sit in syrup over night….
November 24, 2021: Card O' the Day: Five of Wands. The Five of Wands indicates a great deal of tension, anxiety, conflict, or contests in your personal or professional life. Personally, you may feel pissy-cranky and want to kick a puppy (figuratively) or break dishes. An unfocused superficial argument leads to chaos and anger, which has no base or use, and you’re spoiling for a fight that will just lead to a lot of negative energy. This is pure drama for the sake of drama and being right doesn’t matter.
Professionally, what may have started out as a collaborative effort, with differing methods, styles, and approaches to the common goal, have become tangled as strong personalities vie for leadership. Comparisons and opinions grow heated and assertive people become downright aggressive as they jockey for position, engage in power struggles, or compete for contracts. All constructive impetus is lost as cohesion and organization falls apart.
Fives have inherently chaotic energy wherein creative vision collides with earthly reality. When the Fire element of Wands is added, things can get unpredictable and dangerous. This is a card of action, assertiveness, and clearly expressed decisions—and perhaps more than a bit of combativeness. Diplomatically speaking, we’re talking “competition” or “contest” but which can slide into confrontation and conflict if you’re not careful. For all you astrology people out there, this card is governed by Saturn, the planet of struggle and hardship, coming together with Leo, the sign of power and authority. Sheesh!
November 23, 2021: Card O' the Day: The Devil, reversed. When The Devil is reversed, it may indicate a liberation from bondages to obligations, responsibilities, belief systems, family values, etc. that’re holding you hostage. Perhaps you only get so far as attempting to break loose from misery or have finally stopped accepting a situation and are moving towards freedom. For that I applaud you because first steps are first steps and not to be ignored.
Since the Devil represents, in part, illusions, when the card is reversed it, could signify you’re beginning to see through them to the truth. As you become more conscious of destructive behaviors and misuses of power (yours and those of others), you’ll experience a release from false inhibitions and patterns of manipulation and codependency.
This card could indicate you’re turning away from your “evil” ways to begin the path to spiritual enlightenment. By saying no to temptations, you remove tethers and escape unpleasant situations to access the guarded, hidden treasure of your own creativity and spontaneous delight.
November 19, 2021: Card O' the Day: Three of Cups, reversed. This is the third three we’ve had in a week; the first two came on the 12th and 13th. I noticed but didn’t think much at the time but this third one is giving me pause. Threes can mean integrations, combinations, or the middle way when two apparently opposing positions are reconciled. However, with all the other less-than-roses energy we’ve been getting lately, I feel like these threes are more like irreconcilable differences. Last week, those differences were in our minds (Swords) and energetically (Wands); now we’ve gotten the emotions involved (Cups).
For some reason, you’re not associating well with your usual crowd. As the Holidays approach, you may be crunched for time, but I feel it’s more like you’re easily annoyed and so any get togethers aren’t fun for you. Self-indulgence, self-pity, or worry about the future mean everybody is stuck in a complaining rut. Not that you’re a whole lot cheerier, but to hear it come from everyone else, too, it just gets a bit much with the gloom and whining.
It’s important to maintain emotional control and further examination of the circumstances is required before moving on. Meaning, don’t throw out the baby with the bath water. Everybody’s on their very last nerve these days. Give your peeps the benefit of the doubt and don’t permanently break up with them in a snit. Just back off for a while and see if they (and you) can get into a slightly more positive headspace. Once you’re all feeling better, try once more to have a good time like you did before disease and pestilence blew up our lives.
November 18, 2021: Card O' the Day: Five of Swords, reversed. Even when reversed, the Five of Swords is still a suck-ass card (reversals usually lighten them up a bit). Weaknesses will be tested and you could suffer stagnation from fear of failure. Though you may experience despair after a bitter defeat, we’re actually moving towards the recovery and aftermath of the situation.
But the good news is an uncertain outlook may turn more favorable as bothersome issues, conflicts, or disagreements are resolved. As rifts are repaired, amends are made, and the air is cleared, look beyond losses and see what can be salvaged from the situation. Each person involved must determine their obligations and liability to the recent unfortunate events and own them. Correct any misunderstandings to avoid emotional upsets and recognize the potential for spiritual growth after such strife.
However, the energy here is STILL not conducive to new ventures due to the underlying motivational factors or remaining discord between the material and spiritual facets of involved parties. Therefore, concentrate on mending fences right now and save the forward actions for another day.
November 17, 2021: Card O' the Day: Two of Wands, reversed. The reversed Two of Wands appeared two-ish weeks ago on the fifth, but my previous reflections don’t hold true today. The “not at this time” energy of yesterday’s reversed Ace of Wands continues with this card.
You could be feeling hemmed in or frustrated by a previous decision that seemed good at the time but is now limited by low energy and scarce resources. Processes lack direction, which make the goal seem unattainable so you don’t carry on with your responsibilities for that end result and just give up because it’s too hard.
However, it’s often through loss, sadness, trouble, and fear that the best lessons are learned. Therefore, reorganize this turbulent energy, awaken to inner possibilities and resources, and become more self-sufficient. (This is a polite way of saying SUCK. IT. UP.) Sometimes retreat is necessary and a sagacious withdrawal could be your best option right now. But don’t hide under the covers and lick your wounds (okay, you get one day to do that). Instead, figure out why things aren’t working and then make the changes necessary to get the show on the road.
November 16, 2021: Card O' the Day: Ace of Wands, reversed. While the upright Ace is full of forward impulses, reversed, this card is a “thumbs down”, “no”, or “not now” and advises inaction for the moment. Expect to be turned down, vetoed, forbidden to act, or suffer setbacks or delays as the means of realizing goals or energies signified by the upright version are blocked. (Swell. Just as you were getting yourself in gear.)
Even when reversed, the Ace indicates new beginnings are afoot and you may feel ready, desiring, and yearning for change. However, the right opportunity hasn’t arrived, a situation may be premature, or you’re not fully energized or prepared enough to move forward. With your jets on fire, getting the no-go signal is going to be very frustrating and leave you feeling doubtful and hesitant about taking on more work. On the other hand, you might not be able to get your jets to cool and you’ll forge ahead…right into a train wreck.
Therefore, reconsider plans and goals or set something aside for the time being because impatience is not the answer.
November 15, 2021: Card O' the Day: The Star. Right after The Tower comes The Star in the sequence of the Tarot’s major arcana. Kinda funny that she showed up for us today…but we need her. The Star represents hope, trust, and freedom from pain. She is the light of the Higher Self, which is asking you to learn to be hopeful that at some point you’ll break through blockages and have all the fulfillment and clarity you want and need.
The Star is the epitome of Dorothy learning from Glinda she had the power to go “home” at any time. It represents the unknown part of Self in which you can have faith and provides the light and incentive to achieve your purpose. As you become aware there’s a greater destiny or providence working through your being, you comes to understand all power, peace, love, joy, prosperity, etc. are found within your own spirit.
When you trust Self to make it through all challenges, then you’re truly free to release self-judgment, acknowledge your perfection and uniqueness, and reclaim inner beauty.
November 14, 2021; Card O' the Day: The Tower, reversed. Even though the cards have been urging you to let go of certain stuff and habits, sometimes we’re unwilling to heed warning signs, prefer to cling to established structures and the status quo, or believe ourselves to be untouchable and thus needed change is delayed or denied. You may have acknowledged collapses, setbacks, and that things are not right, but have lived with them for so long they’ve become your “normal” and you’re too inert to do anything about them.
However, crisis and true catastrophe come if the energy of The Tower and its inevitable and obvious changes are resisted. Without forward motion and the required change, you’ll stay stuck in continued oppression, subjugation, or tyranny or entrapment in old ways or habits. The stagnation inherent in the reversed Tower may be on the psycho-emotional plane rather than the physical. In that case, you’d be denying responsibility for, or knowledge of, any tensions with others; turning a blind eye to oppression; refusing to accept a shocking discovery; or insisting there’s are nothing wrong through ignoring reality and self-deception even though your life is obviously crumbling.
Look around yourself. What ideas, people, relationships, jobs, and/or stuff are you hanging on to or allowing to take up space in your head, heart, or life? If it’s not serving you well, you’ve gotta let go, make a clean break, and allow the full release The Tower promises.
November 13, 2021: Card O' the Day: Three of Wands. Following all the learning and letting go involved in the past few days, we get to explore, learn, and discover what can come next. Use foresight in determining the future needs of your endeavors by keeping a view of the big picture. At the same time, assess what’s already been set in motion by past actions. While this card suggests favorable financial returns, productive ideas, and the ability to envision long-term dreams, active waiting (rather than immediate action) is sometimes necessary for goals to come to fruition. Meaning, large, high-risk ventures, if successful, may take months or years to fully bloom and show profits.
Integrity is especially important right now, and you’d be wise to see others’ viewpoints as valuable as you begins relationships that could lead to further business. With the wind in our sails and bees buzzing in your bonnet, it’s super tempting to get full of yourself and let your pride and arrogance ruin new connections. Reaching this level of inner strength and diplomacy can only be achieved by constant re-appraisal, vigilance, and commitment to goals.
November 12, 2021: Card O' the Day: Three of Swords. Sometimes our emotions aren’t backed by practical instinct as we wallow in selfishness, allow energy to become dissipated, our confidence fails, and/or we’re easily deterred or detoured. Such self-doubt is an internal dialogue of the mind that causes depressive thoughts that fuel suffering and sorrow, which come when the mind can’t let go of an event or perspective. The appearance of this card is letting us know it’s time to let our minds out of the destructive loop it’s in, stop reworking old issues, and clinging to pain and anguish of the past. These kind of stressful thoughts can result in physical illness, so it’s super important not to stay stuck here.
Believe it or not, misery leads to greater wisdom and you should approach experiences of suffering with determination in order to benefit from them. Out of heartache can come healing, liberation, growth, and the maturity of your emotions. So, while you’re having a hard time, it’s ultimately a valuable experience in life. After all, if it ain’t broke, you’re not going to try to fix it. But it only hurts when it’s broke…and the “discomfort” is what drives you to repair or change a situation.
Now, I’m not minimizing your pain, and neither should you! However, notice the content of thoughts and how they make you feel, identify painful life patterns, feel emotions fully, and find reconciliation through mourning. Love and loss are intertwined, and to experience true love, one must acknowledge any loss, grief, tears, unhappiness, self-pity, confusion, and disappointment in one’s mind and heart. Once you’ve cried every last tear and broken every dish, dump the snotty tissue and shards in the trash, and move on.
November 11, 2021: Card O' the Day: Queen of Pentacles, reversed. When the normally self-assured and down to earth Queen of Pentacles is reversed, her self esteem is showing wear and tear. She’s not taking time for or proper care of herself because she doesn’t think she’s worthy of it, doubts her abilities and value as a person, and feels like her efforts are never good enough. Confused and perplexed by basic management tasks, decisions are met with inability, fear of failure, indecision, uncertainty, irresolution, and hesitation. Feeling helpless and in serious need of care, she reacts to everything with timidity and self-abasement.
In addition to emotional weakness, the reversed Queen of Pentacles signifies psychic weakness in the form of phobias, mistrust of self, or suspicion of the motives of others. Dissatisfaction with the environment or the inability to appreciate what it has to offer causes her to cut herself off from the connection to Earth so vital to her. This may result in nervousness and loss of rhythm in life.
If you recognize any of these conditions in yourself, call in sick, draw a hot bath, and take a minute for yourself. The housework, laundry, shopping, etc. can wait. If you’re not able to take today off from work, then take this evening off. Order a pizza and do the absolutely bare minimum of chores. Then take your slice outside and sit under a tree. Contact with Nature will help.
November 10, 2021: Card O' the Day: Five of Cups, reversed. The reversed Five of Cups can impart quite a hopeful outlook, indicating recovery, charity, kindness, and renewal as you move away from the losses of the reversed Six and get on with life. The Five of Cups is often depicted with five vessels of some sort—three of which are overturned and two still upright. Those fallen Cups represent something less significant or important than what you originally thought and those still standing form a solid, permanent base that’s not easily knocked over.
After making some very hard decisions, understand difficulties will be overcome, there will be a change in lifestyle, and the ability to share abundance. As you transform your resistance, disappointment, or prudence into something better, you’ll develop emotional stability, coping skills, determination, and fortitude to conquer any future misfortune or anxiety. Now, move on; it’s time.
November 9, 2021: Card O' the Day: Six of Cups, reversed. When the Tarot’s “nostalgia” card is reversed, it means many of you are working to release old emotional ties and destructive unconscious patterns in an effort to develop a healthy relationship with the past. Consider this an invitation to liberate yourself from former obligations and responsibilities, overcome past disappointments, and embrace new trust regarding the future and your active participation in it. (Because, really, there’s nothing to be done about it except learn your lessons and move forward. It’s over, after all.)
Now, here’s the caveat: When taking a more honest look at the past, be aware that idealized recollections can disintegrate in the face of harsh reality. This results in rude awakenings when you realize nothing is as you remembered it. You’re going to have to be brave, but do it anyway. It’ll be good for you…like a colonoscopy is “good” for you. However, ugly truth will help you let go faster.
Concretely speaking, when this card is reversed, it could indicate involvement with new technologies, science fiction, or other futuristic endeavors. Good news for all those techie nerds out there!
November 5, 2021: Card O' the Day: Two of Wands, reversed. Two’s can signify conflict, and when connected to the energy of Wands, the conflict prevents energy from flowing smoothly and with purpose; it’s much like the jerky motions a car makes when its gears slip. When the gears do catch, an otherwise dead-end situation may suddenly change as “miracles” jet you past limits. New perspectives and horizons, which you didn’t previously know existed, (or notice) may suddenly open up and become obvious. You might be just daring enough to jump directly into a new experience thereby leaving safe situations and modest success to enter the unknown.
Such reversals of fortune aren’t achieved through willpower but through receptivity to the unexpected. These surprises in your situation could either awe with wonder, enchantment, and amazement or overwhelm with confusion, embarrassment, or distress. (In which case the restrictions aren’t coming from outside circumstances but from within your own damn self.) Therefore, try to receive them regardless of fear because at the speed they’re coming, there’s a real danger of opportunities passing by. Your choices become more immediate and you’ll regret not taking action.
November 2, 2021: Card O' the Day: The Empress, reversed. Divine feminine energy is blocked when The Empress is reversed. This can manifest in maternal sacrifice, being jammed into a negative and/or traditional female role, and/or being viewed as “less” because of one’s gender identification. If you’re not being repressed, maybe you’re the one suppressing yourself with ideas of what women “should” do in society. It could also be you’re bucking the gender system entirely and are now facing condemnation and disapproval for traditionally “unacceptable” behavior. This disruption of energy may leave you feeling like no one truly sees you for who you are—they just can’t look past your appearance, how you behave, or what you do for them.
No one belongs in the confines of a specific, society-created category. We’re all so incredibly unique and that’s what makes each of us uh-MAZING! It’s time to embrace a new intellectual awareness of who you are and what roles you want to take on in your community. Calmly think through any complicated emotional problems that may arise from choosing your place and identity. There are support groups, like-minded people, and therapists to help you sort things if you can’t on your own. I see you in all your perfection!
November 1, 2021: Card O' the Day: The Lovers, reversed. So it looks like we’re back to the thread regarding sour relationships and emotional turmoil we were experiencing before the break for Hallowe’en….
When reversed, The Lovers card indicates romantic or sexual problems that dominate life. You could be be entangled in an inharmonious, challenging, or unhealthy relationship where there’s disagreement, mistrust, deception, quarrels, temptation, infidelity, incompatibility, or struggle for power. Communication is a key component of this card and the reversal indicates communication problems or not knowing how to approach someone with whom you really need to talk.
A non-romantic union or merger (work, roommates, etc.) can be just as energy sucking and distracting when it’s not going well. This card may indicate a situation that suppresses your individuality or creates a need for personal space that’s not available or granted. I’ll ask you to recall the card we got on the 30th…the Eight of Cups…and its message about leaving….
October 31, 2021: Card O' the Day: Queen of Wands. On this day of increased magic and the thinnest veil of the year between what we see and can’t, the most powerful queen of all has come to center stage—which is where she likes it! The Queen of Wands has depth, reserve, and patience juxtaposed with vigorous, unpredictable, and spontaneous action. Unwilling to censor herself or conform to societal norms, she intimidates others intentionally to make them do what she wants…because, well, she can. As a magician who contains and disperses energy, she consistently and directly generates whatever she chooses when she sets her mind to it.
This queen represents prophetic and intuitive creation and motivates others to reach their fullest potential by relying upon, and trusting, your own judgment and power. We’re reminded to stir passions and assert our enterprising spirits to inspire whatever we do and to master personal boldness, courage, and power. Receiving this card is an indication of leadership ability, independence, self-possession, practicality, and fierce determination to make decisions, get your own way, or pursue your interests.
It’s my best guess that most of the “witches” burned at the stake in days of yore were Queens of Wands. Can you imagine such power encased in a female body being tolerated? I’d say not…. Happy Hallowe’en everybody!
October 30, 2021: Card O' the Day: Eight of Cups. The Eight of Cups is here to tell you it’s time to take a walk. Either just to cool off or more permanently. Based upon the gnarliness of the reversed Three of Cups followed by the Five of Swords, I’m thinking it should be a permanent walk. Who needs that kind of snark from their “friends”?
To be clear, this leave-taking isn’t flouncing off in a huff; you’ve come to understand you need something deeper and which aligns with your higher purpose. Self-examination and careful consideration have brought up the question of why you allow yourself to continue putting up with emotionally draining and/or abusive situations. You’re at the point of being so tired of trying to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear and you’re ready to hang it up. There’s no reason that you can see to keep the connection.
When you swan off into the sunset, BE SURE not to carry any negative crap with you. That will require letting bygones be bygones. But trust me, that’s a lot easier than schlepping this garbage on your back for all of eternity.
October 29, 2021: Card O' the Day: Five of Swords. And here we see why the Three of Cups was reversed yesterday and relationships are souring….
This card can represent psychic attack or negative mental energy from outside sources in your home, workplace, or community. While someone may think they’re acting with a sense of righteousness, they’re actually approaching the volatile situation with with cruelty, abuse, or malicious gossip. This nonproductive influence can leave you feeling blamed, used, put down, or disgraced. So, look carefully at these conflicts because you might come up on the losing side thanks to manipulation, bullying, or underhanded tactics.
If you seems to be “winning” despite all, look beyond the immediate success because this victory may end up costing you more than it’s worth. Current advantages may have come from crushing adversaries mercilessly in the same manner they tried to crush you. As promises or contracts are broken, emotions clash and those who used to be closest to you fall away as the war grinds on at a higher cost than you’d like. One would do well to remember that what is done to others, ultimately is done to oneself…
October 28, 2021: Card O' the Day: Three of Cups, reversed. What was once plentiful and alive becomes barren and dies as you come to outgrow certain companions or friends. It seems you have nothing in common with them anymore or values and ideals have changed and now clash uncomfortably, which makes it hard to socialize.
It’s sad that these friendships seem to be dying and the old activities together can’t happen but it’s time to face some facts and the truth about how the relationships have evolved. While this separation is happening, it’s important to maintain emotional control and further examine the circumstances before moving on completely to prevent further loss of happiness or waste of anything salvageable.
October 27, 2021: Card O' the Day: Nine of Wands, reversed. Are we still in Mercury retrograde? If not, it’ll certainly feel like it after you hit snag after delay after setback.
Whatever project or goal you’re working on right now doesn’t have enough substance behind it to make it really work. Probably insufficient or impractical planning went into it and this fly-by-night, give-it-a-whack leap of faith just isn’t going to cut it. You need a solid outline and realistic expectations to get where you want to go.
I’m saying you need a new or alternative approach to your “thing”, NOT tanking it all. First, cleanse, prune, and purge the wasteful parts—especially your anger and frustration over the complications. Re-evaluate everything. You’ve got time because progress will be slow but in the end you can expect a good outcome.
October 21, 2021: Card O' the Day: Ten of Wands. Looks like the concept of the reversed Nine of Pentacles from yesterday is getting further validation from the Ten of Wands today. This card is pointing to a single, brilliant idea that’s proliferated to the point of overwhelming you and becoming oppressive. Whether the stress is self-imposed or comes from your boss, creativity and enthusiasm for what you’re doing dies under the duty and weight of it all.
The result of the constant grind is that you eventually come to resent the wonderful thing you’ve built or are building and burn out. If you do keep going, you’re too busy or tired to celebrate, appreciate, and enjoy your success. It’s time to simplify, hire minions, or ask for help before you blow up or collapse.
October 20, 2021: Card O' the Day: Nine of Pentacles, reversed. This card signifies the problems we face on the material plane. We like nice stuff. We work hard to have it. But when is it “enough”? When do you have enough so you feel comfortable taking time off to enjoy it? Are you sure you know what you want and how much? Some of you are in danger of pursuing the “good life” to your detriment. If you feel it’s forever out of reach, you can’t be happy until you achieve X, Y, or Z, or you’re afraid to relax for one second, then you’re in denial of your current wellbeing and good fortunes.
Your soul NEEDS to take a vacation and be free to roam! Even if you only set up a tent in your backyard and turn off your phone for 24 hours, that’s a vacation from the gerbil wheel of accumulation and “more.” Continued work towards expansion threatens to overwhelm what you already have and trap you ever deeper in the urge to “have.”
October 18, 2021: Card O' the Day: Seven of Cups, reversed. It looks like some of you got the memo with the reversed Ace yesterday and have yanked on your Big Kid pants. With intention and determination, you’re ready to doing something about your dreams and fantasies rather than just letting them pass through your brain.
This card stresses clear thinking and logic to find solutions to problems. Those solutions may not be the most elegant or cost effective, but it’s better than just drifting along and getting nothing done. Sometimes we have to resolutely drag ourselves forward by the scruff of the neck and consciously focus on a goal. Kind of like cleaning the bathroom…you don’t want to but it needs to be done.
This kind of deliberate energy bodes well for achieving goals. Forward ho!
October 16, 2021: Card O' the Day: Ace of Cups, reversed. This card is the most powerful of the emotions cards and when reversed, it indicates a few problems in your emotional realm. More than likely, unhappiness has been brought about by not recognizing what life offers. Because of that pessimistic or doubtful mood, you might reject a friendly overture or emotional gift, turn down an opportunity, or completely distance yourself from a situation to avoid disruptive influences. Whether you want more than you have or don’t trust what you have, the effect is the same: you’re unsatisfied and not happy.
On the other hand, you may be getting all kinds of “I should be happy” signals from your gut or Universe and yet you deny them. Instead of welcoming emotional, psychic, mystical, intuitive, or dream-time experiences, you set psycho-emotional limits or boundaries because you don’t or won’t believe in them.
There’s an old adage that one shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth. (You can tell the age of a horse by its teeth, so assessing the value of a horse is often based on its age.) Meaning, when you receive a gift, no matter how small, you need to allow yourself to feel gratitude and happiness for it. Because that emotional boost is the true gift. Therefore, decide to be happy with what Universe is giving you.
October 15, 2021: Card O' the Day: Six of Pentacles. For those of us who are NOT the reversed Prince of Cups, the Six of Pentacles represents a place of abundance where you can enjoy your money and spend a little on yourself for pleasure. There’s balance between your resources, social connections, and responsibilities and you can be happy and relaxed for a moment.
In this time of material balance where physical energy flows smoothly, you’re in a position where you can be generous not only with your time and love for others, but with your money, too. Now would be a good time to send a check to your favorite charity or a roll of laundry quarters to a friend living on the edge.
Continued practical application of all your resources will keep you in physical and economic stability while you work for even more abundance (and not just money). What I mean by this is the rent and the light bill will be paid while you take care of a relative, volunteer at a shelter, or campaign for better societal rules and laws.
October 14, 2021: Card O' the Day: Prince of Cups, reversed. The reversed Prince of Cups is constantly moving with, and adapting to, any situation in a pliant, liquid way. He* tends to exhibit the attributes of an overly sensitive “artiste” who chases illusions, wears his heart on his sleeve, hides his affections, and suffers unrequited love. However, fawning and obsequious, in love with love, he’s narcissistically in love with only himself. This personality type is being (or has been) overtaken by poetic fancies, moodiness, tears, nostalgia, and is submerged in an undersea realm of psychic significances and watery connections and is beset by dreams and fantasy. That’s why you can’t pin him down on any of his opinions or feelings because he’s so apparently passive yet hates to be pushed towards commitments or actions.
Where does all this come from? Emotional insecurity and immaturity. Great conflict lies between his inner fascination, outer attractions, and real-world responsibilities. This guy is living in la-la land and expects everyone around him to take care of things while he “finds himself.”
Good luck in dealing with such a person. (You’ll notice I don’t suggest anyone should search their souls for similar behavior because the reversed Prince doesn’t think there’s anything wrong with himself.) *The Tarot’s court cards are genderless. I used the masculine pronouns merely to stay consistent in my writing.
October 12, 2021: Card O' the Day: Four of Swords, reversed. The Four of Swords is generally a card of contemplation and rest. Reversed, this recent period of thoughtful peace and tranquility comes to an end as concerns are resolved and you awaken from a literal or metaphorical sleep with more clarity or a different perspective. Health wise, you may have been sick and needed to rest.
After recovering, you can come out of your shell and reenter the world to start to feel like your old self and regain your confidence. As you do, you may have to recover from business losses, lay-offs, or personal difficulties that had occured. Through prudent care, wise administration, and economies, carefully resume activities with circumspection and precaution.
Tread softly and look for clues regarding potential stumbling blocks that may set you back. Ideally, one does not want to do “that” again…that which had put you down in the first place.
October 11, 2021: Card O' the Day: The Moon. Alone time continues with The Moon as it signifies a time of passivity rather than action, turning away from outer concerns to become more introspective and reflective, and a period of withdrawal. Because this card heralds the uncertain time between the end of one world structure and the beginning of another, you may experience confusion, anxiety, bewilderment, elusiveness, and fluctuation as the seeds for your next actions are sown. Right now, though, there’s nothing to do but wait, allow natural gestation to occur, follow your gut, and hope for the best.
While you’re waiting, don’t resist instinctual forces that allow the animal Self to take over. Ego is set aside, shame is left behind, and you don’t give a damn what the neighbors say! In this state of completely releasing self-regulation, you can embrace the Higher Shadow Self and all the remaining mysteries about yourself still locked away. (But do keep it legal folks!)
Going this deeply into your Shadow Self may be difficult psycho-emotionally and you might be swamped by highly charged emotions and insecurity. This is the ultimate test of reclaiming the True Self: to be able to walk through all aspects of life of which you’re afraid, ashamed, and embarrassed about; don’t know how to deal with; fears that can’t be shown to the world; or your deepest emotional patterns, needs, and rootedness in the past. If you need help, ask for it.
October 10, 2021: Card O' the Day: Two of Cups, reversed. As the big “love” card of the Tarot deck, when reversed, it represents the harsher aspects of love or the breakdown of ideals present when upright. Now, I’m not necessarily feeling the “romantic” or sexual love generally associated with this card, such as the emotionally immature, commitment-phobic, and/or infantile or sophomoric fantasies of love one finds in the average bodice-ripper romance novel. I’m feeling like we need to have a talk about love for ourselves and/or our fellow humans.
When you tend to reject any connections by self-isolation, acting alone, or cutting off all cooperation with others, it can mean you’ve given up on the “love” I mentioned above. You’ve probably experienced conflicting messages and emotional misunderstandings due to breakdowns in communication…with yourself and your prospective partners. But in order to have effective communication, with ANYone, you need to speak up about your wants and needs. And then LISTEN to the other person’s wants and needs and see if you can meet in the middle.
So, take some “alone time” to think about how you feel about yourself. Does your self-esteem and willingness to relate to others hinge upon how you’re treated by them? Are you the type to say nothing lest you rock the boat and then quietly seethe about it? NOBODY can read your mind and NOBODY can “make” you happy. Decide to be happy and open your throat chakra for effective communication.
October 8, 2021: Card O' the Day: Ace of Pentacles. The suit of Pentacles represents material energy in all its potential forms: the body, resources, the position one holds in the world, territory, etc. It also orients one in relationships with incarnation, family life, the home, money, and health and directs all existential questions to the concrete aspects of life. It’s also symbolic of the spiritualization of the Earth element; in its completeness and solid reality, it bears its own magic. Pentacles are an active principle operating upon all tangible aspects of existence that bring happiness and triumph. Such things hold heart and are not just material trappings.
The Ace of Pentacles represents physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional balance leading to bliss, wellbeing, and absolute wholeness of Self. With patience, diligence, and attention, this inner flowering and fullness affords the possibility of unlimited movement in any direction making it possible to go beyond and fulfill the prophesy of magic. One has become unified and is willing to bring all of Self onto the physical plane to have a complete and genuine experience as a human.
Consider the reception of this card a signal one has entered into a spiritual spring time bringing a shift in consciousness, new wisdom and knowledge, and joyful life.
October 7, 2021: Card O' the Day: Four of Pentacles. Recently, a very beloved cat of mine transitioned to the great beyond. When I drew this card, a card symbolic of the life of the body, I knew exactly the message it’s sending. This time the Four of Pentacles has absolutely nothing to do with hoarding wealth but rather it’s about turning your emotional energy inward. Some seek solace from others in times of grief and loss; I do not. Instead, I exclude others through a need for personal security and block myself from everyone. If I must be out in public, I put on a facade and reassure those who ask I’m fiiiiiiiine.
But you know what, selfishness is sometimes necessary and for me it’s vital right now. No one’s grief is expressed the same. There’s no timeline for it or a “correct” way to do it. Therefore, you do you to the best of your ability today.
The stone associated with this card is blue tourmaline. It’s said to offer a message of peace, balance the spirit and mind, teach one to achieve harmony with one’s circumstances, and promote inner perspective to easily understand nature and destiny.
Rest well my little flea.
October 3, 2021: Card O' the Day: Six of Swords, reversed. This card indicates some may be attempting to release past problems and begin again, but are struggling with the resulting new perspectives and would rather just stay put in the “known.” This desire to cling to the same old, same old stems from a lack of self-confidence that you really can do something different.
Now, attacking a long-standing problem that’s been accepted as the norm is going to cause some agitation. Others don’t want to change any more than you do, so expect some push-back as you set new boundaries, learn the value of the word “no”, and take a new path for yourself.
Stand strong and refuse to give into the negative thoughts thrown at you and coming from inside your own head. There’s a deep need to address and handle turbulent situations rather than let them ride. While you’re at it, evaluate your intentions surrounding the need to hang onto old stuff that no longer serves.
October 1, 2021: Card O' the Day: Five of Wands. Okay, the standard interpretation of this card is fighting and quarreling and not-so-friendly competition. It’s true the number five can indicate volatility and coupled with the Fire energy of Wands things might get explosive. HOWEVER, I’m not gettin’ that today.
What I’m feeling is a time of personal empowerment, determination, commitment, and personal reorganization. You’re finally ready to break the status quo and evolve with the new energy coursing through your veins. This might feel rather “zippy” and make it hard for you to harness it for solid use. Muster the concentration and courage necessary to be decisive, clever, and forceful with yourself and others who might get in your way.
The creature associated with this card is the ant. It’s representative of discipline, order, and goals. Think like an ant and move that freakin’ rubber tree plant already. Also, the stone for this card, kunzite, is said to help one achieve a healthy degree of assertiveness that allows one to stop avoiding problems, assists in pursuing objectives with diplomacy and endurance, and grants resolution and the necessary capability to finish tasks. (I’m gettin’ me some o’ that as soon as I can because I STILL haven’t cleaned my bathroom!)
September 30, 2021: Card O' the Day: Nine of Cups. We just had the Nine of Cups on the 27th, but it was reversed. Upright, it brings us a brighter message. (Not that its reversed message was not helpful; it was just a bit more of an ass-kicker.)
Nines are about coming to completions and being a Cup, this Nine is signaling the end of an emotional cycle encouraging you to let go of what’s already been lived. The resulting good decision making brings hope and improvement to your circumstances as you develop the ability to imagine and visualize what you want so you can go forward and make it happen.
Furthermore, releasing old crap helps you cultivate inner harmony with “me, myself, and I” and come to understand the secret to emotional happiness: Taking full responsibility for and control of your own happiness! Nobody else can fulfill all your needs. Once you get that concept nailed down, expect personal satisfaction and positive expansive feelings as you ably and confidently surmount all difficulties. BOO-ya.
September 28, 2021: Card O' the Day: Seven of Swords. Under the Seven of Swords one struggles with clouded and distorted thought patterns and emotional insecurity that’s driving self-destructive actions. Such insecurity fuels futile struggles to cleverly fake one’s way through life to appear independent and strong when actually life is falling ever deeper into disorder and instability.
There’s a very great need to forgive yourself for past failures so you can heal from guilt, shame, and self-recrimination. However, the greatest obstacle to that forgiveness is your stubbornness at admit having made a mistake and allowed things to get as bad as they have.
This card does speak of new plans, but you’re going to try to implement them on your own. More power to you if you can, but it’ll be a whole lot easier if you get help at this point instead of tackling this crisis all by yourself.
September 27, 2021: Card O' the Day: Nine of Cups, reversed. The force of the King is lifting the carpet and exposing all you’ve swept under it to force you to really look at all you’ve been hiding from yourself and others. This is done with love, sincerity, honesty, and the good faith of outside energies that show you the error of your ways.
While this exposure might be embarrassing at first, it will provide you with a feeling of liberation as you’re released from superficial attachments and the need to keep up the facade, lies, and hiding. With that new space, you’ll have the time and energy to work on your inner peace and happiness and become more aware of the truth about you and why you got distracted from your Highest Path. And armed with that truth, you can then go deeper into your Spiritual Self and find greater meaning.
September 26, 2021: Card O' the Day: King of Pentacles. The King of Pentacles is supporting, loyal, dependable, and trustworthy with everything you ask him to do or help you to do. However, he’ll also be demanding and ruthless as he sinks his teeth into a project. His ambition, power, social responsibility, and integrity makes him strong, uncompromising, and impatient to get things done. It’s no wonder the animal associated with this card is the bull!
The King’s greatest talents lie in organization and control of physical matter. Closeness to nature and total comfort with the physical world allows him (and you when you channel him) to be a minimalist when it comes to possessions with usefulness, the value of all things in their place, and nothing wasted. A tireless worker himself who places an emphasis on quality and reliability, the Earth King rewards the loyalty of those who work equally hard for him. If you’re not yet the boss, trust the leadership capabilities at hand because they’re strong and solid. Allow this card to be a catalyst for your own evolving material self-confidence and mastery of the sensation function that brings satisfaction to life.
The King, coupled with yesterday’s Ace of Wands, may be a little to hot to handle for some of you. This card’s stone stepped forward to help mitigate all this force. Amber is said to fortify inner vision, increase mental wellbeing, absorb negative energy, and bring strength and wisdom as you move forward with your endeavors.
September 25, 2021: Card O' the Day: Ace of Wands. Receiving this Ace in a reading indicates it’s time to try new things and change your responses to the world. New opportunities or potential await but expect action and confrontation that can be exhilarating or devastating.This raw, transforming, irreversible, and powerful energy is not for the fainthearted but it needs firm and concrete guidance.
Representative of the birth or seed of an idea or project, this card is perfect for encouraging beginnings since the environment is stable yet flexible and fluid. As you become grounded and centered, you have the opportunity to harness and express your will. But be super careful not to let your ego get carried away and hubris take over.
The Ace of Wands can also signify the quality of taking responsibility for an idea and putting it into practice with optimism and passion. The appearance of this card signifies an aptitude for leadership and the courage to overcome any difficulties.
September 24, 2021: Card O' the Day: The Moon, reversed. Upright, The Moon is significant of all things intuitive and of common sense; reversed, it indicates one is denying the possibility of trusting your own gut as to what seems reasonable.
When faced with this confusion and perceived irrationality, one would rather cling to literalness or what another tells you so you don’t have to think for yourself. You may go so far as to block or resist all your intuitive impressions and questions and just hide from what’s challenging. The irrational worry of conspiracies or illegal acts may increase your delusional behavior as your imagination runs amok.
On the other hand, you could be feeling psychologically drained and exhausted as you encounters facades, delusions, manipulation, suspicion, illusion, and impractical ideas. Therefore, get the real facts and use your own noodle to make your important decisions.
September 23, 2021: Card O' the Day: Justice, reversed. Something stable, ordered, or normally unvarying has been disturbed or disrupted and you find yourself having to adjust to imbalances in life and relationships. But at the same time, you don’t wanna and are resistant to change or adjustment because of fear of mishandling the situation.
If the imbalance is not external, I must assume it’s internal and you’re struggling with a divided self and suffering the inner discord of intellect v. instincts. You may be mired in indecision and inaction because of over-reliance on rationality or facts, or ignoring said facts altogether. Furthermore, formerly held values, old rules of thumb, and social expectations are suddenly not reliable, and you find yourself responding with few clues that come through cloudy perceptions and uncertainty. And when you try to justify your actions to others, you’re reacting emotionally and not using your common sense or logic.
All this displays an unwillingness to see the meaning of events, dishonesty with oneself and others, and missing an opportunity for a greater understanding of life and Cosmic Lessons. I suggest consulting an expert about your problem to get the truth about the situation and valid answers—and not your cousin’s boyfriend’s hairstylist.
September 22, 2021: Card O' the Day: Six of Wands. The Six of Wands signifies victory and recognition of your achievements. With such a wave of dynamic energy under your feet, you’ll feel ready to step forward and take on the role of leader as you overcome all difficulties.
HOWEVER (and this is a very big fat hairy “however”), we ain’t talkin’ about becoming CEO of a Fortune 500 company. This is INTERNAL triumph that comes from a true faith and belief in yourself that brings about the energy to accomplish what you want. This is about being happy in your own skin and loving what you do. And when others see you being so successful and full of joy over being you, they’ll follow your example of finding triumph in where and who they are, too.
The caveat to this card? Competitiveness. Be cautious about becoming “holier than thou.” You’re not trying to “out happiness” everyone else because then it just becomes another race to keep up with others. This internal happiness stuff is a one lane road with only you on it.
September 21: Card O' the Day: Seven of Swords. This card represents new plans, roads, or projects as you aim to take action against current problems. However, there’s an element of sneakiness surrounding these new avenues. Ethics are shaky and such underhanded schemes won’t really solve your issues…they’ll only delay the inevitable and things will stay out of balance until an alternate, more truthful route is discovered. Anything you DO manage to achieve under such a cloud won’t be to your best interests and will eventually turn to dust.
(That said, there ARE occasions where we have to tell a white-washed version of the truth. But be absolutely CERTAIN your reasons for skirting the truth are ethically sound and relieve more pain than they cause.)
With all the shadiness inherent in this card, you may be hesitant to ask for help and prefer to act alone. But when alone, we tend to beat ourselves up over past failures much more brutally than if we shared our burdens. Forgive yourself for having erred (we have ALL f*cked up!) so you can heal from the guilt and self-incrimination.
September 15, 2021: Card O' the Day: Four of Pentacles. Most often the Four of Pentacles is interpreted as indicating miserliness and obsession with material possessions. This is only one facet of the card and I’m not feeling that today.
The animal that represents this card is the turtle (ahem…) and they symbolize security, abundance, defense, and protection. More broadly, the card itself signifies safety and physical health and the respect and appreciation we have for the bounty within our souls. It’s about understanding selfishness is sometimes necessary to maintain healthy personal boundaries as you recognize the difference between your inner values and outer possessions.
The Four also represents making a sound decision with the intention to follow through (recall the Two of Swords a couple days ago). Therefore, while you’re minding your own business and being a bit more thrifty with your resources, consider it not so much hoarding but more like gathering strength. This is the mind’s way of giving you structure and meaning to the chaos of the material world.
September 14, 2021: Card O' the Day: Prince/Knight of Swords, reversed. The conundrum announced by the Two of Swords has the good Prince’s under armor all in a twist.
His normally sharp intellect slides into the fanatical or ridiculous when reversed and his solutions become imprudent and useless. Furthermore, he’s too stupid right now to understand he’s being stupid and will argue theories that are impractical, irrelevant, or irrational. At worst, those under the influence of this card tend to carelessly and recklessly charge ahead without listening to advice in a wild response to a situation that calls for a quieter, more careful approach.
The reversal may also indicate you’re feeling battle-worn or wounded by sharp words from another or from inside your own head. Out of fear, doubt, or caution you may want to fall back or hastily retreat rather than advance forward with an endeavor. And that might be a good idea as you try to overcome impulsiveness and fear to become more thoughtful, careful, and less hurried as you wait for opposition to move out of the way.
September 13, 2021: Card O' the Day: Two of Swords. Some of you may be suffering conflict that lies between the desire to follow your intuition and the tendency to yield to what others say or do. This leaves you in with a tenuous equilibrium with your outer and inner struggles. Your journey to finding peace between this rock and a hard place begins when you step out of judgment to see similarities rather than differences.
The Two of Swords comes to a reading when you’re feeling conflicted, are at crossed purposes, or are being forced to hold two contradictory ideas or characteristics as true and valid at the same time. This may manifest as a personal dilemma or you fear someone unduly influencing your choice…to the point you feel like you’re being told what to do.
Because you’re feeling unable to take action or make a decision about the situation, you deliberately avoid the problem through procrastination, ambivalence, and a reluctance to commit to one choice or the other. Being stuck between two equally unappealing options plops you square on the fence out of fear of upsetting the fragile balance you’re so desperate to maintain. While a temporary, uneasy peace can be maintained for now, to truly resolve the issue the status quo must be broken before energy can move forward again.
September 10, 2021: Card O' the Day: Prince/Knight of Wands, reversed. Obviously The Princess of Cups is being out-voted with all her “live, love, laugh” bullsh*t….
The already volatile energies of the upright card become completely unstable when reversed causing one to be foolhardy, arrogant, fickle, impulsive, and indiscriminately scorch everything in sight. Your (or somebody’s with whom you have close contact) impatience, recklessness, and thoughtlessness bring discord, division, disharmony, and disunity to any situation. In such a state of turmoil, desire seethes and simmers beneath the surface without focus or outlet and surfaces randomly and unpredictably as a frustrated and short-fused temper. This card also indicates one is behaving in the manner of, or must deal with someone that is, a haphazard dabbler, self-serving thrill seeker, showoff, or a rowdy and contentious bully. Passions for people or projects may be faked or flash-in-the-pan, which portends badly for any commitments.
I suggest you take a “sick day” to remove yourself from the culprit or save others from you.
September 9, 2021: Card O' the Day: Princess (Page) of Cups. The Water Princess is indicative of youthful energy and being emotionally vulnerable. Her appearance is a reminder to let life flow as we enter into a phase of learning to accept and incorporate feelings into reactions, contemplate things with a tender heart, trust, and serve with love. Act lovingly by supporting and nurturing others with caring concern and a willingness to be involved in their lives.
Some may be unwilling to be open to such feelings for fear of being hurt. But this suffering stems from the illusion of separateness and if we can understand it’s a misconception, we can realize we’re not isolated beings in an uncaring world. This card signifies the dawn of a new understanding the cage around our hearts has always been open. We’re being invited to spread our wings, walk through the open door, and be free to experience light-heartedness, love, and those adventures of imagination and fascination being offered.
September 7, 2021: Card O' the Day: The Chariot, reversed. The Chariot contains high and directed energy. Once it’s reversed, that energy becomes scattered, surges out of control, or restricted. Sometimes conflicts and problems will arise due to opposing ideas and aims, counterproductive efforts, or insufficient expertise or experience. All this means you can be easily deflected from the course resulting in incomplete work and loss at the last moment. In the end, nothing is working as originally planned and expected and life seems uphill with an obstacle at every turn.
What to do? Firstly, you need to come to understand the “will power” approach is not, and will not, be successful. You’ve got to find another way to solve the problems rather than simply try to overpower them. (There are elements of ego contained in this card…when reversed, it means healthy self-assurance becomes blatant hubris. Just sayin’.)
Most literally, you might experience car trouble, problems on the road, or with travel arrangements. Therefore, maybe it’s time to get your car in the shop for a quick check before something goes wrong during rush-hour traffic. Also, triple check your packing lists (what, you DON’T make a list when you pack for a trip!?!?) and get to the airport three to four hours early for your flight.
September 6, 2021: Card O' the Day: The Moon. This is a good card to anchor the past few days’ cards. Maybe I’m projecting my own current energy pattern or the cards have been for me as much as everyone else. I’ve been pretty pissy, cranky, and useless for the last day and a half. But last night, before I went to bed, I gave myself a shake and worked on getting my ‘tude straight. Today SHALL be productive!
The Moon is speaking to feelings of weak will and inconstancy that lead to unrealized plans. However, it’s ruled by Pisces, the sign of compassion. With compassion, we allow ourselves to step out of illusion and into the true meaning of our inner magic, which may contain some pissiness and periods of uselessness! Giving yourself permission to be less than perfect every single day gives you room for change, growth, evolution, and development that leads to the peak of fulfillment and achievement or a valley of slothful inertia.
The herb associated with The Moon is lemon balm. It’s said to be calming and relaxing and it counteracts moodiness, broodiness, and melancholy. (Guess who’s going to be drinking lemon balm tea all day?) The body aspect of this card is the large/small intestines. Our literal guts represent the energy and determination it takes to do something extraordinary. But along with everything else in life, our energy and determination waxes and wanes just like the moon. Depending upon your own “moon cycle”, you might be up and running today or you still need another moment of quiet. Either way, Universe recognizes your needs; you should, too.
September 4, 2021: Card O' the Day: King of Wands, reversed. The reversed King is reiterating the message from the reversed Ace of Wands from a couple days ago regarding abuses of power, except the King is the one abusing his power by having an ego-driven snit fit. Difficulty accepting and adjusting to obstacles, defeats, or losses has him wanting to save face and hide his weaknesses through finger-pointing and arguing with obvious facts. He becomes resentful when called to account and asked to take responsibility for his mistakes.
Now that we know what NOT to do…. Recognize any lack of expertise and knowledge and gracefully relinquish control of a situation. Your effective impact has been blocked, disturbed, or re-channeled and continuing under those conditions is pointless as insignificant matters can become magnified or errors in judgment come to light that weaken your position even further. Delegate the problem to another to fix but pay attention to the process so you don’t make the same mistake again.
This may seem like quitting and slinking away with your tail tucked. But a wise leader knows they cannot be experts at everything and so they find the best in the business to handle things they can’t
September 2, 2021: Card O' the Day: Two of Pentacles, reversed. Upright, this card represents the intricacies and balancing act life requires and heralds coming changes on your material plane. But when reversed, attempts at balance become a treacherous, plate-spinning hamster wheel and the changes seem disharmonious. Therefore, consider how to lighten your load and live within your resources of time, money, and energy.
While you may think you’ve shifted perspective and are on board with your new reality, it’s not yet evident externally and inflexibility and challenge to structure still remains. And because you’re really not happy about this, others can too easily sway you to procrastinate on projects and decisions you need to address sooner rather than later.
This sounds like a lot to do, and it is, but if you pick one thing and do that before attempting anything else, the small accomplishments will give you energy and momentum for handling the bigger things. So, cancel that subscription you don’t really use, don’t volunteer your time to someone else, and be a little more thrifty with your psycho-emotional energy while you get your own ducks in a row.
September 1, 2021: Card O' the Day: Ten of Swords. Another 10 (recall we had the reversed Ten of Cups the other day). Tens are indicative of endings/beginnings. The 10s bookended a reversed Ace, which also represented a beginning, but an awkward one. The Cups signified an emotional struggle, the reversed Wands an energetic one, and now the Swords take us to our thought processes. However, I don’t feel this card is standing alone but is an addition to the previous two day’s cards.
The Ten of Swords offers you a chance to evolve into something new mentally/rationally and heralds a time of growth and change. If you allow it, clear vision and productive ideas will carry you forward to healing. But there’s a strong undercurrent of denial and resistance to harsh truth that you’ll have to fight and overcome. It’s absolutely necessary to let go of what has finished, ended, died, or was destroyed. Allow the extreme situation to wipe the slate clean.
August 31, 2021: Card O' the Day: Ace of Wands, reversed. Even when reversed, the Ace indicates new beginnings are afoot and you may feel ready, desiring, and yearning for change. However, the right opportunity has yet to come, a situation may be premature, or you’re not energized or prepared enough to move forward. This translates into setbacks or delays as the means of realizing goals or energies signified by the upright version are blocked.
The reversed Ace also speaks of personal authority that has turned sour. This means you may be abusing your power or being subjected to someone else—boss, spouse, friend, relative—abusing their power over you.
In either case, feeling glum and shat upon is a real danger as you’re prevented from seeing what’s still working well. You’ll need to readjust your attitude regarding the governing energies and turn this card right side up again in order to move forward with a lighter step and stronger heart. Remember, some circumstances are beyond your control, but your reaction to them is ALWAYS your own.
August 30, 2021: Card O' the Day: Ten of Cups, reversed. Just a mere 20 days ago we had the Ten of Cups come to us. Today, it’s returned, but reversed. The reversal of this wonderfully auspicious card indicates peace has been disrupted within your family or tribe. Also, you may be having difficulty recognizing and appreciating the abundance and blessings in your life or the marvelousness of your True Self.
I realize just as things started to look up, there’ve been major setbacks. War, hurricanes, famine, disease…they all seem to be piling on at once. However, we MUST count our advantages and concentrate on what we DO have rather lament what is not there or lost. (Easier said than done, I know, but try.)
The only way forward is with the strength Universe provides and your perseverance. Face the hard times and keep plowing forward.
August 18, 2021: Card O' the Day: Eight of Cups, reversed. This card is also about leaving a situation…but because it’s of Cups, it focuses on the heart and an emotional situation such as a relationship or something about which you’re passionate. When the card is reversed, though, you’re tempted to stay because of comfort, familiarity, or sheer inertia even though you know you’ve gotten everything out of this that you can.
But you really do need to go for the sake of self-preservation and to end the perpetual dissatisfaction. Either the love you think is present actually isn’t, you’re giving waaaaaay more than you’re receiving, or the love is confining and stifling.
Follow your creative impulses with optimism and move on.
August 17, 2021: Card O' the Day: Six of Swords. A shoutout to my pal CMP in Chicagoland….
The Six of Swords is about acceptance of limits and recognizing the stagnation of a current situation. There’s wisdom in giving up because you’ve realized you can’t stay without suffering. To be honest, you’ve already got one foot out the door anyway and have come to realize the bonds that held you are broken.
The transition and changes necessary will be painful but you’re encouraged to face everything with focus, calm, and optimism as you move towards new ideas and solutions without knowledge of the outcome. By being receptive to new impressions and accepting of what’s happened and what may soon be, you’ll gain needed perspective and find healing as you rediscover parts of yourself which’ve been quiet too long.
There’s heavy emphasis on journeys or travel over water with this card.
August 12, 2021: Card O' the Day: Two of Pentacles. The Two of Pentacles is linked to The Magician and Strength through the infinity symbol depicted on each. So, even though this card is of the very practical and earthy Pentacles, there’s magic here!
Adaptability and resourcefulness go with you to a doorway to something new; have the courage to walk through to the unknown and a bright future. Remain focused on the process and enjoy the journey rather than worry about the final end result. To do this, you’ll need to forge a relationship between commerce and creativity—i.e. the daily grind and the true purpose of life. If synchronizing the whole mess feels precarious, full of obstacles, and worry, it could what you think needs to be balanced may be only an emotion-based reaction.
The Two suggests that a sense of optimism, grounded playfulness, and a deep trust in life is a better approach than adhering to a rigid schedule. Live in the moment and be present to it without ambition for it to be more than it is. Find appropriate balance in all of life, seek the hidden magic in ordinary pleasures, and remember to celebrate simple joys along the way.
August 11, 2021: Card O' the Day: The Fool, reversed. The normally bright-eyed and bushy-tailed Fool becomes overly-cautious when he’s reversed. This card may represent not taking a chance at a critical time because of fear or dependence upon plans or the advice of others. Maybe you’re hesitating to take any risks at all for fear of looking foolish, making a mistake, or excessive concern of doing something stupid and suffering embarrassment. If you’re not afraid of making mistakes, perhaps you’re hidebound by conventional and safe approaches, accept limits as absolutes, are too careful, and do anything to avoid the possibility of a misstep.
All this hesitation means you don’t trust…yourself, others who’ve promised to help, or the process you’ve devised. None of us can do EVERYthing all by ourselves. I mean, if you’ve got a craving for an orange, unless you’ve got a tree in your backyard, you need to trust the growers, shippers, and stores to have them available for you to buy. It’s the same with any other item you want that you can’t make yourself or any creative process that requires the input of others.
If you find yourself approaching your life timidly and with 1,000 safeguards in place, this restriction or denial of your innate free-spiritedness could lead to regrets. Remember, you have to break eggs to make an omelet. Don’t be afraid to make messes, screw things up, and start over again.
August 10, 2021: Card O' the day: Ten of Cups. This is a card of potential: lasting happiness and joy lifting your heart if you choose it. It’s inspired from above, through Divine Universe, and from within, through Divine Self. This kind of happiness has nothing to do with your material world…your job, house, friends, possessions, bank accounts.
This kind of happiness and joy cannot be taken from you due to unfortunate circumstances, break-ups, or losses. Yes, you can be shaken and your happiness can take hits and bruises. But this is a state of mind and being wherein you decide your level of happiness and if you can be determined enough, nothing will break your happiness.
Hang tough and fight for your joy.
August 9, 2021: Card O' the Day: Ace of Swords, reversed. When Swords are reversed, it indicates mental balance is under stress and that stress may manifest in difficulty in thinking clearly. You may be resisting a hard truth, caught up in fanaticism or illusion, or suffering confused ideas. Without a clear sense of reality, you may then make mistakes created by your emotions.
The suit of Swords is governed by the heart chakra. As in, those mean or muddled thoughts running through your mind can easily break your heart or make you seriously moody. While everything appears more important that it actually is, current problems could lie in how you’re reacting to them more than anything else. You’d do well with a little cold objectivity about the situation so you can see it for what it truly is and then make choices based on facts and not your runaway emotions.
August 6, 2021: Card O' the Day: Six of Pentacles, reversed.Energy flow is still blocked, but more specifically it’s on the physical plane. The feelings of being unheard continue with the additional perceptions of being shortchanged, denied, neglected, and overlooked. A disparity of power drives these feelings and increases your insecurity that you’re not “enough.” And the cherry on top of all that is jealousy.
But what’s REALLY true here? In all probability, you’re looking at what others have that you don’t. But what about what you DO have? Are you practicing gratitude for it? (Because yet another little shadow word for this card is “ungrateful.”) And did you know that your power is your own and no one can take it unless you let them? So the “power disparity” is how you perceive yourself as compared to others.
Stop comparing; you are enough. Be grateful for what you have. Take your colossal power and move mountains. Or not; your choice.
August 5, 2021: Card O' the Day: The Magician, reversed. W.T.F….. Okay, THIS doesn’t happen often…if ever. Yesterday we get The Magician and today he reappears inverted.
Personal communication or expression and proper energy flow is still blocked or misdirected and you’re feeling “unheard”, which then makes starting something new more difficult than anticipated or necessary. Combined, these inhibitors could lead to hesitation, insecurity, self-doubt, or vacillating certainty and cause you to lean too heavily upon someone for validation and support. It would be prudent to consider who and why.
It could help a different outlook on life—like, you’re actually worthy—and to analyze your approach. Dive deeper into the psyche and ponder what is actually happening because The Magician wants you to find your personal magic.
August 4, 2021: Card O' the Day: The Magician. Well, looky who I found while contemplating my navel and rebooting my brain! Because of the need of the soul to journey inward for answers, yesterday The Hermit told us we needed contemplation and inner stillness in which to find our self-knowledge and equilibrium. The Magician represents the “magic” of Self, primordial Man, Earth’s mystical energy, and spiritualization of matter. The Magician is the director of the quest for “Self” and therefore, this card is the basis of “me”, “myself”, and “I” as you learn to contact the Life Force, find the hidden parts of yourself, and come to understand them to find your best life.
You may not know how to communicate what you want and are frustrated by this block. But you can prepare physically for what you’re asking, face any fears of not being “good enough”, and reconnect to the part that turns fear into success while you sort out the brain-mouth connection. Be patient, allow things to develop naturally, and permit yourself to make mistakes. Magic will happen when you don’t force it.
August 3, 2021: Card O' the Day: The Hermit. I don’t read the Tarot cards for myself. I’m just as lazy as the next person about facing my flaws, worried about how I measure up, and all the other stuff I talk about in my readings and posts. I avoid doing my “work” unless NOT doing it is making me severely depressed. However, when a card that’s UNDENIABLY for me pops up, I’ll pay attention. (Albeit grudgingly.)
The Hermit is for all those introverts out there (the sociable ones, too) who need some alone time to regroup, recharge, and generally shut out the world for a minute. It’s the “cntrl+alt+del” button for your brain. Whether you dive into a nap, hike, book, or pool, it’s a good time to just be. Let the dust bunnies breed, the dishes pile up, and the laundry sit. Do only what you have to do to keep the lights on and your dependents fed. The rest can wait until you’ve rebooted. Namaste.
August 2, 2021: Card O' the Day: Eight of Cups, reversed. This card signifies many are still blocked by their own resistance to life or sheer inertia. And that’s caused by struggling to fit in and conform to “normal.” Who says you have to!?!? To be clear: I’m talking about being your own creative muse, love who you want to, expressing your personality as you see fit, and basically doing your best “you.” I’m NOT suggesting total ignorance and flouting of societal laws and taboos! If we all did that, life would devolve into a Mad Max or Water World movie. Just sayin’.
There’s all sorts of potential to improve yourself until you take your last breath. Therefore, go ahead and be optimistic about your creative impulses…if you’re alive, then it isn’t too late. Motivate yourself to live out loud every single day because it isn’t time for most of you to leave this physical plane just yet.
However, out of self-preservation, take time to solidify goals and don’t recklessly leap at shiny objects. For example, if you’re going skydiving, take a couple lessons and dive with a partner the first time around. This goes for drastic and permanent changes, too. Don’t make big shifts “just cuz” without carefully weighing the pros and cons.
August 1, 2021: Card O' the Day: Two of Wands, reversed. Two’s can signify conflict, and when connected to Wands, the conflict prevents energy from flowing smoothly and with purpose much like the jerky motions a car makes when its gears slip. When the gears do catch, an otherwise dead-end situation may suddenly change as “aha” moments jet you past previously perceived limits. New perspectives and horizons, which you didn’t know or believe existed, may suddenly open and become obvious.
This in turn may allow you to be daring enough to jump directly into a new experience, thereby leaving behind safe situations to enter the unknown. Such reversals of mindsets are achieved not through willpower but through receptivity to the unexpected…like, maybe realizing you’re “enough.”
These surprises in one’s beliefs about self could either awe you with wonder, enchantment, and amazement, or overwhelm you with confusion, embarrassment, or distress. Try to receive them regardless of fear, awaken to all your inner possibilities and resources, and become more self-sufficient and fabulous.
July 31, 2021: Card O' the Day: Four of Swords. So, we received the Four of Swords on July 22nd and we were encouraged to ponder circumstances without overreacting, bashing ourselves over our heads with the “Failure” cudgel, or shifting blame all over the place. This was followed by the Five of Pentacles on the 23rd which indicated worry about not having or being “enough.” Then came the reversed Devil on July 29th (a bit of a time gap because I got busy) that continued the thread of self abuse by imagining OTHERS don’t view you as being “enough.” Finally, we get yesterday’s reversed Ace of Swords that speaks of resisting new concepts—like that you actually ARE enough.
Notice we’ve come full circle.
Let’s recap what I wrote about the Four on the 22nd: It’s healthy to digest what’s happened and consider alternative ways of having handled a difficult situation. However, it’s NOT a good idea to over-analyze yourself with blame games or the “shoulda, woulda, coulda thought train.” I’ll remind you this card represents stabilization of the mind, asks you to still your thoughts, and allow the inner knowledge that you are enough in all ways to come to you quietly, truthfully, and peacefully.
July 30, 2021: Card O' the Day: Ace of Swords, reversed. The suit of Swords governs the heart (as well as the mind) because the darkness existing in your mind can easily break your heart. The Ace indicates the possibility of new points of view or ways of thinking. When reversed, it indicates your mental balance is under stress, which may manifest in inaction, self-destruction, mental pain, denial of disturbing thoughts, difficulty in thinking clearly, and generally resisting the “aha” moment that could change everything for you.
In addition to resisting new concepts or ways of seeing your life, you may be caught up in fanaticism, illusion, or suffer confused ideas. And without a clear sense of reality, you can become prey to mistakes created by your emotions. Thus, nervous conditions may manifest in pessimism, lack of confidence, fear of condemnation and punishment, or overpowering feelings.
Here’s a little clue: When everything appears more important that it actually is, your problems could lie in how you’re responding to them more than what’s actually happening. Certainly many have been suffering emotionally, physically, and economically for the last 18 months (and counting…)! However, look to how you can mitigate your situation by adjusting your reactions to problems.
July 29, 2021: Card O' the Day: The Devil, reversed. As instincts take over and temptations become too powerful to resist, you may begin to suffer “spiritual blindness” in which you view yourself as a failure. It is tempting to turn to others to feel validation that you’re not the big loser you think you are, but beware of putting yourself in a vulnerable position by leaning on others too heavily or relying too much on what others think. Return to your spirituality and mental resources to regain your balance and use your own strength to nurture self-sufficiency. Once you release yourself from the bondage of “what will the neighbors say”, you can break loose from misery and finally stop accepting a crappy situation as your lot in life.
Since the Devil represents, in part, illusions, when the card is reversed, it could signify you’re beginning to see through them to the truth. And THAT’s important because before slipping free of the chains that bind, you first have to become aware of, and acknowledge, what you’re allowing to hold you back.
July 23, 2021: Card O' the Day: Five of Pentacles. This card indicates worry about money and physical resources. Feeling “not enough”, one is self-conscious about perceived flaws and thinks one is alone and unsupported. However, this lack is only an illusion! It’s YOU who’s so blocked and defeated that you can’t see the rich environment all around.
Firstly, shift your perspective so you can see the abundance and fortune. No “yeah, but….” Let go of all the psychic weight that keeps you bogged down and focus on what you DO have, never mind what you don’t. That’ll be a goal for later. While there might be actual material poverty, you have oodles of spiritual wealth that shouldn’t be sneered at. Lean on that spiritual treasure because it’ll give you endurance and strength as you toil for those physical rewards you so desire.
July 22, 2021: Card O' the Day: Four of Swords. The Four of Swords can be looked at a couple different ways today. First: rest after strife, healing of battle wounds, peace after war, etc. Or, you can consider now to be a good time for contemplation before action, meditation, careful consideration of plans, or that type of thing. Either way, there are a lot of “what ifs” swirling in your head. It’s healthy to digest what’s happened and consider alternative ways of having handled a difficult situation (for those in the first camp). It’s also healthy to ponder various options if you’re the planning group.
However, it’s NOT a good idea to over-analyze yourself into a frozen mess where you can’t move forward with plans or away from mistakes. Blame games or the “shoulda, woulda, coulda thought train” need to be avoided at all costs.
Fortunately the Four represents stabilization of the mind and becoming aware of how you respond to circumstances in your life rather than being governed by knee-jerk reactions. (Isn’t it interesting that little phrase meaning “to respond without really thinking about” it includes the word “jerk.” Could it be many of our instinctive knee-jerk reactions indicate we’re acting like jerks? But I digress….) This card asks you to still your mind and allow your inner knowledge to come to you quietly, truthfully, and peacefully. This day is one of careful thought, not quick action.
July 18, 2021: Card O' the Day: Queen of Pentacles, reversed. Rather than being the “queen of the castle”, the reversed Queen of Pentacles wants to become more involved with people, social structures, and communal activities outside the limited scope of the “home” of safe and familiar routines. (Remember, the Tarot cards are genderless….) This makes sense when coupled with the fiery, volatile energy of yesterday’s Nine of Wands where one looks to buck the traditional system and seeks to enjoy a more adventurous existence.
However, like the Nine of Wands, the reversed Queen speaks of difficulties…more to the point, financial difficulties or a general lack of resources and necessities. In an effort to stay secure and keep things afloat, one may hold onto money fearing to re-invest it, hoard useless things, resist forward motion, or consider other aspects of reality.
Unfortunately, success requires risk, eating Raman noodles so you can plug more money into the project, and picking up an extra shift at the local burger joint. Keep at it; your efforts will eventually bear fruit.
July 17, 2021: Card O' the Day: Nine of Wands. The energy of this card is pretty intense. It’s exhilarating and you’ll learn a lot if you don’t crash and burn. Think along the lines of taking a job that’s two notches above your skill level or riding a motorcycle that’s bigger and heavier than anything you’ve ridden to date.
Your strength, dynamic force, and courage have put you on that bike or in that job and your training and discipline will keep you committed to developing the skill to handle the challenge. This is relatively dangerous ground you’re stepping on and you can expect to get a bit bruised in the process. Remain flexible to changes, relax, and hold firm. You’ll come out the other side having conquered the mountain!
July 16, 2021: Card O' the Day: Ten of Cups. Well, helloooooo sunshine! The Ten of Cups is right up there with The Sun when it comes to happiness, peacefulness, and contentment. Being a Cup, though, it really emphasizes the joy comes from inside you and not from an outside source…like winning the lottery, a fab dream job, or new dynamite lover. This kind of “happiness from within” indicates you’re truly comfortable in your own skin and you’re allowing yourself to experience the wonders of love fully and openly without fear of getting hurt.
This kind of fulfillment puts you in the best position ever to give as you receive because you’ve come to recognize the valuable qualities everything and everyone has. We are all interconnected and just as worthy of joy and abundance as anyone else. EACH of us has a place in Universe.
The darkness that brings balance to all this light is that this card is a 10. Meaning, an ending is near (but which will then clear space for a new beginning). Does this mean all the sunshine will end tomorrow so what’s the point of being happy for a minute? No. The Ten of Cups promises this period of jubilation can last IF YOU DON’T WASTE IT by becoming detached, satiated, and complacent. Continue to recognize your fortunes and be grateful to keep the good times rolling.
July 6, 2021: Card O' the Day: King of Cups, reversed. This card actually turned up on Sunday, but I wasn’t able to put its energy into words at the time so it’s back again today to be heard. King personalities are generally dominating and self-assured, but when they become reversed, their normal characteristics will be pushed to the extreme ends of a spectrum.
To avoid being perceived as wimpy, weak, or ineffectual, one may act very macho, take risks, puff up one’s experience (about anything), and/or over-sell oneself just to feel “bigger.” The normally helpful and caring aspects of this very vibrant personality type and energy is turned away from helping others in an effort to hoard emotional resources. The reversal also applies to pushing feelings to the ends of the normal range. Some appear closed off from others or heartless as they plumb the depths of their own psyche at the expense of outward relationships. Becoming sentimental, maudlin, melancholic, depressed, or disappointed in oneself can result from this withdrawal from social networks. Escape into work, alcohol, and/or illicit drugs are also possible avoidance tactics.
The bottom line is that one needs to experiment with new approaches towards expressing one’s inner life. It’s okay to admit you’re not okay!
July 5, 2021: Card O' the Day: The Star. The Star is fast becoming my favorite card of the Tarot deck…. It reminds you to trust in yourself and learn to be hopeful that at some point you’ll break through blockages and have the fulfillment and clarity that you want and need. It represents new perspectives that help you see unexpected correlations not seen before and seeing the world’s patterns rearranged into new forms. Meaning, you can see what you once thought was an insurmountable problem is only an obstacle you CAN, in fact, get around. When you trust Self to make it through all challenges, then you’re truly free of the mentality of “I can’t.”
Once you learn to accept responsibility for actions and make the necessary changes to get back on the correct and true path, you’ll find the infinite avenues available. And that’s not because suddenly your luck has changed but because you’ve become more awake and open to all the options and not just those that seem convenient or easy.
This card signifies the unknown part of Self in which you can have faith and that provides the light and incentive to achieve your purpose. Now, go make it happen.
July 2, 2021: Card O' the Day: Four of Pentacles. The Four of Pentacles represents the stable combination of elements that help you create the earthly safety and security the reversed Seven indicated you needed. From this place you can build the foundation to support the PHYSICAL aspects of your life.
However, there’s a real danger with this card that you’ll get too comfy and just squat there. The point to having this solid base is so you can do hard psycho-emotional and/or spiritual work whereby you discover the beauty of and love for Self. And, no, I don’t mean preening like the latest social media influencer. I mean acknowledging your flaws, accepting your limits, and recognizing your imperfections and being okay with them. I’m talking about understanding you’re enough and getting off the mental “shoulda, woulda, coulda” train, being happy in your own skin, and cutting yourself some slack for past failures.
We know ALLLLLLL about the Kardashians’ wealth and success. But they’ve also failed, gotten divorced, and they need Febreeze in their bathrooms just like the rest of us. They do NOT live perfectly charmed lives; they just have gobs of money. How nice for them…but one has to wonder if they’re truly HAPPY within. Otherwise, why the constant and desperate bid for attention and validation?
June 30, 2021: Card O' the Day: Seven of Pentacles, reversed. Pentacles represent all things on the physical plane and the reversal means it ain’t goin’ well. Unspecified worries, vague fears, restlessness, impatience, and pervasive dissatisfaction about everything have you living on the edge of wanting to run away from your life. Your unsatisfying J.O.B. doesn’t help either since you’re overworked and under paid for your endless efforts.
I’m going to put one more thing on your plate and that is to take a hard look at your reality. Start searching for ways you can to make cuts and changes to save time and money. Who can you get to help you? What can be let go? What can you really live without? Start small so the changes aren’t completely overwhelming and set you up to fail.
By pinching every penny until it screams and streamlining life to a smooth hum, you’ll find the time, energy, and money needed to make the really big changes…like going back to school to retrain or increase your skills to get a better, more rewarding job, comfortable accommodations, and a few nice things to validate all your sacrifices and work to get there.
June 29, 2021: Card O' the Day: Princess of Cups, reversed. When the Princess of Cups (one of the more passionate and sentimental cards of the deck) is reversed, there could be a fear or aversion to feeling difficult emotions. Timid and fearful of having her sensibilities wounded, the reversed Princess no longer trusts life and relationships and represents a denial of emotional vulnerability. This might result in holding grudges and becoming pessimistic about any type of softer feelings for others.
This card also represents dreams and creative fantasies that act as the germs for new inventions, concepts, or ideals. Reversed, practicality and common sense go out the window, meaning the dreams and fantasies are just that…cloud shapes in the sky that have no basis in reality at all. Acting upon such make-believe or following dreamy inclinations without thinking may lead to mistakes, making promises that cannot be kept, or commitments that mean nothing.
June 25, 2021: Card O' the Day: The Hierophant, reversed. The inherent strength of The Hierophant is diminished when the card is reversed and it indicates a lack of conviction or timidity in upholding beliefs, resistance to change, and failing to accept responsibility of truly finding one’s way and Self. Such mental weakness and intellectual lethargy can lead one to become gullible or unsure about the difference between right and wrong and one is now caught in a foolish exercise or dilemma. Sometimes weakness manifests as hubris and one may be making pronouncements with pompous, arrogant, righteous, and absolute assurance they are correct.
Possibly one is clinging to outdated ideas or inappropriate principles. But by adhering to unproved or improvable tenets with sheer blind faith, one shows ruts in one’s thinking and rusty intellectual habits. The reversed Hierophant may represent a false and intolerant “guru” who’s in their leadership position just for the money. Beware of being dominated and manipulated, whether by oneself or others.
Lazy thinking may have escalated as one rejects traditional “authority” and chooses one’s own standards to go one’s own way. One may be contemplating something immoral, unethical, or unprincipled. Or one is past mere unorthodox expression, is ready for confrontation, and moves further into civil disobedience or outright rebellion.
June 24, 2021, Card O' the Day: Three of Swords, reversed. Ooo! Some are struggling with yesterday’s Death. There’s difficulty accepting an unpleasant truth, or a denial of jealousy, sorrow, or inner pain. Dwelling on a quarrel that caused alienation and breakdown of a relationship and then refusing to believe that it’s gone sour is another example of trying to negate circumstances. Blaming others for troubles and refusing to acknowledge your own role in a situation is the “grand prize” of deflecting responsibilities.
But by not addressing the issue, expect escalating disaster; the situation declining into chaos, disorder, and misrule; or mere quarrels multiplying into violence. With your crown chakra stuck in your root chakra, nothing more can be gained by anyone. Blocking the healing process by refusing to deal keeps the pain within and increases its hold.
You’ve got to get ego under control, let go of the hurt, and begin the process of recovery before it creates an entirely different picture. To salvage the situation, careful analysis is required to understand your contributions to the sh*t show, accept that you went off the rails, and cut your losses. (A slice or two of humble pie might be involved….)
June 23, 2021: Card O' the Day: Death. We all know Tarot’s Death card doesn’t mean you’re actually dying but it does represent some sort of natural end, closure, or release. It also signifies an essential movement forward, which requires a certain risk for renewal, a leap in the dark, and trust. The body aspect of Death is “exhaling lungs.” This makes sense because when you’re afraid, you tend not to breathe fully. So, INHALE and be present to make the necessary changes.
You’re using enormous power and energy to maintain an illusion for yourself and others. When you know and believe in yourself, there’s no need to bolster or exaggerate the truth of who you are. Therefore, simplify life and don’t allow your ego to create power drains.
Not an ending, but a transformation; nothing is ever destroyed, it simply changes shape. Meaning, as you leave one state of being, you’re simultaneously reborn into another. Creativity, nourishment, and growth occur when fears and attachments are released and the future is accepted.
June 22, 2021: Card O' the Day: Princess of Cups. This card’s relevant keywords for the day are self-development, idealism, and fearlessness. The Princess signifies a timid beginning destined to evolve positively. Therefore, you’re encouraged to be more daring and to embrace something of which you’re a little unsure.
A phase of ample opportunity to follow an artistic, musical, or literary inspiration or begin a project is waiting for you to take the leap. With a goldmine of unharvested talent available, use the power of the imagination to dream of and integrate ideas, ambitions, and creative visions with sensible business skills, attentive observations, and grounded practical ways.
But also remember to take time to enjoy simple pleasures in life, enjoy being human and lighthearted, and that it is okay to pamper oneself once in a while. Manifest your own situation of happiness, loving relationships, and success.
June 20, 2021: Card O' the Day: The Lovers, reversed. When The Lovers is reversed, it indicates trouble in a relationship, whether business, familial, or romantic. The relationship is inharmonious, challenging, or unhealthy for anyone involved. Look out for disagreements, mistrust, deception, quarrels, temptation, infidelity, incompatibility, or struggles for power.
The joining into partnership may suppress one’s individuality or create a need for personal space that isn’t available or granted. Communication is a key component of The Lovers, and when the card is reversed, it can indicate communication problems or not knowing how to approach someone with whom one wishes to engage. Resulting miscommunication can cause confusion regarding your real intentions and put a damper and stress on any connections you might want.
If no relationships or partnerships are at issue, another facet of this card is a choice or decisions that need to be made. However, the reversal of the card indicates you may experience a dilemma, have trouble making a decision due to over-thinking, or delay the next move thereby ruining opportunities. Perhaps the tough choice is between devotion to another person or your own higher Self. Take a hint from the appearance of this card because it represents a time to act alone rather than be party to a bad relationship.
June 16, 2021: Card O' the Day: Six of Cups. Today, the Six of Cups is reiterating yesterday’s concept of examining past methods to see if they worked. The added twist here is checking to see if they not only worked, but also whether you enjoyed that particular process. Look at it this way: you CAN take I-70 straight across the country from Columbus to Denver, OR you can take Route 40, which is lower but more scenic. What’s the point of the trip? to “get there” or enjoying the drive along the way?
The Six also offers good will, optimism, and creative imagination and the staying power to make your ideas concrete. New relationships, environments, and knowledge encourage you to accept others as they are, slow down and balance work with play, and explore your world with glee and wonder as you find pleasure in simple things. CHOOSE peace.
June15, 2021: Card O' the Day: Two of Wands. The Two of Wands is a very dynamic and exciting card. It represents personal power, a doorway, or exploration and you’re being encouraged to take a risk and choose what you really want. What’s desired is being defined and action has begun as your passions unite with gestational creative potential to manifest concrete results.
As mental cloudiness and confusion disperses, you’re fortified and validated in ideas and urged to be fearless in decisions. This is a point where a world of possibilities is open and you don’t want to settle. Once energies have been effectively harnessed and responsibly managed, new possibilities or brilliant original ideas are released. In the process, you might need to reorganize your plans or return to a previously effective one after applying lessons learned. Therefore, look back and see what patterns have worked before and use them again. (No sense in re-inventing the wheel, am I right?)
With the self-willed focus on new experiences and outgoing activities, creative inventiveness may be expressed boldly or rashly as a product of a tremendously free, independent, and intelligent mind. If there’s any uncertainty when deciding about the next project, it’ll be cleared by careful deliberation, strategic planning, and evaluation of all steps and procedures.
June 11, 2021: Card O' the Day: The Hierophant. This card embodies the concept of a higher power for which there is no concrete evidence of existence. It reflects the need humans have for a strong spiritual foundation and the tendency to identify with religion, culture, or race and thus is representative of all the positive aspects of religions and the organization of spiritual practice and laws.
Whereas The Emperor represents a person who hands down traditional laws and norms within the family unit, The Hierophant does so on the societal level and upholds the laws of organizations. He’s the power of structure that creates comfort and security, the familiarity of the routine, and the conformity to the social norms that imbue a sense of peace and common ground for all in the community. This card may represent not a person but the “shoulds" and “oughts” in life that link one to traditional values and established knowledge that attempt to mediate and hold in balance opposing poles in life. These are the laws by which one must live in order to be aligned with the Divine, that make moral judgements such as “right” v. “wrong.”
The appearance of this card may indicate you are being directed by your inner sense of obedience and conformity to find lessons in traditional teaching, societal ideals and codes of behavior, or toe the line of convention.
June 10, 2021: Card O' the Day: Four of Cups, reversed. I thought this card looked familiar…it came for us on the 1st of June, too. Also, I noticed we’ve had THREE eights between then and now. If you recall, 8s represent diligence, pursuing goals, progress, and inspiration. The reversed 4 indicates we’re ready to seize the new opportunities arising as we get off our butts and get ready to move.
I invite you to go back and re-read the cards of the last week in which we are reminded work is a spiritual thing, intuition is working in over-drive and we should listen to it, pruning and dead-heading is a good idea to keep things sleek and up-to-date, and a rewarding work product wherein YOU enjoy doing what benefits others is going to feel the best.
Happy and heartwarming news for this rainy June day….
June 7, 2021: Card O' the day: Eight of Pentacles. Two 8s in a row…eights can denote diligence, pursuing goals, and progress. But they also signify inspiration, which segues nicely into the root meaning of Pentacles: the spiritualization of the material plane. This card takes labor in the physical world and charges it with esoteric elements.
You’re being called to continue with your individual work as you apply your skills and talents to a soulful vocation; one that probably involves healing. Now, this doesn’t mean just nursing or other caregiving roles but can include inventing new medications or gizmos that save lives or make life easier for those who’ve been afflicted with disease or disability. Ditto making others happy.
In the current harmonious energy flow, focus on tasks with self-assurance and confidence. (You’re on a roll right now.) Pay attention to details but try not to overly sweat the small stuff. This card reminds you to find the value of your work and be proud of your contributions.
June 6, 2021: Card O' the Day: Eight of Swords. This card denotes something being trapped, blocked, or hemmed in, and I think it’s your spirit. You’re inclined to do some self-exploration but your attempts to gain clarity, see facts, or use natural instincts are met with inside and/or outside interference. Nevertheless, access your inner sight anyway even if you feel like a fool (ask me how I know this….) or others sneer at your efforts (hello, Mom?).
Seekers of spiritual wisdom always undergo sacrifice and ordeals through tests of ingenuity, trust, and faith. (Consider everyone who ever contemplated the concept of God and organized religions or other practices based on beliefs. Since the dawn of time, there have been arguments about who to worship and how to do it “correctly.”) As your mind roams about and ponders the new insights coming in, use the power of YOUR intellect, emotions, and spirit to find liberation via YOUR truth. Learn to trust your intuition and just wait until it’s clear what to do next. It’ll come.
June 5, 2021: card O' the Day: Queen of Cups. Emotionally mature, virtuous, and with a strong sense of right, wrong, and order, this queen represents a shrewd businessperson and the most successful and balanced of the Queens. (In Tarot cards, court cards are gender neutral.) Possessed of a strong will, this type of person directs and molds creative forces without suppressing them and gets inspiration for future endeavors from imagination and past achievements. (Read: be self-aware and accept any type of intuitive abilities to help you.
The appearance of this card may denote a profession in the arts where dreams are turned into creative endeavors because of the ability to unite hopes, imagination, love, and creativity with vision, valuable action, and social usefulness. Alternatively, you would do well in professional counseling and/or healing. Regardless of the form your endeavors take, this card indicates they will give lasting pleasure.
Now that we’re considering spiritually and emotionally rewarding work, just be careful with your boundaries. It’s a slippery slope into giving too much and then burning out
June 4, 2021: Card O' the Day: Eight of Cups. And THIS is just what I was talking about yesterday: bringing abundance to the other parts of your world! Inner awareness takes over for the outer-directed activity as you develop a deeper sense of Self and seek your higher purpose through self-examination. This can be done through therapy, talking with dear friends, solo vacations, or just looking at your life with fresh eyes.
During this process, you’ll figure out what/who doesn’t serve you anymore and can be let go. I suspect you’ll also shift some of your physical situations like jobs or living situations to something more meaningful. For example, leaving your J.O.B. to join the Peace Corps or work for a non-profit. Yeah, you’d suffer a pay cut, but the work would be so much more rewarding spiritually and emotionally. Or you down-size to a tiny home that leaves a smaller carbon footprint.
Regardless of what this energy actually looks like in your daily life, it’s good to contemplate your navel, clean out the closets, and do more than just amass stuff.
June 3, 2021: Card O' the Day: Ten of Pentacles. I think this is a card for the future that promises contentment, satisfaction, security, and the building of something lasting after you’ve put in your time to develop the skills mentioned in the Three of Pentacles yesterday. But there are a couple caveats you need to keep in mind as you build your “empire.” Firstly, there’s way more to life than stuff and this card warns against pursuing material wealth to the point you no longer see the magic in life. So, look beyond the material world to bring a different sort of abundance to the other parts of your life, too.
And the best way to do that is to share your accomplishments with your peeps, tribe, posse, and/or family. Throw a party for yourself and invite everybody because it’s really hard to celebrate a promotion or new patent alone. It might seem a little braggy, but with the support of your community you were able to birth these new things. They should be in on the good times after all the hard work of encouraging you.
June 2, 2021: Card O' the Day: Three of Pentacles. A few days ago the Princess of Wands came to us and reassured us no one is born knowing and lacking skill and expertise is okay. The Three of Pentacles tells us how to get it through accepting guidance and teaching from another who already has the abilities you want to develop. You might even have to suffer some form of apprenticeship to get needed experience and some form of credentials proving your required training. The good news is that it’s investing in yourself as a craftsperson…no time or money is ever wasted on self-improvements.
The intangible side of work is reiterated here as with all the Pentacles. Your hard work and dedication will result in the mastery of a technical skill. But it also will serve as a vehicle for self development and further spiritual understanding. So, pick up a book, go to a class, or watch a You Tube video. Never stop learning!
June 1, 2021: Card O' the Day: Four of Cups, reversed. Activity and creativity continue. When the Four of Cups is upright, it can indicate apathy and lethargy. But reversed, it indicates a healthy restlessness that has you looking for new opportunities and fresh experiences. At the same time, your value systems might be shifting, so old problems get tackled with unforeseen solutions and you may re-consider options or relationships that seemed off target before.
Fortunately, your psychic potential is enhanced with the arrival of this card. (Read: your gut and “Spidey senses” are awake.) This will help you be discerning when meeting people and taking on projects and not just jump at them merely because they’re new. (This is a different way of reminding you to ground your ideas in reality and don’t trust every Sank Oil salesman you meet.)
May 31: Card O' the Day: The problem with being all fiery and enthusiastic like the Princess of Wands is that sometimes your gut and the energy goes faster than your brain and mouth can keep up. When Temperance is reversed, you may have an intuitive sense about the right combination of elements that are necessary to a situation, but you’re unable to put this into words or to convince others.
Because of this, they may seem uncooperative and uncompromising, and that your interests and needs are competing or conflicting with everyone else’s. Such inability to effectively communicate may lead to discord, disunion, hostility, dissension within a group, or ugly competition between rivals. Projects and experiments can turn out to be impractical, require more time to complete than originally thought, or be out of sync with other aspects of the whole picture. Any one of these situations may cause impatience and frustration on all fronts.
Again, remember to ground your ideas in reality and thoroughly plan the steps to look for the parts that won’t work.
May 30, 2021: Card O' the Day: Princess of Wands. All four of the Princesses signify potential in their elemental spheres and this one represents the birth of Fire and Nature bursting at the seams with growth, potential, light and warmth, innocence, fullness of life, and abundant creativity, artistic talent, and flair. She represents action for the sake of action, adventure, single-mindedness, and one gear: forward.
Now that you’ve dumped some baggage and are freely acting on your own, you’re experiencing a drive to know the Self and are searching for new directions for growth and improvement. Therefore, feed creativity and inspiration, sharpen the senses, attune to nature, expand your outlook, and engage in life more robustly. The appearance of this card acts as a dare to remain open, full of wonder, and joyful at simply being alive as you follow your spirit.
Experience, knowledge, or skill are not required, only desire is needed to take on life’s problems without worry about the likelihood of success. This lack of hands-on training is more than made up for in grit, intuition, and stubbornness. (But remember, be realistic in goals and remain authentic while reaching to attain them.) Nevertheless, be willing to try anything at the first opportunity for a little excitement, explore things that are close at hand with a fearless grace, and view it all as a catalyst for positive change.
May 29, 2021: Card O' the Day: Three of Swords, reversed. Well, no wonder the Prince and reversed Six of Pentacles want you to work on your own. The reversed Three is indicating conflict between those who should be supporting each other through difficulties. It could be time to distance yourself from somebody or a group. This isn’t the best news, but by removing such “troubling aspects” from your life, the old wounds can clear and psycho-emotional pain lessen.
Accept reality. Address the situation now to prevent further deterioration and save yourself from more hassles.
May 28, 2021: Card O' the Day: Six of Pentacles, reversed. The relaxed but steady and diligent energy of the Prince continues today with the reversed Six of Pentacles. Don’t rush as you work. You need the time to evolve carefully. Think crockpot rather than microwave.
As you work, you’ll be overcoming obstacles by yourself. You don’t need the help and it’s good for you to sort and solve your own snags this time around. Some of that sorting will include reconsidering how time and money is spent. The solutions will be to streamline and upgrade your processes to meet the growing demands on your output.
May 27, 2021: Card O' the Day: Prince of Pentacles. I don’t know if this card is for me or for everyone else. I just got back from a vacation visiting my brother and as we all know, there’s tons to do once returning home….
And the good Prince is telling me it doesn’t all have to be done TODAY. I’m allowed to complete tasks slowly, patiently, practically, methodically, calmly, and persistently. (I’ve got a list of things that are most obvious to do first. I’ll figure out what needs to happen later as I plow through the list.) I’m being called to pay attention to improving physical health and wellbeing through exercise and nutrition. (I ate VERY well on my trip and sat in the car A LOT. Oof!)
The Prince of Pentacles also represents being self-contained and free of attachments, letting go of expectations about self and others, and acceptance of what “is” and being okay with it. He has no need to hurry or seek shelter elsewhere because he recognizes he’s already “home” as he rests in the fullness of who he is. He encourages you to make space for a new quality of stillness, take responsibility for any illusions you may be carrying, and at the deepest core, remain at ease, calm, cool, and centered. In other words, chill. It’ll get done when it gets done.
May 19, 2021: Card O' the day: Judgment, reversed. When Judgment appears, any resistance to or objections you may have about its advice are considered excuses in Tarot Land. When the card is reversed, it means those objections are very loud and whiny as one attempts to work toward improvement or correct past mistakes.
Judgment is yet another of the “big changes coming” cards. Reversed, it signifies difficult transitions, hesitation, or resentfulness towards or doubting the value of the necessary changes. One may have difficulty believing the changes have begun and reject new technologies, lack perspective, or be unable to see the big picture. (Hello, coming back out of our caves with or without masks, with or without vaccines….) Unfortunately, this puts you at risk of bad judgments, poor decisions (or avoiding them), confusion, and delays from missing (or being resistant to) a new, important communication or information.
Now, it could be you’re unable to detach from old ways or merely need more time to adjust. (I know I do.) But we DO need to get back out to the world and interact with others, carry on productivity, work towards goals, and basically live rather than just circle the airport. So, get your information from several reliable sources (not just your aunt’s hairdresser’s cousin), be careful, and take on only what you can handle until you get used to being around a lot of people again.
May 18, 2021: Card O' the Day: Princess of Cups, reversed. For the last card, I wrote “IF your emotions are imbalanced and you’re overreacting….” Well, yep, they are, according to the reversed Princess of Cups. After being wounded, one retreats from one’s feelings and swears never to be vulnerable again.
But when cut off from all the “feels”, one cuts oneself off from creativity, too. Projects become shapeless fantasies with nothing to motivate one into actually DOING something productive towards those goals. Sure, you may be “in the planning” stage, but it’s really just daydreaming and wandering through an imaginary kingdom where nothing ever goes wrong.
The problem with emotional constipation is the emotions stay bottled up and not processed. You’ve got to FEEL the pain so it can be moved along. Otherwise it sits in the back of your mind taking up space and generally being a wet blanket on everything in your life. Don’t be surprised if friends become scarce and family a bit terse with you. The best thing you can do for yourself is have a really good cry or see a therapist to move that sh*t outta there!
May 16, 2021: Card O' the Day: Temperance, reversed. We seem to be flip-flopping between balance and not. Something is out of whack, in conflict, or excessive and thereby creating stress and/or ill health. If your emotions are imbalanced and you’re overreacting, over compensating, lacking in compassion, or believing a situation has to be all or nothing, such emotional turmoil could lead to quarrels, discord, disagreements, and feeling out of the flow and disconnected from your sense of Self as energy dissipates. (We talked about obsessing over that wrinkle yesterday.) One is encouraged to calm down and avoid all extremes. (Which is a polite way of saying “chill out!”)
Now, you might have an intuitive sense about the right combination of elements that are necessary to a situation, but can’t put it into words or to convince others. Because of this, they may seem uncooperative and uncompromising (but they can’t read your mind!), and that your interests and needs are competing or conflicting with everyone else’s. Projects and experiments can turn out to be impractical, require more time to complete than originally thought, or be out of sync with other aspects of the whole picture. Any one of these situations may cause impatience and frustration on all fronts. (Oh, ya think?)
Therefore, change is not recommended at this time and I wouldn’t rush into any important decisions.
May 15, 2021: Card O' the Day: Eight of Pentacles. This card shows that many are returning to work, but that it’s more individual than team efforts. I feel like you’ve all been given your tasks, you’re off doing them with diligence, and are making steady progress. There’s a nice energy flow which creates a balance between living life well and accumulation and prosperity. Long-term projects are nearing completion and fruition as intelligence is being applied to material things. You’re doing what you love.
However, (notice I DIDN’T say “but”) when your nose is to the grindstone and you’re clipping along without glitches, it’s very easy to laser focus on a minute wrinkle and overwork yourself fiddling with it. Step back a moment to see the bigger picture. Does the “wrinkle” REALLY matter or is it an OCD thing that’s making you spend too much time and energy on it? Maintain your common sense to preserve your spirit and sanity.
May 13, 2021: card O' the Day: The World. Something earthy, practical, and sustaining in your divine play and cosmic dance is at work as you whisper to the stars, “may I come to the knowledge of my own radiant truth!” This connection to Source gives you the capacity to perceive with the imagination, have knowledge animated by enthusiasm, and hold obedience graced by joyous acceptance. This place of inner perception is home.
This card is proof of a life filled with even more potential for a major realization and culmination of goals. It represents the power of the will to manifest results, attain all that’s good or desirable in being, living, and behaving, and practical use of knowledge and learning to take control of life and determine your destiny. You becomes aligned with Spirit when there’s a totality of balance between the mind, physical expression, and intuition; unification of your inner sense of being with outer forces of life; the unconscious is known consciously; and you’re able to perceive the whole picture from a composite of all the small pieces.
This union of all opposites—relationship and solitude, spirit and body, conflict and harmony, maternal care and paternal ethics—is the moment of perfect integrated wholeness of Self and one-ness with Universe. You’re now capable of knowing, forgiving, and loving everything with the freedom that comes when you connect with the inner kernel of the Divine that’s present in everyone.
May 11, 2021: Card O' the Day: Ten of Pentacles. After all that exciting Wands energy, the Ten of Pentacles brings us back to grounded reality where we can flex those creative muscles in a secure environment. That includes not having to worry about pecking order. Judgment has been released and there’s no one person superior to the rest of the plebes. We’re all linked together in this thing call Life.
The only caveat we have with this card is it’s easy to concentrate too hard on the material things. The solid practicality of this Ten can come at the expense of magic. Therefore, remember the other corners of your world (mind, heart, spirit) and use the Wands’ energy to keep the enchantment alive.
May 10, 20201: Card O' the day: Seven of Wands, reversed. This is our third Wand card in three days. The main attribute of this “youngest” of the four suits is creative making…of anything. All these Wands appearing indicate a great flowing of energy, but that’s not enough to actually get anything done. Keep dreaming but find small goals along the way to accomplish. Remember, inches make miles.
The Seven reversed can mean you’re butting heads with someone. You may feel like you’re in the “inferior” position and should back down, but don’t. Refuse to be intimidated! Find another way to charm your opponent into understanding your way of thinking. First, get your idea well fleshed out in a powerpoint presentation or a solid 15 second elevator pitch. This will get the person who needs to listen to give you time to present your case. Your clear course of action will restore your self-confidence and impress others.
May 9, 2021: Card O' the Day: Eight of Wands. This card has a strange mix of high velocity, movement, and pushing to complete a goal combined with spiritual contemplation of your navel. What I interpret this to mean is psycho-emotionally, creatively, and esoterically there’s a big shove forward but you’re not going to physically see much difference. In other words, this is a big—but important—head trip.
During this time, energies will be well aligned and problems easily solved. You don’t have to plan details too carefully…just feel the flow and trust your power within the grand scheme of things. Even though this is subtle stuff, you’ll experience growth and adventure during this physical pause. Make the most of what you already have at hand because you don’t need more stuff.
What you do need, though, is to understand this head-trip/journey is important. Each step of the way has meaning and significance. Focus on those moments and enjoy them because this journey is the actual goal. This is akin to a “bucket list” trip with your dying best friend. Doing the things on the list isn’t why you’re going, it’s all the little blinks and last pictures created between. So take a breath and see the beauty of life.
May 7, 2021: Card O' the Day: Ace of Wands: This card is asking you to be bold, daring, and let your inner light shine. As the guardian of sacred spaces, this Ace assists in exploring the deepest parts of your soul to show truth and an authentic new perspective of who you really are. Self-realization, clear intentions, tranquility, and purity help you remove all limits to playfulness.
The current environment is stable yet fluid, which is perfect for new endeavors or beginnings, new found passion or direction, and evolution and growth. Allowing yourself to blossom into the real you and follow your bliss will lead to intimacy, happiness, and being present to life right this minute.
The stone associated with this card is fire opal. It’s said enhance your personal power, awaken your inner fire and revitalize your mind and body. But it’s also a protective stone for helping you do your deep inner work to find that new perspective I mentioned above. If you’ve got a chunk, now would be the time to keep it close.
May 6, 2021: Card O' the Day: Strength, reversed. The Strength card in Tarot represents sexual energy: literally (the urge, pleasure in, and act of “bumping uglies”) and figuratively (as in the force behind all urges forward to create, succeed, and conquer). Your urges to create and succeed could be to do something “less than practical”, like pursue a career in dance, or you could be struggling with your literal sexual expression.
Regardless, whether we’re talking literal or figurative sexual energy, some of you are afraid of your personal passions, urges, or instincts, which leads to inner torment and severely repressing and denying yourself. Defective expression of this energy results in inhibition, impotence, and frigidity in the sack or on the platform of what you’re trying to do.
At some point the “reversed Emperor” in your life will want to have a sit down with you and “discuss” (read: harangue you) certain choices you’re making in your life. This may deepen feelings of shame or guilt and cut you off from that which nourishes you. I repeat yesterday’s advice: Let the haters hate. Find a tribe that welcomes you in all your glory. And get help.
May 5, 2021: Card O' the Day: The Emperor, reversed...again. The minute anyone takes a step onto a “different” path, there will be those who’ll be overly critical, censorious, disapproving, and judgmental about it. Despite it being NONE of their business, they have no space for alternative opinions or beliefs in their tiny little minds. Prepare for betrayed trust, the removal of support, or both.
In the face of such push-back, you may become insecure about or doubt your new choices and explorations. It might be difficult to stand up for yourself and your self-confidence and esteem may take a hit.
Let the haters hate. Find a tribe that welcomes you in all your glory.
May 3, 2021: Card O' the Day: The Emperor, reversed. When The Emperor, the stereotypical “father” figure of the Tarot deck, is reversed, its inherent macho-ness and other yang/active energy characteristics are being rejected. One may be breaking through traditional or cultural clichés surrounding how male identifying people should behave to define new possibilities of self-expression. This may manifest as benevolence or compassion that you haven’t allowed yourself to offer others before now. It could be you’re ready to explore alternative sexual interests or gender identities or are ready to accept them in someone else.
At any rate, this softening of rigidly held beliefs and norms is a beautiful thing and will bring you new opportunities for relating with and to others that couldn’t happen before.
May 2, 2021: Card O' the Day: Three of Wands. Well then! Now that we’ve jettisoned a few attachments, we’re enthusiastic about getting going! The active, positive, and dynamic energy of this card gives you the courage to leave certain securities to venture forth into the unknown and commit to a new path. It’s not as dramatic as The Fool, but nevertheless you’re ready and feeling more resourceful than usual. Follow those visions, especially in business matters, because the beginnings of success are there.
However, to differentiate your true visions from mere “hey, this sounds fun” whims, you’ll need to tap into your inner stillness and focus on what’s next. Listen to the whispers of wisdom coming from Nature. Feel the purity in your heart and the power of creativity. When you invite your higher consciousness to the table and really pay attention to its input, your path and projects will feel “truer” and more aligned with who you are and what you want to accomplish.
May 1, 2021: Card O' the Day: The Devil, reversed. The Devil largely represents all the material trappings of human life that can become a barrier between oneself and one’s higher, spiritual Self. When the card is reversed, it indicates a liberation from something that has been taking up too much space in your head, heart, and spirit.
As you free yourself—or are freed—you’ll come to understand how wrong the attachment was in the first place. It may have started out feeling like a good idea, but it then took on a life of its own and overwhelmed. Seeing the truth helps you let go so you’re then available for better. A better job, relationship, connection to Universe, or anything that lifts you higher than you are right this minute.
April 23, 2021: Card O' the Day: Nine of Swords. The second 9 in a row….Nines can indicate culmination, end of a cycle, letting go, but also greatness. Nines are also associated with healing in its deepest sense on the spiritual level.
Specifically, the Nine of Swords can represent anxiety for a loved one, grief, sickness, and the power worry has over us. While some of us may be facing a great sorrow, this card promises transformation after that suffering. Immediately following comes peace to the heart. Ego will kick and scream a bit, but in the end, as sorrow is acknowledged and allowed to flow through you (rather than getting stuck in a pity party), you’ll come out the other side.
Pain (physical, emotional, or spiritual) is not meant to simply make you miserable. It’s there to make you aware. Aware of having had that blessing that’s now leaving. Aware of the remaining blessings that still fill your life. Aware of fond memories. Or aware it’s time to make some changes to become happier.
April 22, 2021: Card O' the Day: Nine of Cups, reversed. The Nine of Cups is considered to be the “wish” card of the Tarot deck. All wishes come true, rainbows and cupcakes, etc. However, when it’s reversed, it shows you what’s really in those pretty, pretty cupcakes: tans-fats, sugar, and artificial everything.
This reversal brings a greater awareness of what’s true, which then brings you liberty from the gerbil wheel of constantly trying to pursue, and achieve, material pleasures that may appear to be “happiness” but aren’t. Look deeper and reject the trivial surface values that require you to keep up appearances. As you become free from false attachments and former attitudes of smugness and complacency, you’ll find your inner bliss. (Go for the plain, organic bran muffin. It ain’t pretty but it’ll make you poop!)
April 21, 2021: Card O' the Day: King of Wands, reversed. One has come to recognize lack of expertise and knowledge in something. This can cause feelings of dissatisfaction or uneasiness uneasy about the situation.
What NOT to do: Try to cover up your shortcomings with bluster, excuses, and blaming of others.
What TO do: You should relinquish control because your effective impact has been disturbed, blocked, or weakened and insignificant matters can become magnified. Continuing on as leader is pointless. But because you’re understanding of your own flaws and well tempered, you’re able to step back and wisely say “I don’t know how.” Such courage to do so does NOT diminish your force but actually increases it since you’ll be respected for allowing someone else better qualified to take the lead rather than ruin it all with your flailing.
April 20, 2021: Card O' the Day: Four of Cups, reversed. When the “boredom card” (Four of Cups) is reversed, it indicates we’re itching with a healthy restlessness for new opportunities to overcome that boredom and apathy. As we break out of the fallow period of discontent, the literal spring time offers new events and plenty of outdoor activity. Stuff you may have rejected last fall as not possible or not interesting may come back around. This new mood of yours enables you to see the advantages, and you might be more willing to give it a go.
Now, with all that said, be careful of your choices! Don’t become besties with new acquaintances just because you’ve been so isolated for the last year. And for heaven’s sake, don’t “fall in love” just because you’re horny! Be just as discerning with your new people as you were before. This also goes for new activities. Is this really what you want to do or is it a mindless distraction? For example, don’t join the local softball league—even though you’re totally “meh” about it—and then flake on your new teammates.
April 15, 2021: Card O' the Day: Eight of Swords, reversed. Oh, THANK you! Finally some relief from the righteous arrogance of late.
The reversed Eight recognizes the intellectual blocks and ego that led to difficulty, thoughtlessness, resistance, and squabbling. But it also promises clear sight and the first steps towards liberation from this awfulness. You (or the Nasty Ned you’ve been dealing with) are coming to recognize that the restrictions you imposed are completely intolerable…even for you. Enhanced ingenuity and improvisation help you understand how you got here (what you did, what others did) and how to get out.
Some of the revelations you come to may be embarrassing. Try not to hide your shame with further denial, huffing, and excuses. Own it, consider the whole experience a learning process, and move on.
April 14, 2021: Card O' the Day: Strength, reversed. Fer cryin’ out loud! Who out there is being such an arrogant, bullheaded prick!?!
When Strength is reversed normally well-controlled personal power goes sideways as one uses it to dominate or subjugate others via egotism, pettiness, excessive pride, and overestimation of one’s abilities. Dick-swinging is in full view as one behaves rashly and over-boldly by doing crazy-ass things that one considers “daring” and “innovative.” (No, they’re just stupid and destined to fail. Please don’t go sky-diving today.)
And we ALL know that all this high emotion and pomposity is merely a cover for weakness and inability. There WILL be a day when you’ll be called to account, required to make restitution and amends, and suck down a whole bunch of humiliation and shame. All I can say is the faster done, the faster over so you can get on with learning your lesson VERY well and not do “that” ever again.
April 13, 2021: Card O' the Day: The Hermit, reversed. Well, the most trite significance of the reversed Hermit is that it’s time to get out and be more social. But you know me, I like to dig deeper than Captain Obvious.
Looks like our good Prince couldn’t swallow the humble pie and has now walked off in a sulk feeling misunderstood, deserted, and all alone. And notice I said HE walked off. You couldn’t blame anyone for bailing on him after he’s been such a jerk, but I’m guessing anyone still around can’t bail because of obligations and responsibilities. Those poor souls are TRYING to offer help and guidance, but numb-nuts won’t listen. Once he hears someone else’s voice, he just points out how impossibly imperfect the concept or solution is, sneers, and goes back to his snit.
Now, I’m all for a good wallow in Mopesville, but you can’t stay there. It only leads to stagnation, abandonment of responsibilities, and makes you look reeeeeeaaaaalllllly petty. (And the longer you stay there, the harder it is to leave.)
April 12, 2021: Card O' the Day: Three of Wands, reversed. So, the Prince of Wands from Saturday didn’t get the memo about curbing his arrogance and playing nicely with others.
The reversed Three indicates delusions of grandeur, over confidence where it’s not warranted, abuse of power, carelessness, impracticality, and lack of foresight. A gratuitous performance of tasks means the energy put into them is scattered and nothing is finished on time or well. Which then results in difficulty putting plans into motion.
That’s the outward manifestation of an inner problem: excessive pride. Now that you (or someone you have to work with) have taken on more than you can handle, your ego won’t let you ask for help form the very people who should be helping. It would take eating significant numbers of humble pieZZZZZZZ and groveling to get the team back on track. Can you do it? Otherwise, the whole project tanks or just limps along because of somebody’s fat head.
April 10, 2021: Card O' the Day: Prince of Wands. This card represents transformative power and creativity…the kind that puts people on the moon and helps us take pictures of black holes. This is literally a force to be reckoned with. But because it’s “youthful”, it’s still in the ideas phase and not quite ready to actually build. Therefore, we have a foundation upon which you can present your thoughts and ideas with clarity and the awareness of what needs to be tweaked for full success. Expect challenges that require innovation, invention, and improvisation.
Unfortunately, this driven energy can cause you to become so bent on getting what you want you suffer alienation from others. Nobody can stand an arrogant asshole who thinks he/she knows it ALL!
One would do well to cultivate reliability, curb recklessness, let others talk and actually LISTEN to them, and develop commitment to your projects and promises. And make it sincere! Using excessive faux charm just to manipulate people into doing what you want them to do for you isn’t nice either.
April 9, 2021: Card O' the Day: Ten of Swords, reversed. The Ten of Swords is one of the more vicious cards in the Tarot deck, but when reversed, the numerological importance of 10 become paramount. Ten, as in endings that allow new beginnings. Thank gawd, because much more of “this” might just break us all.
This card signifies it’s time for rebirth, liberation, exciting breakthroughs, and recovery now that the corner has been turned. The extreme situations of the past months have been hard but have actually cleared the way for something new. Allow yourself to look forward to some pretty sweeping external changes and consciously make internal changes in your life so you don’t get caught flat-footed the next time the poo hits the fan.
You may have weathered the storm without too much damage personally, but know you didn’t get off completely free. You may feel a little shell-shocked by the horror of it all. However, if you dwell too much on past heartache and misfortune, you’ll hamper the new growth. Keep your eyes forward and your feet moving.
April 5, 2021: Card O' the Day: Queen of Pentacles, reversed. When the Queen of Pentacles is reversed, she represents wanting to shed patriarchal stereotypes and look for adventure. Rather than “Martha Stewart” energy, with all its cooking, gardening, and nurturing, this type of signature is blatantly “Amelia Earhart.” As in, I’m not just a girl and I can do anything I want!!!
This is all well and good to look for adventure and buck the system. Not everyone likes to knit, make jam, and give care to others. However, be careful of debasing your True Self just to appear more edgy and avant garde. I mean, you won’t lose cred as a daring, world record holding test pilot by Skyping your kid at bedtime.
My point is to stay connected to Self and your nature. Don’t just dump habits or things because they seem too lame and mainstream. If you like them, you do and that’s okay. If you don’t, also fine.
April 4, 2021: Card O' the Day: The World, reversed. How interesting to get the first of the Major Arcana and the last back to back…. The sub-element of earth is very present in the reversal of this card and signifies earth, matter, and raw material. I believe this is indication of being very grounded in reality. When upright The World, as the last of the Major Arcana, can represent releasing that which holds you back. Upon reversal, that “letting go” becomes a little more difficult and maybe feels like you’re having to sacrifice something. Fortunately, seeing as how you’re grounded in reality and all, you have the wisdom and compassion to do it anyway.
With the “beginning” potential of yesterday’s Fool and today’s “endings that allow beginnings” of The World, one can expect new paths. However, the reversal of The World means those beginnings are going to be smaller, and less immediately successful. Therefore, don’t expect a roaring fire from two twigs. Start small and grow carefully lest you get too eager and smother your fire with big logs before it’s ready. This is not to say there won’t be rewards. They’ll just be a little more private, less showy, and you might have to settle for the VW rather than the BMW. At least for now.
April 3, 2021: Card O' the Day: The Fool. Pure potential, The Fool encourages you to embrace curiosity and risk looking foolish, dare to be courageous and spontaneous, and make the most of enthusiasm, your joy for life, and ingenuity. TRUST yourself and Universe to provide the resources you’ll need when you need them and step forward into the unknown because The Fool reassures you that you’re supported. It’s true you can’t fail if you don’t try, but it’s also true you can’t succeed unless you try.
This card represents departures from routines and fresh starts. Don’t think too far ahead and bog yourself down with all the details of a 5-year plan. Live more in the present, take a look at what’s possible with a different point of view, and don’t expect explosions. Just see what happens….
April 2, 2021: Card O' the Day: Six of Pentacles, reversed. For those of you who didn’t get the memo yesterday, the reversed Six is calling you out for not putting yourself in a position to receive. (It’s like, you HAVE to buy a lottery ticket if you hope to win.) Or maybe you’re missing opportunities because you’re too arrogant to ask for help or accept what’s being offered. If you’re feeling denied, neglected, or overlooked and expected payoffs didn’t happen, that means you’re attaching a lot of strings to the gifts you want to or are hoping receive. (Noooooo! I wanted a bluuuuuuuuuuue BMW, not a red one!)
By not allowing reception, you’re actually cutting off your spirituality. Cos, you know, Universe is trying to give you all you need to thrive. But if you put conditions on those benefits, they’re going to be given to someone else who’s open to receiving and is grateful for what they get.
April 1, 2021: Card O' the Day: Three of Cups. The Three of Cups speaks of the rediscovery of love and is a sign you’re becoming more open and available to the many opportunities there are to love, be loved, and celebrate life. As you come to control your emotions (an not them controlling you!), enjoy the positive energy and spiritual fertility that accompanies it. Resolve to be happy and feel how that heals your soul.
Celebrations don’t need a specific event to occur because true celebration arises from inner joy and can be constant. Nevertheless, it’s much more fun to celebrate World Dust Bunny Day with friends (via Zoom, of course….f*cking COVID!) to rediscover the love you have for them and they have for you. Allow yourself to receive this emotional nourishment from your friends and community because they have your back just as you have theirs. You know how true and faithful you are. Trust them to be the same.
March 31, 2021: Card O' the Day: Seven of Cups. And the emotional chaos continues….
The Seven of Cups is signifying an ominous buildup of emotions and energy that’s hidden and not being expressed in a healthy manner. One is stuck and stagnating in a delusion of victimhood while one indulges in fantasies of how everyone has “done them wrong.” Depression and self-indulgence result as one wallows in a cess pit of one’s own making. This emotionality is actually manufactured and very self-serving. These visions of oppression lack meaning because they don’t connect to anything real and concrete outside themselves.
If you’re stuck in a hole, put down the shovel, pull up your boots* and start looking for help. Call your doctor for a referral to a therapist, talk to your spiritual advisor, volunteer at a homeless shelter, take a walk outside, DO SOMETHING besides whine about your drama and misfortune. We ALL are suffering or have suffered in this last year. Stop inventing more reasons to snivel.
*This does not pertain to people in REAL trouble who literally have no boots. I’m talking to all the snowflakes out there who are sooooooooo “done” with this pandemic thing and rilly, like, NEED to get back to “normal” life.
March 30, 2021: Card O' the Day: The High Priestess, reversed. The reversed King continues in the reversed Priestess. She is indicative of having difficulty accessing insight, ignoring intuition, and having trouble understanding or remembering dreams. Like the reversed King, the reversed Priestess has lost touch with her feelings, buried them, or can’t/won’t acknowledge them.
In this condition, one is in serious danger of mistaking the desires and judgments of the ego for one’s “intuition” and beliefs of the “higher self.” When this happens, pure Universal and Spiritual principles become corrupted by ignorance and lack of understanding on the material plane. This results in personal bullsh*t being projected onto others as one clutches one’s pearls and pretends outrage.
I remind you of last week’s Seven of Wands and ask you where YOU are being harmed? Put your ego in a time-out and really listen to Universe, the trees, insects, little birdies, your ancestors, etc. You may hear Love is the highest of all principles….
March 29, 2021: Card O' the Day: King of Swords, reversed. It would seem all the mushy, la-la cards of late have freaked a few people out. I get it; emotions are HARD! So, in reaction, some of you have swung in the opposite direction and put a very tight lid on feelings and opinions of yourself and possibly others. Gruffness, chilly demeanor, or a false front (I’m good!) are all ways to hide the soft underbelly that’s been exposed and explored. When you struggle to categorize those feelings and try to express yourself, the words sound trite, hippy-dippy, and fragile. This leads to muddled, confused, and overwhelmed thinking, so you shut yer yap and keep “those” thoughts to yourself.
But the thing is, feelings of love and joy aren’t a sign of weakness. It actually takes great strength to put yourself out there and admit to loving and being happy. The tighter the limits you place on yourself and expressions, the bigger the “boom” that comes later when the pressure of keeping that lid down builds beyond control. Go ahead and let your happy, loving feelings show and be a little sorry for those who can’t. They’re missing soooooooo much life!
March 28, 2021: Card O' the Day: Two of Cups. Wow. LOTS of union of opposites these days…. The Two of Cups continues our current controlled energy stream with the harmonious meeting of hearts and sharing of gifts. This means making strong connections that encourage reciprocal exchanges between parties. I’m talking win-win compromises where everybody gets something they wanted.
This card heralds the birth of a higher, more loving quality within you. You’re coming to understand what unconditional love actually means. You can love someone without demanding that they change to fit your ideals. You can love someone without expecting anything in return.
Now, this does NOT mean you become a pushover and let people take advantage. Loving someone can be done from afar. For example, you can still love ex-partners and wish them all the best in their lives while avoiding them because you don’t particularly like them or because the two of you bring out the worst in each other. Allowing yourself to love another, regardless of their color, religion, political leanings, etc. means you can release the negative feelings you’ve been carrying for them. Just like it takes more muscles in your face to frown than it does smile, loving is so much easier and lighter than hating!
March 27, 2021: Card O' the Day: The Lovers. We revisit the concept of polarity and union of opposites with The Lovers today. This time we’re looking at ideal (what we want) v. reality (what we can get or what’s available). When we learn to love, we can achieve wholeness within ourselves and with others as we unite apparent opposites and appreciate the result.
Through love, we can see the mystery of the world’s equilibrium and our own part in this balance. How? By being a whole lot less judge-y. When you love, you’re able to accept differences in others and appreciate quirks as part of their charm. AND, bonus, you can accept those same differences and quirks in yourself! The less you consider yourself as an oddball and somehow “wrong” and love yourself, the less you’ll tie your self-worth to what others think of you. You’ll be happy in your own skin.
Love, in any form, delivers us to our highest good. I’m sure all of you have seen the power love can have to move mountains, change laws, save whales, etc. KEEP loving and spread that energy like kudzu!
March 26, 2021: Card O' the Day: While doing the “inner work” suggested in yesterday’s Three, some of you may have opened your personal skeleton closet. And I can well attest to how uncomfortable THAT is. This is the place where you keep all your most embarrassing, ugly mistakes. Those that make you want to crawl under a rock every time you even think of them. UGH!!!
When Strength is reversed it indicates you may be afraid of your passions, urges, or instincts. Thus you’ve put yourself on a VERY short leash so you don’t keep putting your foot in your mouth, making social blunders, or doing something you or society considers “sinful.” Having to face the consequences of past actions was so humiliating, you’d rather just not do anything lest your wild-assed self goes off again.
But keeping yourself so tightly controlled is no way to live. There’s got to be a happy medium (hello Three of Pentacles) wherein you can enjoy your creativity and natural joie de vivre! Try to find a way to live more freely and without fear that every step you take will be “wrong.” And besides, you lived through the past catastrophes so you know you can handle the next one.
March 25, 2021: Card O' the Day: Three of Pentacles. As we all know, Pentacles represent the physical plane and work. However, there’s a beautiful spiritual element to this suit as well that translates the etherial and intangible to the concrete. The number three represents integration, combination, and the harmonious synthesis of two apparently opposing opposites being creatively reconciled. This can look like two political parties coming to agreement on an important social issue. Or it can mean adjusting your stance on a particular belief.
Putting the number three with the suit of Pentacles indicates combining technical and practical skill with spiritual understanding, energy, and desire. In this case, active, hands-on work serves as a vehicle for self-development and personal inner work. Follow your gut on this one to increased greatness of soul.
March 23, 2021: Card O' the Day: Seven of Wands. The Seven of Wands signifies individualistic actions and having the courage to stand up for what you believe in. Loudly and aggressively, which may get you into confrontations and arguments. While you may get a rush of self-worth through the forceful control of the problem or perceived rivalry, it actually creates a gross disruption of the balance of physical energy around you. (It could be you’re not arguing with anyone else but having a go round with Me, Myself, and I. Still just as troubling.)
All this hostility can be exhausting. Recognize when you need to take a step back to regain your strength with a well-placed nap or nature hike. The break will also serve as the perfect time for honest self-reflection regarding personal tenets. It’s all well and good to remain steadfast about your beliefs, but be open-minded enough to gather additional facts and recognize when you could be wrong about something. (Hello? Reversed Emperor anyone?)
Determine if your personal crusade is WORTH IT. Do you REALLY need to see the manager? Quit your job? Sue the other party? Consider carefully where and how much you’ve been harmed, how others are systemically and continuously harmed, or how truly important in the grand scheme of things YOUR point of view is. Pick your battles well and let the rest roll off your back.
March 22, 2021: Card O' the Day: Judgment, reversed. Judgment is one of the big “change cards” of the Tarot deck. In my understanding of the cards, Death indicates big changes on your material plane (house, car, job, physical body, etc.). The Tower represents big changes in the way you think and in what you believe. Judgement represents the inevitable changes brought by time passing. When it’s reversed, like the others, it indicates you’re struggling more than usual with those coming changes. You may doubt their value or resent they have to take place at all.
It could be you dread the future that includes the old age of your parents and their failing health, your own aging and loss of youthful vitality, and everybody’s eventual death. (These fears certainly keep me awake at night!) Perhaps you’re not dreading the future but are objecting to the speed at which time zooms by. We’ve all basically lost a year of our lives to COVID. And while we had great intentions of finally doing that Big Thing we’ve always dreamed of during the forced down time, it still hasn’t happened. (My hand is up on this one, too.)
But here’s the thing: time moves on. Always. No matter what. This is one stream in which you simply cannot swim against the current so don’t even try. Therefore, enjoy the snot out of today and tomorrow and tomorrow and be good with that.
March 21, 2021: Card O' the Day: The Emperor, reversed. Upright, The Emperor is the embodiment of masculine energy and all the typical masculine societal markers such as power, leadership, macho behavior, etc. Reversed, that energy becomes toxic dick-swinging. Abuse of power and all other negative qualities of having power are indicated when this card is reversed. If it’s you being the asshole, stop right now! If you’re under the thumb of someone like this, get out.
Here’s the dirty secret the blowhards don’t want known, though. They’re weak, lack confidence or self-worth, and feel overwhelmed or over burdened. In an effort to hide those facts, they bluster and try to cover the truth with chest pounding and shouting. So, again, if this is you, ask for help and ease your burdens so you don’t feel like you’re sinking. If it’s someone else, run away. This is above your pay grade.
March 20, 2021: Card O' the Day: Nine of Cups. Maybe because it’s such a glorious day or that the daffodils are blooming, but the sunshine got even brighter with this card’s appearance. The Nine of Cups speaks of material, emotional, and physical wellbeing, wish fulfillment, and all that, but there’s deeper stuff here than just getting what you want.
This card is reminding you that YOU are enough and it’s time to take responsibility for making YOURSELF happy rather than waiting for someone else to do it or until you reach a particular goal. (You know the inner dialog I’m talking about… “I’ll be happy when I get X, Y, or Z; or “my partner needs to start making me happy or I’m leaving!”) Trust Universe to support you, but at the same time rely on your inner strength and perseverance to use that support to succeed.
Look around and recognize what you already have and enjoy that without pining for something bigger, badder, and better. Through the perspective of “Wow, I’m so blessed right this minute!” you’ll understand how easy it is to be in your own skin and happy about it.
March 19, 2021: Card O' the Day: Eight of Swords, reversed. Interesting that the reversed Eight of Swords appears right after the reversed Hierophant….
This card represents self-imposed restrictions becoming too much even though they may seem to be supported by logic and reason. This supposed “logic” and “reason” has made you susceptible to persuasive ideas and arguments that allowed others to deceive you and put you in your current position of being boxed in by social constraints. However, today’s card gives you the clarity of thought and ingenuity to help you break out of this crushing situation. You can see how others manipulated you, how you needed the structure they offered, and how the whole thing became a prison.
Skip the self-recriminations and just move on. Once your state of affairs has relaxed a bit, then do your Monday morning quarter-backing to pick apart where you went astray. Bolster the weak spots that made you vulnerable and go forth older and wiser for the experience.
March 18, 2021: Card O' the Day: The Hierophant, reversed. The Hierophant, when upright, represents knowledge and belief systems. Reversed, that knowledge becomes dusty and the belief systems become traps of rusty or lazy intellectual habits.
This card indicates you may be clinging to rigid and dogmatic “rules” because that’s the way it’s always been and it’s just easier to stay put. But by staying in this prison of outdated ideals or principles, you’re not growing. Being mentally stagnant leaves you open to being dominated by others who have named themselves “rule makers” and judges of what’s appropriate or inappropriate based upon what makes THEM the most money.
Whether in a relationship, career, church, or book club, when the “shoulds”, “oughts”, and harsh judgments become too much, that’s a red flag. Do your research, think for yourself, and step away if the situation is more burden than help or joy.
March 16, 2021: Card O' the Day: King of Cups, reversed, again. Still struggling…. The reversed King of Cups can signify depression setting in. Especially since he appeared day before yesterday, followed by the reversed Hermit, and is here again today. Emotional fog and drifting? Feeling supremely disappointed in oneself? Indulging in escapist behavior like drugs, alcohol, binge eating, or lots of casual sex with partners you’d never consider otherwise?
If you said “yes” to two or all three of these questions, it’s time to reach out and talk to someone objective. A chat with your clergy person, spiritual advisor, or a professional therapist will help give you perspective, assure you you’re not the only person to ever feel this way, and walk you back into the light with no judgment or recriminations. You don’t have to feel like this.
March 15, 2021: Card O' the Day: The Hermit, reversed. Personal “balance” is still off. The Hermit comes to us when it’s time for inner journeys, meditation, contemplation of Self, and all the stuff that gets you closer to your higher powers. Reversed, it indicates your reasons for being alone are more snit-based, you don’t want to talk to anyone, and you just feel deserted, alone, and misunderstood. Cue emo music because you’re probably guilty of the actual walking away and can’t blame anyone but yer own damn self.
Continued self-isolation from friends and needed resources may be due to your refusal to listen to the well-meaning advice of those who wish to help. (Oooo, Ego is on a kick!) Now granted, some of those “friends” may have been off the mark with their suggestions or took advantage of your weakened state to give you a goodly stab in the back.
However, remaining shut away in a disapproving sulk does nothing to improve your outlook or remaining relationships (yes, you may dump “that” friend). The longer you stay in your self-imposed dungeon, the more like Golem you’ll become. And he’s a nasssssssty little fellow, he is.
March 14, 2021: Card O' the Day: King of Cups, reversed. When cards become reversed, they don’t mean just the opposite of the upright card. It’s more along the lines of extreme ends of a spectrum…like only infra-red or ultra-violet and none of the pretty colors in between. With the King of Cups, we’re looking at extremes of emotions and behaviors guided by emotions. (And we’re not just talking about guys or “guy” identifying people, here.)
You may experience weakness in enforcing rules or boundaries by trying to be “nice” or you don’t have the strength of will to argue about it, which then allows others to run rough-shod over you. Perhaps you simply don’t care what others do and have no interest in being a leader for them. The other end of that spectrum is being a totally overbearing micromanager. Emotionally, you could be shut down and cold to everyone thereby keeping them at arms’ length so they can’t hurt you. Conversely, you’re so desperate to be liked/loved you’re excessively kind and obsequious at your own expense.
When the King of Cups is reversed like this, you definitely need new ways to express your inner self. These extremes may be caused by your and/or society’s views of gender norms—specifically, what “masculinity” is supposed to look like. Ideally, masculine/feminine energy should be well balanced and integrated within us. This card says the balance is off, so it might be time for reading some books on the subject, attending a lecture or two, or having a couple-three sessions with a licensed therapist. (If this ain’t you, Amazon drop-ships books on every subject. Just sayin’.)
March 13, 2021: Card O' the Day: The Magician. Being the first or second card in the series of the Major Arcana (depending on who you ask), The Magician represents new beginnings. Whether that’s in your professional life or personal, is up to you but all tools you need to start are available. This card signifies the combination of inspiration with raw talent, creative energy, and practical use of resources.
The caveat—it’s big, so pay attention—is The Magician is pure ego in action and creativity comes through sheer balls and chutzpah. Being aware of yourself as a unique and precious individual and having self-confidence to burn is great! Self-reliance, the desire for action, and willingness and motivation to embark on new endeavors are all AWESOME!!
However, it’s VERY easy to misuse this power and become an asshole on a bulldozer. Check all the details going into and throughout a project. All your actions have consequences; be cognizant of them BEFORE you act. When you make a mistake (notice I said “when” not “if”), own it, fix it, and be patient with yourself for having erred. And actually, such slip-ups will serve as a nice reminder to your ego that your sh*t still stinks.
March 12, 2021: Card O' the Day: Prince of Wands, reversed. The Prince of Wands is pretty much a firecracker! But when reversed, his energy can be more like a cherry bomb in a toilet. So, you’ve go two choices: continue going off the chain or slow the f*ck down.
Your impatience, recklessness, and thoughtlessness during your hysterics will only bring discord and interruption to everything you try. Without focus or outlet for your explosive energy, expect frustration and a short-temper within yourself and completely pissing off everyone who has to deal with you. (Sounds a lot like my neighbor’s kid who ran away from home in teenaged angst and snit.)
If you choose Door Number 2, that means staying present in the moment and not PUSHING what’s next. Allow the future to come when it comes rather than trying to micro-manage everything a week in advance. Make loose plans for the coming days and staying flexible about them. Concentrating on what happens in the next hour will actually make you more effective in your endeavors and you’ll be able to enjoy them more deeply because you’re fully “there” in them.
March 10, 2021: Card O' the Day: The Devil, reversed. As you become more conscious of your circumstances, circle of people, work life, and habits, you’ll see the destructive behaviors and patterns you allow to continue and where power is being misused (by you or against you). You may be caught up in manipulation and codependency that you truly need to escape. The reversed Devil is your ticket out.
Like with all problems, you have to recognize and acknowledge what doesn’t work for you before you can begin the process of disentangling yourself. Say no to the temptations that will keep you stuck and trapped in bad habits (drugs, alcohol, “that” partner, the adequate but deadening job, etc.). Yeah, sometimes it IS hard to blast yourself loose, but if you stay, you’ll only sink a little lower each day.
Today, we’re being given the opportunity to access your own creativity and wonderfulness. (Yes, YOU are indeed wonderful.) Turn away from the devil you do know and put one foot on the path to your personal best. It’s not easy, but it’s better than staying a slave to The Devil.
March 9, 2021: Card O' the Day: Princess/Page of Cups. Suffering stems from the illusion of separateness, but if you can understand it’s truly a misconception, you’ll realize you’re not as isolated as you think. This card is inviting you to walk through the open doors in front of you and embrace everything that’s being offered.
Some of you may snarl “bah, humbug” at me but you just have to ASK! Are you struggling to navigate the on-line registration for COVID vaccines? Ask for help from someone who’s a little more computer-savvy than you. (Thank them with a batch of cookies or a nice card.) Struggling to make ends meet? Get on the phone and call food banks, social services, churches, heat bill assistance people, etc., etc. There. Is. No. Shame.
Finally, practice gratitude for what you DO have. Lift your own spirits to the level of this wide-eyed Princess and just wonder at the beauty in this world. Allow yourself to be loving towards yourself and your own life.
March 6, 2021: Card O' the Day: The Tower. Yesterday I talked about the concept of physical success and abundance and posted a picture of a shiny red sports car to illustrate. Today we get The Tower to reiterate the dangers of becoming overly enamored of shiny things. (If you want to get Biblical, think golden calf.)
Literal physical structures (mansions and cars) or emotionally/mentally/spiritually figurative structures (societal position, relationships, group affiliations), are meant to enhance our lives. But when they begin to enslave, imprison, or block your growth and potential, they’re not useful anymore and become liabilities. Let’s go back to the sports car…the insurance on it’s sky high, it needs premium fuel, and it screams “give me a ticket!” every time you drive it. That fancy corner office job requires you to work 80hr+/wk. The pastor at your mega church requires that you make hefty donations so HE can live in a huge mansion.
The Tower asks you to stop searching for the Divine in the “sky” but to look for and find it here on earth. I interpret that to mean discovering your spiritual guidance in the flowers, ordinary labor, quiet meditations, etc. Yes, you can still have your shiny things, but don’t worship them as a symbol of your worth because you are so much more than that. Besides, a newer model of car will come out next year and you’ll still be driving that “old” car.
March 5, 2021: Card O' the Day: Ten of Pentacles. On the surface, the Ten of Pentacles represents dependability, security, stability, and abundant life. It acknowledges what’s been gained through difficulty and sacrifice. So, yes, you’ve achieved success at work and bought sh*t; how nice for you. But the gain is only on the physical plane and there’s no human connection involved because all the development of the physical and practical has been at the expense of the magical.
As a Taurus, I looooooove me some luxury and I certainly enjoy my “shiny things”, so I’m NOT throwing ya’ll any shade. However, we must understand there’s so much more to life than extra nice stuff. This card encourages you to go beyond the material plane to bring abundance to other corners of your world. Talk to friends, family, homies, “yer peeps” about ANYthing but a latest acquisition. Volunteer some place and give of yourself, not your wallet. A little “do-gooding” is a really cheap and fast way to connect to people and the magic of Universe.
March 4, 2021: Card O' the Day: The Hanged Man, reversed. This is my story of the relationship I have with The Hanged man, reversed. When I finally engaged with the Tarot cards that had been fascinating me my whole life, my family thought I was nuts. Because I was so new to the spiritual plane, I needed guidance but didn’t know who was “the real deal” and who was simply a woo-woo wannabe. It was very confusing and social derision didn’t help, so I went underground and muddled through with my research and spiritual development on my own.
And, actually, that’s the best thing I could have done. I did find like minded friends who shared their own stories and spiritual paths, but by and large, the journey has been my own. When you listen to others rather than your own inner guides, or fight with Self, it slows your progress or blocks it altogether because you’re distracted by someone else’s interpretation of Spirit. Your spiritual path is uniquely YOURS. Yes, ask around, read a few books that inspire or interest you, but ultimately follow YOUR gut to spiritual enlightenment. And for heaven’s sake, never mind what the neighbors (or your mother) say!
March 3, 2021: Card O' the Day: Three of Pentacles. Here we go again with that “work is sacred” stuff. As Spring starts to spring, literally and figuratively, the sap is starting to rise in the trees and our beings. (My brother makes maple syrup, thus the analogy.) Begin to combine your resources with inspiration, knowledge, skills, and experience to create your best work. Use the powerful inner guidance we all have to imagine and create a practical project that not only could actually make some money but ALSO serves as a vehicle for personal development. Two birds, one stone; very efficient.
This card speaks of early fruits of your labor and positive outcomes following perseverance as well. Consider it a little promise that you’ll see gains from your hard work right away. That’s not to say nothing will go wrong, but enough will go right that your efforts will feel worth it.
March 2, 2021: Card O' the Day: Eight of Cups. The most common interpretation of this card is that it’s time to leave something behind and search for bigger, badder, and better. Yeah…but not today; it’s so much more subtle then just packing up and going. When you’re looking for existential answers, deepen your insight (what do you REALLY need? what do you REALLY want?) and then observe what comes to you. “Deepening insight” is woo-speak for personal journeys. (*sigh* Why does everything have to be a capital J “Journey”? *cue dramatic lighting and music*) This one is regarding your heart and emotional maturity and thus the question of what you really want/need to be happy. Integrate your intuition with your intellect to help your heart make decisions which are realistic and match your vibe.
It could be you don’t need to leave anything but that something is leaving you. This card can represent losing interest in an idea or desire you had been super attached to and was once very important. Look for ways to enhance and be satisfied with what you already have. Above all, don’t go throwing out the baby with the bath water while searching for emotional fulfillment. Dorothy had to go all the way to Oz and battle flying monkeys to learn Kansas didn’t suck. It was SHE who sucked and was unfulfilling to HERSELF.
March 1, 2021: Card O' the Day: Five of Pentacles. The pervading energy of this card is worry, but we all know that accomplishes nothing except to give you sleepless nights or a stomach ache. Allowing your fears to to take over about what “might be” wastes your time and energy, so keep too busy to sit and stew. Engage your inner wisdom to see the root of the struggles and then plan strategies and solutions.
If you feel the worrying start to creep up, “change the channel” by shifting your focus. Do easy household chores, talk a walk, or call a friend to find out how THEY are doing. (Whining about your problems only puts you back into the worry cycle.)
With all that stiffening of your own spine and upper lip, if you still need help then ASK for it. Apply for social services or free legal aid, go to the local health center for counseling, or see what kind of help your local church offers. There’s NO SHAME in needing or asking for a boost when you’re temporarily lost. And asking for help is a viable strategy/solution to your problems that gets waaaaaay more done than worrying!
February 28, 2021: Card O' the Day: The World. As the final card in the series of the Major Arcana, The World represents a conclusion of something. I liken it to finishing the gut remodel of one room in an old house…with 99 more rooms to go. Meaning, you’ve still got lots of work to do on this arduous journey of cutting through illusions and falsehoods to perceive the truth. You’re by no means “done” or “perfect.” However, you got one room done so congratulate yourself and take a small break.
While you’re resting, enjoy the clear view of the lessons learned regarding the past missteps, mistakes, struggles, wrong turns, and do overs. Make notes on what you don’t need to do again and what DID work so you can incorporate that into your repertoire.
The World also represents being “at home” in your own skin. As in, “wherever you go, there you are.” To make the most of your “home”, understand the world you know as “home” is only ONE aspect of the infinite world/homes. Therefore, look outside your windows and explore what/who else is out there. Doing so will make your own “home” more interesting and exciting to be in.
February 26, 2021: Card O' the Day: Prince of Cups, reversed. I know I always preach adaptation over rigidity, but that flexibility and cooperation needs to be genuine. The reversed Prince of Cups represents obsequious and insincere agreeing to someone’s face but knowing they’ll only do the parts they want to do or somehow manipulate the circumstances to get more for themselves. Passive and slithery, the reversed Prince manages to slide out of any commitments or responsibilities but still look good on the surface.
Any warm emotions displayed are fake because those under the influence of this card really only love themselves. They’re also likely to be “faux woke” and spout spiritual nonsense while telling you about their latest vegan diet as they sip their skinny almond milk latte. (Almond trees need an INCREDIBLE amount of water to grow and the beans making that coffee are probably not fair trade, but what do they care?)
If you know someone like this, give a wide berth. If you are “that person”, scroll past because your crown chakra is too far up your root chakra for you to recognize anything negative about yourself.
February 25, 2021: Card O' the Day: Strength, reversed. Today’s card really illustrates how all tools of divination are really tapping into the same Universal energy. I’ve always held no one thing is better than another—i.e. tea leaf reading is superior to runes, Tarot cards are way more informative than astrology, etc. It’s quite common that when my friends who use other tools post their thoughts and observations according to their respective tools, “my cards” generally agree.
Strength, reversed, was actually quite hesitant to step forward today; I almost passed it over. When Strength is reversed it signifies unsteady, dissipating energies, weakness, self-doubt, and feeling cut off from that which nourishes you. The other extreme* the reversal represents is brashness and an overestimation of one’s abilities.** (*I have found reversed interpretations to be not the exact opposite of the upright interpretation, but more of the opposite ends of a spectrum. Meaning the money oriented King of Pentacles loses all his money or gets stinking, corrupt piles of it when he’s reversed.) (**Note to self: don’t overdo it on your first try with the new exercise equipment!)
Two astrological readings I saw today indicated (1) Venus is entering into Pisces, which can lead to extreme emotional sensitivity and insecurity (weakness, self-doubt) and (2) Moon is in Leo pushing sparkiness into the air and encouraging one to treat the world as one’s own stage (brashness). To balance the exceptionally divergent energies, practice good old moderation! Yes, be bright and showy but limit your audience to a few trusted friends who’ll applaud your joie de vivre but not laugh if you fall flat.
February 23, 2021: Card O' the Day: The World, reversed. As the final card in the series of the Major Arcana, The World represents endings. But more importantly, it represents the “higher realms” of existence, spirit stuff, and the divine magic of Universe. When the card is reversed, it slams us back to the material plane and egocentricity. (In this connotation, I’m not talking about being an arrogant bastard so much as not considering anything beyond what you can see, hear, or touch.)
The question is why do you stay in materialism and egocentricity? Are you denying the existence of what’s unseen? are you afraid of it? do you not want to come to the “ending” of something? Even when you successfully complete an endeavor, it’s natural to feel a little glum or empty about being finished. This “big thing” you’ve been pouring your life blood into is done, so now what?
Firstly, celebrate your big finish and take a minute to recover your energies. However, don’t STAY there resting on your laurels because any new beginnings from here will be delayed or slowed and you’ll stagnate. And then when you finally DO try to begin, it’s that much harder. Potential and opportunities will wait only so long for you to get on with it, so don’t hit the snooze button more than twice.
February 22, 2021: Card O' the Day: Princess of Wands. This card is representative of enthusiastic—almost brazen—energy that drives one forward in the search of new directions regarding self-growth and improvement. Because Princesses signify the initial sparks for anything new, and not any concrete action just yet, the Fire Girl has the luxury of changing her mind quickly and often. That’s not to say she isn’t passionate about ideas—she totally is—but since no resources have been invested, there’s no harm done in tweaking, or chucking entirely, an idea. Therefore, expand your views and think of things you’ve never thunk before!
While one does need to be somewhat realistic in goals, how you get there is up to you. Excessive experience, knowledge, or skill are not required at the moment. You just need openness and desire to tackle a problem.
February 21, 2021: Card O' the Day: Six of Swords. The Six of Swords has heavy “travel” connotations. I’m not getting literal travel; it’s more of traveling through time as one suffers the difficult transition of the last few days/weeks. There’s certainly awareness of all that’s been lost and a bit of mourning to go along with it. Try your best not to wallow. Take notes of the events, release all tension about it, accept the limits you crashed up against, and then move towards healing and recovery.
It is advised that one should change one’s orientation re that past issue and those like it. Otherwise, you’ll keep making the same stupid mistakes and try to solve them with the same tired (and we have learned useless) solutions, which were unsatisfactory and left you stuck. By remaining calm and focusing carefully (read: put your ego in a time out), you’ll be receptive to new ideas, impressions, or perspectives (none of them your own), and be capable of going forward wiser for the experience.
February 20, 2021: Card O' the Day: Three of Wands, reversed. Welp, looks like the theme continues and it’s showing that some of your problems may be based in your own hubris. This card represents being over-ambitious, arrogant, or obstinate and having bitten off more than you can chew. Your delusions of grandeur, strength, or experience, coupled with overly speculative and impractical plans, have caused a failure of some project due to problems greater than expected. Unrealistic expectations about getting rich quickly didn’t help. Who out there got caught up in the GameStop debacle? Because that’s what this reminds me of when you add the previous days’ cards to this one.
At any rate, the situation remains static. I’d suggest you sit tight and wait for things to improve on their own or under the guidance of others. Making changes out of a panicked attempt to “make things better” won’t work.
February 18, 2021: Card O' the Day: King of Pentacles, reversed. When the King of Pentacles is reversed, the short answer is there are money troubles. I feel like the whole story regarding the Twos is about money! The compromises necessary to settle the disputes leave one feeling undervalued and insecure…which then leads to miserliness and counting every penny.
Digging in your heels and getting more obstinate in your attempts to “win” only shifts your energy out of your heart and into your wallet. I can personally attest that when I concentrate too hard on my wallet, opportunities slip through my fingers. Then I get pissy-cranky and can’t stand my own damn self. Please don’t let materialism poison your personal Spirit well!
February 17, 2021: Card O' the Day: Two of Pentacles, reversed. SHUT THE FRONT DOOR! Third Two in a row! Similar to the reversed Two of Wands (conflict, remember?), the reversed Two of Pentacles signifies the polarity of opposites inherent in Twos rather than the possibility of union and cooperation (Two of Cups).
First we had the energy of the situation brought to us (Wands), then emotions were detailed (Cups). Significantly, all hearts were in the right place to try to figure things out and that’s why the Two of Cups was upright. However, now that we’ve come to the physical plain (Pentacles) regarding the situation, we see things are still not good despite our best wishes. Meaning, while you may believe you’ve changed your perspective on becoming more cooperative and receptive, have you really? Ego is a stubborn little asshole and it’s reeeeeaaallly hard to compromise when “compromise” feels like “losing.” (I’ve heard it said that real compromise is where nobody’s happy.)
Unfortunately, there are some things out of your control here in that the situation is necessarily on hold for the time being. However rabid you are to “git ‘er done”, arguing about it with the others involved doesn’t help. Lack of focus and inconsistency of action further the stagnation. It could very well be this is a case of “retreat being the better part of valor.” How badly does your ego need the “win”? Could it be it’s just better to drop the issue before it becomes an even bigger pain in the ass?
February 16, 2021: Card O' the Day: Two of Cups. Some could say this card is a couple days late, seeing as how it’s the big “love” card of the Tarot deck. However, I’m more interested in the fact that another Two has shown up. Twos, in addition to conflict (which was appropriate for the reversed Two of Wands), can also indicate alternatives and receptivity. Thus, if you look past the conflict of the reversed Fire Two, then you can be more receptive to the alternate possibilities of the softer, and more emotional, Water Two. Taken together, we see a difference that got our panties in a twist followed by cooperation.
The beauty of cooperation is that it allows for the creation of something neither party could do alone. It behooves both sides to join forces. And guess what? Not only do you get the project/job done better and faster, but you actually have the chance to make a new friendship. In doing so you’ll learn about the concept of unconditional love without expectations or demands. You don’t depend upon others for gain and you don’t make them dependent on you to get what they need. In the end, you relate to each other because you WANT to not because you HAVE to.
February 14, 2021: Card O' the Day: Two of Wands, reversed. Twos themselves can indicate conflict. Add the reversed energy of Wands and things may get a little volatile. However, we all know the best lessons are learned when things are not gong perfectly as planned. We’re encouraged to awaken to our inner possibilities and resources, become more self-sufficient, and reorganize turbulent energy into something that can work for you.
When you can do that, it may look like leaving behind safe situations and relative success (albeit modest) to jump directly into unknown, new experiences. Imagine your wonder and surprise when you get it to actually work!!! Refuse to be intimidated by any nay-sayers because you can see—or choose to see—what they can’t or won’t.
February 13, 2021: Card O' The Day: Prince of Swords, reversed. The normally forward thinking and moving Prince of Swords feels a little more reticent when reversed. Prudence dictates one should continue to hold still or even retreat slightly as the current climate and situations call for a more careful and considered approach. This will require consciously trying to overcome the impulsiveness inherent in the Prince/Knight cards (but especially with the Sword Prince!) and deliberately becoming more thoughtful, careful, and less hurried as one waits for opposition to move out of the way.
The good Prince is reiterating the stasis pointed out to us by yesterday’s reversed Three of Wands. Looks like we’ve been given permission to continue to “be” with a good book and cup of something warm rather than rabidly “doing” all day.
February 12, 2021: Card O' the Day: Three of Wands, reversed. On occasion, we may have simply too much to do and all those tasks become overwhelming because we don’t know where to start. Firstly, reorganize and prioritize. Then break down the monster projects into bite-sized pieces you can handle without becoming a crispy critter. However, it may be your mood has taken a dip and even the simplest chores are too much. When that happens, concentrate on the brainless tasks you can sleepwalk through. In the end, you get SOMEthing accomplished and can be pleased with yourself for not being a waste of oxygen. (Ask me how I know.)
Fortunately, this energetic signature is temporary and you’ll regain your footing with a break in the misfortunes and burdens of labor or the opportunity to postpone jobs becomes a viable option. But for now, things are a little static, so enjoy the tranquility that comes with just sitting for a minute.
February 6, 2021: Card O' the Day: The Wheel of Fortune, reversed. The Wheel of Fortune is fortuitous even when reversed. The super abundance of change and growth is, however, scattered by the unpredictable energy coming off this card. This means outcomes may also be unpredictable but more than likely, they’ll simply be delayed. I know we’re all anxious and more than ready for new phases, but the blocks and delays indicate the new opportunities aren’t quite ready yet.
Universe asks you to have courage and keep the faith that things WILL improve. Seriously, nothing lasts forever—even though these suck-ass times feel like they’ll never end. While you may have to wait for certain things and can’t actually DO anything to hustle them along, you can control your ‘tude while you twiddle your thumbs. Do your best to remain positive and keep your feet moving as you stumble through what feels like Hell.
February 4, 2021: Card O' the Day: The Moon, reversed. The reversed Moon’s influence is subtle…almost sly, but not in a malignant way. Mischievous and with a slightly raised eyebrow, she asks you, “Really?” Moon invites you to re-evaluate what kind of person you want to be seen as. Are you trying to keep up with the Kardashians and photoshop your life on IG as well as IRL? That’s a LOT of work!
If your aspirations don’t seem worthwhile, they might not be. If all efforts feel futile and overwhelming, then you’re trying too hard at life. There’s a time for balls-to-the-wall, do-or-die work, but now isn’t it. The reversed Moon signifies a time of simply “being” rather than doing, doing, doing and chasing the next social media like/follow or viral video. That’s not to say you meld with your mattress until springtime, just go at an easier trot. Your energy will last longer and you’ll see more along the way if it’s not going by in a blur.
February 3, 2021: Card O' the Day: Three of Pentacles. Not only does this card give us the constructive energy to get our butts off the couch to actually DO something, it also highlights our inner oomph and impulse to work. Which is the key to me doing any task because I can stare at a necessary job all day and still not do it unless I have the drive coming from within.
This card again mentions the spiritual aspects of work and ordinary labor. We are encouraged to think of and do even the most tedious chores with those in mind and allow them to raise us to a higher level. With he right attitude, work can become a form of spiritual development (and gets done a whole lot faster, too).
Even though one’s Higher Self is engaged, work is the practical application of that Self to produce tangible and measurable results. While you’re at it, honestly assess your skills and play up your strengths. Weaknesses will need to be acknowledged and practiced to turn them into strengths…or at least make them less “weak.” How does this card translate for you today? For me it means attacking those dust bunnies propagating under my living room sofa.
February 2, 2021: Card O' the Day: Prince of Swords, reversed. Ooooo! SOMEbody’s defensive! I made one small suggestion to allow emotions a say in the decision-making process and the armor came on with a clatter. I’m not attacking logic and analysis; I’m just saying sometimes the heart needs to be heard and can help you choose between two practical options.
Personal boundaries are indeed necessary to protect your energy and spirit, but walling yourself off from all others is counterproductive. Also, being an arrogant asshole about it doesn’t help. If your fear manifests as nastiness, do us all a favor and step back. Contemplate why you’re so frightened and feel the need to lash out.
Could it be that old baggage makes ANY exploration or inclusion of your emotions a mine field of triggers? If it’s REALLY bad, don’t hesitate to ask for help. Contact someone licensed in talk-therapy or call a hotline for an immediate sympathetic voice. Emotions can put you through hell if you let them. They can also take you to the heavens when you allow yourself to be in your innate, ever-present joy. Find it within….
February 1, 2021: Card O' the Day: Seven of Pentacles, reversed. I’ve often talked about the virtues of work and how it can be a spiritual experience when done for the simple pleasure of doing a necessary job and doing it well. The Seven of Pentacles is one of the “work” cards of the deck and when it’s reversed, it represents a souring of the work ethic and non-material rewards of work. One is more concerned by the bottom line gains and there’s a feeling of “what’s in it for me?”
Reversed cards show the extremes of the energy spectrum for each card. The other end of the energy spectrum for this particular card is more wholesome and worthy of your aspirations. Therefore, let us focus there. While there do seem to be delays to progress (dead of winter, remember?), concentrate on the actual labor and not the material acquisitions. Be of service to Mother Earth and others as you chug along just getting it done. In the end, pleasant rewards will come—and let’s be honest we all like a fat paycheck—but most importantly, you were connected with Universe and present in each moment while you got there instead of hating life until you reached some arbitrary requirement at which point you would be “happy.”
January 31, 2021: Card O' the Day: Queen of Cups. While the Queen of Cups appears to be the “perfect woman” with her flawless hair, makeup, and wardrobe, she’s no airhead. She senses her surroundings and can read a room like no other and that’s what makes her such a good businesswoman. Kinda psychic and very intuitive, she uses her empathic abilities to better understand people and situations.
This may sound manipulative, but when you’re tapped into the perfect harmony of universe and are in tune with unconscious forces, then you’re better able to see the interdependence and connections of everything with everything. Which is tremendously useful when trying to get anything done within a group of people. Like herding cats, am I right?
This card represents favorable emotional energy that helps you with certain decisions and reactions. As in, while two possibilities are both pretty good “on paper”, the Queen is telling you to go with your heart on this one. Sometimes doing something for the love of it and it’s creative outlet does have practical value.
January 28, 2021: Card O' the Day: The Empress, reversed. A mere five days ago, the reversed Empress visited; she’s back. The Empress is represented in the Tarot by the Greek goddess Demeter. If you recall, she’s the goddess of harvest, grain, and fertility and signifies earthy lushness and abundance. Her beloved daughter, Persephone, was kidnapped by Hades to be his queen of Hell. A deal brokered between Hades and Demeter allowed Persephone to be “above ground” nine months of the year but she has to go back to Hell for winter. This is when Demeter shuts down her gardens and mourns her daughter’s absence.
We’re in the depths of winter and suffering health and resulting economic crises, so it’s small wonder if you’re feeling a bit blue and Demeter-ish. Self-care is important right now so look to where you may be slacking on exercise, hygiene, dressing well; eating too much/too little or eating pure crap; and/or allowing your dwelling space to become chaotic. Self-care also includes not ignoring your boundaries and trying to be everyone’s Mommy to help them through their own hard times. Remember your importance and treat yourself accordingly.
January 27, 2021: Card O' the Day: Prince of Pentacles. Just when you’re having fun, Kieth puts down the tequila and hoists a kale smoothie. (Insert eye roll here.)
Actually, rather than being a total buzz-kill, the Prince is here to give direction to and harness that wild Ace of Wands energy that popped up yesterday. He’s got all the skills you need, espouses careful planning so as not to waste resources, and is willing to do the grunt work of that bright idea. This card tempers the flash-in-the-pan fire so it can burn long and hot. Certainly not exciting, but so necessary for the long haul.
And THAT’S important because you don’t want to be considered a flake. If you take point on a project, you’re responsible to all parties involved to lead well. That means keeping track of the minutiae, cheering on lagging workers, and picking up the slack when necessary because your integrity is on the line.
January 26, 2021: Card O' the Day: Ace of Wands.
Start me up
Ah, ah, give it all you've got
You've got to never, never, never stop
Start it up, whoo!….
—Jagger/Richards
Those were the words that popped into my head the moment I drew this card. I think they’re appropriate for the Ace of Wands, don’t you?
The very first of the Pip cards in a Tarot deck, this Ace embodies the new beginnings foretold by Death. It gives us hope, enthusiasm, initiative and the creative force needed to MOVE it forward. However, this blast of energy needs direction and it’s suggested you take responsibility for a project and put it into practice. Picture a round table discussion where bright ideas are being bandied about. Ooo! That’s a good one! “Somebody” should do that…. Why not be that “somebody” and take the lead? I dare ya.
January 25, 2021: Card O' the Day: Justice, reversed. When Justice, a big “truth” card, is reversed, it signifies falsehood or dishonesty. I’m feeling that dishonesty is with yourself, as in a refusal to see the meaning of certain events and how they foretell the necessity for and inevitable coming changes. Things that were previously pretty stable have been disrupted. Formerly held values, social expectations, and traditional rules of thumb are no longer reliable, valid, nor do they serve the Greater Good.
By ignoring or resisting these shifts, you’ll miss opportunities for better understanding of yourself and life. I’m seeing now that yesterday’s Death was signifying massive changes of viewpoints in large groups of society. One would do well to think long and hard about one’s own views, whether they match your True Self or they’re merely ego and dick swinging, and with whom one wishes to associate and share like thoughts.
January 24, 2021: Card O' the Day: Death. Many people fear the Tarot card, Death. While it can mean the actual death of a loved one, very much more often it signifies an ending of something that’s been coming for quite a while. You knew it and saw it was coming. And even though it’s a little (or a lot) painful, it’s sooooo time and provides some measures of relief.
Death also represents the inevitability of change that you absolutely have no control over. Like the rising of the sun each day it’s pointless, and completely useless to fight against it. Your only choice is to adapt to the changes. Like, put on a coat when winter comes or move to Florida. Both solutions are adaptations to something you simply can’t control.
The “fun” part about Death and its traumatic, lovely, painful, or happy changes is it’s also the womb of potential because the ending removes all blocks impeding growth and movement forward. Look around yourself today and see what’s ending. A bad habit? relationship? career? writer’s block? health crisis? It can be anything large or small, but when that thing ends, new beginnings are on the way. As the sun sets, so it WILL rise again.
January 23, 2021: Card O' the Day: The Empress, reversed. The Empress is the quintessential “mother” figure of the Tarot deck and signifies the traditional societal feminine roles and expectations. However, I feel this card can be interpreted broadly to include all gender norms and expectations. Therefore, when the card is reversed, those roles are rejected.
When one is living under the rules of society based upon gender assigned at birth, that’s all well and good when you’re comfortable with those rules and norms. But if not, then you’re not being seen for who you really are, which is way more than a set anatomical genitalia. This situation of living a lie hammers one’s self-esteem into the concrete. To try to feel as if one does indeed fit in and is of value, one may over-compensate and take gender roles and expectations to the extremes.
While the reversed Empress defines the problem, she also offers hope through clarity and illumination of one’s heart, mind, and soul. She brings light to the truth of who you are, how you want to be, and in what ways you want to express your True Self. It’s daring and sometimes dangerous to buck the system, but the alternative is to stay hidden in the dark.
January 22, 2021: Card O' the Day: Six of Wands, reversed. The Six of Wands, when upright, signifies victory, though there are elements of pride and behind-the-scenes treachery lurking in the shadows. When the card is reversed, all the ugly comes to the forefront.
This card is indicative of excessive narcissism, self-complacency, pride, arrogance, ego centricity, and superficiality in oneself or in someone you may have to work with or who is otherwise prominent in your life. This person is completely without joy and allows his/her vanity to over-estimate abilities. If they should be so lucky as to be placed in a leadership position, they will be so lacking and ineffectual that their supporting cast becomes disloyal. Suspicion and defeatism leave this person feeling betrayed and that enemies are overwhelming his/her empire. In the end, victory is claimed by adversaries.
This card feels slightly dated, as in “yesterday’s news”, but it gave me a hella jolt as my fingers fell upon it and demanded to be heard. I think it comes to us as a reminder of how NOT to be. History has shown us what happens to such types as Nero, Napoleon, Hitler….
January 20, 2021: Card O' The Day: Prince of Cups. The Prince of Cups represents emotions that motivate us, but are not quite understood. The resulting actions or reactions are based on feelings of the moment and not analysis or logic. Fortunately, you’re moved to do good deeds, act with empathy, and spread healing. All good stuff, so maybe you don’t really need to know why you’re so inclined.
However, if you DO need to know why, this Prince is the guy for you. He signifies the need to seek spiritual healing to help you make sense of your altruistic feelings. The way promises to be difficult but profoundly rewarding as you embark on your quest for personal revelation. But, hey, it’s the dead of winter and we’re still pretty isolated by COVID, so what else have you got to do?
January 19, 2021: Card O' the Day: The Star. Whoooooo, Nelly! The Card’s ‘r’ talking! Yesterday I talked about false gurus or faux wokeness. There were a couple interesting comments on the post and one of them questioned how one was supposed to discern faux from real enlightenment. My response was something to the effect there’s mention in the Bible how one is supposed to pray in private. I take this to mean we’re not meant to flaunt our “holiness” but to stay on our own mats (yoga reference) and come to our personal epiphanies…personally.
Today, The Star appears. She’s the epitome of being aware of the soul as one ascends the ladder to illumination and becomes closer to the Divine. This star is your own guidance system rooted in your gut that lights your way. Deep silence allows for the condition of receptivity, which then leads to the understanding of your place and purpose in the world. Thus, one must be free of distraction, smoke and mirrors, and shouted promises that are too good to be true.
The Star heralds a revolutionary way of being still and calm after a period of turmoil or suppression. You may regain hope and look to the future.
January 18, 2021: Card O' the Day: The Hanged man, reversed. Over the last few years becoming “woke” or “spiritual” has become fashionable. Certainly there are people who have had genuine personal transformations and understand there’s more “out there” than we can see or touch. I’m not talking about the genuinely spiritual people who connect closely with their higher power; I’m talking about the Faux Spiritual people who’re influenced by the reversed Hanged Man.
Such people are practicing the trappings of spiritualism all over their social media posts to appear holier than thou, look good, and receive kudos. But this practice is based in their own agenda, hidden ulterior motives, shameful secrets, guilt, doubt, or purely selfish and materialistic goals. The upright card demands sacrifices those influenced by the reversed card are unwilling to make and they resent even being asked. Because of this, promises are broken.
If you’re not the false woke guy, then beware of dealing with or following others who manipulate all things genuinely spiritual for material gain (ex. a $4,000 candle). Doing what others tell or demand you to do or allowing others’ opinions to sway you, rather than listening to your own inner voice, means you’re in denial of a basic part of Self. Fighting this inherent guidance may lead to pointless sacrifice, suffering, punishment, a fall from grace that damages reputations and relationships, and being in a constant state of battling life as you refuse to accept reality.
January 17, 2021: Card O' the Day: Six of Cups. The Six of Cups is often considered the “nostalgia” or “childhood” card. However, it does have other facets and those are stepping forward today.
This card represents self-love in the noblest sense through the fullness of your heart, self-acceptance, and inner contact with divine, universal love. When tapping into that core of Self, you’ll find a warm and secure feeling that helps you face current problems with trust and serenity. Development of this inner richness and maturity enables you to soften your heart by forgiving the past and looking to the future with good will and optimism.
Now, this doesn’t mean you put on thick rose-colored glasses and believe unicorn shit doesn’t stink. It does and bad things will continue to happen to good people. But when you’re connected to Love, you can endure anything.
January 16, 2021: Card O' the Day: Nine of Wands, reversed. And now we have the Nine of Wands again, only reversed. This card is warning you all that “doing the impossible” is going to lead to burnout, wasted efforts, and ultimately weakness as the energy blows about undirected. Sure, there’s a big wind but it’s not doing anything constructive other than getting your hair caught in your lipgloss.
Step back, use yer noodle like the Prince of Swords told you and survey the problems before you. Right now there’s insufficient substance or preparation to make things work the way you want them to. Hoping it gets better by itself is futile. Effort on your part is required. Don’t be too proud to ask for help if you need it.
January 15, 2021: Card O' the Day: Prince of Swords. A few days ago we received the Prince of Pentacles; today we have another Prince. These Court cards represent yang energy that initiates a project’s first concrete steps after the “idea” phase is completed. Princes also signify messages or news. Food for thought when taken in conjunction with the dynamic energy of the Nine of Wands and the material energy of the several Pentacles we’ve received over the last week or so.
More specifically, the Prince of Swords brings the active, revolutionizing energy into the mind with sudden shifts in perspective and a-HA! moments. Clarity of thought, logic, and analysis help clear the mind of parasitical concepts that keep you rooted in one place. Prepare to change your mind about a lot of things.
Nobody likes the grunt work required to bring every project or endeavor to completion and solid manifestation. I can sympathize but you must remain responsible for your creations and stay focused until the end. Otherwise, you’re wasting everyone’s time and resources.
January 14, 2021: Card O' the Day: Nine of Wands. The Nine of Wands represents driven and dynamic energy that keeps one pushing, fighting, and striving forward to achieve a goal. This is a trial by fire situation wherein you struggle but come out stronger in the end. As a “9”, it indicates entering the “home stretch” of a project, which is a good thing since perseverance and stamina are about gone and you’re running on fumes. While your aims may have been reached through heroic action, such intensity of activity is immensely draining and comes at a steep cost to your psycho-emotional health.
Here’s a question for you: do you go looking for impossible endeavors and problems to solve just so you can say you did it? Not EVERYthing you do has to be the equivalent of climbing Mt. Everest.
Go back to yesterday’s Eight of Pentacles. Look for the rewards in doing simple tasks well and find joy in those small accomplishments, too. Doing so will help you maintain healthy boundaries, a serene mind, and a peaceful life.
January 13, 2021: Card O' the Day: Eight of Pentacles. A little over three weeks ago, we received the Eight of Pentacles, but it was reversed on that day. Today, it appears again but upright. Some of us are lucky enough to have a career path we love; others have jobs which we do for the paycheck but not necessarily because it makes us all warm and fuzzy; still others don’t receive a paycheck for whatever reason, but that doesn’t mean they don’t “work.” This card represents the divinity of work, whether for pay, love, or need.
By considering the reason for the work and not the work itself, we can get closer to the sacred-ness of it. When work is performed with total involvement, love, and for the sake of doing a job well, it makes no difference what the actual task is. It becomes elevated to artistry in which one may take great pride. When you work with such a full heart and diligence, you cannot help but radiate joy to others.
Again we have a card from the suit of Pentacles. Being the Eight, we are made mindful of the spiritualization of our work. As you move through your day, try to see the beauty in your tasks…what do they accomplish? what tiny physical miracles do you create with your body to make those tasks happen? We’re being asked to look upon a “same-old-same-old” with fresh eyes.
January 11, 2021: Card O' the Day: King of Pentacles. As I said the other day, Pentacles represent the spiritualization of the material world. The King, as a leader of family, society, and community, signifies someone who can help in a time of need, especially when all seems hopeless. He provides a solid structure for deep and lasting relationships or projects. In addition to being a community leader and the keeper of all rules and traditions thereof, this King signifies the ambition, power, social responsibility, and integrity of good business and financial leaders who are strong, uncompromising, and impatient to get things done. His biggest talents lie in the organization and control of physical matter.
The Earth King also conveys the energy of Spirit, the feeling of connectedness to Earth, and embodies the dual nature of intuition and introspection much like the Prince of Pentacles and The Star. I think his appearance today combines the the previous days’ cards to encourage us to pursue material successes that are rooted in what is pragmatically possible and yet Spiritually motivated. And as the community/tribe/family leader, these physical pursuits are for the betterment and comfort of all, not just the King himself.
January 10, 2021: Card O' the Day: The Star, reversed. Right now you may feel your aspirations aren’t worthwhile and all efforts are futile. That’s because it’s not a time for external efforts in the material world that seek recognition, follow meaningless fads, or reach for unattainable ideals. The reversed Star is reiterating yesterday’s message from the Prince of Pentacles and telling us to shed all ideas of self that depend on status, appearance, and possessions.
Many have lost touch with the Divine Source of inspiration and there’s a great need for healing and being with one’s Highest Self. Therefore, stop “doing” today and spend some time in meditation or quiet contemplation to just “be.”
January 9, 2021, Card O' the Day: Prince of Pentacles. The suit of Pentacles represents the spiritualization of the material world. The Prince of this suit offers a bridge to higher dimensions and going beyond physical matter into creativity of the mind and heart. To do so, you’re encouraged to make space for a new quality of stillness and take responsibility for any illusions you may be carrying. This sets the stage for understanding abstract or metaphysical concepts.
However, don’t lose sight of the source and meaning of your strength of understanding to stay centered and connected to the physical plane while your mind and thoughts roam freely. This means you still have to care for your body and follow certain rules of nature and society (unless you’re good with living in the Back of Beyond by yourself) to survive your human existence.
This Prince also advises to let go of impossible expectations about yourself and others. Accept what “is”—what cannot be changed—and be okay with it. Once you’ve shifted attention away from unattainable ideals of perfection, you can find new purpose beyond material considerations.
January 8, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Hierophant, reversed. When The Hierophant is reversed, it signifies shallowness and the gullibility to cling to inappropriate ideas, principles, false knowledge, or mistaken beliefs. Swallowing without question such rigid dogma stifles development and learning in the fanatic individual who blindly follows a false “guru.”
This card also represents the hypocrisy of a false leader who’s in it just for the money. Such persons may incite violent civil disobedience and rebellion from their followers to further bolster their cause and ego.
Conversely, the reversed Hierophant indicates some are beginning to question authority and are looking to choose their own standards rather than just accepting the dictates of the “powers that be.” Yes, it’s a good thing to be avant garde, but one must walk one’s own path within the bounds of ethics and law. Excessive individuality can be dangerous, uncontrolled, and disruptive to the order of civilized life.
January 6, 2021: Card O' the Day: Ace of Swords, reversed. The clean mental clarity signified by the upright Ace of Swords gets clouded by fear when the card is reversed. The reality based in your emotions (your sense of being loved, cared about, valued, etc.) becomes shaky—especially if you’ve been on the receiving end of some harsh words. (Bear in mind those harsh words can come from inside your own head.) This will reduce your confidence, possibly send you into depression or increase your anxiety levels, and generally make things seems so much worse than they actually are.
To fix this, you’re advised to get seriously cold and objective. As in, I feel “A.” What is your proof of that? Rumors, innuendo, a perceived snarky look? Go to the source of your anxiety and ask if you’ve offended in some way; make amends where necessary or end toxic relationships.
Bottom line: it’s time to put your emotions in a timeout because they’re getting a little out of hand and misleading you. Once you can see clearly again and understand a lot of your turmoil was imagined or made worse by your insecurity and fear, then you can return to keeping your emotions balanced with clarity of thought.
January 5, 2021: Card O' the Day: Eight of Cups, reversed. It’s true that change is good for us and we must be willing to adapt. Sometimes a cycle or thing in our lives comes to a natural ending and then it’s time to move on a grow. However, the reversed Eight is warning us against leaping at or forcing changes out of boredom, fear, timidity, or simply because we feel vaguely dissatisfied. Shifting our lives around for these reasons indicates you’re moving to avoid something rather than facing and doing something about it.
This card urges you not to abandon what you have. Recall the reversed Five of Cups we received just a few days ago and how we were directed to concentrate on what remained instead of worry about what was lost. If you leave now, you also lose the important stuff that’s still there for you. Today’s reversed Eight promises new opportunities with that and potential to build and improve on it. Cautious optimism is warranted. So, paint your bedroom a different color; don’t sell the whole house.
January 3, 2021: Card O' the Day: The Hermit. In order to understand who one “is” and how one fits in the “big picture”, one needs to search the dark corners of Self that are being avoided. What are you in denial about yourself? Do you hate your chosen field but feel you can’t leave it because you are still paying off the student loans you took out to get to your position? Is your partner “good on paper” but just not the right fit for you? Are you clinically depressed but slap on a happy face and pretend you’re “fine”?
The Hermit invites you to get raw and real. Examine everything you “hate” about yourself. If it’s in the past, there’s nothing you can do now, so forgive yourself and move on. If there’s a destructive pattern you keep repeating, perhaps it’s time to address it.
This card is here to invite you to explore your personal darkness without judgment, recrimination, or guilt.
January 2, 2021: Card O' the Day: Eight of Wands, reversed. Now that 2020 is over and we’ve begun a new year, I’m sure many of you were hoping for a magic event that just washed away all problems. The sick rose from their beds, we could burn our masks and brunch, and businesses hired every person they could find! Alas, that’s not how things work and we’re still more or less on hold.
The continued blockages and delays are understandably frustrating and may cause inner agitation and uncertainty that this whole “Covid thing” will NEVER end. The announcement of available vaccines was promising, but that doesn’t mean anyone can be inoculated instantly nor does it mean things go back to normal immediately. Thus we continue to limp along without a clear finish line we can aspire to.
Even though we have a real, solid, natural disaster on our physical plane, we have to be careful not to let our emotions make it worse (easier said than done, I know). Try to roll with the on-going inconveniences, set-backs, and shortages. If you need help, go get it; there’s no shame in going to a food bank. If you’re in a position to help, I can attest that it feels really good to do so. Finally, don’t expect too much of yourself. Nobody can work at peak performance when in crisis/survival mode so it’s okay to NOT learn a new language, write a book, or bake artisanal bread.
January 1, 2021: Card O' the Day: Four of Wands. Happy New Year all! I hope you all celebrated safely last night and are feeling good about the new beginnings that 2021 will bring us. Yesterday, I felt the Four of Wands was a “day specific” card, but I think it returned today to be a good omen for the coming year. I’ll reiterate yesterday’s message and expand on it a bit.
“Lovely stable energy, especially in the home” and “in the fold of the unified community or tribe.” This means there’s power, strength, and protection among your people. Whether those people are blood relations, a group you share interests with, or your chosen family, look to them to support you in the times you need a little boost of energy.
"One is encouraged to give thanks to what’s been received or remain[s]” and “[d]evelop contentment with and gratitude for all the gifts in your life.” Practice gratitude DAILY! You don’t need to make a big deal out of it (though you can if you want to). Just think of ONE thing you have in your life that makes it a little easier and give thanks. If you can’t think of anything, lemme help…are you clothed? did you eat today? is there a roof over your head (temporary or permanent)? I don’t mean to minimize your pain or lack; I’m just reminding you to look at the full part of your glass and not dwell on the empty.
December 31, 2020: Card O' the Day: Four of Wands. Wands energy actually finds its greatest fulfillment when used within a group and not by a single person. The Four of Wands often signifies the need or opportunity for celebration with others during social rites of passage such as weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, graduations, baby showers, the turn of a new year, etc. Current times limit those celebrations with our friends and loved ones, but they’re still so very necessary for our psycho-emotional well being. Therefore, do your best to have small, safe interactions, talk on the phone, and learn how to FaceTime or have Zoom meetings. It’s not the same as in-person parties, but it’s the next best thing and better than nothing.
This card also represents lovely stable energy especially in the home as opposing wills and spirits come into balance. In the fold of the unified community or tribe, one can find relief and relaxation as one unwinds from carrying heavy loads all alone. One is encouraged to give thanks to what’s been received or remained after three of the five Cups from the card of the other day had been upset. Develop contentment with and gratitude for all the gifts in your life.
December 29, 2020: Card O' the Day: Five of Cups, reversed. When upright, the Five of Cups signifies losses. In many depictions of the card, there will be five vessels or symbols, three of which have been broken or tipped over representing losses. However, two symbols are left whole. When the card is reversed, those two remaining symbols are emphasized.
This card makes us aware of what stayed whole after we suffered loss or disruption in our lives. These are the people, structures, or things that are truly important and permanent in your life. This is your solid foundation upon which you can rebuild. In addition to understanding the weight of what’s still there, we can recognize that the lost things, people, or structures are really less crucial than we once thought.
This card indicates hard decisions have been made and difficulties overcome. As you move away from loss and towards recovery, change your lifestyle so you don’t repeat the emotional patterns that break your heart. The reversed Five of Cups offers the emotional stability and coping skills you need to let go of the broken vessels and embrace what still stands.
December 23, 2020: Card O' the Day: Nine of Pentacles. The suit of Pentacles represents the material plane and all its abundance. The number 9 suggests depth, maturity, and accomplishments that are grounded but still sensitive to spirit. Together, this indicates spiritual awareness and gratitude for all you have. Today, you notice what’s IN your glass rather than what’s not. A good thing to keep noticing!
The natural flow of joyful energy encourages us to cultivate generosity, share blessings, and pay it forward. Universe will provide for your needs when you’re in harmony with Nature. Sometimes that means asking for help, other times you manage on your own. Either way, be true to Self.
Like Strength from the other day, this card also speaks of new situations developing. This will happen through your good management of resources and a little luck.
December 21, 2020: Card O' the Day: Strength. We’ve often told friends or loved ones to “be strong” in tough times. But what does that mean? True strength of character is the courage to face your inner demons or fears calmly and without wavering. It’s confronting serious life problems with hope, eagerness, and faith that you WILL survive in a situation where others collapse. But first you have to admit you’re in trouble and are vulnerable because being too proud to ask for help is a form of cowardice. When you can accept the facts of your situation and then gratefully receive what’s offered, that really takes strength.
The appearance of this card also means that with correct use of time, resources, and attention, you’ll begin a new cycle. A new cycle of luck, creativity, and perseverance—backed by your strength—will lead you forward and out of your current struggles.
December 20, 2020: Card O' the Day: Eight of Pentacles, reversed. Our “work”, to most of us, means our jobs. But it also includes the little labors of love we do every day…like, preparing meals for loved ones (two and four legged), cleaning our spaces (horse stalls, too), and doing good deeds. When the “work card”, the Eight of Pentacles, is reversed it means we’ve lost sight of the divine-ness of our work.
The reversed Eight represents doing too many good deeds, being the only one who cooks or cleans, or engagement in an unfulfilling profession. Working too hard, to the point of burnout or exhaustion, sours the satisfaction we need from a “job well done.” That gratification is what keeps us doing the work and being glad to do it. Humans, like sheepdogs, NEED the stimulation and emotional enjoyment good work gives.
So, again, I’ll remind you not to take on more tasks you can possibly do. Practice the fine art of delegation (and then turn your back and allow the appointee to do the work THEIR way). Say “no” when you need to. I promise, the world will not collapse and you won’t be forever hated. However, you WILL be more relaxed, rested, and happier in the work you do want to do.
December 19, 2020: Card O' the Day: Queen of Wands, again. Oooo! Such a pushy broad, the Queen of Wands! But, yes, that’s her M.O.
I think she appeared again today to encourage persistent optimism during these tough times. She’s aided by the Angel of Expansion of Individual Potential, which puts her perpetually striving forward towards success. But she’s not way out in front of the pack—she’s leading from behind, so to speak. She offers help and good advice in order for others to succeed with her. But those riding on her wave of dynamic energy better not try to steer her or offer comments from the nose-bleed seats. Home Girl don’t take kindly to opposition or people telling her what to do.
Let’s continue to gently but firmly guide others and share our own abundance by helping where we’re able (without draining ourselves dry). Do the very best YOU can today and keep the faith that Universe has our backs! (And remember, some days your “best” is just continuing to breathe.)
December 18, 2020: Card O' the Day: Queen of Wands. The Queen of Wands is the ultimate badass who has it all…professional success balanced by running a tight ship at home. While having no problem saying “no”, innate kindness, helpfulness, and courtesy mean he/she’d offer a viable alternative so those asking wouldn’t be left high and dry. Thus, the Queen covers his/her own ass without looking like a bitch! A true leader, who has total faith things will turn out just fine thanks to his/her superlative abilities, he/she also recognizes personal limits. He/she won’t pretend he/she can do something when he/she can’t. It’s a little thing called integrity.
We’re being asked to use our ambitions and passions inventively (Wands are all about creativity, ya know) and persistently but remaining courteous to others while doing so. Yes, use calm authority to persuade, but nobody likes a steam roller running rough-shod over everything in its path. Right now you’re in a position to dispense “treasures” and resources. Meaning, you have enough to share and are secure enough to do so. Whether that’s your time, baked goods, or a check to a charity is up to you.
December 17, 2020: Card O' the Day: Seven of Wands, reversed. It would seem that taking the message from yesterday’s card has put a few of you in awkward positions. Not everyone will appreciate you saying “no” and letting some things go this year. This card indicates strong interpersonal energies are at odds, which may lead you to feel at a disadvantage and full of self-doubt. It’s super tempting to back down and just do what’s been demanded of you to avoid confrontation.
However, being excessively conservative and allowing others to have their way—to your detriment—may cause undue discussion, indecision, and friction between all parties. Therefore, find your inner strength and refuse to be intimidated as you seek a more co-operative solution in which you don’t get the short end of the stick.
December 16, 2020: Card O' the Day: Two of Pentacles, reversed. When the Two of Pentacles is reversed, it indicates your physical world is getting too frenzied with numerous obligations. Even though most of you are probably curtailing your partying and traveling, it doesn’t mean the week before Christmas isn’t frenetic. This card represents dropping, or gives you permission to drop, certain things deliberately (you just don’t feel like doing it!) or because they’ve become too much (no, you can’t participate in the annual Christmas cookie exchange by baking 40 dozen cookies!).
Pretending everything is under control and you’re having a FABULOUS time does yourself and others a disservice. It’s inauthentic, artificial, and fake, Fake, FAKE! If you manage to fool everyone else that you’re fine with it all, how nice, but where does that leave YOU?
It’s recommended that you adjust your priorities, lighten your load, and live within your physical resources. Those resources include, but are not limited to, your time, energy, money, desire, capabilities, and spiritual strength. Remember to tend your own cup so you have a full one from which to pour. A few things done well and with sincerity will be better than doing 1,000 with angst, your last pennies, and resentful obligation.
December 15, 2020: Card O' the Day: Prince of Wands, reversed. Still on the practical path with the reversed Fire Prince….
The appearance of this card indicates some are ready to rein in fiery, impulsive actions and stop for a minute to enjoy the present. This slower pace will actually make you more effective in your endeavors and allow for a deeper experience all around. I look at it as slowly savoring one perfect buckeye candy or piece of my brother’s fudge rather than snorking down the entire tin and then feeling like I want to throw up.
Choose ONE task or idea, think about it carefully, and then go forward with care, thoughtfulness and meaning.
December 14, 2020: Card O' the Day: Queen of Swords. Interesting that we get the Sword Queen right after the reversed Queen of Cups. Both are sending the message to be a little less of a push over, less emotional, and very much more analytical and practical.
Like the Sword King, the Queen has very high ideals, morals, and passionately pursues justice and social reform. So passionately, in fact, she can be rather stubborn about what she sees as the “greater good.” Being very open-minded means she’s well-connected to her spiritual side and trusts it, and other unusual sources, for wisdom and counsel. Regardless where she gets her insight from, her intellect will trim it into rationally astute ideas that effectively solve problems or streamline existing processes.
Like all cards of this suit, the Queen is a master communicator. Her appearance today, in addition to her directive to use your noodle and be fair in all things, is to ask you to communicate clearly. By doing so, you’re able to hold your boundaries and not get roped into something you don’t really want to or have time to do. With squared shoulders and a strong voice, diplomatically decline all that doesn’t work for you.
December 13, 2020: Card O' the Day: Queen of Cups, reversed. My “Card[s] O’ the Day” often run a theme for several days and we’re in one of those right now. Last weekend we had a bit of a pause followed by getting on with life again. We were reminded happiness is up to us to choose rather than it falling in out laps. The King of Swords and The Sun encouraged clear thinking rather than emotional flailing to solve current problems, and the reversed Seven of Swords indicated we’re ready and not too proud to listen to good advice. The reversed Tower tells us it’s time to put all that good mental energy to good use.
The reversed Queen of Cups continues that demand for clear and concise thinking without too much dramatic emotional angst. (However, even reversed, the Queen of Cups is not completely devoid of sentiments!) Today, though, she’s feeling sharp and competent, letting no one take advantage, overcoming illusions, and refusing to be swept away by conflicting emotions or succumbing to feigning maneuvers. She also knows it’s a good time to keep her opinions private rather than engage in petty pissing contests.
Therefore, stay clear-headed, use your own brains to gather facts and make your judgments, and allow others to dance to their own drums. You know where YOU’re going; let them figure out their own paths.
December 12, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Tower, reversed. We have The Tower again (November 23rd and December 4th), but this time it’s reversed. When reversed, the force of the upright card is muted, but it’s still a powerful sign that transformation has begun.
Things may be about to boil over but you’ve got the opportunity to turn down the heat before the “big bang” that’s threatening. Maybe you’ve finally gotten the memo and are in the process of bailing on a bad situation. At any rate, this card indicates difficulties are easing or finished and you’ll have a clean slate from which to start again once the changes have occurred.
There’s danger of ignoring the warning signs, clinging to the “devil that you know”, and hoping it gets better all by itself. But the appearance of the reversed Tower is a strong directive to shift, adjust, or move on because the situation is about to collapse. Save yourself now or suffer greater misfortunes later.
December 11, 2020: Card O' the Day: Seven of Swords, reversed. The reversed Seven of Swords indicates the deceptions already present in the upright card are even more malicious and harmful. But while it can be on a personal level when upright, the reversal takes the verbal abuse and slander world-wide. It signifies toxic theories and aggressive ideas that destroy the world.
Luckily, the reversed Seven also offers willingness and readiness to listen to others and to seek help for problems. Such open communication invites support and assistance with joint efforts to create more meaningful changes. Such encouragement can be used on the global scale and in your own home.
December 10, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Sun. The Sun follows the King of Swords brilliantly! The King was encouraging personal responsibility and logic when approaching our futures. Add to that enlightenment—the “a-HA” moment that clarifies everything—and enthusiasm, and The Sun predicts success.
This card is asking you to look at the world a different way. Be present to and aware of each moment, breath, sunrise, aroma, etc. as you see and feel everything around you as being made of spiritual and eternal magic! Break with past patterns of existing in day to day drudgery and take this chance to improve yourself and go in a new direction. Perhaps nothing actually changes in your material world (same car, same house, same job), but your attitude towards your life is filtered through your dazzling indomitable spirit rather than just beige survival.
December 9, 2020: Card O' the Day: King of Swords. All the kings of the Tarot deck represent leadership. The Sword King leans towards being a moral leader who upholds the ideals and standards of society. But where does this leadership begin if it’s going to be sincere and honest? Right in your own mind and heart. This card represents the need to be organized, responsible, and true in your OWN actions before you start pointing fingers of blame at others.
At this time, matter-of-fact logic is needed more than emotional reactions. We are being challenged to do the right thing for the whole of one’s community through tough-minded common sense and cool-headed examination of the circumstances. It’s time to expand small-minded views based in fear, ignorance, or mental laziness. You’ll need to use critical and objective commitment to intellectual honesty to do this.
December 8, 2020: Card O' the Day: Ten of Cups. The Ten of Cups represents contentment in who you are and a balanced state of well being. It’s happiness that comes from within and nothing from the outside can harsh this buzz. This kind of joy doesn’t come from others or stuff…nothing “makes” you happy except your choice to BE happy.
How do you achieve this fullness of heart? Start with learning to understand your emotions. What evokes happiness? A song, scene, smell? What triggers your positive or negative emotions? Once you pay attention to those feelings, you can identify and avoid the negative triggers while you concentrate on all things happy-making. Open your heart to the concept of BEING happy!
Generally happy people are aware of the interconnectedness of all beings and make long-term relationships an important part of their lives. This is a good thing to have for those times when you’ve hit some hard luck. Being generally happy doesn’t mean you never suffer down times. But with your close social circle and inner shine, you can roll with punches and get back on your feet. It’s the miserable cows who’re waiting for the world to “make them happy” who stay down and snivel about it.
December 7, 2020: Card O' the Day: Ten of Wands, reversed. Yesterday, I totally embraced the stagnation…erm… “stillness” and “quiet” of the Four of Cups. I guess I needed a Sloth Day. Today, though, the reversed 10 of Wands is encouraging me to get back on my feet.
This card represents laying down burdens, walking away from difficulties, getting relief from pressures, and/or generally getting out from under an oppressive situation. This may manifest in physically removing things from your living space, ending a relationship, or quitting an awful job. Regardless of the form the relief takes, it leads you to a clearer path. It’s also a “10”, and we all know that means endings that lead to new beginnings.
Once you’ve crawled out from under the boulder that’s been weighing you down, you’ll realize how you’ve been wasting your energy all this time and how you can use it for so much better purpose. I sure hope I can use my energy for better purpose today other than watching YouTube!
December 6, 2020: Card O' the Day: Four of Cups. It’s been a hella year, which has lead some to emotional overload or exhaustion that necessitates a break. This card offers a foundation of stability and stillness. It’s a safe place for quiet grounding and meditation where you can explore your imagination, daydreams, and soothe your raw feelings. Take some time today—this week—for ruminating upon the events of the year. Take a look at what’s happened to you personally before expanding your view to everyone else, because your own life may need so much healing you can’t spare a thought for anyone else. (And that’s okay!)
The danger lurking in the shadows of the Four of Cups is stagnating in this withdrawal from the world to contemplate your own navel. If you become too self-absorbed, it’s a slippery slope into a pity party where you’re the guest of honor…actually, the only guest since we all got problems! Rest and recharge, but don’t stay wrapped up in yourself.
December 4, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Tower. November 23rd The Tower appeared; it’s back. Let’s look at the number 11 since it was eleven days ago The Tower showed up. Numerologically, 11 signifies an awakening into more heightened states of unity, consciousness, and awareness and offers a loving, supportive connection to the Divine. (evolveforinnerpeace.com) As I said before, Universe, or the Divine, always has your back and will push you towards living your best life.
Unfortunately, the free will (ego) given to us by Universe/Divine/God leads us to purposely fuck things up for ourselves because we think we know better than anyone/thing/power. We humans are a sassy little species so The Tower is back to remind you Life will bitch-slap your ass onto the right track any way it can.
Therefore, remember that the next time you fall flat on your face, your world implodes, you lose your job, or fill in the blank regarding the worst thing to ever happen to you. Universe. Has. Your. Back. When you're lower than a snake's belly and your tower has fallen, tell Ego to stuff a sock in it and humbly accept the new path before you.
December 3, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Wheel of Fortune, reversed. Again with The Wheel! This card appeared upright on November 5th, November 14th, reversed, November 25th, reversed, and now we’re getting it again reversed. That’s four times in five weeks. I invite you to go back and re-read each entry regarding the card.
I think we keep getting this card so the messages of “end of cycle” and “changes” will be drilled home to us. Even though The Wheel’s appearance is a good omen, the three-out-of-four reversals tell us it’s not going to be a smooth transition to the next cycle and the changes are going to be bumpy and grumpy-making.
Just remember, resistance is futile. You’ll have to make do with what is being offered to you. Adaptation to circumstances, whether planned or on the fly, is crucial. ALWAYS have a back-up plan in mind this winter going into spring (it’s usually a good idea, anyway, to have a Plan B, but it’s especially important right now). Finally, check your reactions to the daily turns in the road. Like I said, resistance is futile so when you’re blocked, don’t get your knickers in a twist. You’re allowed a little foul language but even while you’re still cussing, be looking for the alternative route and then get on with it.
December 2, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Magician, reversed. The reversed Magician isn’t any more lively and confident than yesterday’s reversed Fool. Feelings of apathy, confusion, lethargy, depression, and difficulty focusing continues with this card. Cue insecurity and doubt as things don’t go as planned. Which all leads to believing you’re inept or inadequate and so you remain stalled. Swell. I think I’ll just go back to bed….
However, going back to bed would be denying daily responsibilities and involvement in my life. Thinking that I’ll just hide until “it’s all over” is self-deception and self-serving manipulation to excuse me from parking in front of the fire and snoozing. I have plans for the coming month and if I don’t follow through, I’ll be disappointed with myself. So I guess I have to get off my duff and power on regardless! (*Whine*, *whimper*, *flounce*! I didn’t say I’d do it willingly and gracefully…but done ugly is still done.)
December 1, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Fool, reversed. When the normally free-spirited Fool is reversed, it means one is accepting limits as absolutes. Certainly we’re all limited right now due to current circumstances, but there ARE work-arrounds that allow for going to school, work, and visiting with friends. Are they ideal? Hell to the no, but it means you can still do SOME things in a safe way. Unfortunately, being denied and restricted for so long also tends to put one in a funk. I can attest to feelings of apathy, being adrift, and suffering an inability to focus on anything beyond the drivel on my phone.
Also, when upright, The Fool asks you to trust your inner knowing. Meaning, follow your own gut, wisdom, and/or acquired knowledge and not necessarily what you heard from your neighbor’s cousin’s ex-girlfriend’s hairdresser. But when reversed, you’re not doing that. The politically correct term is “cognitive dissonance.” More colloquially, it’s when one has their crown chakra stuffed up their root chakra. Either way, you’re not looking around yourself and making a realistic assessment of all facts available to you. In other words, you’re being intellectually lazy. This laziness can cause unwarranted fear or unreasonable hatred/outrage and keep you from becoming your highest and best self.
November 30, 2020: Card O' the Day: Two of Wands. We’re taught at a very early age to think of others by sharing our gifts and resources, lending a hand to those less fortunate, and looking after those who can’t look after themselves. Compassion is a beautiful thing! However, this giving of ourselves assumes we actually have anything to give.
This card is signifying the importance of your personal power and recognizing all your potential. You’re encouraged not to be easily contented and to take well-planned, carefully thought out risks to get what YOU really want. As you decide what your next steps are and which opportunity to go after, harness and responsibly manage your energies.
If you’re more loving towards yourself by maintaining personal boundaries and doing things for yourself, your “cup” fills and runs over. From this condition of largesse, extra, and self-satisfaction, you’ll be more than happy to share. And the more you share, the more you WANT to share…. But you’ve got to put the emergency oxygen mask on your own face before helping others put theirs on.
November 29, 2020: Card O' the Day: Six of Cups, reversed. The nostalgia indicated by the upright card has become less important to you. You’ve taken a hard, honest look at past relationships and see them for what they are: merely an acquaintance rather than a “bestie”, toxic, dutiful rather than truly enjoyed, or you finally see why it’s over and it should stay that way. Good on ya! Now you can move forward with all your connections, categorize them accordingly, and spend your energy on each one more wisely.
If relationships aren’t at issue, then you could be doing the same work with destructive behavioral pattens, former obligations, or prior responsibilities. You can see what you may—or should—step back from, what’s no longer your job, and/or what’s not serving you and is wasting your time.
Either way, whether you’re releasing relationships, behavior, or duties, doing so moves you in the right direction and renews your trust in the future.
November 28, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Sun and Nine of Wands, reversed. Two cards stepped forward today: The Sun and the Nine of Wands, reversed. At first, I thought The Sun was bringing us good news, but unfortunately, the reversed Nine is skewing The Sun into its shadow side.
The Nine is pointing out all the energy we’re wasting in the form of anger and feelings of impotence due to the current circumstances that have us separated from loved ones, financially insecure, and in constant fear of illness. This can lead to the egoism and arrogance signified by The Sun and defensiveness represented by both cards. Such emotions then manifest in impractical preparations without substance or rash impulses, which result in further obstacles, difficulties, and frustration of plans.
Both cards suggest letting go of your defensiveness and to reconsider your current mindset and actions. Through clarity of thought, you’ll come to realize how you’ve exacerbated conditions. This, fortunately, leads to discovering your innate knowledge and wisdom followed closely by enlightenment and acceptance of your situation. In this state, you can start figuring out ways to improve everything and tap into The Sun’s radiant energy!
November 27, 2020: Card O' the Day: Eight of Cups. As we move into a very…erm…secular and materialistic time of year (it IS Black Friday after all), we’re reminded not to neglect our spiritual needs. The Eight of Cups is representative of the necessity to attain a higher level of spirituality.
Now, just because you’re spiritual it doesn’t mean you have to give up your new iPhone! You’re allowed to have nice stuff! However, we’re being asked to recognize the turning point where you let go of the material junk that no longer gives you pleasure and look to how you can bring your mind and heart into harmony and peace. As you transcend the worldly shiny objects and recognize your own completeness and perfection all within your own skin, you’re able to find a deeper meaning in your existence.
Hey, I love to shop as much as the next person and I’ve got a house full of possessions. There’s no shame in that. But I don’t identify myself by those possessions or feel I’ll truly be happy only when I’ve become the owner of X, Y, or Z. I invite you to give joy to yourself this holiday season.
November 25, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Wheel, reversed. We received The Wheel of Fortune, upright, on November 5th, November 14, reversed, and now we’re getting it again reversed. I’ll remind you even when reversed, The Wheel of Fortune is still a “good omen” card, but the jerky-jerky, unpredictable energy can lead one to doubt, fear, and uncertainty for the future. Don’t allow this mindset to grow roots! Do your best to roll with the punches and adapt to what is and isn’t possible right now.
Another connotation of this card is that social plans could feel too hectic. The usual packed calendar at this time of year, coupled with the dangers of infection, may make some of you want to crawl back in bed and pull the covers up. (Frankly, that might be your safest option.) Therefore, think carefully about which events are truly necessary to attend in person and which ones you can skip this year.
When The Wheel turns, we can choose to be rigid and get run over, or we can opt for Plans B, C, and D. Perhaps they’re not quite as exciting or traditional as Plan A, but Plan A is not on the table.
November 24, 2020: Card O' the Day: Ten of Swords. When I drew this card, I thought, “Wow! Right after The Tower we get smacked with the 10 of Swords, a truly gnarly card!” However, upon closer examination, I see the Ten is offering much the same wisdom as The Tower did yesterday.
Constructive force, combined with determination, fortitude, and spirituality leads to liberation and expansion as you reinvent yourself. The stone associated with the 10 of Swords is smokey quartz. It challenges you to take responsibility for your life and replace negative thoughts with positive patterns of behavior. (That’s in case the broccoli/prune smoothie isn’t quite flushing you completely.)
Numerologically, as a “10”, this card represents an ending that allows new beginnings to happen. So, if you feel like you’ve hit rock bottom these days, that’s great because now you’ve only got one way to go: up! Therefore, accept and embrace the ending as an opportunity to grow and evolve into something new.
November 23, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Tower. Because God, Universe, Allah, Jehovah, Yaweh, or [insert name of your higher power here] always has your back and won’t let you stay imprisoned in a “tower” of illusion and repression, when you can’t free yourself, Universe is happy to blast your ass free for you. While it may seem like a huge failure as you’re forced to eat some serious humble pie, consider it a message of great spiritual comfort.
As your physical health and psycho-emotional wellbeing is…erm…“challenged”, don’t consider it a disaster but a chance to reconstruct how you treat your body, mind, and spirit. The Tower is represented by the large intestine and one is being asked to “remove” all negativity. Perhaps a broccoli and prune juice smoothie is in order to get the body started. You can work on the mind and spirit while “reading the newspaper” in the “library.”
All this good, explosive work will lead to liberation, awakening, and a big change of opinion about yourself, current events, and your place in the Big Picture. Once you’re through the worst of it, see the new freedom and beginnings available to you as you get your feet back under you. Whatever you lose during this time wasn’t meant to stay any longer. Remember that as you go forth.
November 22, 2020: Card O' the Day: Five of Swords, reversed. I’m really identifying with the card today! Yesterday, I made the sad decision to un-invite my brother and his family for Christmas celebrations. It’s an annual thing, and since he lives in Vermont, it’s often the only time I see him each year. So, I’m in grief and mourning at the loss of this happy family time. There’s a discord between the material and spiritual worlds right now (wanting to see family, but knowing it’s too dangerous for gatherings) and thus we have to sacrifice what we whaaaaaant to do for what is right regarding the whole of society.
As with everything, This. Too. Shall. Pass. Once it’s safe to get together again, see how you can salvage all the lost celebrations. I mean, if you really think about it, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Hanukah, Kwanza, etc. live in our hearts not on the calendar. So what’s stopping you from celebrating big events on a random weekend in July?
Each of us must determine their obligations and liability regarding the current unfortunate events and own them. I’ve determined my obligation to keep my family safe and healthy by NOT inviting them to my house outweighs my disappointment at not seeing them. Ditto other small and cautious meet-ups I had planned with a friend here and there in the coming weeks.
November 21, 2020: Card O' the Day: Ten of Pentacles, reversed. When the ultimate “family” and “material wealth” card is reversed, we see disruption on the physical plane. There may be squabbles and differences of opinions within an extended family or the household. Forced togetherness or distance makes everyone crabby and drama ensues. Even if the turmoil is outside your immediate circle, you may make the mistake of getting caught up in it and being asked to take sides. Some may have money troubles, but when given a boost, will just waste the gifts on frivolous things.
This is AN energetic situation, but there’s another possibility if you dare. You could choose Door #2, get off the Crazy Train, and venture into the Spiritual Realm*. If you’re not used to smudging, crystals, and meditation, it might be a little unsettling. However, when you turn your back on the drama-filled material world and sit with yourself in peaceful contemplation of all you DO have, you’ll feel the crazy slip away and be replaced by serenity, calm, and trust that you can make it through.
*Said “spiritual realm” is right in your own backyard. You don’t need anything beyond a tree to sit under, a bit of water to watch, or a nice cuppa. Mostly, you just need silence so you can hear yourself think and breath as you tell yourself it’ll be okay.
November 20, 2020: Card O' the Day: King of Swords. The Kings of the Tarot deck denote leadership and responsibility for others. The King of Swords acts as a totem of metal prowess, knowledge, logic, and diplomacy. He approaches problems and circumstances with a cool head and critical thinking as he explores routes forward. As an impartial arbiter of truth and justice, he makes his decisions based on facts and logic.
The appearance of this card is a reminder to be a little more like this king as you navigate your life right now. The world is suffering a problem that can be mitigated by our own actions and reactions to it (unlike, say, an earthquake). The Sword King puts aside his ego in his search for truth and reality. He thinks with his head and not his heart. While not completely without daring to act, this king balances risks with intelligent weighing of all pros and cons. I suggest you do the same in the coming weeks and encourage others to follow your lead.
November 18, 2020: Card O' the Day: Strength. True strength means surviving and even thriving despite fear, emotional strain, and having limited resources. Ever see the tree growing on the side of a cliff or splitting through a giant boulder? The tree continues forward with confidence and determination to attain it’s goal of life despite all obstacles. As we move towards winter and new challenges, continue forward. Do. Not. Give. Up.
Real strength also allows you to persevere with gentleness and compassion for yourself and others. This doesn’t mean you’re a doormat or a weak and sniveling whiner. It’s about loving yourself enough to know your limits, taking responsibility for your obligations, and having the discipline to follow through. If you can’t, have the balls to turf it off to someone else. There’s no shame in asking for help.
November 16, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Moon (again). In addition to rather profound world events, we’re coming into our Big Holiday Season. Even with our social distancing rules, parties must be had, feasts eaten, and gifts bought and exchanged, which all requires heaps of planning. This is happening on the physical plane and if you recall the reversed Six of Wands, we’ve already been warned timing isn’t that great for creative manifesting. Therefore, don’t expect to get any major work done on your novel, photography portfolio, or miniature portraiture creations.
The Moon invites you to take this time for pondering and resting. While the energy is amped on the material level, keep your psyche engaged but at a low simmer. Pay attention to dreams, instincts, and intuition. Don’t try to do more than gently forgive…yourself, especially, and others. Forgive yourself for over indulging during the pandemic and during the coming holidays. Skip the guilt and shame this Thanksgiving and go straight to the compassion with extra whipped cream. (The bonus side-effect of learning to forgive your own faults is you become less judgy of others.)
The biggest spiritual transformations come when you stop trying so hard to achieve them but simply allow them to envelop you. Remember, The Moon is about passive, yin receptivity, not aggressive, active giving or grabby taking.
November 15, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Moon. Right now, The Moon is emphasizing our current situation of flux. It’s a dangerous time between the end of one world structure and the beginning of the next. During this time, important truths will come to light…The Moon asks you to be receptive to them. We are at a crossroads right now and you can choose to journey forward towards rebirth and greater development or cling to what’s over.
I’ll tell you right now, staying behind is always a bad idea if you expect to achieve anything noteworthy. Your awareness of what’s going on outside your own safety zone might be diffuse, uncertain, and changeable as you shift your perspectives and opinions daily…hourly. Admit to and face your insecurities and then trust in a higher consciousness (your religious faith or your own intuition) to carry you through to more firm psycho-emotional ground. I remind you that you have control of your reactions!
The Moon is the 18th of the Major Arcana of the Tarot deck. Numerologically, it reduces to a 9, which represents completion at a spiritual level. This card also speaks of spiritual transformations. Meaning, along with the physical world’s changes you can expect spiritual shifts within yourself if you want and embrace them. Again, if you’d rather stay put with what you know, then scroll by this post.
November 14, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Wheel of Fortune, reversed. We received The Wheel of Fortune, upright, on November 5th and now we’re getting it again, only reversed. The reversed Wheel is a little like yesterday’s reversed Six in that doubt and a negative mindset are the biggest things in your way. Remember, upright, The Wheel cautioned you about your REACTION to the coming changes.
I’d say we’re in the middle of some pretty big shifts right now and we’re dealing with all the instability and unpredictability those bring. If things aren’t happening fast enough for your tastes, consider it might not yet be the right time. Big changes require lots of preparation, reallocation of resources, new ideas for implementation, etc., etc.
The Wheel, even reversed, is still a fortunate omen and one of unavoidable differences. Struggling against and resistance to those changes is futile. Adapting is your only alternative. So, adapt gracefully with a plan of how to work those changes to your advantage or get dragged forward kicking and screaming and suffering road rash. Your choice.
November 13, 2020: Card O' the Day: Six of Wands, reversed. The normally well-balanced Six of Wands goes awry when reversed. Negativity and doubts about personal abilities creep in, which then cause delays because you’re second guessing every move you make. You might even table some projects altogether because you don’t think you can actually do them. When dealing with others, suspicion about them makes you not want to work or play well with them because they might “show you up” or steal your thunder.
Whoa!!! Mercury retrograde is over, people! Who pissed in your Wheaties this morning? Is it because it’s Friday the 13th? Did you know it used to be considered a lucky day until the mid-1400’s? The number 13 is a “goddess” number signifying the 13 full moons in a year and the 13 (more or less) periods women have every year. But The Church was gaining strength at the time and it was decided female healers (witches) were evil and should be burned at the stake.
So, change yer ‘tude about the number 13 and any fears about Fridays that happen to fall on the 13th of the month. It’s really a celebratory day all about goddess energy, Mother Earth, and our connection to Universe.
November 12, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Hierophant. Yesterday, The High Priestess was asking you to listen to your gut and its wordless wisdom. Today’s Hierophant helps you understand those revelations of the sacred by bringing it into the light and words you can understand. (What, you thought those random “knowings” were original to you? Look up “collective consciousness.”) Many before us have attempted to write down all that stuff in commonly known books such as The Bible, The Koran, and The Torah to name a very few. Those wise ones who came before understood we, as a species, are social and live best in groups. And yet our raw instincts need to be tempered a bit with laws of order and harmony to achieve success and happiness as a whole.
However, blindly following doctrines and dogma that police every action and reaction tend to block healthy creativity. Remember, it’s those who dared to question what has “always been done” who made the greatest discoveries or inventions!* Therefore, to find individual spiritual understanding, one would do well to study traditions and written law and take inspiration from it, but not allow oneself to become hobbled by past practices or outdated ideals.
*Daring to question past practices or outdated ideals has nothing to do with the Basic Rules like not killing or stealing, etc. I’m talking about daring to eat shellfish, wear blended fibers, get a tattoo, or other sort of innocuous, “I’m not hurting anyone else by doing this” stuff.
November 11, 2020: Card O' the Day: The High Priestess. The High Priestess represents your intuition or innate “knowing”…basically it’s your gut. It’s the little voice in the back of your mind that tells you to do or not do something, but you can’t quite put your finger on how you knew. When she appears, she’s asking you to trust your gut and know you’ve got what you need to handle everything.
This card signifies the ability to stay calm in a crisis and see the way to safety through sheer instincts alone. That calmness actually allows your mind to work and you to tap into your unconscious. We’ve got all kinds of wisdom tucked away in our brains that we’ve picked up along the way or were gifted by our ancestors (if you buy into the concept of the collective unconscious). This is stuff you never knew you knew and can’t be expressed in mere words, but it’s seriously useful in a pinch.
Our Good Priestess can put you on a path of discovering all you CAN do if you put aside your beliefs that you can’t. She’ll direct your first steps towards understanding the reality of your abilities. There’s huge potential for very strong possibilities you haven’t yet recognized, so be still for minute and listen quietly to yourself. Then get busy and make it happen.
November 10, 2020: Card O' the Day: Princess of Wands, reversed. The last couple Cards O’ the Day (November 4th and 5th) indicated big changes coming. Well, we’ve now elected a new president of our country—for better or worse—and some will be cheering and others groaning about it. It would seem our reversed Princess is representing those who are not optimistic about the election results.
This card can signify fear of changes and possible disappointments those changes could bring. (Quite understandable.) You may feel rejected or that your voice was ignored. This fear/rejection then has you turning down new opportunities, plans, or things of value the shifts may reveal or have you overlooking the finer points of the new circumstances. Meaning, it’s not what you thought you wanted, thus it’s all “bad.” Such a mood or outlook will only cause delays, indecision, and block your creative forward motion.
EVERY situation has good and bad parts. Find what you consider the kernels of gold and work with and amplify them. Make the very best with what you’ve got and continue onwards!
November 5, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Wheel of Fortune. The goddess Fortuna turns the Wheel of Life as she manifests a big event, transition, or a fortunate turn of the tides of destiny. We’re looking at the ending/beginning of a new cycle that allows for rebirth, improvement, and growth. While things may seem unpredictable and a little frightening, this is an opportunity for a major shift in your life.
Because of this sudden rise to success, your integrity and ability to remain centered and grounded will be tested. The True, Highest Self is represented by the hub of The Wheel. Meaning, while external circumstances shift, the center remains the same—still and connected to internal strength.
The most important part of all the changes The Wheel portends is your REACTION to the changes and not the actual changes themselves. Therefore, acceptance of and adaptation to the changes outside of your personal bubble, and releasing pointless struggles against them, will enable a new orientation and inner harmony.
November 4, 2020: Card O' the Day: Two of Pentacles, reversed. When the Two of Pentacles is reversed it indicates inflexibility and challenge to the structure of one’s material plane. Information comes in faster than one can assimilate and each bit seems to contradict the previous, which only adds to the confusion. Coming changes may be disharmonious or bring negative results. Tarot 101: one’s “material plane” is anything physical…job, living arrangements, roommates, kitchen appliances, ride sharing, bus routes, your regular take-out place, your personal health, etc., etc. However, upheaval in your physical world will certainly affect your psycho-emotional balance as well!
Therefore, if something has become too much—like your weekly volunteer day at the library or seat on the PTA—you ARE allowed to drop it and conserve your resources. Pretending to yourself or others that you can “handle it” and it doesn’t really bother you is counter-productive to your wellbeing. Consider how you can lighten your load until the dust settles and you can make a plan regarding the new circumstances.
November 3, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Empress. The body part associated with this card is the Corpus Callosum in the brain, which connects the left and right brains to allow communication between the two halves. Let us consider that figuratively…as in the “Left” and “Right” in politics, religion, and our neighbors. Lately we’ve lost the art of civil discourse and real communication and The Empress—the universal Mother—is telling us it’s time to recognize the interconnectedness of all things and beings in our world.
This card represents physical care and nurturing of the self and others through love, acceptance, and forgiveness. It signifies the desire to protect, defend, and show kindness to those less fortunate. We are being asked to learn to be emotionally available and look to where one may be of assistance as we absorb negativity and transmute it for the good of the whole.
The Empress foretells good times, all being well, and happiness as hope, the beginning of prosperity, and new and rejuvenating energy progresses towards manifestation. Abundance, physical wellbeing, fruitfulness, and, most importantly, HEALING is brought to us by The Divine Mother.
November 2, 2020: Card O' the Day: Nine of Cups. The Nine of Cups is considered the “wish card” of the Tarot deck. When it shows up, wishes come true and there’s a feeling of material, emotional, and physical wellbeing. Difficulties are surmounted and justice prevails. Positive and expansive emotions bubble up from your depths as you cultivate your inner harmony!
However, (that’s the fancy way of saying “but”) there’s a danger of becoming complacent and smug in all your happy good fortune. I’m not saying you have to downplay or be apologetic about your fortuity. Just remember it didn’t happen overnight, and even though you worked your ass off to get here, you did have help.
Therefore, be gracious and humble about your upswing. Nobody likes a braggart or having your success rubbed in their faces. Share your wealth of spirit and happiness. If you can, write a check to your favorite charity, volunteer your time, or send cards or letters to people who can’t get out much. Yes, enjoy your good luck while it lasts, but pay it forward so it comes back when you need it most.
October 31, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Star. It is said the veil between the spirit world and the physical plane is thinnest on Halloween and therefore, receiving The Star today is very appropriate. She represents the place where all roads meet and reality shifts and a time of deep connection to the Divine. Thus, it’s a really good time for spiritual journeying or meditation. During your silence, receptivity is enhanced and greater understanding is possible.
Understanding of what, you may ask? Of the fact the calm center of all Being is within you as well. Tune into your innate psychic reception to see unexpected correlations you didn’t notice before. Those are the little things that make you go “huh…how ‘bout that…” or “how random!”
The Star in us all is what guides us forward and gives you the strength to lift your foot, against all odds, and take one more step. When you think you just can’t, go quiet, find your inner Star, and breathe.
October 29, 2020: Card O' the Day: King of Cups, reversed. Because king personalities are generally dominating and self-assured, when reversed, their normal characteristics get pushed to the extreme ends of a spectrum. At one end, to avoid being perceived as wimpy, weak, or ineffectual, one may act macho or resort to bullying. Emotions can become artificial, and one might hide behind a caring façade, publicly pretend congeniality, or fake a role to fulfill someone’s needs and gain credit for being a “good guy.” Then again, by APPEARING to be Mr. Wonderful, some may try to take advantage of others through embezzlement, shifty or double dealing, and dishonesty as this vibrant energy gets turned away from helping others.
At the other end of the spectrum, the reversed King can become sentimental, maudlin, melancholic, depressed, or disappointed in himself. Escape into excessive sleep, alcohol, and/or illicit drugs are possible avoidance tactics used to basically sulk and hide from the cruel, cruel world. Which is sort of appropriate right now, if you ask me.
If you’re feeling mean and snappy like King #1, avoid others. Unleashing your vitriol on the world isn’t fair and it’ll only require clean up and amends later. If King #2 is more your speed, do the best you can and forgive yourself for letting things slide. This year has been truly awful, but like the seasons, change happens every day! Keep your feet moving until you get through all the Big Bad.
October 28, 2020: Card O' the Day: Three of Swords, reversed. Did you know tears that protect your eyes every day are slightly different from those that flush away irritants or those you cry in response to emotion? “Basal tears” are the typical tears that keep the eye hydrated, clean, and nourished. “Reflex tears” are produced in response to irritation from chemicals, bright light, or crap you get in your eye. Crying as an emotional response or from pain is called “weeping”. These tears contain the protein-based hormones prolactin, adrenocorticotropic hormone, and Leu-enkephalin, which acts as a natural painkiller. (Chemical Composition of a Teardrop by Anne Helmenstine, www.sciencenotes.org) Therefore “weeping” in response to a painful event-emotional or physical—is actually healing and good for you!
When the Three of Swords is reversed, though, it indicates one is denying one’s inner pain and is refusing to let the tears flow. This blocks the necessary healing process. There’s actual scientific proof for that old saying “have a good cry” to feel better!
Once you’ve dried your tears, amazonite might help you regain your equilibrium. As the stone associated with this card, it is said to help reawaken joy and open your heart so universal love can flow again. And that’s something we all can use right about now….
October 27, 2020: Card O' the Day: Ten of Cups. In the midst of a pandemic, a contentious election cycle, and grave economic conditions, we’re being reminded to recognize the valuable qualities present in EVERY situation. No matter how bad it is in your life right this minute, I guarantee you the sun will come up again. Literally and figuratively.
So, if you’ve been feeling a little lost, foggy, slow, and anxious lately, I urge you to have faith and hang on. It WILL get better. The Ten of Cups is here to lift our spirits and bring us the rainbow after the storm.
October 26, 2020: Card O' the Day: Two of Swords. Maybe this is just me, but the Two of Swords today is signifying low-level mental blocks, stagnation, or lack of creativity. This past weekend consisted of me drooling in front of my phone for hours on end…I’m still feeling like my brain cells are under water. Is it the weather? The political news? Covid-19 malaise?
I dunno, but I saw a new word (new to me, actually, because it’s quite old) during my perusals: acedia. It means spiritual and/or mental apathy or sloth. Now, “sloth” doesn’t just mean “lazy”; there are lots of nuances to “sloth” such as lassitude, which means lifelessness and weariness.
How does all this relate to the Two of Swords? It means the mental/spiritual energy circulating these days is sluggish and not conducive to big bangs. The last two cards I posted were about big bangs of fire energy scattering in all directions. This is the aftermath, the hangover, the “I should clean this mess up now, but I can’t move.” Just do your best today…. And if your best is a nap, that’s okay.
October 23, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Chariot, reversed. The bold forward motion of The Chariot is disrupted when the card is reversed. The energy scatters in all directions or surges out of control. In an effort to redirect or rein in that energy, you may feel the compulsion to CONTROL…anything, everything, everyone. (Your friends, partners, colleagues, children, etc. will just luuuuuuuv you for that. NOT!) This need to control things outside of yourself is a reaction to the out-of-control feeling inside.
However, “balls to the walls” force isn’t going to put things back into place. These are problems that need to be SOLVED not overpowered and that’s gong to be hard to do in your current state. I suggest heavy exercise, trivial activities, or mindless organizing of paperclips to allow some of this crazy energy to bleed off. (Um, hello reversed Princess of Wands.)
Once your energy level has softened a little, you’ll be able to focus on making a list or putting together a plan. I don’t know if you can actually move forward yet, but you can at least get ready and visualize the solutions. Don’t consider it time wasted, think of it as insurance against possible f*ckups. Only then can you proceed intelligently, economically, and in a straight line to results.
October 21, 2020: Card O' the Day: Princess of Wands, reversed. Whoa, Nelly! Rein it in, people. Energy is wonk-assed and hasty. Bratty, brash, dramatic, manic, thrill seeking, and completely unmindful of your resources…all things you DO NOT want to be with a credit card in your hand. I can’t even say give it to a trusted friend because they can’t be trusted either! Put it in a jar, fill the jar with water, and put the jar in the freezer. It’ll take enough time to thaw it out to get yourself away from whatever crazy thing you were going to buy or do.
The problem is you haven’t been allowed to have any fun for so long that your energy is getting backed up. Better to go for a long run, a fierce work out at the gym, or dig a new pool in your backyard. By hand! Notice I didn’t say practice your yoga and/or meditation. Wands energy that’s gone sideways needs to be burned hot, fast, and sweaty.
You might be a little too flakey to do anything creative and false starts would be demoralizing. Stick with cleaning the garage rather than starting your new novel. At any rate, this too shall pass after you’ve vented a bit.
October 19, 2020: Card O' the Day: Nine of Pentacles. This Card O’ the Day is dedicated to my friend, Sarah, who’s struggling a bit right this minute. Perhaps you are, too. Take heed….
The Nine of Pentacles represents success through discipline. With discipline one will achieve, grow, and prosper. Accomplishments will be grounded on the physical plane (Pentacles, after all), but they will be sensitive to your spiritual wellbeing. Meaning, the thing you’re working on is good for your wallet AND soul. The number 9 indicates a certain level of completion has been reached, but it’s a foundation for the bigger, badder stuff coming down the road as a result of this particular finished project.
The word “discipline” originates in Middle English in the sense of “mortification by scourging oneself.” Used like this, “mortification” is subduing one’s physical desires and causing oneself great suffering (scourging). However, you can make self-discipline more palatable by facing fears of failure and releasing self-judgment about not being “good enough.” Travel your path with compassion for self. You’re INVESTING in yourself, and future, by doing this thing.
With that mindset, get off Facebook or Instagram, and get to work!
October 18, 2020: Card O' the Day: The High Priestess, reversed. When the High Priestess is reversed, it indicates a removal from one’s higher self as the desires of the ego get confused with real intuition. In plain terms, you might feel an increase in the superficiality or distance in a relationship, or it feels like you’re doing all the work to maintain it. Lethargy, laziness, or lack of interest could be preventing you from initiating new plans or projects. At worst, that could mean principles become corrupted as they conflict with ignorance, shortsightedness, and lack of understanding on the material plane.
I understand the lack of interest in new projects. Many of us are struggling to be motivated these days. Remember that your favorite people are also experiencing this laziness and lethargy, so have compassion for them when they don’t call or re-tweet your post. Keeping emotional score right now means that connection will fail. Try to save the judgment about whether that person is “a keeper” until after things settle. (Now, I’m talking about casual flaking, NOT someone being an utter asshole to you. You have my permission to dump that person right now.)
The worst connotation of this card, though, is the disconnect from or loss of personal integrity. This should NEVER happen. You’re meant to be better than that. Men and women imprisoned in the WWII concentration camps held onto their integrity. If they could do it under such horrific circumstances, you can too. Take a deep breath and a brisk walk around the block to reconnect with your kinder, gentler Self, and help a little old lady across the street while you’re at it.
October 16, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Devil, reversed. The Devil reversed shows greater extremes than any other card, reversed or upright. If you’re good, it means you’re reeeeeaaaaaallllly “good”…so much “better” than anyone else and you make sure they know how holier-than-thou you are! And if you’re bad, I hope you know a good lawyer and exercise your right to remain silent cuz bragging about how “bad” you are and posting the proof on Instagram is how a lot of chumps get caught.
Another facet of the reversed Devil is weakness and timidity. You’re going to have an epic pity-party—Covid be damned—everyone is invited, and no social distancing or masks will be enforced! Wine will flow in abundance.
Or, you can move on to Door #3 and face your false inhibitions, patterns of manipulation, and codependency and release yourself from that garbage. Allow yourself to be happy in your own skin with all its stretch marks, cellulite, droops, bags, sags, and wrinkles. Own your frailties, but don’t be defined or limited by them. See through all the illusions you’re being fed on a daily basis that you’re not “enough” in some way. Because you ARE enough in every way that’s important.
October 15, 2020: Card O' the Day: Prince of Wands. We had the Prince of Wands a few weeks ago, but he was reversed then, which indicated slower energy and a more mature way of handling stress. Upright, somebody put a boot up his root chakra, cuz he’s back to lighting his hair on fire and runnin’ down the road.
This isn’t necessarily a “bad thing” though. Changing it up is good for you; it keeps you on your toes and young-thinking. The Prince offers us the self-confidence we need to dare a little and take a risk. Now, I know we’re in Mercury retrograde right now and things can go to hell in a hand basket quickly, but maybe THINK about the adventures you want to take. It never hurts to plan and with fire under your butt, you’re more likely to make plans that you’ll actually follow through on.
Channel this guy’s excessive charm to your advantage and burn up your social media connections with witty memes and funny photos. Just know the difference between being the life of the party and becoming an asshole. The Prince skates reeeeeeaaallll close to the edge of being a douche.
October 14, 2020: Card O' the Day: King of Pentacles. Autumn and spring are the two “super change-y” seasons of the year (as opposed to the long hot days of summer and the endless dreary months of winter). During these two seasons, things change fast; buds pop over night or the leaves change color and fall within a week’s time. The King of Pentacles conveys the energy of Spirit and the feeling of connectedness to Mother Earth as she goes through her cycles. I think his appearance today is to remind us the more things change, the more they stay the same.
Emotional support and spiritual connection—if achieved—open doors for further development and expansion, a strong sense of purpose and direction, and long range vision. Meaning, think beyond the current discomforts and inconveniences we are all suffering right now. My grandfather was a POW during WWII. Since he had no idea how long he would be imprisoned, he planted a garden to feed himself and his fellow prisoners. By connecting to Mother Earth and planning according to HER calendar, he survived.
This card is significant of good physical health and we are called to focus on our body, diet, and exercise, and apply energy to practical matters and physical wellbeing. Amber, the stone for this card, is said to fortify inner vision, increase mental wellbeing, help the soul achieve illumination, absorb negative energy, give life in the material world, and bring strength and wisdom. I dunno about yinz guys, but I’m gonna go put on my amber earrings right about now.
October 12, 2020: Card O' the Day: Prince of Swords. It doesn’t happen often that I get the same card two days in a row (to remind you, there are 78 cards in a Tarot deck), but when that happens, I’m thinking I either missed something or we didn’t get the memo this card was sending. …and then I open my Big Book and the first thing I see is it’s possible to over-think things. (LOL-ing at Universe…)
Nevertheless, let’s examine that notion. Sometimes we do need to take a leap of faith based upon minimal research. You know, as in you can’t win the lottery if you don’t buy a ticket. My take away on this is we’re being urged to take a step or make a move, even if it’s the wrong move, just to get unstuck. You can fix it later if it turns out the effort wasn’t the best, but there’s nothing to fix if you don’t move at all.
The Prince is here to give you all the courage and willingness to fight all enemies and the ability to overcome physical and mental limits. Meaning, right now is a good time to run on 3 hrs sleep and a lot of coffee to get your “thing” launched, into Phase 2, or done. Therefore, use the spirit of enterprise and your quick-wittedness wisely to support a cause, meet like-minded people, be inspired, right some wrong, cut through obstructions, create time efficiency, or eliminate ineffective behavior.
October 11, 2020: Card O' the Day: Prince of Swords. Some of you have turned your personal Star right side up! Good for you! How do I know this? Because today’s Prince of Swords represents sudden shifts in perspective as the mind is cleansed of all parasitical concepts that weigh one down. This is the mind-chatter that keeps you from going beyond mere thought and making your plans reality.
However, while your mind may be whirling with all this new energy, don’t get ahead of yourself and leap at every impulse. The Prince reminds us to ground ideas in reality and be responsible for what you do and create. (Ask him how he knows….) With your head screwed on straight and out of your root chakra, you’ll be able to see your way to solutions that end conflicts and clear up some problems that may be dogging you.
Keep your Star upright! If you’re still breathing, there’s always hope for making changes and choices that will improve your life.
October 10, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Star, reversed. The Star is the card that quietly tells you you’ve got this. That you have strength and power and matter in this world. When the card is reversed, you doubt that. Self-esteem takes a hit as you believe you lack talent, grace, and beauty. In denial of your true gifts, insecurity leaves you hiding and trying your best to be invisible.
You may lose touch with some of your sources of inspiration and/or other valued relationships could be getting distant. Like the reversed Princess of Swords from the other day, clarity of thought is compromised, focus on tasks is gone, and decisions are nearly impossible. In such a head space, efforts will seem overwhelming or pointless.
The Star is asking you to shed all ideas about yourself that depend upon your social status, possessions, appearances, and what others think of you. Post what you want to on your social media pages without thought to how many “likes” or shares it’ll get. Stop measuring yourself against the “Kim Kardashians” of the world and start measuring yourself against who you were yesterday. Strive to do better and be better than the person you are rather than trying to “one up” your neighbor. Staying on your own mat and concentrating on you will go a long way in helping you rediscover your self-worth.
October 7, 2020: Card O' the Day: Princess of Swords, reversed. The reversed Princess of Swords signifies halting and poorly organized thoughts. This leads to becoming overwhelmed by problems—large or small—and feeling too weak or intellectually confused to do anything about them. Miscommunications in emails or other writing or in conversation seem to be chronic. Some of those “misunderstandings” seem to be on purpose, like someone is trying to trick you!
I’m not trying to minimize your distress, but I want you to ask yourself where this is coming from: definitely from the outside or from that horrible little voice in your head that blows even the slightest hiccup into The End of Days? You know which little voice I’m talking about…the one that tells you you’re too fat/skinny, tall/short, stupid/smart, nice/unhelpful, etc. The voice that blames you for things which are completely out of your control and yet somehow makes it your fault.
Think about it reeeeeaaaalllly honestly. Are you breaking your own heart and tearing yourself down or is it truly coming from your stinking boss/partner/colleague/neighbor/“best” friend? If it’s you, it’s time to talk to someone about it and find out what old pain hasn’t been dealt with from your past. If it’s outside, grow a pair and get off the floor. If you’re not lying down, nobody can wipe their feet on you.
October 5, 2020: Card O' the Day: Eight of Pentacles. The last few days have been hard for me. Maybe you noticed there was no Card O’ the Day. Perhaps the full moon was at fault, perhaps it was the chaos of the entire year that put me down. As I was drawing the card for this morning’s reading, I asked for help from Universe. The answer I got was work.
It doesn’t matter what you do; it’s the actual labor of the task that can bring spiritual reward if you let it. Find beauty in the simple routine of cleaning the kitchen or weeding the garden. Such mundane jobs take on a sacred quality when performed with total involvement, love, and for the sake of having a clean kitchen and weeded garden once you’re done. Take it one step at a time without concern for reward or recognition.
Working in harmony with the environment makes you aware of your body, the world around you, and the way we all fit into the puzzle that is Universe.
October 1, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Lovers, reversed. The reversed Lover has been coming up a lot lately for clients of mine. Now it appears for all of us. In a nutshell, The Lovers is about making the wisest choice for one’s own greatest good. Sometimes that means making tough choices that seem to go against everything you THOUGHT was right and true.
However, when the card is reversed, it may indicate a lack of analysis (or over analysis) regarding a situation or decision. Impulsiveness leads to uninformed stabs just to get it over with so you don’t have to spend any more thought on it. Quarrels, haggling, and miscommunications don’t make things any better.
It might be a time to be alone with yourself, thoughts, ideals, and values for a bit. Never mind what the neighbors, pundits, “experts”, or your hairdresser thinks you should do. Think carefully about the choice and what is best for YOU and go with that. There will be repercussions no matter what you decide, but at least you stayed true to Self.
September 30, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Chariot, reversed. Psycho-emotional energy bleeds off us all like B.O., last night’s garlicky shrimp, or the dust cloud surrounding Charlie Brown’s friend, Pig Pen. We pick up new energy and drop old in a constant cycle. Currently, the energy blasting around like a tornado is hubris. Even more so this morning….The card for today, the reversed Chariot, reflects that energy.
This card signifies a dangerously inflated ego that leads to lack of caution, inflexibility, and having absolutely no doubts about the validity of one’s actions. Any means justify the ends to one’s goals, but because one is easily distracted from the objective, the work remains incomplete. Overly aggressive rash actions, an unreasonable attitude, and the inability to adhere to rules of fairness reflect a compulsion to control others to make up for the lack of self-control.
In actuality, all this bluster is just a smoke screen to cover one’s weakness and doubt in one’s abilities. Here’s a hint: attempting iron-fisted control over a situation isn’t the answer. You must find a true solution to the problem and that will require finesse, diplomacy, and compromise. No, you won’t get everything you may want, but you’ll get more than what you have now. And so will the “other side.” It’s no coincidence we received Death and The Tower—the two BIGGEST “change” cards in the Tarot deck—yesterday and the day before. Everything NEEDS to change to correct the many faults and mistakes made.
September 29, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Tower. Alrighty, then. If yesterday’s Death wasn’t a big enough ass kicking, how ‘bout we add The Tower. This card tells us there’s no problem that cannot be solved or a situation shifted. If you don’t have the strength or chutzpah to do it yourself, Universe will do it for you eventually…like it or not. It’s not in the Divine plan for you to be imprisoned in illusion or repression, but you must work WITH Universe to change that.
Stop looking for God/Allah/Yaweh/Jehovah/Higher Powers in the sky and find it here on earth and within yourself. We’re “made in the image of God”, right? So release that bit of personal divinity that’s the True You and embrace the clarity that comes with the freedom from false beliefs that you’re “lacking” or “not enough” in some way.
In my understanding, Death is a change in physical things or social structures…your job, house, car, relationships (with yourself and/or others), your own body, your church, etc. The Tower is a change in your mind, beliefs, or values. Having them together like this is a challenge to make some really radical shifts in yourself and life. Will you resist or willingly participate…or perhaps start the process yourself?
September 28, 2020: Card O' the Day: Death. A reminder to those not very familiar with the Tarot cards: Death does NOT mean someone you love, or you yourself, is going to die.
Death according to the Tarot is a time for a deep letting go of all the anger, aggression, or other negative energy you harbor in your being. Doing so would allow for the elimination of all the useless crap that impedes your growth as a human and divine being. If you allow it, you could go through a metamorphosis that brings an end to all your illusions about what’s “important” and “necessary” for your happiness. Such a change of view could bring great relief.
With every breath we take, there’s a chance for renewal and revitalization of the way we think, behave, and act in the wider world and within our own selves. Therefore, treat every moment as an opportunity to perform or receive a miracle.
September 27, 2020: Card O' the Day: Five of Pentacles, reversed. Pentacles represent the physical plane and all that goes with it: jobs, cars, living quarters, relationships, family/religious/social/political structures, and all the beliefs, values, and opinions that support them. When the normally volatile Five is reversed, it can feel like chaos has erupted in your daily slog through life. However, this “chaos” can lead to a reconfiguring of that grey plodding that releases you to a more light and colorful life.
The big take away from this card is that the same ol’ thing isn’t working anymore. You need to make some real changes to find new opportunities and enjoy the subsequent gains. However, changes require admitting what you’re doing or have isn’t perfect. So, you need to prepare yourself for eating a little humble pie as you reevaluate your religion, politics, beliefs, and other “shoulds” and “oughts” by which you judge others.
If you really want to go there and embark on the hard journey, expect obstinacy, impatience, and irritability from everyone around you (and ESPECIALLY yourself!) as you start voicing your new thoughts and put them into practice. Some stuff and people will be left behind, but the prize at the end will be worth it.
September 26, 2020: Card O' the Day: Prince of Wands, reversed. The easy road for the reversed Wand Prince is to give into the volatile energy and blow the world wide open. Acting like an utter ass feels good in the short term as you vent that steam but know that you’ll burn bridges with colleagues, friends, lovers, and family. Nobody will be able to stand your boasting, dick-swinging, and inconsideration. Expect to be dumped, ghosted, and possibly fired.
OR, you can take the reversed Prince’s hard, but high road. This road has a slower pace on which you stop to smell the roses, enjoy the present moment of a cold beer with pals, really pay attention to your SO’s description of their day, and send somebody a birthday card because you remembered. Sure, you’re allowed to plan ahead, but it’s not done with the frenetic “what’s in it for me” and “how soon can I get mine” attitude. Look for ALL the benefits coming from an idea—not just how much money it’ll make you.
The upright Prince is super dynamic and will probably make his/her first million by his/her 30th birthday, dates only models, and has a fancy car. How nice for him/her. When reversed, this energy either spins out of control or quiets down to a simmer because you’ve come to understand what’s truly important in life. Your choice.
September 25, 2020: Card O' the Day: Four of Cups, reversed. When any of the “fours” are reversed, their inherently stable energy gets disrupted. Sometimes we need a little volatility to get us off our fannies, other times, we’d really rather have things stay the same. With the reversal of the Four of Cups comes emotional disruption as that safe, plodding energy gets a little sloshed about.
The first thing you may be feeling is restlessness, a bit irritated for no apparent reason, or your normal meditation or prayer routine keeps getting interrupted by thoughts dashing through like an annoying toddler who needs a nap. Psychic potential becomes amped under the influence of this card, too. You may be noticing “signs” or synchronicities that actually mean something to you rather than you dismissing them as coincidences.
Take advantage of this situation and try on a few new hats, so to speak. Join an interesting group, talk to people at the dog park, or take an acquaintance out for coffee and see if there’s potential for a deeper friendship. Plan an unusual date night with your SO. This is your chance to break out of an emotional rut and transform creeping boredom and apathy into fulfilling new relationships.
September 24, 2020: Card O' the Day: Eight of Swords, reversed. We JUST had this card appear less than a week ago, and it’s reappearance tells me some of you may still be a bit confused about what’s real and what isn’t. What truly is cause for concern vs. what’s nonsense.
Some restrictions you’ve placed upon yourself may seem to be supported by logic and reason. Your doubts about your own intelligence (or having been told you’re a bit dim for too long) make you susceptible to persuasive ideas and/or arguments, which allows others to deceive you. Do me a favor and Google “Jim Jones”, “Guiana”, and “Kool-aid.” Mr. Jones was very famous for gas lighting nearly 1,000 people into drinking poisoned Kool-aid. This card is indicating there’s a lot of Kool-aid out there to be had and I’m here to tell you NOT to drink it!
Use your own smarts to discern what IS true and what’s merely gas lighting. Do your research, listen to your gut, and see things clearly for what they are (it might not be what you WANT it to be). Again, the reversal of this card brings us ingenuity and improvisation, which makes it easier to get past intellectual blocks and sort all the contradictions that have you so perplexed.
September 23, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Chariot, reversed. At this moment, many of you may feel like you’re spinning your wheels and getting a whole lotta nowhere. If you’re pushing forward trying to force progress, you’re hitting obstacles after blocks after U-turns. You just can’t seem to get anywhere. Conversely, maybe you’re feeling too cautious to even try and bed is looking reeeeeeeally good right now.
Upright, The Chariot represents taking control of a situation and making disparate factions work together (whether they want to or not) to create something new. When reversed, this card tells us the bulldozer, control-at-the-expense-of-all-else approach isn’t going to work. We’re trying to control that which cannot be controlled. We need to actually SOLVE the problems and not just beat them into a semblance of submission. It’s like filling in a volcano’s crater thinking that’ll keep it from erupting.
What to do? Commiserate with your fellows and be reminded of how your life sucks a little less than theirs. An occasional dose of “it could be worse” puts things in perspective. Next have compassion for yourself and all those who suffer. Finally, step back and seek support. Two or three heads are better than one in this case. The down-side to that is compromise will have to happen. However, the point is to solve a problem for reals so that everybody wins.
September 22, 2020: Card O' the Day: Prince (Knight) of Pentacles. The suit of pentacles is about the spiritualization of matter. Meaning, it encourages us to find the divine in tangible things and our work. The Prince of Pentacles is expert at this because of his sold work ethic and willingness to do mundane grunt work. He achieves a sort of zen state as he lays bricks, mows the lawn, puts files or accounts in order, or whatever task he is doing. He’s not the designer but the person who makes the design a physical thing.
This zen state of being in the physical world can be wonderfully grounded and centered and the Prince’s appearance today is a signal to make space for this new kind of stillness. We are urged to let go of expectations about ourselves and others and become more self-contained and less attached to stuff and people for our “happiness.” By accepting what “is”, and being okay with it, life becomes simpler and less stressful…and dare I say, happier.
The downside to the Prince is he’s a bit stodgy and slow to change. Therefore, being too chill can mean things that should change, don’t. Balance in all things means having the strength and passion to change what you can and being accepting of the stuff you can’t.
September 18, 2020: Card O' the Day: Eight of Swords, reversed. The Eight of Swords is about creating the illusion you’re trapped. It may seem to be true, but the blocks are actually in your mind and heart rather than being actual iron bars. This self-sabotaging mindset keeps you stuck and prevents any forward motion out of your current quagmire.
When the card is reversed, however, it indicates the first, most important, steps of finally seeing things clearly and for what they truly are. Magic, ingenuity, and improvisation are greatly enhanced by this card, so give some “crazy” ideas a second or third thought. It’s time to set yourself free by doing something you never thought you’d do…like move across the country, end that dead-end or toxic relationship, or quit that completely unfulfilling job.
The connotations regarding health, for this card, include panic attacks. No surprise there! The mere thought of quitting my job, selling my house, and moving 2500 miles away from everyone I know for a guy makes my heart race, ears ring, and palms sweat. Oh, wait. I did that 17 years ago (and counting) to marry my husband. Those concrete shoes you’re wearing? You put them on…you have the power to take them off.
September 17, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Hierophant. The Hierophant contains yin/yang energy and all that’s possible. He represents a solid foundation of traditions, lore, knowledge, ideals, and doctrines passed down from our ancient ancestors. He’s all this personified, as well, in teachers, gurus, and religious leaders. This card makes us aware of the “shoulds” and “oughts” of life, our senses of civil obedience, and the fear of “what will the neighbors say?” that keeps us from breaking the rules.
But The Hierophant also offers a bridge between this stern right v. wrong, the limits imposed by organized religions, and the stuffy and timeless teachings from our elders and our own free will. While we have millennia of human experience passed to us through the collective consciousness and what has been discovered archeologically, we still are individuals who are born as clean slates.
We are invited to blend the two with the help of this card. Take what you know as “right” and “wrong” based upon formal education, family tradition, and societal laws and blend it with what you know in your heart and soul to be true. We all have the capacity to act with perfect love, kindness, and mercy. Today, strive to walk what you talk.
September 16, 2020: Card O' the Day: Seven of Wands, reversed. The Seven of Wands has a lot of interpersonal energy that’s pushy and competitive. When reversed, you might be losing the argument. We just had two Princesses (Pages)—of Swords and Wands—and they represent budding energy and just starting out with something. Because of that, the Sword Princess is often disregarded intellectually…I mean, what does she know? In the same vein, the Princess of Wands can be considered too enthusiastic or idealistic with her concepts and gets told to hush while the “big boys” talk.
Whether you’re male or female identifying, being dismissed is no fun and one’s first reaction might be to become painfully self-conscious, pretend you don’t care, become passive-aggressive (as much as you can get away with), or go away to soothe your wounds. Being scarce for a little while is actually not a bad idea because it keeps you from doing something foolish and saves face while you heal from that particular humiliation.
While you’re holed up, however, examine why you were shot down. Was your input vague, poorly supported by facts, or otherwise weak? Was your idea a little fantastic? Now get busy researching the snot out of your “eureka” moment. Find articles, data, and/or beta tests to bolster your thoughts and prove your theories aren’t completely nuts. Then come back armed with all this valid information and show them who’s a noob! You’re stronger than you think.
September 14, 2020: Card O' the Day: Princess of Wands. Another Princess (or Page)! Again, this card represents entering into a new phase with all sorts of wide-eyed curiosity and enthusiasm. Being of the Wands this time, the phase is going to be passionate, spontaneous, and downright brazen! Non-conformity and independence rule this free-spirit who’s yearning to take action…ANY action just so they can feel the wind in their hair again and not so damned lethargic! As they search for new directions and self-growth, they don’t care about their lack of actual training or skills! With enough determination, stubbornness, and sheer chutzpah, they can do it all!!!!!
Anyone else remember “senior-itis” or spring fever? It’s a bit early for that, but I think we’re starting to chafe at the bit of the restrictions necessary to squash the Covid-19 bug. Thus the instability of energy that has us starting twenty tasks or projects and actually completing nary a one. This type of spazziness can cause hyperactivity and attention deficits that might lead to minor accidents and injuries.
I’m not going to rain on your parade too much, but the Princess does bring a few caution flags with her. Sure, welcome your adventures and dream big dreams, but be realistic in your goals and ground yourself in common sense before you get hurt.
September 12, 2020: Card O' the Day: Princess of Swords. As a Princess (or Page), this card represents entering into a new phase with all sorts of wide-eyed curiosity and enthusiasm. Being of the Swords, the phase is going to be intellectual or scholarly…using your noodle. This card in particular is very tuned towards communication, so be sure your throat chakra is well lubricated and you’re ready to express your cerebral activity. Some of you may be going back to school and learning new skills like closed-captioning, computer systems, court reporting…fields that tie communication with technology.
People who are under the influence of the Princess can get caught up in head trips of the “shoulda, woulda, coulda” variety. The young energy of this court card brings insecurity with it, so be careful of second-guessing yourself into an insecure puddle of doubt. If that happens, distract that busy brain with a nature hike, cleaning frenzy, or frivolous novel.
Garnet is the stone associated with the Princess of Swords. It’s said to have a restorative effect, strengthen courage, and promote self-trust. All that’s needed to get off that guilt-doubt-fear-of-not-being-enough train!
September 11, 2020: Card O' the Day: Nine of Swords, reversed. Very many of us are beset by problems outside our control (Covid-19, wildfires, floods, etc.) right now. The fear you feel about them and your personal safety is completely legitimate. But because the problems are out of your control, there is a tendency to suppress your anger and resentment regarding these totally unfair disasters. Therefore, check yourself for unacknowledged depression or state of crisis.
Now, things WILL get better. When? It’s anybody’s guess. Therefore, use any kind of down time to face your fears, all your biggest “what if’s?” that make your stomach churn. Make a plan of what you would do if it did come to pass. You’re stronger than you think and there are people out there ready to help.
September 10, 2020: Card O' the Day: Eight of Pentacles. Ever hear the adage “before enlightenment, chop wood and carry water; after enlightenment, chop wood and carry water”? I used to puzzle over that one until the light went on and I understood. To me, it means as long as we’re in human form, we still have to do all the mundane chores regardless whether we become enlightened to all the mysteries of the universe. If you’ve got a physical body, it must be maintained, fed, and sheltered.
Today’s Eight of Pentacles is about that chopping of wood and carrying water. Since it has to be done, no matter what (unless, of course, you’re good with allowing your body to be seriously uncomfortable or die), then do it with a smile on your lips and a song in your heart. This card represents work as a form of love in action. It’s the love of a job well done for the sake of doing a good job and not because it “gets you something” in the end.
Approach your work today with conscientiousness and attention to the details. Turn your “ugh! I gotta do’s” into “I want to do’s.” Find the beauty in the most ordinary tasks and work from a spiritual level.
September 9, 2020: Card O' the Day: Four of Swords. After all the tragedy, changes, righteous anger, natural disasters, and political turmoil we’ve been experiencing of late, the Four of Swords is suggesting it’s time for a retreat from “battle” to give ourselves time to heal. This withdrawal makes time and space for repose, much needed meditation or prayer, and respite from our troubles to replenish ourselves and regenerate our energies.
Once one is well-rested, one is better equipped, more energetic, and stronger to digest what has passed, grieve losses, and release the ashes to the cosmos. From such a place of tranquility, one can mindfully respond to the world and all its current chaos rather than be governed by knee-jerk reactions coming from fear, pain, or rage.
Therefore, make a time today for being alone. Maybe you’re a book-in-the-corner kind of person or nature hike lover. Regardless, take some “me” time and refill your cup.
September 7, 2020: Card O' the Day: The World. There are several “ending/beginning” cards in the Tarot deck. The four tens of the Pips, Death, and The Tower come to mind. The World, as the final card in the Major Arcana series, I think, is the big kahuna of the “endings that allow beginnings” cards and its appearance today is a strong omen.
This card represents an ending that’s inevitable and completely unavoidable, but it’s slow. Rather than wiping everything out in a second like a flash flood, tornado, or wild fire, it’s like a creeping river of magma. It will bury everything in it’s path, but you have time to collect yourself, your most important belongings, and make a plan for the future. The question is whether you do so or stick your crown chakra in your root chakra and ignore what’s coming.
This card is also about reflection and integration of all the experiences of the past year or two. All the frustrations, heartaches, job changes, joys, readjustments, and adaptations need to be combined into your new “normal” going forward. This will lead you to the “a-HA” moment where you realize you can handle all that life is throwing at you and that you’ll be okay in the end. (Provided, of course, you’ve got your chakras in proper alignment….)
September 6, 2020: Card O' The Day: Seven of Pentacles, reversed. Money is a form of energy. We receive it in exchange for our work energy. But if we lose sight of this energetic exchange and begin to covet and crave the money itself more than doing the equal amount of work, that’s when we get into a spiritual imbalance.
The reversed Seven of Pentacles represents this spiritual imbalance and reflects uneasiness about money, the impatience and restlessness urging you to get “more”, and the fear of losing what has been gained thus far. Some of this schism between work/money energy may come from feeling like you’re trapped in an unsatisfying job.
This card is telling us it’s time to go back to working with a consciousness of the spiritual divinity in all you do. Respect the energy you receive in return for your work whether is comes to you as cold hard cash, perks and benefits, a basket of eggs, traded labor, gratitude, etc. Cash is not the only energy form that rewards your labor or the labor of others working for you. Remember that and you will feel closer to your Higher Self and less focused on “having” or “not having.”
September 5, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Star. I feel the best way to summarize the energy of The Star is the moment Dorothy understands from Glinda that she had the power to get herself home all along. Dorothy had to be ready to trust herself and her inner light to guide her past all blockages and challenges. We are encouraged to be like Dorothy: find our inner calm, tap into the Universal love bathing our Mother Earth, and hope for the future.
Receiving this card today reminds us everything is connected and we aren’t ever truly alone. By following the light of the Higher Self—that bit of the Divine each of us has within—you will find the way to your spiritual healing and be reborn to a higher level of consciousness and knowledge. And because we are all connected, even though we may be undergoing a personal healing journey, the glorious energy generated by your efforts will combine with the energy of others and further add to Universal Love.
September 4, 2020: Card O' the Day: Strength. Strength is said to be the implementation and expression of feminine or yin* power, and thus the majority of Tarot card decks depict Strength with a female figure overpowering a lion or other larger-than-the-figure creature. In this form of power, passions have been conquered by reason; there is wisdom, discipline, and courage in it. It’s the kind of power that’s aware and nuanced with self-mastery—meaning, the wielder of that power doesn’t need to shout, puff up, or force their ideas through.
True Strength is seen when one listens to understand the other and not just to come up with a witty or crushing response. This Strength is born of love, not the desire to best another, and so compromise becomes easy and desirable to all parties. One with real Strength faces challenges and learns from the experience rather than blaming others for misfortunes. It’s time we act with Strength.
*Yin energy or power is contemplative, thinking, considering, planning, and therefore “quiet” versus yang energy which is action oriented.
September 2, 2020: Card O' the Day: Ten of Swords, reversed. Being a “10”, regardless of the reversal, this card represents the change of a cycle or another type of ending in your life. This could mean the ending of sorrowful times or good times, but the “thing” has run its course and it’s time to move forward into something new.
More specifically, the Ten of Swords represents serious bummers that have cost you a great deal of resources, energy, and tears. When reversed, that means things are supposed to be looking up, but I’m not holding my breath…I feel like we’ll be struggling for a while longer. The emotional toll these hard times take on us can create intellectual blocks, but this card tells us we’re survivors. Always remember your reactions to problems are within your control and those responses will determine whether you fail or ultimately succeed.
No circumstances are entirely awful (just as nothing is entirely perfect, either) and many may see some upgrades in their personal experiences. However, for there to be REAL improvement for all of society, we need to make lasting changes, not just slap a Band-Aid on it and call it done. Laws and policies must be changed, eliminated, and/or implemented. Do what YOU can to raise up your corner of the world even if that’s just holding the door for someone else.
September 1, 2020: Card O' the Day: Nine of Pentacles, reversed. As the world events swirl around me and the news becomes more and more bleak, I feel lost, insecure, isolated, and even trapped. My energies dissipate and I just want to sleep to avoid everything….
But…whispers my soul…there is still hope for us all. People are still getting married, having babies, going back to school, cooking, gathering, protesting, traveling…life continues. Yes, it’s all a little different. Restrictions change the way we do things. And yet, that’s the way change occurs and we improve upon a flawed system.
When the Nine of Pentacles is reversed, it can signify one is denying the wellbeing one enjoys. One looks beyond what one has and dwells only upon what one doesn’t. I’ve been guilty of this lately. It’s time for me to re-focus. You, too?
August 28, 2020: Card O' the Day: Princess of Pentacles, reversed. Today’s reversed Princess is actually an extension of yesterday’s reversed Prince of Swords. The Prince was indicative of the exhaustion many of us are feeling as we’ve been struggling for survival these last months. The reversed Princess is here to help us come to a new understanding about what’s truly important as many of our plans have been downsized, postponed, or cancelled altogether. While this is very disappointing, it does make room for relaxation and a refocusing of attention and energy as deadlines evaporate.
This card can represent changing one’s mind about previously held beliefs, attitudes, and goals. You may feel a little at sea as you wonder about your purpose or place in this world after all these changes and the necessary adjustments to them.
Your own esoteric gifts can offer peace and tranquility during this period of uncertainty. We all have them…and no, I’m not talking about being “psychic.” I’m referring to our innate inner wisdom and gut-level knowing that can guide us to what’s next for each of us. It might be to join a group, go solo, embrace a new religion, completely reinvent yourself, or return to your roots. Whatever this shift from the pursuit of the material looks like for you, seek it from within.
August 27, 2020: Card O' the Day: Prince of Swords, reversed. “Battle worn” is our key concept for the day. I feel it…do you? Disease, wrongful death, violence against the “other”, graft, corruption, natural disasters, bigotry, and hatred have poisoned us and beaten us down since time began, but it seems especially harsh this year.
Retreat, rather than forward motion into the continuing line of fire, is tempting. And for once, Universe is okay with letting us run away from our troubles because pushing forward right now would be careless, reckless, and a waste of time and other resources. Therefore, leave the heroic work to those who are called to do it, stay home and out of the way, and don’t try to launch any big projects at this time.
A new day will come, but not today.
August 26, 2020: Card O' the Day: Six of Pentacles. The main keyword associated with the Six of Pentacles is “reciprocity.” This is defined as exchanging things with others for the benefit of both. The word “exchanging” means giving one thing and receiving another in equal value. As in, taking as much as you give. It’s said that it’s better to give than receive but if you never allow yourself to receive (or take what you deserve) and just give of yourself to no end…well, an end to the free giving will come and you’ll be left feeling bitter and used.
Balance within one’s whole environment, spiritually and physically, is vital to our individual wellbeing. We’ve all had that person in our lives for whom we do a lot…too much. We do it because they are family, we love them, or we owe them. But when the giving far outweighs the receiving, you’re setting yourself up for resentment.
Today, practice generosity to yourself. Nurturing, kindness, and unconditional love should not just flow out from you but must flow in for your overall health. If no one else is offering it to you, then keep some of your own to maintain your reservoir of happiness. If you’ve drained yourself dry, then you can’t give anymore anyway. So, you might as well hold some back for you.
August 20, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Moon. The whole world is in a situation of flux. Nothing seems to be stable and normal…but yet there is stability and normalcy if you look for it. The Moon is here to help you separate truth from illusion, delusion, and fear as the current multitude of crises has many of us swamped by our emotions. This condition then leads to clouded perception and insecurity for your familiar way of life.
This card represents deep spiritual connections and faith in the unseen. I like to ask people to prove it’s impossible when they question psychic gifts, ghosts stories, or other evidence of “things that cannot be touched.” Therefore, in such an upside down time, why not welcome the possibility of what could be and dig deeper into your own inner wisdom and psychic “gut” feelings? Activate “the spiritual” in your own ordinary life (if you throw salt over your shoulder after spilling it, then you’re already doing so), by adding a moment of meditation to your day or keeping a lovely rock that pleases you. “Spiritual” isn’t all about incense, crystal balls, and flowing veils, ya know.
We’re all in states of evolution as we try to adapt to what is. The Moon tells us we have time to rest and recuperate from what has happened recently and is happening daily. While it may not be time for big activity yet, seeds are being sowed and gestation has begun.
August 19, 2020: Card O' the Day: Three of Wands. We’re being asked to continue to persevere despite all the blockages and challenges we currently face. There are still vital currents of energy flowing—Mother Nature is slogging through her annual routine, in case you haven’t noticed—but they may seem more hidden or inaccessible right now. You have to sit quietly and take a minute to feel it on a deeper level than what you may be used to. Like yesterday’s reversed Prince, we continue in a more relaxed, moment-by-moment mood of active waiting.
What the heck is “active waiting”? It means envisioning future goals and exploring possibilities without concrete planning. You’re not making phone calls, ordering supplies, or talking to loan officers. It’s researching grant possibilities but not applying just yet. It’s trying on different ideas to see if they really appeal to you and whether you’d be willing to do the work. It’s basically armchair quarter-backing.
Because there’s no concrete goal in the works, take all the time you need to reevaluate possible plans. Use creative enthusiasm, flashes of clarity or clairvoyance, and a-HA! moments to wander through your imagination. You may not come up with anything brand new, so look for ways to improve the “old” or branch out further. Don’t be shy about asking for assistance; it’s out there and you just have to ask.
August 18, 2020: Card O' the Day: Prince of Wands, reversed. We received the Prince of Wands, reversed, a little over a week ago and he’s here again today. Last time I felt all the FOC* energy the reversed Prince displays when he’s “in a mood.” Today, not so much.
Though the current situation continues to block, delay, and cancel damn near everything we try to do, it’s almost as if we’re finally getting used to it. I think many of you are ready to let the flames in your hair die down and settle in for the long haul. At the beginning, we were promised a few weeks or a month or two of inconvenience. But by now, it’s apparent we’re in a marathon and not a sprint.
The good news is if you shorten your outlook from the “five year plan” to no more than a five week, or even five day plan, you’ll be able to remain present for what’s happening right now. Yes, it’s helpful to have goals, but if all you do is reach for goals, you don’t get to enjoy the accomplishments you’ve achieved thus far. By sitting for a bit and truly appreciating a job well done—large or small—it allows for a deeper experience of that feat.
(*F*cking Out of Control)
August 16, 2020: Card O' the Day: Ace of Swords, reversed. Sometimes we attach ourselves to a belief that feels really “right.” As evidence begins to emerge contrary to this comfortable belief, some will dig in their heels and be resistant to the truth. But without a clear sense of reality and the willingness to see it, emotions take over and mistakes compound. In an effort to save face, one may confuse ideas and facts with one’s emotions and resort to verbal aggression and wound others with words and insults.
We’re being asked to pay attention to details that have been long ignored. Put aside ego and view the situation for what it truly is. Logical objectivity is needed at this time, not emotional attachments. Reason and thinking dictate that if Approach A isn’t working, and is actually making things worse, then one needs to switch to Plan B. (It has been said that using the same solution to a problem and expecting a different outcome is akin to madness.)
This card suggests that commitments to fanaticism are beginning to waiver, which tells me that truth is beginning to win…as it inevitably does. Like The Wheel, this card reminds you that your reactions to situations matter and are entirely within your control.
August 15, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Wheel of Fortune. The Wheel is reiterating the inevitable changes Death signified the other day as in it’s futile to resist the continuous march of time. The sun comes up, the sun goes down, and there’s not a damn thing you can do to stop it. Therefore, it makes the most sense to come to terms with and accept how life is flowing right now.
View the current events not as failure but as a chance to find a new path. There are cheap ways to reeducate yourself and learn new skills for when the job market reopens. Find them and create your own story of rebirth. While many of us took the extra free time at the beginning of spring to clean closets and reorganize our spice racks, now is the time to cleanse and renew your mind and spirit by dumping the obsolete notion that things will return to “normal” in just a few days…weeks…months.
The most important concept that I urge you all to embrace is that the challenges we face now, or ten years from now, will be. Most of the time we have little control over what happens. But you have ALL the control of how you react to what happens. Will you lay down, sniveling and whimpering, or will you roll with it? How you react today will determine what comes next for you.
August 14, 2020: Card O' the Day: King of Pentacles, reversed. The reversed King is indicative of feeling helpless and having very few choices as one watches the entire world fall into corruption. Disillusioned by the justice system and/or politics/politicians with their totalitarian views and verbal aggression, it may seem one is the only one left with any principles. Those with power are sadistic, malicious, and unscrupulous people who look only after their own interests. In an effort to bring change, some may join non-conformist or revolutionary groups or engage in other forms of activism.
While it might be too much for you, personally, to organize or take part in protests, phone or social media campaigns, door-to-door petition projects, etc., there is one rather easy form of social activism I hope all of you will consider: voting. Don’t be afraid to ask for an absentee ballot (some states require you to send a mail-in request, so it’s time to request a ballot now), go to your polling station and vote early, if you can, or be tenacious enough to vote in person regardless of the lines.
If you want things to change, you have to use your voice. Be heard this fall.
August 12, 2020: Card O' the Day: Six of Pentacles, reversed. The reversed Six indicates energy isn’t “flowing well.” (THERE’S an understatement….) This could mean you’re feeling weak-kneed or broke on the physical plane, cranky, sad, or stuck emotionally, or just can’t seem to find your spiritual mojo any where. We’ve all suffered disappointment after disappointment as high hopes for the new year were utterly shattered, and it’s enough to make you feel like a victim of an unjust Universe.
However, if you think about it, we Humans have been running ourselves off the proverbial cliff for some time. It was a somewhat stable situation that was held in place by the “powers that were.” Universe has said ENOUGH! and knocked us on our asses. It’s time for us to evolve again, and that’ll be uncomfortable but we really have no choice (see yesterday’s reversed Death).
The trick to surviving all this with your sanity is to return to your spirituality. To be clear, “spirituality” isn’t necessarily something organized that you do according to a set of rules. You can absolutely free-form your spirituality through art, gardening, charity work, or living naked in a yurt and not speaking for 10 years. Whatever YOU need to do to find your connection to the divine is fine with me (as long as you don’t hurt other living beings in the process [I’m not judging but Karma does]). The point is to “get good” with yourself and your place in the cosmos so we can find new balance together.
August 11, 2020: Card O' the Day: Death, reversed. Upright, Death means we can expect ch-ch-ch-changes! But when reversed, it represents struggle against and resistance to those changes. That resistance may show up as fear, distress, excessive sleeping, lethargy, inertia, and/or stagnation. (My hand is raised and I’m nodding along with that list.)
The thing is, the changes we must accept at this time are necessary and inevitable. Crossing your arms across your chest and pouting “I’m not gonna” is pure self-delusion. It’s going to happen; it IS happening. Your denial doesn’t make it go away; it just prolongs the pain of the particular ending.
If your personal ending just happened, you get a pass for a few days. If your ending is Covid related*, then it’s been long enough and you have to start accepting that life is going to be different from now on. The coping mechanisms and alternative routes we’ve been implementing to continue forward despite the virus may very well be more efficient and will be used forevermore. Accept and adapt. It’s a lot easier.
*Deaths of loved ones are of course excepted. Take all the time you need to grieve.
August 10, 2020: Card O' the Day: Four of Wands, reversed. The Four of Wands is one of the happier cards in the Tarot deck with lovely, benevolent energy. It can signify happy gatherings to celebrate life events or goals being met. When reversed…not so much. The happy gatherings don’t or can’t occur. If they do, the celebrations are a mere shadow of what they should have been and one may question whether it’s worth it to make the effort to go at all. Work isn’t much better. Labors may feel forced, rushed, or overwhelming as you are expected to perform miracles without the proper resources. Anything creative feels like a boring routine so what’s the point.
The lesson of this card is the necessity of appreciating the blessings you still have. Yes, much has been taken from us in the last few months, but where there is breath, there is life, and where there is life, there must be hope. Go to the bare-bones event and be present for the one who is trying to celebrate milestones even now. Be glad you have a job at all; there’ll be plenty of time to get a better one later. Set aside the “creative thing.” If it’s bringing you no joy, then don’t do it.
Sometimes we have to encourage our happiness and actually work at it. Now is one of those times.
August 8, 2020: Card O' the Day: Prince of Wands, reversed. I know lots of people lost their jobs through temporary layoffs, downsizing to cut costs, or their employer went out of business. Therefore, many of you may be looking for a new job and the reversed Prince is right there with you. Unfortunately, he’s feeling the heat and is becoming deeply insecure about his ability to find something new in the current job market.
That insecurity and worry translates into brashness, dick swinging, and hot air. (HR personnel be on the lookout and verify EVERYthing on this type of person’s resume.) On a good day, The Prince of Wands is the type to go to Daytona for Spring Break, pandemic be damned. But now that the money is running out…desperation can make people do even crazier things.
If you recognize yourself anywhere in this post, step back and take a minute. Review your resume for anything that might be a little “overstated.” Have a mere small latte before the interview, not three triple-shot espressos. Be natural, kind, polite, and grateful to be present for this opportunity. And check the zipper on your pants.
August 7, 2020: Card O' the Day: Ace of Wands, reversed. Dreary news continues….
We’re experiencing tough breaks as things continue to fall apart. New beginnings are still indicated by the reversed Ace, but it’s damn near impossible to get anything off the ground as everything is blocked energetically and psycho-emotionally. Weakness and doubt among our leaders leads to reduction, waste, and devastation. This card advises “inaction” at this time and it would seem the U.S. Congress is taking this advice to heart as their calendar shows they’re leaving Washington until the 7th of September.
As for the rest of us, do the best you can but don’t expect huge results. Be happy with what you do get and continue to be kind, grateful, and helpful to your neighbors and fellows. Sending out love and light….
August 5, 2020: Card O' the Day: Temperance, reversed. When Temperance is reversed, it represents conflicts and imbalances that cause stress and/or illness. We’re looking at the extremes of a spectrum with no easy middle ground that allows for natural energy flow. People seem to overcompensate or be completely lacking in any compassion, they’re uncooperative and uncompromising, and it can feel like you’re in competition or conflict with everyone. If the external energy of your world is like that, your internal energies can manifest in wild mood swings, losing sense of your Self, impatience, frustration, loss of efficiency, and a whole lot of wasted time.
Sometimes, when I pull these daily cards, I just wanna shriek YA THINK!?!?!?!??!?! WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CLUE, UNIVERSE!?!?!?!??!!
As best you can, try to regain your balance. Find a personal compromise between caution and reckless abandon. Because the whole world is suffering crisis after crisis, we must look within to achieve center. It may not be perfect, but it’s enough to get YOU through. If some of you can be strong enough to support yourselves AND a few others who can’t find their footing at all, then do what you can to help your neighbor. If some of you can only be strong enough to support yourselves, there’s no shame or judgment attached to just staying out of the way, because reducing burden is still a laudable way of helping to restore balance.
August 4, 2020: Card O' the Day: Nine of Pentacles, reversed. I hesitate to post this card because I want to offer hope and good tidings. However, that’s not reality right now and we need to be slapped hard with our truth. Denial of the pickle we’re in will only prolong the situation and/or allow it to get worse and worse.
The reversed Nine recognizes your intensifying feelings of entrapment, isolation, loss, discontent, and insecurity. It’s difficult to relax and enjoy hobbies or exercise as the pandemic continues to threaten our individual and collective health. Personal discipline is gone and the sense of failure that follows only exacerbates things further. The threats to personal contentment and safety due to the poorly handled crisis may tempt one to flaunt social regulations. But this self-gratifying lack of awareness results in irresponsibility and faithlessness to yourself and everyone around you.
Hang tough, people. Pray, meditate, hug trees, make crystal grids, burn candles, dance naked in the moonlight, brew tinctures, and/or do whatever ritual of healing and love that’s part of your belief system. Humanity is suffering. Be part of the solution by being nice today.
August 3, 2020: Card O' the Day: Princess of Pentacles, reversed. Oooo! I hope those in the eastern states haven’t done anything important yet and for those more westerly, I warn you now it’s Monday. If it’s liquid, you will spill it, zippers won’t zip, buttons will pop off, and if you’re on time right now, something will make you late. In addition to being all thumbs physically, your head isn’t much better. An inability to focus will result in dumb mistakes. What was super important last week is so “last week” today.
When I’m in that kind of mood, on-line shopping and Doritos are my new best friends. Therefore, trust me on this when I tell you to just cancel your day. If you can’t, don’t make critical decisions. Ask for another day to research to be sure or to “sleep on it.” De-activate your Amazon Prime account and call your bank to say you’ve lost your credit card. Stay out of all convenience or grocery stores. Take a long hike, bike ride, or nap. Naps are good for keeping you out of trouble.
August 2, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Chariot, reversed. Another one of those goofy Tarot tricks! Yesterday I drew The Chariot, but wasn’t able to read its meaning for the day. Color me blocked or just not in the mood. Today, I drew it again, but reversed. Seventy-eight cards in a Tarot deck. So, the odds aren’t astronomical and yet not exactly “one out of three” either.
The Chariot indicates (among other things) being masterful in your game plan.You’ve got full control of yourself and the solution to the problem. However, when reversed, you still have confidence to burn, but it’s misplaced. Your solutions, plans, and methods lack caution and prudence, are inflexible, ego-driven, and actually counterproductive and self-destructive. With your inconsiderate and unreasonable attitude, I’ll bet you’re blaming everyone in your path to make up for your FUBAR attempts.
Here’s a suggestion: your “will power” approach isn’t the answer to the problems you’re facing. You can’t simply bulldozer your way through and over things and call them done. A REAL solution needs to be found and that will require brains over brawn, finesse, diplomacy, cooperation, consideration for others, and basically being a decent human being rather than a full-of-yourself a**hole. If you must go out today, be nice.
July 30, 2020: Card O' the Day: Four of Cups: My first thought when I saw this card was of care and stability. A lot of people interpret this card as representing stagnant emotional energy, but I feel a quietness about it rather than stasis. It’s a time of active waiting because the time isn’t right for big actions. Certainly keep moving forward, but do so gently…besides, it’s too hot to make grand gestures!
While you’re sitting in the shade having a cool drink, step back from your mind and all the “shoulda”, “woulda”, “coulda” crap that’s circling up there. You could turn a perfectly fine—if a little dull— situation into something awful with your overactive mind and needy ego or you could cleanse your psyche of old emotions that keep coming back to torture you.
This card speaks of an opportunity to behave in an altruistic and giving manner, kindness, and optimism. But there are also elements of feeling introverted and unmotivated. Maybe, and here’s a wild thought, the introversion you’re feeling is a signal to be kind and giving to yourself! What!?!?!?! Yes! Seriously! Plop in a quiet corner and let any drama take place in another room while you read a book, listen to music, or nap. I’ll just let you be and see myself out….
July 30, 2020: Card O' the Day: Two of Wands, reversed. Life is pretty much a sh*t storm right now with conflicting energy and information. This might cause you to give up on an idea or journey because the trouble arising at every turn is just not worth it or makes it impossible. Furthermore, your resources are already stretched thin, so you really can’t afford to waste anything. Have you ever heard the saying “Retreat is sometimes the better part of valor.”? In this case, it’s true and prudent to back off a minute and save your strength.
This card is telling you that sheer will-power or force isn’t going to “make it happen” this time. You’re being asked to become more self-sufficient and reorganize the turbulent energy available. You have inner resources and possibilities you’re not considering…look to those and how you can use them. Be receptive to the unexpected because you never know when an alternative route will open up.
Remember that it’s often through loss, sadness, trouble, or fear that we learn our best lessons. Embrace the sucky inconvenience, take notes, and find a new way.
July 28, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Moon, reversed. The Moon is full of magic and serenity…I defy anyone not to feel at peace and a bit fey when gazing at the full moon! However, when this calming quality isn’t allowed to envelop you and emerge through your basest instincts, fear and disturbed emotions can result. The reversed Moon represents a refusal to acknowledge the unseen world of intuition, gut feelings, and “knowing” and instead clinging to reason, logic, rationality, and practicality to your detriment. Without the Moon’s gentle reassurance, one could develop poorly defined anxieties or depression.
Now, granted, we don’t need to ignore the Moon to feel depressed or angsty right now! I would imagine most of us are mentally and spiritually weary and would just love to retreat to a cabin in the woods or a shack on the beach. The delusions, manipulation, suspicion, illusion, and impractical ideas being blasted at us 24/7 doesn’t help the drain on our psycho-emotional health, either.
Didja ever notice that when people dream of a retreat it’s to a cabin in the woods, a beach, or even just proverbially sticking their head in the sand? What do all those have in common? If any of you said Mother Nature, you get the prize. Mother Nature in general and our sweet Moon are immensely calming and healing. Honest. Find the Moon tonight, sit for a minute, and just study her. I’ll bet you’ll feel just a wee better for it.
July 27, 2020: Card O' the Day: Ten of Pentacles. As with all 10’s, the ten of Pentacles indicates an ending and new beginning if you can allow it. It represents the completion of material gain in our lives, but that there’s nothing beyond it. As in, how nice for you, but what are you REALLY worth? The current environment isn’t the sturdiest, most secure, or safest and there’s continued distraction and detachment from what’s truly important: abundance for all and a permanence of mankind that outlasts a single individual.
Each of us brings value to the big picture, which makes it that much grander, which we then get to share in a community without inferiority or superiority (in a perfect world, of course). Certainly enjoy life’s luxuries and shiny objects, but understand there’s soooooo much more to it! This card represents going beyond the material world to bring abundance to all parts of our existence and its appearance today is the reminder we need occasionally.
The card’s stone stepped forward: Tiger’s Eye. Tiger’s Eye is said to teach the tolerance of different points of view and help one see the unity of life on this earth. Perhaps today is a good day to have some in your pocket….
July 24, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Hierophant. The Hierophant represents (among other things) all that is good about organized religion, belief systems, and codified magical practices. When we have faith in a higher power, it can bring a sense of serenity and grace in times of trouble. There is a part in most of us (I won’t insult anybody by saying “all”) that needs a connection to the Divine and this card signifies the importance of each individual being and their connection to Universe—regardless of whether they are aware of it.
The Hierophant is the bridge between spiritual beliefs and daily life. As in, he helps you walk what you talk. He is the heart of unconditional love that embraces the good and corrupt. (He’s also about laws and societal order, so don’t think anyone is getting off scot free with their shenanigans. Just sayin’.)
You are invited to look for inspiration for your spiritual truth, joy, and power through the guidance of elders and their traditional rites. If you once practiced a ritual like saying the rosary, praying to the east, lighting candles at a personal altar, or anything else that was a traditional part of your life and have slacked off of late, maybe now is the time to return to the comfort of the habit. This “forces” you to be quiet for a moment each day and reconnect with your spirituality, which might just do a body good.
July 23, 2020: Card O' the Day: Six of Pentacles, reversed. The reversed Six represents insolence and physical narcissism. No, I’m not talking Kim Kardashian and her incredible curvy figure, I mean material “physical” as in stuff or money and being disrespectful with it. Currently, those who have largesse or are in control of government funding are acting unjustly by misusing or misappropriating financial means. They are lacking in generosity and are downright selfish in a time when it’s crucial to be the opposite. There’s even resentment of the people who need help and are receiving it despite all efforts to minimize or cut off that assistance.
On the other side of the coin, some may be feeling ungrateful for what little they receive, denied and overlooked when not getting more, or also resentful of a neighbor whose plea for help was answered. Another danger is being covetous of the financial power the “haves” or government officials wield.
No, it’s not fair and most of us are in no position to change the sucky truth. However, what you CAN do is share where you are able, not give up on asking for help, and being grateful for what you do receive. Live in gratitude and love. The alternative is bitterness and hate, which is waaaaaaaay worse than what we’ve got right now.
July 22, 2020: Card O' the Day: Eight of Cups. …And again with the Eight of Cups (previously on July 2nd and 11th). Astrologically speaking, this card is governed by Saturn (planet of hard work and order), which is in opposition to Pisces (sign of emotional healing and life completion). This antagonistic relation indicates the emotional healing we all so desperately need will require great effort to manifest changes for the better. Expect destructive patterns to surface—either old habits you thought you’d kicked or taking up something new. Swell.
We are sooooo ready for the next phase of life PAST* the disease, civil unrest, and political turmoil but weariness and frustration cause a decline in interest of anything constructive. If any of you are still slogging forward, it’s super tempting to discontinue all efforts, abandon any small success you may have gained, and just “turtle up” into your respective shells. However, continued separation and self-isolation will only make things worse.
Therefore, keep crawling forward. We must persevere. Above all, guard against chucking everything you still have while searching for new emotional fulfillment…in a bad relationship, at the bottom of a bottle, in the ice cream section at the store, etc.
*How DARE I whine when disease, civil unrest, political turmoil, devastating fires and/or floods, earthquakes, etc. etc. ravage our world every day since the dawn of time? I’m hanging my head in shame for it, but I still feel it and need relief from the grind. Along with everyone else….
July 21, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Hanged Man. One of the most obvious and dramatic ways one can shift one’s perspective is by standing on your head. Now what do you see (besides the dust bunnies under the sofa)? A shift in your world view can also be had by going into panoramic view to see the whole picture and not just your narrow “truth” or the convenient details that bolster your perception. There’s actually way more to life in general, and your part in it in particular, than some of you may want to admit.
This card is an invitation to decide what’s truly important: your anger, self hatred, fear, and/or judgment or pulling your crown chakra out of your root chakra and clearing your True Self of all that sh*t to become a better version of you and not such a miserable cow. Look at what suffering in your life may actually be “homemade” or allowed because you’re too inert or weak-willed to speak up and stand up.
It’s time to let go of the old mindset that you’re not “enough” in some way and transform the way you view yourself and your life. Is your glass half empty or half full? We are in a moment of suspension where our normal routine has been disrupted. Use that free time to your advantage and gain a little self-knowledge by doing the hard inner work. Notice I did NOT say lose 50 pounds, train for the Ironman Competition, write the next best seller, or get your PhD. Just contemplate your navel and notice how perfect it is and how you do a very good job at walking and chewing gum—at the same time!—most days.
July 20, 2020: Card O' the Day: Eight of Wands, reversed. Goofy cards…. As I was drawing the card for today, I was a little distracted and quickly pulled the Eight of Wands. I immediately felt I’d been too hasty so I returnedthe card to the deck (of 78 cards) and reshuffled and cut. Once I’d centered myself and concentrated on my deck fully, I drew another card. Eight of Wands, reversed. I sh*t you not.
The reversed Eight has a very up-in-the-air quality about it. There’s a situation that should end, we want it to end, and yet it continues to drag on without a clear finish point that we can look forward to. This will lead, or may have already led, to feelings of burnout, uncertainty, and a certain paralysis that prevents you from making any forward movement at all. During this adverse period, it may seem everything is in your way, Murphy’s Law is cutting you zero slack, and there are no breaks to catch. You may gravitate to completely ineffective ways to spend your time and energy because what’s the point of trying to do anything useful right now?
You have my permission to binge-watch NetFlix. But I’m also going to encourage you to try your best to do at least three useful things a day. They don’t have to be huge undertakings but at least little worthwhile.
July 18, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Hierophant, reversed. This card its JUST NOW showing up!?!?!?!
The Hierophant, reversed, indicates questioning conventional mores through behaviors or ideas that are pompous, righteous, and arrogant. One has had enough of the “shoulds” and “oughts” of life and is choosing one’s own standards rather than just accepting the dictates of the powers that be. Bucking the system, disobeying rules, rebellion, civil disobedience, or outright crime are ways this energy can manifest. Some leaders (or wanna-be leaders) will make fanatic pronouncements with absolute assurance they are RIGHT and anything else is flatly WRONG. However, they’re hypocrites just in it for the money or recognition and nothing else.
However, committing to such a path of false knowledge or mistaken beliefs, which get in the way of actually resolving an issue, is restrictive and limited. Failing to accept the responsibility of finding one’s own way, one’s higher way, is lazy and displays gullibility and resistance to change.
Be very careful onto which bandwagon you jump. If you close your eyes and ears to new information that indicates you may be wrong, you would do well to reassess your position. It actually takes a bigger person to jump off the wagon and admit a mistake was made than to stay on and double down on one’s error.
July 17, 2020: Card O' the Day: Ace of Cups. I was tempted to describe this card with mere rainbows and hearts emojis. But I knew we needed a little more than glitter to guide us, so I opened the Big Book. The Ace of Cups represents the spiritual basis that gives meaning to, and protects from corruption, the laws of society, moral order, and community structure.
Change and insecurity are overwhelming most of us. We’re experiencing new emotions that are hard to fathom or describe. Therefore, we would do well to look inside and connect with our real NEEDS, never mind our wants. This is accomplished by being passive and receptive (rather than pushy and grasping) to what comes to each of us. This does not mean you’re laying down in the middle of the road to become everybody’s speed bump; it means knowing, in your soul, that life will support you.
The truest feelings of the heart come through a relationship with the Divine. (What you call “the Divine” is your business; you know what I mean here.) When you’re well connected to higher powers, you’re capable of trust, hope, and all the possibilities love can create.
July 16, 2020: Card O' the Day: Three of Pentacles, reversed. In some ways things are slowly getting better as the scientists and doctors come to understand the current pandemic slightly better each day, as more people become willing to wear masks in public, and businesses adapt to the new circumstances. In other ways things are getting worse as the virus continues to spread, businesses are forced to close again, we ponder the wisdom of opening schools in the fall, and the pervasive uncertainty of “what are we gonna do!?!?!” stretches on.
The union on the physical plane this card represents is disturbed and those of us who should be working together aren’t. Mutual support is withdrawn as we childishly pick “sides” on an issue and stubbornly stick our fingers in our ears and shout “lalalalalalalalalala, I’m not LISTENING to you!!!” Ignoring the issues at hand is not an option. Seeking to force everyone to do as YOU will have it is impossible.
Therefore, take your fingers out of your ears, get off your righteous soapbox, and look for ways to compromise and return this card upright so we can work together to solve problems that impact us all. Remember that old adage about flies and honey v. vinegar.
July 15, 2020: Card O' the Day: Six of Swords. The Six of Swords is one of the only “nice” cards in the suit of Swords, in my humble opinion, and I’m glad to see it today. Two days ago we got The Magician, which is a powerful “beginnings” and “potential” card. Yesterday, The World showed up (albeit reversed) to remind us that with all beginnings, there must be an ending first. Today’s Six also speaks of a new start and being receptive to a new state of affairs and/or opportunities as you mentally move away from loss, trouble, and heartache.
The new situation may not be your ideal or the opportunities may not necessarily be dreams come true, but the good news is you’ve stopped resisting these ideas and solutions. No, they’re not perfect nor what you thought you wanted, but you’re ready to surrender to what IS being offered and it’s now time to figure out what to do with it.
This will require reorientation to reality and directed intelligence. As you move towards the unknown, without knowledge or guarantees of the outcome, you’ll discover the light in all the perceived darkness.
July 14, 2020: Card O' the Day: The World, reversed. Upright, The World card contains limitless potential for us all. The world is our oyster and we only have to reach for it with the desire to make our dreams come true. It’s our reassurance that we belong here. Terra firma beneath our feet offers stability, structure, and security as we find the final pieces of our personal puzzles.
Reversal of this card does NOT negate all the fabulousness of this card, it just slows things down a little as we must re-learn how to thrive. Even though we may feel stuck or running in circles right now, our inherent success remains. It might be difficult to manifest goals, but it’s not impossible. Slow growth or lateral movement is better than nothing.
Look to see what holds you back and release it. Fear? Lack of self-confidence? Loss? Just keep moving your feet…left foot, right foot, left foot, right foot…. The World, as the last of the major arcana in the Tarot deck represents a big ending whether upright or reversed. However, it represents just as big a beginning. Don’t give up on finding your new way.
July 13, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Magician. The Magician is so rife with possibility…he can go in any direction, but today his shadows are most prominent to me. He’s ruled by three planets: Mercury, Neptune, and Uranus. This last planet rules The Magician’s darkness, and I think it’s funny—“yer anus”—because his asshole is really showing today. I mean, it’s a struggle to put this together; I’m feeling sick to my stomach.
The Magician of today represents illness, infirmity, and destruction. I think this is physical sickness as well as spiritual, which is manifesting in dishonesty, manipulation, and trickery by people who make things up as they go along. I don’t need to explain the physical, do I?
This card is revealing what happens when Universal Law is disrespected and ignored. Ego takes over and the willful need to be “right” supersedes all reason and compassion. Undisciplined and reckless are the keywords for today. Be careful out there.
July 12, 2020: Card O' the Day: Two of Pentacles. The suit of Pentacles (my favorite) represents the spiritualization of the material world. Hunh? Simply put I’m talking about bringing Spirit into your physical life via meditation, crystals, rituals, religious practices, or anything that helps you see the magic that is woven through our ordinary existence. We’ve all admired the beauty of a flower, bird, or scenic vista on occasion. You’re being asked to look again with your soul, inner self, child’s eyes, or what have you to experience wonder and awe at what you’re seeing, smelling, or hearing.
The Two of Pentacles, specifically, represents trying to maintain or restore balance in a volatile situation. I would consider our current atmosphere of worry, obstacles, and agitation a “volatile situation,” wouldn’t you? To get back to a feeling of equanimity, we’re going to have to make some conscious choices to let go of unnecessary stuff, whether physical or psycho-emotional, to reduce the load.
Hard as it is, embrace some of the new norms* of society and adapt them to your life. You may be suffering thin resources right now; learn to make do without and/or look for ways to stretch what you still have. Try to remain joyful. That’s where my first paragraph of this post comes in. NOTICE the moment and find the magic in it.
*Certain “new norms” of overt hate and bigotry I will NEVER embrace, accept, or adapt to.
July 11, 2020: Card O' the Day: Eight of Cups. Another repeat…the Eight of Cups appeared on July 2nd, too.
Depression and stagnation are represented in this card but we also have change and progress. The “inch by inch” growth spoken of in yesterday’s Seven is already showing up today as we are moving, inevitably, from a less meaningful situation to one that is more worthwhile. Unfortunately, the “blahs” are still present but small adjustments and itty-bitty differences show us a slightly different perspective than from yesterday.
Allow this card, this day, to be a wake up call that breaks the monotony of the fear and malaise that is currently blanketing our society. I’m not saying you’ll suddenly jump out of your socks and start singing like Maria in “The Sound of Music.” You’re being invited to discontinue certain pointless efforts and spend what little energy you have on finding a deeper meaning in yourself and your own life. You may find a “higher purpose” that will benefit all of society or you’ll “just” find some relief from the constant horror of our present reality. Either way, BONUS!
July 10, 2020: Card O' the Day: Seven of Pentacles, reversed. Yesterday I simply couldn’t bring myself to write about the card of the day I drew. Anxiety sucked me down and the day was spent sleeping or avoiding reality. After a bit of an uptick in my cheerfulness rating these last few weeks, I seem to be having my own resurgence of the Covid-caused blues…a sort of fracture or separation between my lethargic body and tired spirit. Neither body nor spirit can help uplift the the other and thus I become an inert blob. Anybody else out there, too?
The reversed Seven represents problems and complications at work. I don’t see “work” limited to just your job, but it includes all work you do, whether domestic chores, home maintenance, personal projects, or volunteering your time. It’s all “work” and this card signifies feeling trapped by unfulfilling jobs, which leads to bitterness, sadness, and a universal and pervasive dissatisfaction.
However, the good Seven, even reversed does offer a small glimmer of hope. While there is delay, growth does happen inch by inch. The trick is to just slog through the work without expectation of reward or material gain for now. In a little while, you WILL have something to show for your efforts and that might give you the boost you need to really reconnect to life.
July 8, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Devil. The Devil in the Tarot deck represents our shadow sides. It’s all the stuff about yourself of which you’re not too proud. A tendency to gossip? Bigoted? Addictions? It doesn’t matter what it is, but the more you hide it in shame, the more power it has over you. You’re being invited to face those shadows, admit to them, and do something about them. The “doing something” means getting a grip on those shadows and not indulging them. Educate yourself about different cultures, people, and religions to help you see the “other” is just that and not the “bad thing” you’ve made it out to be. Addicted to a substance or action? There are help groups or therapists for everything you can imagine.
By recognizing your inner shadows, you awaken to the responsibility of integrating them into your whole being. The fact is, you are who you are and you can’t just deny a large chunk. You need to learn to balance your light with this primal force of “not-so-niceness.” Look for work-arounds. If you simply can’t be bothered to volunteer your time, then write a check. People who are different than you bug the snot out of you? Walk away. There’s no reason for you to engage and become a viral YouTube sensation.
If you understand and admit to your faults, this opens the way for renewed well-being and liberation from them. NONE of us is perfect! Remember that as you forgive yourself for your failings. However, as you notice those failings, it might be a good idea to improve on them a little.
July 7, 2020: Card O' the Day: King of Swords. Yesterday it was suggested to take a step back from people and all their emotions to concentrate a little more on yourself. Today we get the emotionless Mr. Spock of the Tarot deck: the King of Swords. He’s one to make sense of his world through extreme organization and uses logic to make decisions rather than emotion. The need to find a more practical and “better way” for something in your life will come through being organized and logical. The better way will yield higher results for less effort. Therefore, look to see what could be streamlined in your life.
Another way to get more bang for your buck is to be mindful of what didn’t work in the past. Repeating mistakes is a huge time and resource waster and therefore, you’ll want to be brutally honest with yourself to learn those lessons. No, don’t paste an “L” for “Loser” on your forehead, just make a note and move on.
The King is also an “implementer” with the capacity to foster change. He’s frank and honest in his communications, cooperative, and tactful. He’s also so persuasive his compromises tend to be a little tilted in his favor. And yet, his commitment to honesty and integrity means he does the right thing and doesn’t take unfair advantage. Keep all this in mind as you work towards making life easier for yourself and becoming a better human.
July 6, 2020: Card O' the Day: Four of Cups. The most common interpretation of this card is emotional and energetic stagnation. However, I’m not feeling the quietness of this card as being stagnant, but more like a clam, cool pool in which to relax and reclaim your emotional balance. If you noticed, I took a couple days off from the Card O’ the Day for the holiday weekend. Any time I socialize or am with people for several hours or a day or two, I need time for quiet grounding and contemplation after the emotional overload of simply “people-ing.” This card suggests you follow my lead.
It’s also recommending that you become a little more protective of your emotional energy. Set personal boundaries and attend to your own needs before you attend to others’. Remember, they tell you on airplanes to put on your own emergency oxygen mask before trying to help your traveling companion(s). This is the same thing, only for your psycho-emotional health. Now, you may feel like you’re withdrawing and withholding your feelings from those who need you, but seriously, you cannot help others when you’re a mess yourself!
The Four is telling you to step back from any drama and simply watch from a distance; wait to be asked to step in. Even then, be sure you really need to—otherwise, let the drama and participants sort themselves out while you go into the comfort and safety of your inner world to strengthen and purify yourself. While there, clean out old emotions that continue to drag you down.
July 2, 2020: Card O' the Day: Eight of Cups. Sometimes the Eight of Cups is considered the “travel card” indicating a departure. That can be literal as in moving houses, jobs, leaving school, walking away from a relationship, etc. or figurative like going on a spiritual quest to dig deeper into your own psyche. The reason for the need to move on, though, is the important part.
You could be looking to leave an actual situation because what you thought you wanted has ceased to be all-consuming. You’ve either outgrown that particular thing or something else has taken its place that you find way more fascinating. Perhaps the job/house/relationship is still okay, but deep down you know it’s not going to be a “forever” thing and you have an urge to go now and seek something better rather than waiting for the last dregs. On the other hand, you may not need to actually leave the building but to find what’s missing within you, your spirit, your mind—which you can easily do in your back yard.
This card represents the need to venture into unknown territory. You’ve gone as far as you can here and to stay would mean you’d repeat what’s already been experienced or accomplished. Open your eyes, look around, and answer the urge to get up and “do” that’s been chewing on the back of your neck.
June 30, 2020: Card O' the Day: Death. When cards repeat within a few days, it tells me the message is really important. We just received Death on June 25 and now it appears again today. Between these two appearances, we’ve received cards that are basically ego-centric hissy-fits of resistance to the changes and “death” to norms we’ve accepted for decades. People are being called out for their blatant racism/sexism/homophobia/etc. and are suffering consequences such as losing their jobs, social standing, or respect. Then they try to do damage control by saying they didn’t mean it “that way”, it was a joke, or anything else to evade responsibility for their hurtful actions and words.
The truth is inevitable and unstoppable societal and systemic changes are rolling across our world like Death. These painful changes are necessary for us to transform into better, kinder, gentler beings. The values and concepts we’ve been holding diminish us and it’s time they’re swept away. We are being given the opportunity to reinvent ourselves individually and as a species.
Some will become leaders and take very active roles in facilitating the changes or reorganizing the aftermath. Others will quietly follow and adjust to the “new.” Either way is fine; you do what you can to survive and be happy. Those who resist will suffer the most. Therefore, I advise you let go of what “was” and start accepting what “is.” And here’s a secret: It’s simply easier to be nice and love than be nasty and hateful.
June 29, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Empress. The Empress is most commonly associated with abundance, fertility, and creative force. She is also the ruler of the Underworld and the keeper of our inner child (the little brat that waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaants!!!!!!!). Today all that nurturing, “mother” energy is on vacation and The Empress’s shadows are showing.
The Empress has strong emotions and sometimes they overtake her intellect. Today she’s passionately (read: loudly and insistently) expressing her beliefs with great confidence. Never mind they are rooted in ignorance and confusion. Did I mention she also represents “light deprivation” and “obscurity”? As in, “darkness”; the lights are off at her house and she’s refusing to consider the fact she can’t see her hand in front of her face…or the truth.
With a lack of sensitivity and flexibility, the Empress is becoming bitter and resentful of life’s required changes and separations that must occur. In all fairness, she is Earth personified and we all know how slowly Earth usually makes changes. I can relate; I hate changes, too. However, we cannot avoid the truth of what is happening these days regardless of how much you don’t like it. So quit’cher bitchin’, put on your Big Kid Pants, and roll with what is real—not just what you waaaaaaaaaaaaaant.
June 27, 2020: Card O' the Day: Queen of Swords, reversed. The normally astute, science-minded, and pragmatic Queen of Swords turns away from clarity of thought when she is reversed. She represents those narrow-minded, uber-righteous people whose personal biases prevents all logic and reasoning from getting through their ego-centric beliefs and opinions.
Regardless of how impractical and fantastic their ideas may be, such people will harangue you until you agree just to shut them up. The fact that their ill-temper and negative attitude comes from frustrated plans and ambitions can warrant a little sympathy, but because they’re being such assholes about it, they simply alienate everyone around them.
The appearance of this card is a reminder NOT to behave in such a way no matter how hard your day has been. If your mood is still good as you read this, be forewarned there are people like this out there…waiting and eager to harsh your buzz.
June 26, 2020: Card O' the Day: Five of Cups, reversed. What is up already with the Five of Cups? This is the third time we’ve received it inside two weeks! First, on June 15th, we got it reversed; June 17th it reappeared upright; today we get it reversed again. To recap the previous readings: reversed means we’re intellectually understanding the losses, though not liking them by any means, and upright is basically WAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!! and not being able to see what’s still there through your tears.
It’s interesting this card follows Death from yesterday. Death warned us of inevitable changes and “endings” we have no control over. Today, we mourn what is taken from us and perhaps indulge in one of the five stages of grief, that of denial. When reversed, the Five of Cups speaks of not accepting losses and/or hiding from the pain through busy work or putting on a falsely “brave face.”
No, I’m not saying we should all weep, tear our hair, and rend our shirts. However, we do have to acknowledge our pain to move through it. Ignoring the elephant in the room won’t make it go away—as much as we’d like it to all just disappear—so face your pain squarely and start some meaningful recovery practices. That might look like talk therapy, gardening, bike riding, spring cleaning, starting your novel, painting your bedroom, or anything else that moves your butt forward. We can do this….
June 25, 2020: Card O' the Day: Death. Before you all freak the frick out, no one is dying…well, yes, they are. People around the world are dying every minute of every day. But Tarot’s Death card is not talking about that literal, people are dying, death. Tarot’s Death card is heralding deaths of beliefs systems, ingrained patterns of behavior, prejudices, religions, economies, leadership groups, jobs, relationships, etc. In other words, it’s a big fat hairy “change” card. And, boy, are we experiencing some big fat hairy changes around the world—and in the U.S.—right now.
My humble opinion is that it’s about damned time for changes in the way we view and treat others. It would seem our species has an inherent mean streak that needs to be tamed. (Notice I didn’t say eradicated because, let’s be real!) We need to love more, be kinder, more helpful. But if that’s too big of a change to make all at once, then practice staying on your own mat. Because minding your own business is ultimately kinder than pushing your views, religion, fears, traditions, etc. on someone else just to get them to agree with you and make you feel “right.”
Closer to home, you can expect changes around your house, to your body, and/or in your job/career. The changes Death brings aren’t always “happy events” but they do release you from something that’s no longer in your best interests and make you available for something better. Therefore, when you experience “unpleasant endings”, look for the new and better for which you’re now open.
June 23, 2020: Card O' the Day: Three of Swords. This card refers to the choice we had yesterday. The Three is telling us “no” or “not now” with regard to that decision because things are still unclear at the moment. It’ll cause grief and not be what you want in the end if you move too soon. Therefore, it’s advised to continue evaluating all your possibilities.
I suspect that during your assessing and evaluating of what to do next, you’re going to realize something isn’t working for you anymore or wasn’t such a good idea in the first place. This card mentions movement and severance from the past, which helps alleviate upsets. This tells me there are a few “items” in your psycho-emotional knapsack than can be jettisoned. Yes, you may waaaaaaaaant it, but by now you’ve realized it’s it’s actually causing you suffering. The good news, though, is the suffering and realization of “I’m done with this” means you learn a valuable lesson and you don’t have to go back and do “that” again!
Be gentle with yourself and practice self-care, but don’t you dare wallow. Life is too short for pity-parties.
June 22, 2020: Card O' the Day: Two of Wands. Hunh. I took a couple days off from the Card O’ the Day and we’re still here pondering the lint in our bellybuttons. The Two of Wands, like all two’s, represents a decision that needs to be made, but there’s uncertainty because you’re not sure if you should protect what you have now or move forward into “the new.” Fortunately, the pondering has not been wasted because you now recognize your potential and can appreciate your capacity…and yet you hesitate to step through the door.
The present energy is encouraging you to take a risk and choose what you really want, but your doubt is blocking that energy. Therefore, take a little more time to assess and evaluate what you have, what you’ll need, and what you can dump. I’m a big fan of engaging all parts of the brain on a knotty problem by writing stuff down and reading it back to yourself out loud (this includes the parts of the brain that control your hand, arm, eyes, mouth, and ears). This little exercise may help you prioritize tasks and get you started on breaking those stultifying patterns in your life be they physical, mental, or spiritual.
Caution: you will upset those closest to you with your choices and evolutions. See above re assess and evaluate what to keep and/or chuck.
June 19, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Hanged Man, reversed. The reversed Hanged Man is kind of a reversed reversal since the Hanged Man is already upside down. When the card is upright, the central figure is hanging upside down, which can represent the need for new perspectives or just hangin’ out for a minute to catch your breath. But when the card is reversed, the central figure may be heads up, but he’s still tied by the ankle to his spot and can’t go anywhere. That non-movement could come from fear and resistance to what’s next, procrastination, or being stuck in a suffering mood.
Another interpretation of this reversed card is being caught up in social pressure. For example, there are lots of argument for and against wearing a mask in public these days. There are opinions and articles by “experts” from every occupation posted online, on social media, and in the news. As we look for direction on this issue, and any other issues that concern you personally and society in general, we tend to get pushed one way or another and become confused. This card is recognizing that confusion as we struggle to figure out what the “right thing” IS so we can DO it.
Bottom line: Listen to your gut. Do what YOUR heart and soul ask you to do whether that’s for yourself only or for your community as well.
June 18, 2020: Card O' The Day: Prince of Wands. The Prince (or Knight, depending on the deck) of Wands represents movement and action for the sake of movement and action. Lots of pent up energy needs to be released and changes will be made! This may look like changing jobs or moving houses, but whatever happens it feels like (and needs to be at this point) an adventure! If you don’t do an actual physical move, then you may drop old habits or belief systems.
While you seek those broader and greener pastures, do a little research and think about what you want first. This powerful, transformative energy is extremely useful…kinda like dynamite is extremely useful. Therefore, it needs to be employed carefully lest you ka-BOOOOM it all to oblivion. Naturally, you’ll face challenges along the way to your goal. First and foremost of those challenges is yourself and your eagerness to “git ‘er done!” A little innovation and improvisation and lots of willpower will help you on your way.
The final word on this card is this energy can make you very appealing to some and equally annoying to others. Look for the people who are thrilled by your “winds of change” and ignore the cranky plodders. They’re just not ready to move like you are.
June 17, 2020: Card O' the Day: Five of Cups. I think the reason we received this card again is that the reversal of two days ago represents our COGNITIVE understanding of losses, but the upright version points to the emotional pain that has yet to be fully processed. Absolutely feel and acknowledge your pain, upset, anger, inconvenience, fear, discomfort, anxiety, and anything else unhappy you’ve been experiencing of late. This year has proven to be a hella ride and it’s only half over! Therefore, release any negative self-judgment you may be/have been experiencing because you can’t move forward into the new normal until you come to terms with your grief over what’s been lost or irrevocably changed.
While it’s tempting to drag your feet and cling to what you knew as the “good ol’ days”, ya can’t. Continued denial of your losses leads to self-pity, wallowing, blame, and depression (ask me how I know). We cannot control our environment but we can control our reactions to it. Your reactions can be rooted in resistance (the hard way) or with the mindset of greeting each new day as a clean start.
On a mundane level, this card can represent reuniting with friends and acquaintances. Portends of things to come….
June 16, 2020: Card O' the Day: Six of Swords. Today’s card has echoes of yesterday’s reversed Five of Cups in that you’re aware of what has been lost (the tipped over cups), but not yet conscious of the remaining cups and what you can do with them moving forward. This card offers you the clarity and evolutionary perspective that allows you to see those still standing cups. Tension is easing because the initial “oh sh*t!” moment has occurred and you’re moving into recovery and accepting what has happened. The next question is “Now what?”
The most traditional meaning of this card is travel by water, but I don’t see this in a literal sense today. Emotions are governed by the element of water and traveling implies “physical distance.” I think our directive to “travel by water” is really an encouragement to put some distance between yourself and an emotional situation. As in, don’t go out with your S.O. for a few days/weeks, don’t go visit your mother, pass on any invitations to go hang with “that friend”, and so forth.
By making this physical distance, it will help you gain perspective about circumstances. With proper perspective, perhaps you’ll find the wisdom of understanding something has finished or is hopeless and the best course of action for you is to simply walk away. Leaving a toxic situation is by no means a cowardly retreat or giving up. It’s rising above, remembering your True Self, and taking that badass Self to a better party.
June 15, 2020: Card O' the Day: Five of Cups, reversed. The Five of Cups is often depicted with five vessels of some kind, three of which have been knocked over or destroyed in some way and two remaining upright or intact. When the card is reversed, it means we’ve come to understand the three that were lost are actually less important than we once thought. And when we turn our attention to what is still there, we see THAT’s the important stuff, the foundation on which to build. Yes, mourn losses but focus upon what remains.
We are able to see the valuable remnants because this card also offers the emotional stability, coping skills, determination, and fortitude to overcome recent misfortunes and anxiety so we can redirect energies. Help is given quietly and subtly; receive it without guilt or shame. As you transform your disappointment and begin rebuilding, new interests and/or occupations will take your mind, heart, and wallet in fascinating directions.
June 14, 2020: Card O' the Day: The World. The World is the final card in the series of the Major Arcana of the Tarot deck. As the last, it represents an ending, which we all know then makes space for and brings a beginning. We are encouraged to celebrate with a ritual of gratitude, remember what has been, and look forward to the limitless potential of what could come.
This card also signifies liberation from the bondage of negative thinking with regard to yourself, your life, your job, and everything that creates the whole of “you.” The World represents a major realization about our True Self…that each of us is a perfect creation/child of Universe. We may notice we have a few flaws, but ALL of us do and that’s part of our perfection. The World gives you the power to be okay with who you are, warts and all.
We are in a vital time in our nation and across the globe. Take a minute to reflect and integrate all you’re learning. Align your mind and intuition with the cosmic Spirit (or God, Allah, Jehovah, Yaweh, Insert Your Higher Power Here) to see the real meaning of life beyond concrete, material reality.
June 12, 2020: Card O' the Day: Six of Pentacles, reversed. One of the more subtle meanings of the reversed Six of Pentacles is its “Robin Hood” connotations. It represents a desire to tip the scales of society and remove the stratifications or caste systems that have been built over the millennia. The way the “haves” are separated from the “have nots” is often merely the luck of your birth situation. Some are damned to crowded slums with no hope of ever getting out and others are born to wealth and status.
As a stable but unequal status quo is disrupted, those whose abundance is more than ample are encouraged to share. Give what you can and are comfortable offering. Ask yourself this important question: What lesson am I meant to learn here during this current upheaval?
June 11, 2020: Card O' the Day: Temperance. Have you ever watched the path of a pendulum? It swings far to the left and then swings equally far to the right. It takes a while, but eventually it settles into the middle and is still. It’s a visual representation of one of the main laws of physics: for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. I feel like we are experiencing some pretty wild actions and reactions in our world right now. These tumultuous responses are resulting in many deaths, literally and figuratively.
Temperance promises peace will fill the emptiness Death has given us and indicates healing and reconciliation. (For those of you who Death has touched literally, you have my deepest condolences. Peace does come, eventually….) Harmony will happen as we blend elements and factions into a delicious soup that never could happen if all the parts were kept separate. Finding the middle way with compromise and doing the “right thing” will bring us back to equilibrium and then to recovery.
The stone associated with Temperance is rose quartz. It’s said to heal the wounds of the heart and allow one to trust and love fellow humans. It can show us how to influence the environment with gentleness, harmony, and love. How can a simple rock do all that, you ask? I haven’t the faintest idea, but isn’t it worth a shot to try? If you’ve got some, put it in your pocket today.
June 10, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Star, reversed. When The Star is reversed, it may indicate you’re holding your thoughts and feelings back or having difficulty opening up. However, you may think you need to hide those thoughts and feelings from others. The question to ask yourself is why? Are you hiding because you don’t want to make waves with your different opinions or are you unwilling to examine yourself due to fear of what you may discover or have to confront? Because it’s often the case when we do that inner exploration, we don’t always like what we find, which may require some hard work to change. (Ugh!)
Sometimes, deep insecurity is masked by arrogance or false smiles (I’m FIIIIIIINE!!!!!). It’s possible disappointment has adversely affected a few valued relationships and now you find yourself less capable of trusting those people. Certainly there is a wide range of … opinions … circulating on social media these days….
The reversed Star is asking you to shed all ideas about yourself that falsely depend on status, appearance, or possessions. Get back in touch with your favorite sources of inspiration such as a yoga practice, meditation, reading holy books, making a crystal grid, praying to a deity or higher power, etc. etc. It’s time to heal.
June 8, 2020: Card O' the Day: Two of Pentacles. Two’s often represent decisions and the necessity or readiness to make them. The Two of Pentacles suggest a great transformation is required to unite two aspects of one thing, but it will be precarious, full of obstacles, and worry. This revolution will allow fundamental, but worn out, structures to be positively reshaped and replaced. It has been, and unfortunately continues to be, a long time in coming and only through great effort and perseverance. But we stand in a doorway to something new.
Emotional and personal attachment to a global or personal shift can make it hard to assess a situation. It may be difficult to hold one’s ground and defend a position, but it can be achieved by keeping in touch with pure and positive motivations and holding on to personal integrity and sincerity. At all costs, remain focused on objectives and stay firm in ethical efforts as you move forward to bring about change at home, work, in your community, or in the wide, wide world.
June 7, 2020: Card O' the Day: Judgment, reversed. When the card of Judgment is reversed, it represents difficult transitions. Some of us welcome the new and just love when changes come into our lives. The bigger the change, however, the bigger the adjustment that’s needed to turn the ship becomes. These changes that you face may be within yourself, your immediate family or tribe, or on a broader scale.
Many of you may be resentful or doubt the value of these necessary revisions. Resistance to new information and an inability to detach from past mistakes and behaviors causes a schism within tribes, communities, and all of society that threatens the comfort and security of our old ways. (Whether those “old ways” are detrimental doesn’t make it any less easy to change them.) Nevertheless, refusal to face facts and move forward will lead to further disappointment, impede expansion, and result in stagnation and rot.
Also, this card indicates the promises of some leaders have fallen flat. Those who followed may be feeling duped or betrayed for having placed trust in that particular leader. Know that there’s absolutely no shame in shifting your support to a different leader or set of personal rules after discovering they don’t represent you well anymore. That’s just called “personal growth.”
June 6, 2020: Card O' the Day: King of Pentacles, reversed. Usually the Reversed King of Pentacles signifies money problems and I think most of us experience a pinch now and then. Considering the current situation, I’m sure many more of us are feeling “pinched” more than usual….
However, the king of all creature comforts, when reversed may also indicate some of you are coming to realize you have enough. The lights are on, there’s food on the table (okay, maybe not steak…), and there’s a roof over your head. Money as a form of stability and security becomes less important as you understand stability and security can be found in relationships, kind gestures, volunteering, a more profound spiritual practice, or in any gazillion other ways.
This king is also representative of family and long-held traditions or beliefs—either cultural or personal. When reversed, it could indicate you’re ready to let some of those traditions/beliefs go. Maybe those traditions/beliefs have become uncomfortable for you (or always were but you had no choice), you’ve changed your mind about why they are important, outgrown them, or just need to start fresh. For whatever reason, the traditions or beliefs no longer serve you and you don’t have space for them in your life anymore. That’s okay because the most permanent thing in our lives is change.
June 5, 2020: Card O' the Day: Nine of Pentacles. Whereas the number eight represents completion and manifestation on the material, physical plane, nines take that completion to one’s personal spiritual plane. As with all “endings” or “completions”, space is then made for change and growth. The maturity, depth, and spiritual awareness brought by the nine is combined with the suit of Pentacles today to represent accomplishments grounded by the earth element but that are sensitive to spirit.
Practically speaking, this means you’re aware of the good things in life and are grateful for them, but also realize there’s way more to “success” than merely physical acquisition. It may feel as though life is pretty darned nifty for you in your current situation. However, the final piece may still be missing…inner resolution and/or purpose.
Keep looking! Reinvest in yourself, face your fears, and release self-judgment about not being enough in some way (or wayzzzzz). You might need to dedicate some time alone for creative internal work or thinking to get there, or it might just smack you in the face some day. Either way, be true to Self, do what you need to do to heal your wounds, and live YOUR ideals. Always remember and never forget, Universe made you for a reason.
June 4, 2020: Card O' the Day: Prince of Swords, reversed. When the normally sharp intellect of the Prince of Swords is reversed, it slides into the fanatical and ridiculous. Arguments become irrational. It seems as though the only way to express oneself is like a toddler in an out-of-control temper tantrum during which one seeks to deliberately cause pain, injury, or physical damage. As one impulsively charges ahead, others are endangered by rampant recklessness.
One may think one’s forward motion is in the name of destructive rebellion, but it’s a wildly mistaken response to a situation that calls for diplomacy, prudence, and a more careful and considered solution. Anger, fear, and vengefulness are the true impulses behind such actions, and those emotions stem from ego…tit for tat, mean-girl sh*t.
Here’s a question: Is such an aggressive and excessive approach really necessary?
(Before ya’ll have a kitten about this post, I’m not talking to righteous adults; I’m conveying the energy I feel from all those “Karens” and “Kevins” out there with their panties in a twist.)
June 3, 2020: Card O' the Day: Princess/Page of Wands, reversed. The reversed Page/Princess can represent our society’s collective worry and consciousness of challenges (and, kids, are we having some “challenges” right now or what?) or it could represent an individual person. Other symptoms of this card being reversed can include uncertainty in acting. (Um, me! What do I say or do? Is it better for me to stay home and out of the way, or should I go and add another body to the fray? Where am I needed?)
Then if I do act, I feel clumsy…Did I say the right thing? Have I inadvertently offended anyone with my own two cents’ worth? The waters are hard to navigate right now and I’m afraid to declare myself to others lest I do it badly and be misunderstood. Trust me, my heart is in the right place, but I don’t know what to do or [how much I’m willing to sacrifice]. Did y’all notice how I wrote that question in teeny-weeny font*? That’s my privilege showing and I can’t wait to pull my skirt down fast enough to cover such an embarrassing truth about my self.
Society* is at the point of concretizing ideas beyond mere inspiration, dreams, or “wouldn’t it be nice?” and many are less than enthused. But the longer society remains indecisive, communal resolve and confidence will erode further. Therefore, clumsily and uncertainly stumble forward or sideways, but don’t stand still and heaven forbid, don’t go backward.
*I’m using our current events and social climate to illustrate the energy of this card. However, it could just as easily apply to individuals who are going through their own personal crises.
**Teeny-weeny font does not translate on Yola.
June 2, 2020: Card O' the Day: Ace of Pentacles. All four of the aces in the Tarot deck represent beginnings. The suit of Pentacles represents all that’s tangible—from your own body to the economic resources of the world. This particular card signifies the great work of the civilization of humanity. Ideally, we shape the raw materials Nature gives us into safe, comfortable environments so that all are secure enough to live life fully and not just merely survive and exist.
This card invites you to celebrate the sacred in ALL life with strength, gratitude, balance within and without, fairness, compassion, and love. Let’s start with those who need to be acknowledged the most at this moment.
The Ace signifies the coming of a spiritual springtime in which we will experience new wisdom and knowledge, and in which we will undergo a shift in consciousness. This shift will allow us to challenge laws, move mountains, change the status quo, remove that which no longer serves, and hold accountable all that owe debts to society. It’s a time of cleansing our own spirits, that of Mother Earth, and Universe. We, the people, made this mess; it’s time to begin cleaning it up.
June 1, 2020: Card O' the Day: Strength. Strength represents all the work we must do on ourselves to live righteously, morally, and walk the talk coming out our mouths. Have the certainty and robustness to hold your convictions passionately yet peacefully without being controlled or carried away by the heat of the moment. True strength is being able to remain calm, lucid, and reasonable in the face of chaos.
We’re beginning a new week, a new month, and a new cycle today and Strength is asking us to use the power each of us has within our souls wisely. As communal beings, we yearn to be loved and understood. We all need feedback from others; make that feedback you share loving and healing. Use your persuasion, influence, and cooperation to overcome difficulties you face rather than force. True power comes through love, not coercion, dictatorship, or military might.
Today, let us begin reclaiming our lives from Fear.
May 31, 2020: Card O' the Day: King of Swords, reversed. We’ve received the same card—out of 78 in a deck—as we did yesterday. It’s not often this has happened in my posts re the “Card O’ the Day”, but it seems we’re seeing the reversed King of Swords on a large and small scale this weekend. Yesterday, I felt the reversed king represented the corruption in leadership across the world. Today I feel this card slightly differently.
As long as there are groups of any nature, there will be leaders of those groups. Those leaders will suggest beliefs and core values and those who agree, will join the group. However, those beliefs and core values aren’t always lawful, equitable, or ethical. This weekend, civil unrest rages across the country. Peaceful protests are disrupted by a few who have lost their sense of integrity in the pursuit of truth and justice.
These few are disregarding law and societal order for their own gains. They care nothing for the consequences of their actions…well, to be clear, they WILL care for themselves if they get arrested and have to pay legal fees, but they don’t care about how their actions effect others. It’s wholly unjust for the innocent victims of these rampaging few who are so thoroughly “reversed” in their thinking and reasoning.
Clear quartz is the stone associated with the Ace of Swords. It is said to lead to perception and harmony and aid in clear thought. The mineral associated with the King of Swords is gold. It is said to stimulate spiritual development and strengthen character. If you find comfort in the vibration of the earth elements, these are suggestions to hold close today. Peace be with you. Namaste.
May 30, 2020: Card O' the Day: King of Swords, reversed. Ten days ago we were given the “gift” of the epitome of the “Karens” of the world represented by the Queen of Swords, reversed. Today, with the King of Swords, reversed, we get a glimpse of every tin-pot dictator our species has ever suffered… and suffers to this day.
The King of Swords, when reversed, shows how strength and power is corrupted and twisted when used for one’s personal gain and dominance. These beautiful qualities that allow mere mortals to become heroes who can move mountains collapse into lawlessness and avoidance of consequences for wrong-doing when the privilege of leadership is exploited. It’s wholly unjust and unscrupulous favoritism that’s harsh and without mercy for ordinary men. If one of the victims of such abuse should speak up, then he/she will be coldly and methodically shut down with excessive logic…or cruelty.
On both large and small scale, this reversed King is currently well-represented all over the world and in our own backyard. How long will we allow it? My cynical best guess is as long as humans exist. We’re capable of great mercy and altruism, but being greedy little assholes and walking the low road is so much less work.
May 27, 2020: Card O' the Day: Eight of Wands. The Eight of Wands is expanding on yesterday’s Four of Swords by teaching us the meaning of “motionless movement.” (Hunh?) This means there’s a lot of creative and intellectual activity but it’s happening while you’re on your keister, drinking coffee, and enjoying the birds squabbling at the feeder. In this calm pause, you can find a deepening of thought and acceptance of what was and what now is as we transition into new possibilities.
As you think your deep thoughts, try to focus on enjoying the moment rather than getting super caught up in the “I oughta do”s of life. I remember my mother said she could never sit on her garden bench for longer than three minutes before she’d leap up to weed or trim something. So just take a breath and see the beauty of life. Never underestimate the power of a well-placed pause….
May 26, 2020: Card O' the Day: Four of Swords. Yesterday’s Ace of Cups gave a message of love and open hearts. Today’s Four of Swords is asking you to sit still in that new love. Be in the moment to understand what that means for you. Digest and reflect upon what has passed through you for the last couple months and allow these new energies to coalesce into organized plans. We’re being asked not to take quick action just yet but to gather a little more information about how our new lives will look.
This card speaks of social harmony and compromise, regeneration and recovery. We’re on the right track towards living through the pandemic and adjusting to the necessary changes we all must make.
Use this moment of tranquility to enjoy your mental peace and newly opened heart.
May 25, 2020: Card O' the Day: Ace of Cups. This card represents an outright gift of love from Universe. Open your heart to it and the hope-filled new starts it promises. This gift is of spiritual as well as physical healing, and we’re being asked to create a more spiritually alive new world after the breakdown of the old.
How do we do that? By pursuing heart-based meaning and purpose in your life. The Ace is a “beginnings” card that’s telling us it’s a time of welcome change and creative inspiration. The abundance of positive energy being transmitted is so great it can lift others up to collectively effect societal change.
The Ace of Cups embodies love in all its potential and possibilities! And it’s what will heal us emotionally, spiritually, physically, and economically as we emerge from the period of stasis we’ve recently endured.
May 24, 2020: Card O' the Day: Three of Wands. The protective home environment that has kept us safe all these weeks has been the center of your strength. Wellbeing within the family unit continues to support and guide us as we take our first tentative steps back out into the world.
This is indeed cause for celebration as our problems lurch in the direction of resolution and the healing we all need begins. It’s been painful, but our innate deep human sympathy for each other has shown through. Whether you stayed home and out of the way or worked the front lines actually doctoring, delivering, cleaning, cooking, etc., we bore this burden well.
Now is a time of positive energy and a very fertile window for new ideas. There are endless opportunities if you dare. The question is only how badly do you want it to happen? Make it so.
May 23, 2020: Card O' the Day: Seven of Swords. All of the cards in a Tarot deck have light and shadow qualities. Usually, the shadow qualities of the Seven of Swords are brought forward and interpreted in a spread. However, I’m seeing all the bright light of this card today and none of its shadow. In general, the number seven can represent exploration, new inventions, and mastery of challenges. The Suit of Swords is all about your thoughts and thinkings capabilities. Put them together and we get a burst of insights, strategy, new plans, inspiration, and creativity!
We are indeed still in crisis, but barriers have been opened and we can see new hope and relief from isolation (literally!), which brings us renewed trust and hope that it’s gonna be okay. “Okay” does not mean things are going to go back to what they were. Old assumptions will be challenged and you’ll be asked to leave behind beliefs or mindsets that no longer serve you in this new world.
Great activity and reception of your intellect will propel you forward, and you’ll increase your personal strength on the way. Perseverance and willingness to take risks boosts your ingenuity and creative problem solving abilities because you feel confident your fresh ideas will find fertile ground. The time is becoming ripe for all possibilities!
May 22, 2020: Card O' the Day: Five of Swords, reversed. It’s always fascinating to me how much the Tarot cards tap into the collective psycho-emotional energy of the Universe. Back in early March we saw the cards reflecting our fear and mounting frustration as stores/restaurants/bars were closed, we were sent home from work, and anticipated events were canceled. We had more than the usual number of Major Arcana cards show up to ask us to PAY ATTENTION, we had lots of cards that encouraged us to be creative with our resources and time, and now I’m seeing the difficult rebirth of us all as we slowly come out of quarantine.
The Five of Swords, reversed, is telling us to look beyond what* we’ve lost (jobs, money, time, businesses, clients, etc.) and the defeat some of us may have suffered and turn our attention towards recovery. Grieve and mourn your losses, by all means because during this “aftermath” period is the time to do it. We’re not at 100% yet, so you’ve got time to fully process this catastrophe.
Once we do get back to 100%, however, don’t wallow in your losses. Focusing on the defeats will only cause stagnation and prevent forward motion. Look around to see what can be salvaged. Repair the disconnection from your clients, business associates, the job market, and the outside world as you begin meaningful communication again that includes plans for your version of “reopening.” Finally, recognize the potential for spiritual growth this sorrow and discomfort offers us.
*Notice I said “what”, not “who.” If you’ve lost a loved one to Covid-19, you have my deepest sympathies. I don’t expect you to “get over” this kind of loss. Take all the time you need and understand everyone grieves differently.
May 21, 2020: Card O' the Day: Three of Pentacles. The suit of Pentacles, in general, represents the spiritualization of the physical plane. As in, labors of love, serving others in times of crisis, or helping your elderly neighbor mow their lawn. This card, specifically, reminds us of the work that raises us to a higher level and brings joy. (Okay, maybe you don’t really “like” mowing your neighbor’s lawn, but it does make you feel pretty warm and fuzzy when you’re done, amirite?)
The Three also indicates creativity is bubbling in the pot and an actual goal is beginning to take shape. In fact, you’re starting to see some results and they tell you you’re on the right track. Your focus, organization, drive, and perseverance on this project will lead you to expansion and positive outcomes. This card also suggests now might be a good time for learning useful skills. If that’s not possible, then look for people who have talents where you don’t and get them to do the stuff you can’t.
In a nutshell, the Three of Pentacles reminds us of practical work that helps your community and serves as a vehicle for self development. What that actual work looks like is up to you. Everybody has a vital role in our communities.
May 20, 2020: Card O' the Day: Queen of Swords, reversed. Here, Ladies and Gentlemen, is the perfect description of every “Karen” you’ve ever met. Thanks to social media, we get to see “Karens” behaving badly in the wild. The memes and videos are hilarious and show how truly unpleasant people can be when we lose our commitment to truth, clarity, and the Higher Self and sink into an excess of egoism and personal bias.
The typical “Karen” is a strong-minded person who’s turned nasty in reaction to pressure or pain, frustrated ambitions, ideals that have turned sour, or abilities that have been sacrificed. She expects everyone around her to do as SHE wills and rationalizes her bad behavior through faulty reasoning. This narrow-minded and bigoted thinking is impractical, micromanaging, and hypocritical.
Basically, the “Karens” of the world feel they’ve been badly short changed in their lives and use their rude ‘tude to try to gain some ground back. Sometimes compassion and gentleness will get past the angry dick swinging, but if she’s become too entrenched in her victimhood, professional therapy would probably be best. (But that would require her to have the personal insight that she’s in the wrong…don’t hold your breath for that to happen.)
Bottom line: if you suspect you might be a “Karen”, stop it right now! If you know one, run for your life.
May 18, 2020: Card O' the Day: Prince of Cups. Wow, the third Prince in a row! (Well, almost.) Princes, in general, represent commitment, responsibility to others, and huge amounts of energy directed outwards in their bold actions. Their appearance in spreads can indicate situations developing quickly and then resolving as soon as you take steps toward rectifying a problem or taking advantage of an opportunity. They don’t indicate something lingering on and on; their vigor makes things happen.
The Prince of Cups, in particular, tells you that your next bold move “feels” right—it’s sincere and coming from your heart. It’s about fulfilling dreams that align with you personally. By example, it would be going to medical school because you want to help people rather than wanting to make a lot of money. The Prince of Cups is a natural healer, protector, and humanitarian, so he’d be the health care provider who goes to a third world county or a disaster zone to “do good.” (But, of course, there are lots of ways to “do good” without requiring the time and expense of medical school.)
How does this translate for all of us? It means examining our motives and what is driving us forward. First, we had the Prince of Pentacles who was ready to manifest something solid. The reversed Princess whined that she didn’t wanna ‘cuz it was too much werrrrrrk! Then the Prince of Swords shows up to poke us in the behinds with his electrifying ideas. Now the Prince of Cups is here to tell us “it’s the right thing to do.” I have no idea what you guys are up to, but I bet it’s gonna be grand!!
May 17, 2020: Card O' the Day: Prince of Swords. This flip-flopping of action!/sluggishness/action! may be tied to the weather. In my neck of the woods it’s been awfully rainy this spring and on the rare days with sunshine I’m decidedly more “up.” And since I’m drawing the cards…. Anyway, our good Prince of today is nervous of being quiet and alone with himself, and I think his appearance signifies most of us are in agreement with him.
The Prince of Swords, like all the Princes—but more so— is a man of action and “doing.” This makes him very adaptable (we need that right now) and quite frank. No time for flowery phrases or persuasion, but some of you may have to defend your version of the “truth.” For example, the issue of wearing a mask or not is quite the hot button topic on social media! Let’s remember diplomacy and tact as we weight the pros and cons of any topic.
This card represents a very active intellect that’s eager to overcome difficulties with shifts in perspectives and rapid thoughts. Necessary decisions will provide solutions to problems and end of mental conflict. The Prince is here to help you conceive it and then DO it already!
May 16, 2020: Card O' the Day: Princess of Pentacles, reversed. Oh, I am so laughing at myself! Yesterday the Prince of Pentacles was steadily riding forth towards new horizons and a new way of being! Today the reversed Princess is lifting the edge of the rug and calling me out on my other reality. Meaning, while I do feel I’m progressing through the various feelings this pandemic has stirred in me, today’s card is reminding me I ain’t perfect and I still got sh*t to do.
This card represents distractions, loss of purpose, and remaining inactive. Now, I’m not feeling “Loss of Purpose” in the grand sense; it’s more along the lines of “the bathroom really needs to be scrubbed…but not today….” My sense of hard work has petered out from what it was only a couple days ago. I’m allowing trivia to distract me from projects I’d really like to accomplish, but I don’t have the discipline or focus necessary to do a good job. Thus, I sit like a blob of dissipation as I waste the most precious of resources: time….
(You’d think the guilt of all this lethargy would kick my butt into action. Sadly it does not, and I just feel more guilty…. Blech.)
May 15, 2020: Card O' the Day: Prince of Pentacles. During my personal journey through the quarantine, it has been interesting to note my reactions over the past weeks and months. At first I didn’t think I would be too put out since I live a fairly isolated life anyway. Yes, it was vastly disappointing to have a large chunk of my favorite thing to do (psychic fairs!) cancelled after anticipating them all winter, but I could handle it and stay home for the greater good. Then the anxiety set in. Not really for myself, but the world in general…I became worried for all of humanity.
Now I feel myself moving into a new frame of mind, and the Prince of Pentacles describes it perfectly. This card represents letting go of certain expectations of yourself (during the quarantine, I MUST find a cure for cancer, the answer to global warming, and a quick and efficient way to clean the oceans!) and others. I’m being told I don’t need to do anything but rest in the fullness of who I am right now and simply heal and practice being a little more flexible. After all, clinging to a rigid pattern that was no longer possible was what made me anxious.
We’re now in a phase of making space for a new quality of stillness and acceptance for what life is now with a new and dangerous presence in our midst. With practicality, patient, and methodical work, we’ll get on with the business of quietly protecting each other until an effective treatment or cure can be found to eradicate the virus.
May 13, 2020: Card O' the Day: Princess of Cups. The Princess—or Page, depending on the deck you like—represents emotional maturation through reflection, meditation, relationships, and struggles. By being the attentive observer through this process, one acquires critical thinking skills, judgment or discernment, and a solid capacity for decision making. In the desire to live fully, mixed with fear coming from inexperience, we can expect a cautious beginning that is destined to evolve positively.
This card also signifies the realization we’re not isolated beings in an uncaring world. Suffering often stems from the illusion of separateness and we have no one to lean on in times of distress. That’s not true, but you must reach out to others when in need. No one can read your mind and it’s unfair of you to expect them to. You have the ability to create your own situation of happiness but it takes a little work.
The short answer for this card is, collectively, as humans, we’re embarking on a whole new path.
May 12, 2020: Card O' the Day: Five of Cups, reversed. When the virus first became bigger than what we could ignore and the country was largely put under quarantine, I thought it would be easy. I’m pretty much a hermit on my hill, so how was this going to be any different. When I couldn’t meet friends for coffee or take my mother to lunch, that’s when I began to get uncomfortable. Then the news stories of how hard this situation was hitting others really triggered my anxiety.
The reversed Five of Cups is indicating to us that life has changed. However, those changes have brought new coping skills and emotional stability as we are determined to overcome anxiety and get on with life. This card promises recovery and renewal for ourselves and new interests and/or friendships coming after these sad and disturbing events.
The Five of Cups is often depicted with a central figure lamenting three overturned vessels. The remaining two vessels of the card are still upright but ignored by the figure. When the card is reversed, we become aware of those two remaining vessels and understand what remains is important and permanent even in the face of sorrow. Furthermore, we can comprehend that the losses are actually less crucial that we’d originally thought. Build your new “house” upon what stayed during these tough times.
May 10, 2020: Card O' the Day: Two of Pentacles. The Two of Pentacles signifies the duality of moving forward on the physical plane or staying pat with what you already have. This card indicates you can get by on the current resources you have, but staying still for too long leads to stagnation. It’s definitely a hard choice to make right now and that means your bright future is currently blocked.
Bottom line, you need to make changes to progress forward and the practical work begins with this card as you balance new needs and obligations. The question is whether you’re flexible and adaptable enough to make these changes with grace or anxiety. For me it depends on the day or even the hour…. Yesterday morning I got all sorts of things done, but by afternoon I was a blithering, anxious mess.
This card promises expansion if we can make alterations to our “normal” ways of thinking, behaving, and physically living our lives. Fortunately, we don’t have to do it all in one fell swoop. This is the kind of thing that needs to happen organically and flow with natural energy. Translation: baby steps will serve you better than giant leaps in this case.
May 9, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Hermit, reversed. The most obvious interpretation of the reversed Hermit is that we no longer want to be alone. Circumstances are such that many of you may be feeling deserted and abandoned, which leads to intense loneliness and isolation from the very resources that can help alleviate this problem. Do reach out to friends via FaceTime, get some sun, and look into whatever financial aid you qualify for if you need it.
The upright Hermit represents a time of serious self-reflection. When reversed, there’s a fear of looking too closely at the truth and denying what’s patently obvious. (That uncomfortable reality could be in your own backyard or worldwide depending on how broad your view is.) That fear will tempt your ego to take over to obscure the facts and slap a pair of rose-colored glasses on your face or shove your head in a hole. That’s what ego does: it tries to make us feel more comfortable about ourselves without doing the real work to FIX the situation. And without actually fixing anything, chances for success go right down the drain.
Additional keywords for the reversed Hermit include hastiness, imprudence, rashness, prematurity, and refusing to listen to advice. I’ll allow you to apply (or not) those concepts to your life where necessary. Personally, all those apply to my cry-baby, petty side that’s pissed about the latest cancellation in my fair schedule. My higher Self will soothe the pissy-ness with a cookie. Or three. Whatever works….
May 8, 2020: Card O' the Day: Queen of Wands, reversed. The reversed Queen of Wands represents energy that blows hot and cold. Kinda like the stores are reopening!! But it’s not safe to go in them, only a certain number at a time, stay 6ft apart, etc. It also represents excessive authoritarianism, which many of us actually need! There are a lot of yahoos out there who struggle with rules meant to save our lives.
Closer to home, she signifies struggles for personal growth and development because of the lack of opportunities in which you can prove or challenge yourself. Feeling weak and directionless, one is apt to procrastinate, withdraw into deeper solitude, and become unavailable.
I can certainly attest to the above paragraph. The psychic fairs and expos I planned to attend continue to be cancelled as each one comes up on my calendar. And while I understand the necessity, it’s really heartbreaking to be denied what so defines me. In an effort to CREATE my own opportunities, I’m doing on-line readings. (This isn’t a shameless plug, I’m explaining here.) It’s second best because I’d rather read for people in person, but at least I still get to interpret my beloved Tarot cards for my equally beloved clients near and far. I gently suggest you do the same: CREATE your opportunities!
May 7, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Wheel of Fortune. The Wheel reappears for us after a month. As Spring “springs” with blooming flowers, trees and shrubs, and the animals get on with creating babies, we’re reminded how the cycles of our world move ever onwards. Personally, I’ve been struggling to maintain my equilibrium; I have good days and bad days. Some days are half good as I collapse after only a couple hours of productivity. I’m not sure what kind of day today is yet, but The Wheel reminds me “this too shall pass.” All of it. My anxiety, bleh mood, eagerness to garden and ride my bike, make jam…all of this energy waxes and wanes within me like the moon waxes and wanes above.
It occurs to me just now that some people whine they ALWAYS have “bad” luck, NOTHING ever goes right for them, they’re always the one to be shat upon in any situation. These types look to people who seem successful and say “Look at So-and So; he leads a charmed life!” Nothing ever goes wrong for him. But The Wheel begs to differ…the charmed one may lose a wad in the stock market or his wife takes him for everything in the divorce. Whereas the whiner might get a well-deserved promotion. EVERYbody’s life cycles. The world goes through cycles.
The changes we go through individually and as humans on this earth are inevitable. You can do it the easy way and roll with them, or fight tooth and nail, be miserable, and have to adjust in the end anyway. My struggle to maintain my equilibrium and my good days/bad days routine illustrate to me I’m resisting the current circumstances brought by this latest cycle. A lot of my life I can control, but right now too much is out of my control and I’ve got my knickers in a royal twist. But THIS TOO SHALL PASS!
May 6, 2020: Card O' the Day: Seven of Wands, reversed. It would seem my cards are reflecting my own feelings and observations. Yesterday was all about making lemonade out of lemons and finding new ways to work and the joy in our work! Today it’s back to anxiety, indecision, and feeling defeated. (Certainly the grey chilly weather doesn’t help. Fer cryin’ out loud! It’s May 6th and I’ve got a fire going!) If one (ahem, me) isn’t careful, one can allow fear to overtake one and lead to over caution. Going into total protection mode and keeping people at a distance is good for “flattening the curve”, but it also eats away at one’s vital social connections.
Under ordinary circumstances, I struggle to maintain contact with my friends. I adore my peeps, but I’m lazy about staying in touch. When invited out, I’m so there! However, I usually don’t do the inviting. At the beginning of the year, I made a promise to myself to check in with my friends and initiate lunch dates more often. One date a week was my goal, and then THIS happened.
The Seven is reminding us we’re stronger than we think and to dig out the inner resources that have been pushed to the back of the closet. No, every day doesn’t need to be uber-productive, but do your best to be a little productive at least once on a “bad” day. That includes texting “yo, s’up?” to your friends between the episodes of your binge-watch du jour.
May 5, 2020: Card O' the Day: Eight of Pentacles. The Eight of Pentacles is the big “work” card of the Tarot deck. Typically speaking, it represents employment, craftsmanship, handiwork, and possibly training for something new as alternate work opportunities or interests arise. Seeing as how the employment rates have utterly tanked lately and many small businesses are in danger of going bankrupt, I think we need to take a moment to consider what “work” means to us and what it has the potential to be.
In general, the suit of Pentacles represents the spiritualization of the material world. The Eight in particular signifies the spiritual element in our daily work wherein our jobs bring us spiritual reward. By example, on a rare trip out yesterday, I stopped at a fast food place for lunch. The people in the drive up windows seemed so serene and grateful to be working and serving a purpose to society. Maybe it was my imagination…but I was a teensy envious they have jobs to go to where they get to serve others. My job has been canceled for the foreseeable future unless people reach out to me individually. I really MISS sitting with clients and hashing out their readings with them. That’s MY purpose—how I share my spirit through my work—and I can’t fulfill it right now in the way I’d like.
However, Universe has a way of making sure we have what we need. The Eight asks us to work in harmony with our environment by using the resources we have to create something. It may require learning new skills or honing those we already have or haven’t used in eons. (Esty is positively exploding these days!) Take the day one step at a time and try to elevate even the most ordinary tasks to moments of gratitude and beauty. Put your spirit into a job well done.
May 4, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Emperor, reversed. The Emperor represents the concept of “father” in the Tarot deck. This can be interpreted to mean one’s actual father, a father figure in one’s life, a boss, or a leader of a group, community, or even country. When reversed, this leadership, support, and inherent duty to others is ignored. The personification of this card betrays the trust of those he/she should be supporting, fails to stand for important principles, and is unable to carry through with hard and unpopular decisions.
As we struggle with the current strict rules required to minimize the impact of the pandemic which is upon us, some may very well feel utterly stifled by our “cruel” governmental leaders. The news and social media is flooded with reports and pictures of those who so suffer. However, such self-righteous arrogance and self-importance above all others simply illustrates the level of immaturity at which some are stuck.
As our “kingdom” that we once knew crumbles to dust, my question to you is: What is your reaction? You can control nothing but your own reaction…. Will you be able to honestly stand tall ten years from now?
May 3, 2020: Card O' the Day: Six of Cups. The Six of Cups is often seen as the “nostalgia” card as we look back and pine for simpler, happier times. While it is good to look back and remember valuable lessons learned, it’s not useful to wallow there. By yearning for what was, there’s a tendency to make the past more perfect than it actually was and to gloss over the boring or painful parts. Also, staying stuck in your past and hiding from the present can bring uncertainty for your future and inevitable solitude…and not just from being quarantined.
That said, we’re not yet ready to move forward out of our current holding pattern. We have some lessons to learn about love…the humble and generous kind that has nothing to do with your own self-interests. This is the nurturing love that you give, out of the kindness of your own heart, without looking for a gold star or quid pro quo. It’s about checking in on elderly neighbors who might need groceries, wearing a mask in public so you don’t spread YOUR germs to others, or buying a gift certificate from a small local business to support it during these lean times. I saw a great quote on Facebook the other day that sums up this kind of love: If we change the “i” in “illness” to “we”, it becomes “wellness.” Ponder that for a minute….
May 2, 2020: Card O' the Day: Two of Swords, reversed. When Upright, the Two of Swords indicates a balance or status quo. It’s not particularly pleasant or productive, but it works well enough and you’re too entrenched to really think very hard about changing things. I mean, it would be nice, but that would require weeeeeeerrrrrk now wouldn’t it?
Reversed, this precarious balance is upset, whether you like it or not. Being smacked in the face with the truth is never fun, but sometimes that’s the only way we’ll ever move our butts and start making things better. Because we’re dealing with Swords here, it could indicate something is “cut” literally (you have surgery you’ve been trying to avoid) or figuratively (you end a relationship).
Regardless of how this card plays out for you, it’s time to recognize avoidance of the problem is no longer an option. There are such things as lost causes and you may be stuck in one. Walk away and find a friend with a WHOLE box of tissues and a couple bottles of wine. You’re gonna want them.
May 1, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Chariot. Wait, wait, hold up! We JUST got The Chariot, reversed, five days ago. Now we get it upright!?!?!? As in “victory”, and in “total control of a powerful will”? Say WHAT!?!??! Hmmmm…I’m not feeling that and therefore, I shall dig deeper.
Actually…The Chariot is appropriate today. Right now, many of us are suffering inner conflict as we desire both security and safety but also to move forward to the return of normalcy. (I mean, my hair is sooooooo bad, people!) However, The Chariot gives us self-control over our antsy, burnt out selves that overestimate our abilities and cause us to make mistakes. The narcissistic ego is what forces us to believe misconceptions that lead to mistakes and great peril.
As the charioteer—depicted in many iterations of this card—controls two creatures, this card teaches how we can face the contradictions within and come into harmony. We must learn to accept responsibility and the consequences of our actions…more so now that ever because our actions can cause others to die not merely cause us, individually, embarrassment or inconvenience. Again, we have to make use of different qualities, talents, and avenues to succeed.
And as a final tidbit of wisdom, “isolation” is actually one of the keywords associated with The Chariot. Who knew?
April 30, 2020:Card O' the Day: Ten of Cups, reversed. Welp, THAT didn’t work. I thought if I let the Card O’ the Day go for a few days (and I was busy), it would perhaps give my cards time to show something new and promising. Nope. More of the same.
When the Ten of Cups is reversed it represents strains within groups, tribes, or society. We suffer disruptions in our success, indignation, irritation, and blocks as a highly-charged situation—in this case LIFE as we knew it—goes wrong, and we must endure a serious reality check regarding our hopes of going back to normal any time soon. Anticipated events continue to be delayed or cancelled.
The push to re-open businesses, entertainment venues, grooming establishments, and so forth indicates many are concerned with the material, day-to-day world to the detriment of their integrity. Because it’s usually so easy to get what we want, when we want it, we fail to appreciate what we already have. Ever look in the closet and think “I have NOTHING to wear!” or in the refrigerator/cupboards and sigh “There’s NOTHING to eat!” Look again and I’ll bet you‘ll find plenty to wear and eat if you can accept what IS there rather than lament what ISN’T.
April 27, 2020: Card O' the Day: Seven of Swords, reversed. The toxic theories and aggressive ideas suggested by the reversed Seven are all over the Internet and in the media. These incredibly ignorant hypotheses can cause damage of epic proportions. Therefore, the reversed Seven’s “good advice” is to really double check what you read and hear before trying it yourself.
While the pandemic and the worldwide threat is indeed real, the fear that it’s causing is equally disturbing. Prudence dictates that we cancel or postpone previously laid plans for another time when the danger of widespread contagion has passed. When that will be, I don’t know but all the smarty pantses of the world are banding together, seeking joint effort to create meaningful change in how we, as Earth’s citizens, move forward from here.
The reversed Seven is offering us support and assistance through this hardship. Look for it and ask.
April 26, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Chariot, reversed. Becoming over-confident, engaging in self-destructive behaviors (drinking bleach or rubbing alcohol, for example), and lack of self-control simply means you’re speeding towards a big Crash-n-Burn. The “will power” approach to ending the quarantine isn’t going to work on this particular problem.
My next planned event is at the end of May…in about 5 weeks. The reversed Chariot tells me that plans are delayed or cancelled altogether and things will remain static. Well, yeah! That’s what I’ve been doing for two months! So, do I go in 5 weeks? Will THAT event be cancelled, too? As the debate to “open” or not “to open” meanders on, we become mired in ever-increasing inconclusiveness….
The wisdom hidden in this card is the situation is out of our control. Therefore, we must find a way to SOLVE the problem rather than try to simply “control” it. In my mind that means the experts do all the heavy lifting while I stay out of the way. I shall continue to watch the statistical reports and make my decisions about venturing forth based on them, prudence, and my gut intuition.
April 25, 2020: Card O' the Day: Ace of Pentacles. The suit of Pentacles is the physical embodiment of Spirit in general and yours in particular. The Ace represents a cleansing of this spirit because it’s in deep need of nourishment and renewal.
While all Aces signify new beginnings, and this one does, too, with this Ace it’s about the long view. We’re not talking personal five-year plan here. This card is asking you to step onto an entirely new path so we don’t end up like this again. Okay, I realize Nature is Nature and there’ll always be viruses and bugs in our lives. However, we need to learn our lessons THIS time so we can survive more gracefully through the next time.
When we create and work towards manifesting our visions with love and excitement, that’s the essence of Pentacles. There’s no shame in wanting “everything”, but there’s the danger of self-sabotage if you fail to truly appreciate each of your creations. If you just make a “thing”, set it aside and immediately working on a “bigger thing”, you never embrace the joy of the work you did. During this forced stasis, look around yourself and be grateful for what you’ve made thus far out of your life.
April 24, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Tower. Another repeat from April 7th. We are getting ass-kicked, 2x4-to-the-head-whacked, throat punched, and balls-in-a-vice warned to take heed. On the physical plane, this card represents the breakdown of health and wellbeing. Emotionally, it’s telling you it’s time to admit failure. I’m going to soften that blow a tiny bit by changing that to “it’s time to admit we are FAILING.” As in, we still have time to fix this and be smart.
We are being asked by Universe—actually, forced—to allow the old world to come crashing down. Our egos have been usurping the soul’s power for far too long. We must allow the soul to reassert itself to resume the natural flow of Nature’s energy. With everything swept clean, we can rebuild upon truth without the false and numbed-mind illusion we’ve been stuck in. It’s time to get our crown chakras out of our root chakras.
The Tower tells us our pleas for freedom from our oppression will be answered! Just be careful what you wish for….
April 23, 2020: Card O' the day: Temperance, reversed. Approximately a month ago we received Temperance, reversed; today it comes back to us. Yesterday, I failed to notice the Nine of Pentacles, reversed, reappeared after less than two weeks. I believe we’re receiving repeats to reiterate and emphasize the messages from these particular cards. Also, the number of reversals compared to the number of upright cards tells me we’re living in extreme times that require extreme measures and sacrifice to get us all “right side up” again.
As the quarantine drags on and on, differences of opinion and dissension among our leaders and popular groups disrupt and fragment all of society and its normal cohesion. Meaning, we used to be all on the same “side”, more or less. Not any more. Quarrels, discord, disagreements, and downright hostility abounds as people become more and more impatient. Wild swings of emotions and behavior indicates many are losing their sense of higher self and this lack of moderation or self-restraint leads to harmful imbalance and inefficiency for everyone.
I get it. Some are getting desperate as they wait for unemployment stipends and/or the promised stimulus checks. I don’t know what to tell you, except wear a mask in public. It’s the least you can do.
April 22, 2020: Card O' the Day: Nine of Pentacles, reversed. In our (yes, “our” because I’m speaking from the heart) isolation, we’ve suffered a loss of discipline, an inability to channel energies towards a useful purpose, and can’t tell what we want or what truly matters. All my plans from early March onwards have been canceled. As each event fell like dominos, I would think maybe things would settle and I could go to the mid-April event; after all that was a month away. Then it became waiting until mid-May…six more weeks and SURELY by then I could get back to my life. Now I’m looking at the first part of June and am grappling with the wisdom of going or staying home provided, of course, that event isn’t canceled.
The experts are saying we can’t come back out of isolation too soon. The reversed Nine of Pentacles agrees because it represents expansion that threatens to overwhelm and suffocate what has been achieved. If we come flooding out to crowded events too soon and flout social regulation, we are being faithless to ourselves and others. We’re only wanting self-gratification and refusing to recognize right from wrong.
And here I sit, dying to get back to my psychic fairs and reading the Tarot cards for my wonderful clients. If my next event carries on as scheduled, do I dare go risking my own health and my husband’s when I get home? Do I stay at home and become a germaphobic hermit? How do I balance my duty to society of not spreading disease and the desires of my ego? Anyone? Anyone?…Bueller?
April 21, 2020: Card O' the Day: Princess of Wands. The Princess of Wands is celebrating the joy of being alive! Her nails may be ruined, bloody stumps and her roots grown out a mile, but she’s alive and kicking. She encourages us to approach challenges with eagerness and see them as opportunities rather than road blocks. Her wonder and creativity are balanced by wisdom, so her energies are expressed in practical ways.
She’s all about starting new projects that are a little daring and non-conforming. I see this as doing something you’ve just never done before. Have you noticed how many people are sewing masks and offering them on Etsy, EBay, Facebook, etc.? These resilient, enterprising people saw a need they could fulfill from the safety of their own home. They may not have experience, knowledge, or exceptional skills, but they’re open and have the desire to DO something constructive.
Of all the Princesses/Pages, this one is the most “message-y.” Therefore, keep your eyes and ears open for signs, casual suggestions, or requests for help you could take further than just for the one person. Like, say, becoming a professional grocery shopper for people who can’t or shouldn’t go to the store right now. The Princess of Wands is asking you to declare your willingness to begin!
April 20, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Hierophant, reversed. The Hierophant, reversed, perfectly represents the people who have become so frustrated by the quarantine they have taken to the streets in protest. This card represents disobeying rules, questioning “authority”, and choosing one’s own standards. Many are past mere questioning and are ready for confrontation, civil disobedience, and rebellion as evidenced by the many protests in several states.
However, one must understand that EXCESSIVE individuality can be—an is in this situation—dangerous and disruptive to all of society. The signs I saw participants holding in the photos of the protests were based upon false knowledge and mistaken beliefs that speaks of shallowness and gullibility that moves right on into the territory of fanaticism. They righteously make pronouncements with absolute assurance they’re correct as they cling to unproved principles out of sheer blind faith.
One of the signs I saw held by a man read something to the effect of “The Lock-Down Killed My Business.” I ask you, sir, would you rather the virus killed you and your family after you infected them?
I’m struggling, too. Hang tough people.
April 19, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Sun, reversed. When The Sun appears reversed, everything seems clouded over and we suffer loss of reason and lucidity. The intensity of life leaves one exhausted and as things drag on, we’ll suffer burnout from the continued loss of freedom and choice. Many are already reacting to these frustrations by having demonstrations, parades, and protests without wearing protective masks or maintaining distance from each other. While I absolutely support these people and their right to make their displeasure with the government known, their methods are born of ego inflation, hubris, and false optimism.
Another manifestation of this card is being unable to enjoy what you do have out of fear it’ll be taken from you or in a form of survivors’ guilt. I’m incredibly blessed to be where I am, to have maintained my health thus far, and am painfully aware others aren’t so lucky. Why me? What did I do that’s so special? I don’t know….
Nevertheless, try your very best to find pleasure in even the simplest work or household tasks. Actively choose to be happy. That’s a HARD one and some days I fail miserably. Some days I manage it for several minutes. I fully believe in the power of a positive attitude, so I push onwards and Choose. Joy.
April 18, 2020: Card O' the Day: Three of Cups, reversed. It’s interesting that we’ve received this card again a month later.… In fact, the last three cards have been repeats. Though The Lovers and Fool reappeared upright, the Three of Cups remains reversed to remind us how important separation and maintaining emotional control continue to be. We need to look at the hard realities: people continue to be infected by the Covid-19 virus and thousands are dying.
Our movements, activities, and jobs have been disrupted and curtailed for only about six weeks. Lack of cooperation, self-pity, and moping that something hoped for didn’t come about is extravagance in all its most negative aspects. Even all your extra eating and boozing isn’t as fulfilling as it was in the beginning (ask me how I know).
The next time you want to ignore your deeper values and indulge in a trip to the beach (certain beaches in Florida and South Carolina are reopening), think of the people who are permanent shut ins because of physical or emotional limits and whose “quarantine” will never end. View this quarantine as a TEMPORARY inconvenience that will pass. Big Kid pants, people. If Anne Frank could handle “quarantine” for YEARS, we can hang on for a few more months.
April 17, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Lovers. Well, that’s interesting…. Yesterday I drew The Fool, upright; in January I had drawn it reversed. Today, I drew The Lovers, upright; just twelve days ago I drew it reversed. Could it be that we’re beginning to turn our world back to right side up?
This card tells us we have an important choice to make between two desires. Judging by the growing push back against our continued quarantine, I’m going to guess many are starting to wonder whether staying home is the right thing or going about their business is what needs to be done. We must base our decision upon responsibility and reason, not our momentary desires. While this card’s title speaks of “lovers” it’s actually about analysis, consideration, and comparing the pros against the cons.
This card isn’t just about choosing the right lover who makes your heart sing and your nether regions melt, but it’s also about balancing cause and effect, love and hate, good and evil…it’s the point at which you no longer view others in the way of how can they help you with your needs, but how you can help THEM with THEIR needs. It’s about putting others first and thinking of society as a whole and not just yourself. Of course, if you need help, ask for it. If you don’t, stay out of the way and continue to do for yourself with what you have on hand.
April 16, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Fool. The last time we got The Fool it was early January and the sh*t hadn’t completely hit the fan. However, said Fool in January was reversed and I interpreted it to mean we WANTED to go on adventures, but we hesitated and felt safer at home. And here we are, safer at home!
This time The Fool appeared upright. I see him as seeking knowledge or truth. Change is essential, but it starts in the imagination—if you haven’t conceived it yet, then you can’t plan how to make it real. We’re on the edge of new beginnings and rebirth with potential out the wha-zoo.
However, doing “nothing”, as in staying sheltered in place, is also advised by our dear Fool because we’re still powerless over our circumstances. When it does come time to move again, we will burst forth with fresh ideas and lessons learned in mind as we make the Big Shift happen. Until then, be safe, cautious, and healthy.
April 15, 2020: Card O' the Day: Ace of Swords, reversed. Even though our Ace is reversed, it’s still an Ace and thus it tells us beginnings are afoot, albeit blocked or delayed. The general Swords energy of thoughts, mental activity, and communication are present. Upright, this card can indicate a new way of thinking, but it’s reversal tells me we’re still resistant to that. Similar to the Eight of Wands and the reversed Five of Pentacles of the past couple days, this reversed Ace is also telling us that Plan A ain’t workin’ so good and it’s time to trot out Plan B. However, changing the course of our entire world culture/economy is going to require a humble surrender of ego.
On a more personal level, you may be having difficulty thinking clearly, get lost in confused ideas and feelings, and suffer disturbing thoughts. Refusal to accept the new normal and reevaluate current plans will only exaggerate problems. (A little shout out to my 22yo nephew who thinks only “old” people get the COVID-19 virus and just wants to hang wid his bros. Oy!)
When things appear more important or dire than they really are, try to find balance in your reality. To do that, look around and see what you do have. Check what you don’t and then determine if it’s a true need or merely a want. Make the needs happen and let the wants go for now.
April 14, 2020: Card O' the Day: Eight of Wands. This card’s mainstream representation is of speed and synchronicity. However, I want to dig a little deeper into it because we’re in a place where we simply can’t go hell bent for leather into the wide, wide world. The change and movement signified by this card is necessarily going to be inner work as we align our energies with others to harmoniously solve world problems. According to all the posts on social media that I’m seeing, this is happening beautifully as people sew masks, deliver goods to those who can’t go out at all, etc., etc.
This card is a good omen for seeking new paths, but that can threaten to displace or upset long-standing commitments. Welp, yesterday’s reversed Five of Pentacles already told us the “old way of doing it” was no longer working. Therefore, cut back and make use of what you’ve already got and edit life now in preparation for the new stuff coming. We certainly don’t want to carry our crap forward!
The Eight gives hope for great transformation, triumph over obstacles, and change for the future. However, a conflict lies between impetuosity to get moving already! and logical foresight—as in we simply have to wait for the virus to pass through town. Remember, the “journey” is the actual goal and each step has importance. Therefore, don’t rush your steps…savor them for the individual gifts they are.
April 13, 2020: Card O' the Day: Five of Pentacles, reversed. As our “normal” way of life collapses around us, it actually makes room for us to create alternative structures and invent new approaches. We see now the standard way of doing things wasn’t working (globally and in your own backyard). As we continue to persist through our difficulties, we come to a turning point while facing material and spiritual troubles. I think we’re all learning to make do with less, without, or share what little we have with someone who has nothing. And with less “stuff”—and the inability to procure more stuff—cluttering up our space, it’s possible to look inward and reevaluate what’s really important.
Something else is going to shift big time: your relationships. This forced separation will strengthen ties and commitments to some but others will be allowed to just drift off. If you made do without them now, and didn’t miss them all that much, well…. Also, be aware that relationships you’ve forged during this crisis may be just a “crisis friend.” Once the severest danger is over, that friendship might no longer be as intense. Just sayin’.
April 12, 2020: Card O' the Day: Strength. After all the cards we’ve received that have described our anguish, we receive Strength today. Not only do we receive the card labeled Strength, but I feel strength coming from this reminder of our deep inner knowing that we can endure facing life as it is right now without wavering. Some are using skill and craft to do useful work to help their neighbors and community. Some are showing magnanimity by donating PPE supplies they don’t need to those who do, paying someone’s grocery bill, or donating to research foundations. Those of you who are simply staying home are also to be lauded.
Strength means showing restraint and discipline when handling hard situations gracefully. Sacrifice and self-denial takes courage. And your inner Self is noticing your outer work. Do not be surprised if you undergo a psychological transformation. There are countless stories of humans rising to great heights when put in the most dire circumstances (think of every natural and man-made disaster ever). After this pandemic has passed, the stories will surface of how truly heroic we have been.
Strength is daring to thrive under the worst conditions.
April 11, 2020: Card O' the Day: Nine of Pentacles, reversed. As the necessary quarantine drags on, the feelings of entrapment will intensify and you’ll feel more and more desperate to roam freely without a mask and without having to obsessively eyeball the distance between yourself and others. This isolation can lead to loss of discipline and common sense leaving you open to being taken advantage of through online schemes. All our plans for the spring and summer are having to be cancelled or postponed, which then makes you unable to channel your energy into a useful purpose to prepare for said plans.
Many of us are facing financial embarrassment or downright ruin. Health issues become all the more highlighted as we try to manage any underlying conditions without access to some of our usual coping mechanisms. Some may wonder what they want or what really matters anymore….
The upshot of this card is denial of wellbeing and good fortune. Therefore, look around you and assess your situation for the next 24 hours. Roof? Food? Clothing? Necessary meds? If you’re reading this, then you have access to the Internet. Count. Your. Blessings. Express gratitude for them. Rinse and repeat at the top of every hour. Concentrating on what you DO have instead of lamenting what you don’t increases the feel-good chemicals in your brain, which helps lift your mood.
Where there is life, there is hope.
April 9, 2020: Card O' the Day: Seven of Swords, reversed. We just luuuuuuuuv to gossip, don’t we? Conspiracy theories are merely another form of gossip, and they can range from the absurd to the downright dangerous. Because we have a brand new topic of conversation to chew upon, the conspiracy theories are coming in fast and thick about the corona virus itself and who “invented it”, how to cure it, and how to avoid becoming infected.
Here’s what our Card O’ the Day has to say about those ridiculous stories floating around. First and foremost, those theories are toxic and create more fear-based problems. These aggressive and dishonest ideas will destroy the world if we let them. Many are using cunning and covert manipulation to scam, con, and swindle people out of their savings promising a miracle cure or fool-proof protection from illness. (This kind of crap has been going on forever, it’s just “new and improved” to fit the Covid-19 situation.)
Yes, seek help and advice for your problems but from REPUTABLE sources like the World Health Organization, CDC, your local unemployment offices, sba.gov for forgivable small business loans, or other PROFESSIONAL and qualified persons. Once you have your solid advice, be cautious about becoming OVER-dependent upon others to tell you what to do. You’ve been given a brain and an intuitive gut. Use them as you navigate these times with common sense and a grain of salt.
April 8, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Empress, reversed. We continue with our lessons from the Major Arcana…. The Empress, of course, is the “mommy” card of the Tarot deck representing fertility, creativity, and all things “mothering”—whether actual children, four-legged babies, important work projects, or running a corporation.
Reversed, The Empress slides into hot-headedness, over-emotionality, lack of concentration, disinterest, and inaction. This card signifies feeling overwhelmed and not being able to take proper care of yourself or your home. Blocks on our creativity leave us frustrated, disempowered, and lethargic. You may indulge in extravagances of comfort food, alcohol, or on-line shopping. (This entire paragraph is me, just so we’re clear.)
I saw something on Facebook today about “motivational posts” which actually translates into motivational shaming. It was something along the lines of “if you haven’t learned a new language, sculpted your body to perfection, and found the cure for cancer by the time the quarantine is over, it’s not that you lack time but you lack motivation.” The response to these motivational shaming posts is that we are all suffering collective trauma right now. Who can start a new business, earn a PhD AND an MD on line, and write the next great American novel when this stressed?
Therefore, try to get dressed and comb your hair today (no shame if you don’t). Maybe reorganize your sock drawer (NOT you entire wardrobe, just the socks). Make yourself a hot meal rather than cheese and crackers (guilty of that). Forgive yourself for not recreating the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel on your own living room ceiling and just get through these next weeks with your sanity more or less intact.
April 7, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Tower. I kid you not; I am NOT cherry-picking the cards to show you only the Major Arcana. Universe is essentially screaming at us. Listen up, people.
The Tower is one of two “HUGE CHANGES” cards of the Tarot deck; Death is the other one. Today The Tower is telling us there is no problem that can’t be solved. The fear we’re experiencing now is because we’re not sure of the consequences of the changes that come with the solution. Our world illusion is being shattered, but that will allow what has been imprisoned to emerge. What has been imprisoned within you that’s coming out now?
The Tower breaks the hold The Devil has had on us of arrogance and materialism. Many people in positions of authority will lose their standing, which will bring changes, too.
The message for this card today is we are to stop looking for God/Allah/Yaweh/Holy Father/etc. in the “heavens” and find him/her/it right here on Earth…within yourself, within your neighbor, within your community. Trust, that no matter what, Universe has our back.
April 6, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Wheel of Fortune. The Wheel of Fortune is the tenth card in the order of the Major Arcana of the Tarot deck. Therefore, I count it as a “10”, which represents endings that make new beginnings and renewal possible. Yes, people are dying—as they always do—and babies are being born—as they always are. The Wheel reminds us it’s utterly futile to resist the continuous flow of life. Spring is still bursting with new life even as we despair at the lack of proper medical equipment and governmental management.
These huge changes are shaking us out of our complacency and the illusion we have everything under control. We don’t. We’re amoebas in the Grand Scheme of Things. Therefore, right now, your REACTION to the changes we’re experiencing is of the utmost importance. We’re being given the chance to evolve, adapt, and break destructive patterns in our individual lives and collectively as humans.
With everything in flux, be open to the opportunities these tremendous changes will bring. Open your mind to receive more than you ever dared. Embrace new ways of perceiving your life, experiencing events, and being you. Some will make huge and obvious changes, others will simply give thanks a little more often. Whatever changes you make to your life at this time know they have the potential to make things better. Receiving The Wheel is generally regarded as a fortunate omen as it’s believed “good luck” is on the rise.
April 5, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Lovers, reversed. This is the fourth Major Arcana in a row we’ve received. I’m called to examine the number four. Generally it speaks of structure, order, and stasis, which is a nice word for stagnation. A structured and orderly life can be very comfortable and comforting, but I understand prison is very structured and orderly, too. The lesser know representation of the number four is that we’re being dominated by the physical world. Ain’t THAT the truth! A tiny little virus is holding us hostage in our own homes. Our job is to fight the stagnation. I have a friend who’s learning Chinese and taking an on-line calculus course. I don’t aspire quite that high but I am trying to keep my brain from turning into a rotten carrot.
The Lovers, reversed, represents quarrels and arguments. Well, duh, Captain Obvious. Coop people up and they’re gonna get cranky.
There’s also a lack of or over analysis of a situation. I think this comes from the 21,000 sources of information we draw from when trying to stay informed of the latest news of the pandemic. This card recommends we act alone right now, and apart from the very plain meaning of this, I believe we should be “acting alone” when choosing the source of our information. Miscommunications cause confusion. Confusion leads to bad choices which could then lead to regrets and guilt. Never mind what your 3rd cousin’s aunt-in-law, who works at the sewage treatment plant, has heard from her astrologer*. Find science-based notifications and learn for YOURSELF what’s the best plan for you at this time.
(*I hold cousins, aunts, and astrologers in very high regard. This is an example, not a slam.)
April 4, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Devil. We’re a species that thrives by living in communities (herds). We’re better protected and secure when part of a group, but The Devil wants you to examine who you are alone. Who are you without the beliefs about yourself society has imposed upon you? The moment you stop believing the crap you’ve been fed about being “less than”, not “enough”, or otherwise limited, you’re free to release the light of your originality that lies within you.
Once you take off the costume you’ve been given, you’re going to have to come face to face with your deepest fears: am I weird? am I enough? am I kinky? am I petty, small, greedy, jealous? Once you face these fears, you’re being invited to “get good” with your darkness. No, I’m not giving you free rein to become an asshole! The Devil wants you to simply accept your less-than-admirable qualities. Just because they’re there doesn’t mean you have to act on them, but it would be awfully nice to stop feeling so guilty about them.
The Devil is the source of your strong will, audacity, chutzpah, and charisma. When harnessed and kept within appropriate boundaries, they’re darned good qualities to have. However, if they’ve gotten off their leash, take responsibility for your shadow qualities and change how you govern them. Otherwise you’ll just keep making the same mistakes, alienating others, and failing to achieve your goals.
April 3, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Hierophant. The Hierophant represents a body or person that hands down social laws and norms. It’s a system that upholds laws or organizational networks. It’s the power of structure that brings us comfort and security. Though it leaves little room for development of individual ideas or decisions, conformity to this structural system allows for peace and common ground among all those within a community.
Having received this card today we’re reminded of the need to put faith in those we’ve chosen as our leaders. We need the guidance of our “elders” and to trust it in order to progress through this time of global crisis. As they put into place new and inconvenient rules, know that it’s in an attempt to mediate and hold in balance opposing poles and not just to f*ck with your world.
This is a time to comply with patience and endurance.
April 2, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Hermit, reversed. When cards are reversed, they don’t really signify the exact opposite of the upright…rather they show the extremes inherent in the upright card. The Hermit, reversed, reflects not wanting to be alone anymore, but a fear of people leads to phobias and paranoia. Normally, if this occurred in a reading with a client, I would ask what brought them to this condition. Who hurt them and how? Considering the current situation, though, it’s a bit of a no-brainer as to why some of us are caught between not wanting to be alone but are fearful of others.
Isolation to excess tends to slow or disable any development of one’s ideas, well-being, and any type of forward motion. (I know MY couch is calling me for a nap at 8:50a.m.) The Hermit, when upright, represents self-reflection, contemplation of one’s life and next steps, and/or getting in touch with your more spiritual self. Reversed, there’s a fear of examining things too closely lest unpleasant truths surface. And with all the time we have these days, being forced to fix your flaws can be pretty daunting. Start with baby steps; don’t try to fix anything, just acknowledge it for now.
Today is a sunny spring day in my area. I’m going to do my damnedest to avoid my couch. For those of you living in the city, open your windows and do some jumping jacks in the fresh air. If permitted and practical, take a walk around the block. Literally putting one foot in front of the other is the only way we’ll survive the quarantine…even if that means pacing circles in your living room.
April 1, 2020: Card O' the Day: Ace of Wands, reversed. All aces represent new beginnings. (Interesting we got one on the first of a new month.) However, when reversed, the Ace of Wands is telling us the right opportunity for action hasn’t come yet. We’re being given the “thumbs down” and “now now” that counsels inaction because a situation is premature and not yet ripe. Your incorrect evaluations could bring consequences that are possibly severe. Therefore, put some more thought into any bright ideas you may be hatching during quarantine.
Because the card is reversed, it indicates a block in the flow of energy. Thus, the means of realizing goals isn’t there, which causes delays and setbacks. Rather than wasting precious resources and energy raging at the circumstances the virus has caused, sit back and wait for Nature to take her course. It’s not like anyone else is screaming past you and getting a leg up on you; we’re all stuck at home doing nothing.
March 31, 2020: Card O' the Day: Princess of Cups. Receiving the Princess of Cups today is a reminder to let life flow…to accept and adapt to circumstances. We’re being asked to be fully aware of and open to all the wonder and magic of life. It’s true that people are getting sick and dying, our health care workers are stepping into danger every day, and our social lives are on indefinite hold. BUT ALSO babies are being born, trees and flowers are blooming, the grass is visibly growing, and Mother Nature is bringing us a new spring. Embrace the adventure of this burst of new life mentally, emotionally, and spiritually even if it’s physically impossible to do so right now.
This card represents curiosity, reflection, and an attentive observation as one waits to acquire critical judgment and decision making capacity. All Pages/Princesses represent study or being students at something. Therefore, with all your free time (if you’re not busy supporting those of us staying at home, of course), learn something new. Cooking, baking, knitting, scrapbooking, journaling, writing, gardening, ANYthing that stimulates your brain cells!
The Princess of Cups has the unique ability to create her own situation of happiness. Be the Princess of Cups. (Tiara optional.)
March 30, 2020: Card O' the Day: Two of Swords, reversed. Upright, the Two of Swords represents a precarious or superficial balance that one wishes to maintain simply because you don’t feel ready to make the decision the Two requires or you’d rather keep the status quo out of fear of change, laziness, or indifference. Kind of an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” situation. But here’s the deal, it IS broke and it DOES need fixed.
Reversed, this card tells us it’s time to give up this faux balance willingly or know that it’ll be lost soon enough. Some of you are ready to end your stasis and see the truth…the real truth of the disturbing issues that require action. Perhaps that action is to learn to sew masks for the health care workers (I’ve seen instructional videos all over Facebook and You Tube), help deliver groceries to seniors or other vulnerable people, or simply stay home and out of harm’s way so you don’t become yet another person the overloaded healthcare system has to treat.
Truth is like an onion: the more extensively you look at it, layers of deeper and more profound truths are revealed. Perhaps one of those deep, dark truths brings you to question the honor and wisdom of the “it can’t touch me” and “I’ll do what I damn well please” attitudes some still have. Be well. Stay safe. Stay home.
March 29, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Magician, reversed. This is the third Major Arcana, reversed, in a row we’ve received. The Major Arcana are the “heavy hitters” of the Tarot deck. These are the cards we want to pay attention to as they point to the things we really need to address. The Court cards can show the people close to you who are also involved or the personality traits you may be exhibiting as you try to deal with the situation. The Pip cards add nuance and show which of the elements is most present in a reading. A little Tarot 101 for ya….
While many people are staying home and doing their best to shelter in place, there are still many who are not. I recently read there’s a mass “migration” occurring where people are fleeing the larger cities to go to their vacations homes or rent housing in smaller towns. This is a self-serving manipulation to get what you want because these small town or vacation town hospitals aren’t built for a lot of sick people. Continued denial of involvement in this pandemic or responsibility for your fellow humans is deception of your True Self and abuse of social power and privilege that others may not enjoy.
No, things aren’t going as planned this spring for ANY of us. I, too, feel petulant and peevish, but The Magician, reversed, is telling us there is a necessity to wait and not act at the moment no matter how lonely or tired of doing things by yourself you may be. All of us need to take a new approach to life right now and, most importantly, ask yourself how others are affected by your actions. You may say you don’t care and just want to protect yourself, but the longer you move about and spread the virus, the longer this problem will hang over you.
March 28, 2020: Card O' the Day: The World, reversed. How very appropriate to receive The World, reversed, since our world has been literally turned upside down by the grim sh*t called Covid-19.
There are two sides to this card; let’s get the bad news over with first. Many of you still refuse to take this virus seriously and refuse to let go of your fun plans for the near future. Despite warnings, Mardi Gras festivities went ahead in New Orleans and Spring Breakers went to the Florida beaches by the thousands even though the bars had been closed. If you’re STILL traveling for fun, this is pure egocentricity. Yes, you will feel limited, constrained, and stagnant stuck in your house or apartment with “nothing” to do. But consider how limited, constrained, and stagnant you’d be in a hospital bed or coffin.
The good news is that all this “inconvenience” amounts to setbacks and delays. NOT complete failure. There is still stability and structure in our society. If you truly need help, it’s available; we haven’t devolved into total anarchy and “Mad Max” end-of-times. This whole situation is an ending that clears the way for a new beginning. However, the reversal of this card indicates some of you are unwilling to bring closure and completion to that which is indeed over. Sacrifices are necessary; make them from a place of compassion and wisdom. When you do that, it’s easier to stomach.
March 27, 2020: Card O' the Day: Temperance, reversed. The United States has a population of approximately 330+ million people (according to Google). China has a population of 1.4 BILLION; that’s more than four times the population of the USA. AND YET, the US now has the highest number of Covid-19 cases in the world. China has FOUR TIMES more people, but we have more cases at 85.6K and counting.
And why is that? Temperance, reversed can explain. This card represents lack of moderation or self restraint that leads to harmful imbalance of the energies of the Universe. Lack of compassion and/or the inner awareness to know what’s appropriate for a situation. Being uncooperative with and uncompromising about the local directives that are in place to limit the spread of the Covid-19 virus means you’re putting your own needs in competition or conflict with everyone else’s. Emotions are out of control, which only leads to quarrels, discord, and disagreements.
Temperance, reversed, represents an “all or nothing” type of situation. And, yes, that’s where we are. Our health care workers have VERY limited supplies and some are being forced to wear trash bags for protection as they treat sick patients. This cosmic imbalance is causing stress and ill health for us all. The way to bring back balance is to calm down, avoid extremes, and STAY. HOME.
March 26, 2020: Card O' the Day: Prince of Pentacles, reversed. The reversed Prince seems to perfectly describe the two main reactions people have had to the Covid-19 quarantines and limits placed upon our movements. Since nothing is black or white, I would guess most of us fall into both camps…a little or a lot.
First we have those who developed an unhealthy obsession with material things. They panic-shopped and hoarded the toilet paper and hand sanitizer. They didn’t care a whit about anyone else and were completely indifferent to the fact that others needed T.P. and dry goods, too. (We all saw the videos of people behaving badly on You Tube.) And once these people got home, they sat staring at their toilet paper pile and became inert couch potatoes. Because they’re so self-focused, they stagnate without any outside stimulus. They need someone else to entertain them because they have no internal drive…except to “get theirs” before anyone else can.
The other “half” of society is using this quarantine to overturn any materialistic focus in their lives and to look inward to work on their value and security of spirit. They practice any form of meditation (jogging, yoga, biking, hiking, chanting mantras, etc.) or prayer to seek inner peace and repose. While they look within, they will likely find “buried treasure” they’ve been ignoring, which can now be brought to the surface for disposal or refinement.
Whichever side of the fence you’re on, I wish you health, happiness, and hope for the future.
March 25, 2020: Card O' the Day: The High Priestess. All of us have oodles of potential that we haven’t tapped into. Why? Because we’re so busy working to pay rent, hanging with friends, maintaining relationships, and basically running on the gerbil wheel. However, right now, we have a truly golden opportunity to just stop, be perfectly still, and receive what our minds, souls, and/or Universe want to give you.
The High Priestess represents passivity that gives your mind a chance to work, prepare, and nurture that gestating little germ of a brilliant idea…the one you aren’t really sure you even have yet! But if you remain centered and balanced, that creates a strong foundation for your faith and intuitive knowledge on which to grow. Be quiet and at peace and listen to what Universe is trying to tell you.
This is a time of preparation and taking the first steps towards understating your new reality. Don’t “think” too much (what if, where’s the funding going to come from, I don’t know how….) and just trust your instincts to solve the problems as they arise. I have a feeling that after the quarantine is lifted, there will be an explosion of new inventions. When it’s again possible to take action, all these dreams we’re dreaming will burst onto the physical plane. Make yours one of them.
March 24, 2020: Card O' the Day: Prince of Wands, reversed. The natural introverts among us are not experiencing much change in our lifestyles during the “shelter in place” decrees imposed by our lawmakers. However, the natural extroverts are struggling a bit.
The Prince of Wands is a “flaming” extrovert who needs lots to do, places to go, and people to see in order to thrive. When reversed, he displays foolhardy impatience and thoughtlessness about anyone else but him/herself. The Prince wants what he wants when he wants it and hates to be alone or tied down. This type of person will defy rules, advice, and requests that are for the greater good but infringe upon him/her personally.
Yes, all these cancellations, delays, and interruptions are frustrating, but we have a chance to rein in our fiery impulses and simply enjoy the present. Take advantage of this quiet time rather than perpetually focusing—and worrying—about future plans and the expected progress. This slower pace gives you time to perfect strategies, be more effective, and allow for deeper experiences.
March 23, 2020: Card(s) O' the Day: The Hanged Man and the Four of Swords. If you think about it, life often gets in the way of spiritual rebirth. A pause, whether self-imposed or imposed by circumstances, gives us the respite from the daily grind to refine plans, do inner work, and/or gain insight into who you really are or want to be. We’re getting that pause right now and despite all the discomfort, it’ll be for your own good in the end.
The Hanged Man is about making a choice between staying in the depths of your anger, self-hatred, fear, and/or judgment or clearing your higher Self of all your sh*t. You’re being asked to shift your perspective from your personal narrow view and convenient details to see the entire picture. At this time your REACTION to the truth is what defines your character.
The Four of Swords reiterates The Hanged Man’s message of rest, meditation, and quiet preparation imposed by Covid-19. You may feel dull sickness or incompletion as you think about all the things which can’t be accomplished at this time. However, through centered stillness, you can prepare to manifest future plans. Spend your down time reassessing your psycho-emotional position on life and get your thoughts, dreams, and musings organized.
I have a feeling these first weeks of stasis will be the worst. Let the sorrow and frustration move through it’s natural course by acknowledging your feelings. Then let them go (or wallow, that’s the choice The Hanged Man is offering) and allow a state of peace and patience to come into place.
March 22, 2020: Card O' the Day: Nine of Swords. I’m seeing a pattern develop: we have several gnarly cards reflecting the doom, gloom, and panic followed by strength and perseverance, which then devolves back to panic. I thinks that’s normal to see our emotional pendulum swing from “the sky is falling!!” to “I can do this!” and right back to “I CAAAAAAAAAN’T do this!” None of us can keep a perpetual smile on our faces (I had a period of anxiety yesterday) nor can we live in an emotional bunker for the rest of our lives. We need hope to keep our sanity.
This card illustrates the power of worry and anxiety. In our forced solitude, we feel imprisoned literally and figuratively as we stew in our fraught thoughts and emotions. Fearful visions of the future consume us and we lament the loss of our ordinary lives.
However, Universe will protect you. All unnecessary and extreme fear only exacerbates your discomfort. This pain is not meant to make you miserable; it’s meant to make you aware and wake up to a rather serious truth. It’s time we face reality about a lot of things: globally, in our homes, and within our Highest Selves. Calm your mind to find courage and then welcome the illumination that appears out of the mirk.
March 21, 2020: Card O' the Day: Queen of Cups, reversed. Yesterday we had the Princess of Cups, reversed and all her emotional drama; today we get her “mom.” The reversed Queen can represent passive resistance, becoming lost in overwhelming emotions, and losing one’s sense of service to one’s Higher Self and community as one becomes more possessive of resources (and toilet paper). As the days of isolation stretch before us, it’s tempting to retreat into unrealistic fantasies, alcohol, recreational drugs, or other vices. The increased worry and brooding—along with boredom eating—will bring on indigestion, water retention, and moodiness.
I looked over the cards for the past week or so and saw the fear and hoarding behavior build. Then we had a couple days of sane “we can survive this” energy, but the ever-increasing limits to our freedom and normal activities is playing havoc with our emotions. This. Is. Normal.
However, you can be “abnormal” and push back against these tendencies to collapse in a heap of despair. Firstly, go outside. “Outside” is safe. Fresh air and sunshine are actually GOOD for you in that they’re anti-viral, boost your mood, and force you to put down the TV remote/phone/tablet and MOVE. A brisk walk or longer hike will help you battle that bloated, oogy feeling and clear your head. If you have physical limits, conference call friends and relatives for virtual tea parties, card games, or chess. Find a way to continue being your best Self.
March 20, 2020: Card O' the Day: Princess of Cups, reversed. There are STILL some naysayers out there who don’t think our current pandemic is “real” or “that bad.” Our card today represents the mindsets and emotional selfishness of those who refuse to listen to advice, legitimate stories, or the news. Intuition is being ignored and vulnerability is being denied. Some are being easily swayed, influenced, or distracted from current events. I recently saw a video of many young and foolish people in Florida continuing with their Spring Break celebrations they had planned “months” ago.
The truth is the entire COUNTRY of Italy has been on lock-down; the entire STATE of California has just announced they’re now on lock-down, too. If you don’t NEED to go out in public, don’t. State parks are open; museums and zoos have put all their exhibits on line for virtual tours; spring is coming and your garden needs attention. You’ve been complaining for months/years you don’t have time to learn to knit, clean out the attic/garage/basement/closets, or read that stack of books on your night stand. Now you do.
The reversed Princess also speaks of mentally/emotionally retreating into a fantasy world. Right now, that’s NOT a “bad thing.” I mean, you’ve got nothing better to do, right? However, while you’re dreaming, see if there’s anything useful in your imagination. Keep a journal or write down your uh-MAZING ideas for later. Who knows? You might just invent the perfect mousetrap during this forced stasis!
March 19, 2020: Card O' the Day: Strength. Receiving Temperance yesterday and Strength today makes me feel as though the energies of Universe are already shifting. Perhaps it’s because China, the place where “it all started”, has started closing their special hospitals due to lack of new patients and reported NO new cases in the last 24-hour period. The wave of infection is still cresting here in the U.S., but elsewhere it IS beginning to subside. The cards of recent days reflected our fear of losses and uncomfortable changes. These new cards are showing we are made of sterner stuff than we thought.
This card represents keeping control over our “animal” energy. Meaning we can maintain compassion for all rather than sinking into cutthroat survival mode. As we handle aggressive situations gently, we can solve problems with patience and reclaim our lives from fear. Life has a way of finding a way to bloom and grow where nothing should…look at forests after devastating fires; look at Chernobyl; look at the canals of Venice where dolphins and swans have returned.
Strength gives us the courage and responsibility to find the balance between our fear and recklessness (spring break youth who are still partying, anyone?), handle our emotions, and face our difficult and dark feelings. By doing this, we can discover which familiar patterns no longer fit or serve and can be eliminated in preparation for the new cycle that’s beginning. This cycle promises protection, self-discipline, grace, and health.
March 18, 2020: Card O' the Day: Temperance. Temperance represents a new awareness of divine protection and the existence of guardian angels. As the dust settles around our “new normal” regarding the current pandemic, I’m starting to see forces working together to create a unified whole. The harmonious merging of seemingly opposing energies work to find the middle way to keep us safe.
The need for continued energy flow remains to prevent stagnation; but to do that, we may need to get creative and a little elaborate with our maneuvers. (My local wine bar is now offering delivery of their fabulous wines to help stay in business through the closure of restaurants and bars.) By seeing what DIDN’T happen (as in the world DIDN’T end), and avoiding extreme emotional reactions, we can assess what remains and be clever with it.
This particular card follows Death in the order of the Major Arcana of the Tarot. Death doesn’t LITERALLY mean someone is going to die. It means a situation/thing/relationship/job/etc. is ending. But that ending clears space for something new…. In this case, Temperance is offering promises of recovery, balance, peace, and health to fill the places Death has cleared.
March 17, 2020: Card O' the Day: Ace of Pentacles, reversed. My Tarot cards continue to tap into the bleak energies we’re all suffering at the moment. The reversed Ace represents hardships, traumatic events, and devastating and painful experiences where previously secure and dependable structures fail. Well, duh. It also can signify “false starts” and I’m thinking that this new decade has gotten off to a reeeeeaaaaallllly “false start.” When this is all over, I vote we have a “do-over.”
Unfortunately, when there’s widespread hardship those who have more material resources than others end up having more power, too. In their survival mode, those with resources and power will be tempted to abuse that power and reduce their abundance to mere possession. This is the ugly side of humanity….
However, there are ways to be generous without emptying your pockets or exposing yourself to infection. We’re being asked to go beyond the strictly practical and be creative with new possibilities. Start thinking of ways you can help your fellows remotely. I know of several yoga teachers who are putting videos on You Tube so you don’t have to neglect your yoga practice. You can become a personal shopper for the elderly in your area. You can start virtual chat groups to keep in touch. Teach something in a video and post it on Face Book. Use your imagination, stay safe and healthy, and don’t give up.
March 16, 2020: Card O' the Day: Queen of Swords, reversed. The Queen of Swords, when reversed, is the whole current social situation personified. She represents changes that cause loss, suffering, and scarcity. She’s become self-centered with little regard for social causes or the rights of others. Her personal bias has made her ill-tempered and suspicious. Much like yesterday’s reversed Prince of Swords, clarity of thought has gone out the window. In an effort to control a frightening situation, she becomes micromanaging and frustrated.
If you recognize any of these characteristics in yourself right now, it’s pretty normal. Our worlds have been turned upside down. We can’t follow our usual routines, enjoy entertainments, or go on vacations. For cryin’ out loud, we’re not even supposed to have St. Patty’s Day parties!!! Schools are closed so kids are home climbing the walls and eating the cupboards bare. I’m afraid to visit my mother because she’s nearly 85. The list goes on and on.
What to do? Acknowledge your feelings. Yes, it’s all HIGHLY annoying, inconvenient, budget busting, terrifying, and business killing. Reach higher and look past what’s in your face. Try, try, try to see what remains and concentrate on what you DO have rather than what you don’t. Give thanks for all of it. Dwell on the list of positives, no matter how short, and not the list of negatives. We can do this.
March 15, 2020: Card O' the Day: Prince of Swords. The Prince of Swords is a messenger with warnings—he doesn’t bring news of spring flowers and love. We are told to prepare for sudden changes that blow up our worlds. (Where was this guy a week ago!?!?!) We’re being told the virus situation is going to get worse before it gets better, so it’s possible our good Prince is bringing these warnings closer to home and making them more personal. (Swell.)
Unfortunately, this card carries traits of aggression and impatience as the Prince operates under his animal instincts for survival. All stores are currently FULL of these types emptying the shelves of basic staples and toilet paper.
The good news is we are also capable of questioning past recklessness. Instead of acting with greed and selfishness, this card asks you to take the lead and move forward with courage. Ground your ideas in reality and do thorough research into what needs to be done and how you can do it safely. The quick minds and actions of all of us will get us ahead of the problem and back to our hum-drum lives sooner rather than later.
March 14, 2020: Card O' the Day: Six of Pentacles. We JUST had this card on March 11th, but it was reversed. That day I cautioned against becoming spiritually constipated and ceasing all energy flow. Apparently a whole bunch of you took that to heart because the card appeared to us upright today!
Reciprocity, generosity, and philanthropy are the keywords that represent this card. Knowledge from REAL sources (such as the CDC’s Facebook page) and common sense have brought us power. Compassion and helpfulness compel us to help others in new ways. For example, I saw a suggestion to buy gift certificates on line from your favorite local businesses. They get the money now while things are really tough and you get a “free lunch” when the dust has settled. My local small pet store is offering to deliver pet food for at-risk customers.
Has anyone else seen the videos of the Italians singing to each other from their balconies? This is a PRIME example of flowing spiritual energy. Think about how you might help others from a safe distance. It’s absolutely possible and it’s the best way to keep spiritual energy flowing so we ALL survive together.
March 13, 2020: Card O' the Day: Three of Cups, reversed. Oh, I just laughed out loud when I drew this card! The Three of Cups, when upright, represents hanging out with your peeps, homies, posse, and or “crowd.” Reversed, it indicates a loss of enthusiasm for socializing and unpredictable circumstances that generate confusion and displeasure. Ya THINK!?!?!?! It ALSO signifies self-pity and extravagance in negative aspects. Hoarding food and toilet paper anyone?
It’s highly important, right now, to maintain emotional control of ourselves and NOT panic. I know yesterday I said to “keep moving forward” to avoid stagnation. I still mean it. “Moving forward”, in my mind, is following the emergency guidelines our lawmakers are setting, staying home if possible, and social distancing. Nevertheless, continue with your normal lives with prudence and lots of hand washing.
Over-buying food and toilet paper is a form of hoarding energy and contracting the energy flow. This damming up of the energy is what will keep the spiritual illness around long after the virus actually moves on or we find a vaccine for it and reduce it that way. By keeping your spirit alive, light, and ever-reaching higher, you’ll reduce the panic in yourself and those around you. Be a beacon of common sense and calm.
March 12, 2020: Card O' the Day: Seven of Wands. We are most definitely experiencing challenges right now. Fear and ignorance cause us to descend into aggression and paranoia. Therefore, don’t rely upon Facebook memes, what your cousin’s aunt-in-law said, or the local radio talk show host opined. Educate yourselves, take realistic precautions, and use your best judgment. Even then, you may find yourself having to explain your actions to others. Remind them politely you’re doing what’s best for YOU.
We’re being asked to remain calm and resourceful. We MUST continue to move forward with our lives and keep energy moving. If we contract, that energy stagnates and we only sink deeper into fear and ignorance. Look for alternative routes to going about your business. Go shopping at off-peak hours, make do with what’s already in your pantry, use your own pen in public places, use that pen to push buttons on payment machines, etc.
This is a major departure from our normal levels of equilibrium, but brute resistance to these forces accomplishes nothing. We can overcome these obstacles with ingenuity, prudence, and compassion. Namaste.
March 11, 2020: Card O' the Day: Six of Pentacles, reversed. The suit of Pentacles is the spiritualization of the material world. Meaning, Wands gives your the initial spark to do something, Cups gives you the desire to do it, Swords gives you the intellectual planning to do it, and Pentacles is the actual “doing” to make the thing tangible. Upright, the Six of Pentacles represents fluid material energy as chores get done, purchases are made, cars are built according to the blue print, etc. Reversed, this card indicates that energy isn’t so “fluid.”
This card can indicate feeling shortchanged, denied, or overlooked. High hopes have been let down causing one to contract into greed, jealousy, illusions, and insecurity. The first words that came into my head when I drew this card were “spiritual constipation.” As the latest version of the flu virus spreads throughout the world, many are panicking and hoard-buying toilet paper (!?!?!?!?) and hand sanitizer among other things. People are refusing to go to public places, or help another in need because of fear of the virus. It’s similar to the reaction to the HIV virus in the 80’s and early 90’s.
Granted, the Corona virus has proven to be deadly. HIV was even more deadly at the beginning but time passed and we got used to that monster in our midst. We can do the same with the Corona virus. Take precautions but don’t live your life in fear, suppression, repression, and spiritual constipation. This is not the Zombie Apocalypse.
March 10, 2020: Card O' the Day: Nine of Cups, reversed. Okay, I seem to be reading for myself today, but I invite you to apply this wisdom to your own lives. This past weekend I had my first expo of the season and had taken my lovely little trailer out of winter storage for the trip. During the drive there, the awning of the trailer decided to self-destruct in the most dramatic way possible while I was speeding down the highway. Fortunately, no one was hurt and after removing the dangling bits, I carried on and had a fabulous show. Upon calling the dealership to make a warranty claim, I was told there will be a fight. As in, they’ll somehow try to blame me.
Which brings us to our card today. The reversed Nine of Cups tells me I will encounter blocks and opposition and that differences of opinion will make it important to clarify all details truthfully and frankly. There is a solution, but I must not expect immediate results. In the end, someone will be called to account as reality becomes apparent and no longer avoidable.
That’s the “manifestation of the problem” part of this card. The “what do I do about it” part is as follows: put the past behind you and proceed with confidence. As you gain perspective over this little snafu, you’ll be able to let go of what’s already been lived (the awning blew off, but no one was hurt). If I allow myself liberation and release from the superficial attachment to the awning, I’ll find my inner happiness again.
March 5, 2020: Card O' the Day: Ace of Cups, reversed. Aces mean new beginnings, but when reversed, some of you may be unwelcome to this new start. Why? Do you feel you’re undeserving of it? Do you doubt such good fortune is yours? What old failures or disappointments hold you frozen from trying something new?
The Ace of Cups is offering an emotional gift of happiness or the birth of a new endeavor that is heart-based. Meaning, it’s a thing you’re very passionate about and you hold dear in your heart. However, the reversal suggests you’re blocking yourself out of fear or someone who has emotional influence over you is pooh-poohing your idea. (Don’t be crazy. You can’t go to Puerto Rico to help rebuild schools or improve infrastructure. Stay home and do your job like you should.)
Because we all have the gift of free will, we have the power to turn this Ace upright and get on with it. Yes, you’ll need to go out of your comfort zone and dare a little. Any nay sayers will have to be politely—but firmly—shut down. Accept this gift from Universe and make your dream a reality.
March 3, 2020: Card O' the Day: Ten of Cups. This card made me smile when it popped up! It feels like Universe is just giving us a pat on the back and saying, “keep the faith, be strong, I got you!” The otter is the animal associated with this card. I now direct you to every otter video or meme you’ve ever seen on the Internet. That right there is the meaning of the Ten of Cups embodied in a happy, cute little critter!
Copper is our mineral/stone/crystal structure that goes with this card. it’s said to strengthen loving qualities like optimism, benevolence, harmony and our sense of beauty. It helps us love and accept ourselves…and if we can love the hot messes we ourselves are, then we can love others despite the flaws that have, too.
The small gnat in the otherwise lovely ointment is this card is a 10, which means the ending of something we’ve put our heart and soul into is coming soon. However, we’ll be okay with it and the new beginning has lovely and loving potential. For now, bask in the perfection of yourself, your friends, and your life.
(I can just hear some of you start to whine that your lives are HARDLY perfect. I ORDER you to FIND something perfect about it and celebrate that! Choose joy, people, CHOOSE joy. Don’t make me come after you to kick your ass….)
March 2, 2020: Card O' the Day: Seven of Pentacles, reversed. This is the second “7” we received in a row. This tells me 7’s, in general, have their own message. This number is associated with risk-taking and strong action. The intellectual energy and creativity we felt yesterday is repeated here. Because we have Pentacles today, it tells us whatever is in your head is ready to come into physical being.
When the Seven of Pentacles, in particular, is reversed, it speaks to over valuation of the material world. It’s not just a preoccupation with money but all material things. There’s danger of focusing too much on the actual tangible “thing” at the expense of the spiritual elements that are also present. Just because you can’t feel/touch/see something doesn’t mean it’s not there or important.
The number 7 also reminds us to continue our inner work. The card today tells us it’s time to return to working in service of Mother Earth and others. “Service” is the operative word here. Not “returning to work to make a sh*t-ton of money”, “not returning to work to one-up the Joneses”, but to work in service. As we all know, what we give returns to us ten-fold in warm and fuzzy feel-goods.
Finally, this is a process not an end result. Be patient. Prune carefully what no longer serves. As we come into spring, many of us will be literally pruning tress, removing dead plant parts, and so forth to allow the new shoots room to sprout. Take note from the gardeners among us. Don’t worry about what you’re losing in this pruning process because the new will be bigger than the old.
March 1, 2020: Card O' the Day: Seven of Swords. Swords = mental energy, seven = magic. Put them together and there’s a whole lot going on upstairs. Great activity is beginning in your intellect. This energetic burst borders on the divine so it’s super important to be receptive to these “crazy” notions. These are the kind of creative ideas that jet you past opposition and a “stuck place.” Serious “Eureka!!!” moments here.
Some people may think your solutions or concepts are just too far out there. You might have to employ a little diplomatic maneuvering and ever-so-slight massaging of the facts to get your brilliance past the stuffed shirts. Be sure your integrity is still in place, though. Stretching the truth is only kosher when it’s for the greater good and not merely for self-interest.
I’m feeling lots of forward motion today (maybe because it’s sunny and warm and the first day of March, I dunno). Drop excess baggage so you can move more freely. Let go of what you don’t need…especially fear and self-consciousness.
February 29, 2020: Card O' the Day: Queen of Cups, reversed. Two days ago we had the King of Cups appear to tell us all how amazing we are; yesterday we had The Sun, reversed, to remind us we aren’t perfect, but that’s no reason to damn ourselves to hell. Today, the reversed Queen of Cups is here to tell us what happens if we don’t make and keep healthy boundaries (ahem, King) and try too hard to be perfect (The Sun).
The reversed Queen can indicate emotional neediness, clinging, and grasping onto those who use her. (What!?!? No way! Not me!) Because she’s trying so hard to please everyone, she finds validation in “doing for others.” Therefore, it’s very easy for others to start using her because she’s so willing to be used. When resentment starts to creep into her psyche, she’s already let it go too far and she’s lost the sense of service to herself and healthy service to others.
A much more balanced reversed Queen refuses to be swept away by her emotions and lets no one take advantage of her. She’s clear in her intentions and thoughts and competent in her actions. And this version has her personal boundaries well in place. Be like this Queen, not the jealous, possessive, grasping mess of the one who doesn’t know when to get out from under the bus.
February 28, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Sun, Reversed. As we travel the Tarot path through the Major Arcana, we get closer and closer to “enlightenment.” Because we travel this Tarot path many times and ways throughout our lives, this “enlightenment” can be large (life changing epiphanies) or small (perfecting your cookie recipe). The Sun is towards the end of the path and represents a brighter light shining from within (first we have the Star which gives us hope, then the Moon which helps us face our fears). When it’s reversed, you’re doubting your internal philosophical fires.
Stress interferes with your happiness and health. Your health may already be fraying around the edges, but if it hasn’t yet, it will unless you do something about the stress in your life. Where can you become more realistic about your life? How can you be more neutral in your day-today living? What I mean is, do you expect too much of yourself? Perfect house, perfect kids, perfect garden, perfect figure…. Guess what? Perfect doesn’t exist. EVERYONE HAS DUST BUNNIES, BRATS, WEEDS, AND CELLULITE!
Throw on the jeans and t-shirt you left in a pile on your closet floor and go walk the dog. If there’s no dog to walk, walk yourself and ponder those internal philosophical fires. Where do you doubt? Where does the confusion lie? You don’t have to figure it out. Just spend time thinking deep thoughts, de-stressing, and turning this reversed Sun right-side up the way it belongs.
February 27, 2020: Card O' the Day: King of Cups. The King of Cups is the noblest of the Kings…nurturing, paternal, and has strength in his leadership and vast emotional experience. He helps others reach their fullest potential and is the first to congratulate them when they achieve their goals. He’s able to channel spiritual and creative energy into practical expression. The King of Cups is everybody’s best friend and an excellent boss. If you were lucky enough to work under him, you’d never leave.
However, the King puts himself last. Always. He thinks he has to keep his emotions and personal creativity tightly under wraps in order to act responsibly. He’ll encourage his subordinates to have office parties or casual Fridays, but he won’t participate. This makes him seem detached and aloof, but it’s really rigid self control. Sadly, he abandons his own dreams for what he thinks he “should” do. He’ll always act for the greatest good at his own expense because he’s the boss and no longer a person.
His lesson today is to learn to be selfish. Know what you want for YOURSELF and don’t be shy about getting it. Of course, you’ll do so within reason, right? I mean, I’m not giving you license to become a complete asshole…just recognize you’re allowed to have dreams and goals, too.
February 26, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Lovers. Contrary to popular belief, The Lovers is not about romantic love partners. Well, I mean it CAN be, but it’s primarily about choices. So I suppose if you’re choosing a love interest, then yes, it’s about romantic love. The real root of this card is about making a choice…an “ultimate decision.” This decision must be from you and FOR you. It’s about choosing for your greatest and highest good. This choice might prove to be painful, but make it out of love for your Highest Self.
Making tough choices represents a test of maturity. Recognition and understanding of the options available, analysis of them, and cooperation with others is required. The shadow of The Lovers is giving too much of yourself away in the effort to be liked by others. Therefore, take special note of the word “cooperation”; I don’t mean you should just cave to what everyone else wants. Cooperation means everyone wins—including you.
This card represents the action of conscious decisions coming from a blending of intellectual weighing of pros and cons with the emotions and feelings that drive you to take action. Keen analysis coupled with your heart’s desires will help you develop a clear idea of your priorities and what comes next for you.
February 25, 2020: Card O' the Day: Ten of Swords, reversed. This is one of those cards we WANT to be reversed! AND it’s a “10” which gives us the hope that this particular gnarliness is almost over. Therefore, hang onto that thought and look forward to the recovery and breakthroughs waiting for you. Maybe it’s Mercury in retrograde or maybe it’s just a personal sh*t-show, but you’re almost done. The worst has come and you’re now back on the way up.
The image of Dorothy leaving the dark forest and coming out into the poppy field comes to me at the moment. She sees the Emerald City off in the distance and begins galloping with joy to be so near her goal and out of the darkness. However, we all know what happens in the poppy field. There is fear of being hurt. Emotional blocks go into your head and ping-pong right back down to your heart. Is it REALLY over? Is the other shoe going to drop?
Have faith. Simple physics dictates for every action there’s an equal and opposite reaction. Meaning, what goes down must come up. Look at this latest “down phase” as a useful clearing. Whatever has been taken from you wasn’t truly needed. Whoever left you, wasn’t a true friend or a good influence. If you got canned, take it as an opportunity to be free to interview for a better job. Like yesterday’s card, it’s all about the ‘tude you face your life with.
February 23, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Wheel, reversed. The Wheel basically means changes are a’comin’ and because change is a good thing (as in, NOT stagnation), we can view the reception of this card as a good omen. However, it’s reversed. Now, that doesn’t mean our good fortune has turned to bad. The reversal means there are things in your way and the energy for smooth transitions and easy changes will be a bit rough.
It could be the new events aren’t quite ripe yet…therefore, let the green banana sit for a day or two and soften up a bit! In other words, it’s not the end of the world, just annoying. And when we’re annoyed, we can get cranky and negative. Ever notice how your blood pressure goes up when the light turns green and the person in front doesn’t notice? You have the power to get cross and sit on your horn or just wait another 3 seconds.
The point to the reversed Wheel is to check your ‘tude for any negative ju-ju. This card says to expect snags and then asks how you’re going to deal with them: relaxed and with trust things will work out for the best or with yer panties in a bunch? Your choice
February 22, 2020: Card O' the Day: Prince of Swords, reversed. The normally cock-sure and full-steam-ahead Prince is a bit bass-ackwards right this minute. You may feel like words are failing you and you simply can’t clearly describe ideas, wants, or needs. It’s like trying to tell someone about a dream you had. The good news is this, too, shall pass. The best thing to do is just back off a minute until the opposition you’re feeling resolves itself.
Because this Prince is usually so self-assured, any time he doesn’t feel that way he begins to doubt his prowess. This causes fears of self-worth to arise and one steps more cautiously lest one make a stupid mistake. The caution part is a good thing at this time, but don’t let momentary “two left feet” reduce your confidence. Besides, rushing forward when you’re not 100% just makes painful accidents more likely.
There is a little deceit or craftiness lurking around the edges here. I don’t feel it’s coming from this Prince, however. Meaning, I don’t feel it coming FROM you but more AT you. Read all fine print (or have someone read it for you), get a second opinion, or hold off big decisions until you’re a little more clear-headed. I’m not suggesting you’re definitely going to be defrauded…just be aware this type energy has made its presence known to me today.
February 21, 2020: card O' the Day: Five of cups, reversed. Some people fear reversed Tarot cards and think it’s a “bad thing” when they come up that way. However, this card becomes kinder and gentler when reversed. It represents moving away from emotional upheaval and/or resistance to something that may have caused rifts between family or friends. These rifts now have the opportunity for healing, your own coping skills improve, and the psycho-emotional energy around and within you stabilizes.
As you put this “discomfort” (I feel like a doctor using that word… Me: Will it hurt, doctor? Him: Only slight discomfort.) behind you and get on with life, you can get back to feelings of hope, charity, kindness, and recovery. As in all the softer, more lovely parts of your existence on this plane. During this process, some hard choices and changes had to be made to overcome the difficulties. But it’s resulted in a change of lifestyle that ultimately will be healthier for you.
Sigh in relief that this particular hill has been climbed and you can afford to coast for a bit…. The next hill will come soon enough.
February 20, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Star, reversed. The Star represents our efforts towards ascension to the highest levels of Oneness with Universe. Reversed—and coupled with the direction for inner contemplation—it leads me to the feeling that any lofty ideals you are striving for can hold off for a minute. We need to get good with this “skin suit” and lifetime we’re in right now before we’re ready to push for the next level.
The path to ascension includes extremes of physical/material pleasure and indulgence to get satiated and bored with it. Conversely, it includes severe hardship in the false premise that it’ll make us “better” if we sacrifice all and pretend we’re Mother Theresa. However, extreme asceticism and self-privation is just as egotistical as flaunting wealth and indulging every material whim. Therefore, while you’re trying to find the happy medium between giving of yourself for the greater good of all and starving yourself and living under a rock, simply “be” rather than “do.”
There’s a need for healing of yourself, and until that’s done, you won’t be able to get to that higher plane of True Self. Shed all ideas about who you are that depend upon status, appearance, and possessions as you find the middle ground of being happy and comfortable in your life without defining yourself by your achievements and stuff. Once that’s done, you’ll be better prepared to take a step “higher.”
February 19, 2020: Card O' the Day: Ace of Wands. Spring is coming and the sap is rising in every living thing! The rush of vigor and energy is of growth and evolution and therefore, this is a good time to start something new—especially in your profession…either adding to it or changing lanes altogether. Whatever you do, be bold and daring and let your inner light shine!
This card also removes the limits to your playfulness and anything that gets in the way of being truly present within the moment and yourself. Celebrate your life and find fulfillment in the simple things as you enter into a new spiritual phase.
February 16, 2020: card O' the Day: King of Cups. On Friday I posted about the King of Wands; today, the King of Cups appeared. These two fellas have deep compassion and heart-based values/beliefs in common. Therefore, I think we’re not quite done with the concept of the wisdom of kindness being a guiding principle in our lives.
Like the King of Wands, the King of Cups represents business success. Being super sensitive to the needs of others, he makes it a mission in his life to help others to achieve their fullest potential. Now, this does NOT mean you have to put everyone before yourself. As a King, you’re in a leadership position, which means you get “there” first and are thus in position to pull others up after you to join you in said success.
Because this King has mastered his emotions (NOT squashed them to oblivion but understands them and finds his human-ness in them), he finds serenity and fulfillment within himself. This leads to joyfulness in his mere existence. Getting out of bed in the morning becomes a moment to celebrate! Based upon his loving vision of the world, he discovers his personal strength and becomes capable of vast action.
I’m blessed to know a guy just like the King of Cups. His name is Mike. Let’s all be a little more like Mike.
February 14, 2020: Card O' the Day: King of Wands. The appearance of the King of Wands is a reminder to believe in yourself—because if you don’t, who will? This guy has all kinds of power and authority and recognizes the great responsibilities that go with those gifts. He offers good news of fertile opportunities, so heads up and keep the faith if you’re waiting for something in particular.
Something else the King does well is control his mind to let go of all “negative passions” or obsessive thoughts of greed, hatred, fear, and/or depression. He focuses instead on love, compassion, and service to others. Ever notice how you get a little lift when someone holds the door or elevator for you? You feel just a wee special in that moment. How do YOU feel when you do the same for someone else? It feels nice to BE nice, does it not?
The King has the ability to make decisions—large or small—based upon the deeply held value of being kind to others. Coincidentally, that also honors what’s truly good for the Self. Therefore, on this Valentine’s Day, love yourself and do what is truly good for you by sharing that love with others.
February 13, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Star. Ladies and gents, the Eight of Swords that “fell out” of my shuffling yesterday hinted at magic being available to you but The Star straight up connects you with the Divine. How you want to define that word is up to you and your beliefs, but let’s just say the Higher Powers have got your back.
The Star represents breakthroughs so opportunities can become accessible to you. As you step into those opportunities, you’ll feel like you’re hitting your stride or have found your niche. Creative realization (echoes of yesterday’s Three of Swords) brings you to your “place” in this world and has you dancing to YOUR beat and within YOUR abilities. This card personifies guiding lights or stars; this particular star is inside of you and you can have faith in it as you give of yourself to the world.
The stone for this card is Moldavite and it raised its hand at me today. It took me a long time to feel ready for my own piece of Moldavite. While I was intellectually attracted to it for its theoretical properties, whenever I asked myself if I was ready for it, the answer was no. Finally the answer was yes, and I purchased a necklace. It’s said this stone helps one perceive your lost purpose in life (or maybe just not yet fully realized, as was the case for me) and release the constricting thought patterns that hold you back. I can say I’ve had some pretty amazing energy jet through me whenever I wear it. Perhaps you will, too.
February 12, 2020: Card O' the Day: Three of Swords. As I was shuffling before my draw this morning, the Eight of Swords fell from the deck. Since I’m clumsy, I don’t pay attention to those “falling cards.” Some do; I don’t. But then I drew the Three of Swords…and I reread what I wrote for The World, reversed, yesterday…about resistance to endings…and was reminded of the blindness to the way forward the Eight of Swords sometimes represents. Thus, the Eight did have a little to say this morning after all. Oh, and the Princess of Swords is still lurking around the edges.
The World, reversed, told us the beginning would be delayed because the ending wasn’t finished. The Three of Swords reiterates the “unfinished business” concept. Our good Princess was jazzed about learning and study. Today’s Three is yammering about lightening realizations and new ideas to be implemented. The still immature concepts/plans in the Three reminds me of the blindness of the Eight of Swords. However, the Three gives us intellectual enthusiasm with a passion for learning and study, like the Princess AND the Eight has the little bright light of magic being more available to you than at other times.
Like all the cards of the Swords suit, there’s heavy shadow on our Three. The mishmash of unfinished business, half-formed ideas, yet raging zeal for moving forward is a recipe for crazy making. Confusion about what to do first, interruptions, and downright opposition is going to set you up for emotional drama created in your head. Recognize it for what it is! Drama YOU create in your own head. Stop, step back, and allow the frustrating snags give you time to regroup. The delays are there for a reason.
(P.S. Today’s reading is a wonderful example of how the Tarot cards support each other, reiterate certain concepts when read in a group, and thus create a fuller picture.)
February 11, 2020: Card O' the Day: The World, reversed. As the final card in the fifth suit, or the major Arcana, we have ending/beginning energy similar to that of the 10’s in the other suits. However, being of the Major Arcana, The World has a little more “oomph” in its meaning and thus we should pay closer attention.
Because the card is reversed today, it means those beginnings we’re trying to manifest are going to be delayed, psycho-emotionally difficult, or held up in snags and red tape. The “ending” isn’t complete. You haven’t yet graduated with your new degree and are thus not quite qualified for that job you’re eyeballing on the Monster Jobs website. Maybe you’ve start dating someone new before you’re well and truly disengaged from the previous romantic entanglement. Basically, the cart is before the horse. You must tie up all the loose ends and make a clean finish or else the new beginning is going to be waaaaay harder than is should be.
On the other hand, some of you may be pretty darned comfy in the stability and security of your current situation and don’t wanna move. Guess what? You gotta move forward or you stagnate. After my father died, I remember being furious, nay, utterly OUTRAGED that the sun came up the next day. How DARE the world keep turning and forcing me forward when all I wanted to do was stay put in my agony. This is an extreme example, but Universe kept dragging me forward and into better times. Let’s hope life for you doesn’t suck right now, but you still have to keep putting one foot in front of the other because if you rest, you rust. Ask the Tin Man.
February 10, 2020: Card O' the Day: Princess of Swords.The Princess of Swords represents new intellectual phases coming. Some of you may be in the middle of learning something or are feeling the compulsion to go back to school. Your logical brain is speaking. Your inquisitive and objective parts need to be fed new ideas to chew on and develop. Because the Princess is at the beginning of this “learning quest”, there may be a bit of a struggle to direct this mental energy towards a productive purpose. But that’s okay, you’ll figure it out as you go.
One concern I have about this card is the Princess of Swords has been intellectually devalued at some point. This has been a real blow to her self-confidence because she’s not feeling heard when it comes to her efforts and ideas. The reaction to this is to increase independence and pretend an aloofness or “I don’t care” attitude. And during this self-imposed, defensive alone time, the thoughts just go round and round about why it’s not happening for you right now.
My advice is to get off this train of thought as fast as you can. It only sends you deeper and deeper into the abyss of “I’m not enough.” (Ask me how I know.) Concentrate on your studies instead, and give your brain something constructive to do rather than destroying you.
February 9, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Magician. The Magician represents beginnings, potentiality, and all that’s possible. This is an excellent card to have right on the heels of the Nine of Cups, which was representing the nearing completion of something. Several friends of mine are in the process of learning new skills and are in the process of finishing up their courses of training. As new initiates, they’re about to be using their acquired knowledge and resources to create change in the world. Through their fire of will, they’re preparing to make life what it CAN be, rather than settling for what is has been, for themselves and others.
This card’s appearance is telling you the time for action is coming and choices regarding this new knowledge are necessary. Is this going to be a side gig or is it your new career? Here’s a hint towards making that decision: drop the baggage of the past (I can’t, I’m not good enough, everybody says I’ll fail) and fear of the future (what if I fail?, will I make any money?, is this what I really want for the rest of my life?). Make “right now” as perfect as you can for yourself and everyone around you. Launch yourself. The rest will fall into place.
February 8, 2020: Card O' the Day: Nine of Cups. The Nine of Cups is one of the more fortuitous cards in the Tarot deck. How nice it showed up for us today! Let’s recognize this blessing for what it is: a reminder to be grateful. Practice deliberate gratitude today by offering up a “thank you for…(insert your list of blessings here)” to Universe/God/Yaweh/Allah/Etc. You’ll be surprised how much counting your blessings lifts your spirits! And once you see how truly abundant your life is, do a mitzvah and pay it forward. There will be someone you cross paths with who’s not feeling all that “abundant” and needs a little of your joy to keep them going.
As much fun as this card is, it’s a “9” which represents the nearing completion of a cycle that’s near and dear to your heart. No, no one is dying and your S.O. probably isn’t going to break up with you. It’s more along the lines of being in your last semester of school before you graduate, your ninth month of pregnancy, the end of a performing arts run or exhibit, or that kind of thing. You worked really hard to make it happen, you loved it while it lasted, and now it’s time to let it go and move on to your next big experience.
February 7, 2020: Card O' the Day: Six of Swords, reversed. When upright, this card indicates movement away from psycho-emotional turbulence and towards calmer thoughts and peace of mind. However, when reversed, the movement stops as one becomes resistant to new concepts, thoughts, or ways of thinking/believing. One stays stuck in a particular mindset too afraid to step outside of what’s known to explore alternative possibilities or ideas.
By perceiving things from a purely subjective and personal viewpoint and paying no attention to facts and external verification, it becomes increasingly easy to misunderstand anyone else’s opinions, suggestions, or alternate courses of action. This is actually intellectual narcissism. As In, “I know what I know so don’t try to confuse me with fact-based truth.”
The problem is, none of us is born “all-knowing.” As our societal rules, norms, laws, and standards grow and change with the times, we have to move forward, too. Staying put with what you “know” and are comfortable with is a reaction that keeps you trapped in fear and limited self-confidence. There’s no shame in not “knowing.” Ask questions, become educated, and base your beliefs upon provable facts and not yesterday’s news.
January 30, 2020: Card O' the Day: Queen of Pentacles. Sometimes I complain to Universe with the old “why me?” whine when I feel too put upon. Lately, though, I’ve been understanding it’s my purpose to be “put upon.” People look to me for support, encouragement, and a sympathetic ear. They have since I was a pre-teen…. Today, the Queen of Pentacles appeared. She’s my patron, so to speak, and I identify with her most strongly of all the court cards (which represent the 16 distinct personality types recognized by the psychiatric/psychological field).
This queen is able to blur the line between giving/receiving in that when she helps others, she’s actually helping herself, too. Her acts of giving become self-nurturing. I think she’s turning up today to remind us, in general, that helping others helps us all. In particular, be prepared to be leaned upon by someone in your community/tribe.
Don’t fear giving of yourself because our good queen is also good at preserving her sense of personal security, space, and identity even while she helps others. Her grounded and practical emotional energy, trustworthiness, reliability, and calm nurturing is needed. Be like the Queen of Pentacles and answer the call when it comes.
January 28, 2020: Card O' the Day: Five of Cups. We’re still in the place of “passing through” a disappointing, sad, or sorrowful phase. More than likely this unhappiness stems from a loss or ending of some nature. You’re asked to feel and acknowledge your emotions. Allowing yourself to fully mourn gets that business out of the way and returns you to clarity of thought and more balanced emotions a whole lot faster. As much as you may want to, sweeping it under the rug doesn’t mean it goes away. It just sits there, lurking, until you address it, so you may as well get it over with.
Once that business is done, you can proceed with taking stock of what has remained after the ending or loss. This card implies focusing too much on the loss and not enough on the stuff you still have. Don’t. Focus hard on what’s left and deliberately give thanks for it and enjoy it. If anything that has remained isn’t “of love”, pitch it. Just because it wasn’t swept away in the main “ending or loss” doesn’t mean you have to keep it.
When you ask “how will I ever find the strength?” when you’re totally down and out—or even just a little glum—remember the personal power you have that keeps you breathing and your heart beating. You may say you have no control over that; your body just does it automatically. But you do have control…and the courage you display every moment that you allow your heart to beat and your lungs to expand will lead you forward to surviving and healing.
January 26, 2020: Card O' the Day: Eight of Wands, reversed. Emotional distress continues with this card. In an effort to push through it faster you may try too hard, apply too much force to the situation, or engage in “people pleasing” that brings you no gain. (There are rare times when brown-nosing is beneficial to your cause. This isn’t one of them.) At any rate, it’s a total energy drain of pointless, repetitive emotional patterns that have you trying so hard to be “perfect.”
In the effort to be “perfect” and keep everyone happy (except yourself), you’re actually going nowhere fast. Back up, take a “mental health” day if you can, and be still a minute. Do what you need to feel more emotionally secure. While this upset is temporary, it’s gnarly.
January 25, 2020: Card O' the Day: Nine of Swords. The cause of discomfort, worry, or stress is in the process of bulldozing its way through your heart and mind right now. This is a “good thing” ultimately because it means you’ll be done with it. However the actual happening of it is super unpleasant. Nines signify intensity but also completion. Hang tough….
There are ways of making these days of shoveling psycho-emotional sh*t easier for you. When you come to the realization that something is truly ending, accept it. The faster you can understand there are no winners or losers in this “ending” situation, the faster you’ll come to peace and harmony again. This is hard for your ego to do—I’ll warn you now—but it does make it easier on your heart to just let go.
The reward for getting through this and on the other side is illumination—the “I get it” moment. Some of your old concepts may be called into question and examined for viability in this new place for you. Understanding and releasing will bring transformation. (Ask me how I know….)
January 24, 2020: Card O' the Day: Three of Cups. Receiving this card of deep feelings and love going out to your fellows and coming back at you confirms the Queen of Cups’ message that feelings are a “good thing.” Enjoy the human experience of feeling and emotions with and among others, just keep an eye out for where YOUR feelings end and another’s begin.
Being a three, this card signifies making compromises. But the inherent love and joy in this card let you know that making those compromises leads to a win for everyone involved. Meaning, the collective idea is actually better for everyone than any single idea from an individual would have been. And because you’re all happy, you’re more willing to give/receive (don’t forget to receive!) the warm and fuzzy support from your group, community, or tribe. In this atmosphere, endless opportunities are available if y’all dare to step forward. Yes, you might fail, but there’s power in numbers, so maybe give it a whack!
The Three of Cups also represents healing and resolution. Whether that healing and resolution occurs with “Me, Myself, and I” or with a group of which you’re a part, depends on what’s needed most. Don’t rule out the need for arbitration, mediation, or a therapist for neutral guidance during the healing journey.
January 23, 2020: Card O' the Day: Queen of Cups. The Queen of Cups is the epitome of “receptivity.” Receptivity is defined as having the quality of “taking in” or “admitting.” That includes taking in knowledge or ideas and means she’s willing or inclined to receive suggestions or offers with favor. Esoterically, being of Cups, this means she’s also receptive of the emotions of others and is a super good listener.
On one hand, this is all good. However, the down side is with so much “receiving” you can get lost in all the stuff that comes in from the outside and you ignore the stuff that’s being generated inside of you. This may be why some of you connected with the trapped feeling of yesterday’s Eight of Swords. All the worries coming at you—your own stuff or problems of your loved ones—can put you in a dark hole.
Therefore, acknowledge the feelings—yours or theirs. Prioritize which ones need your attention most. If your own feelings and personal worries need more attention, then give it to those first. Tell your friends/family you simply have too much on your plate right now to help them. Once you have your priorities straight, begin the self-care you need to reduce the insecurity and worry you have about YOUR life right now. You can’t be a good friend/parent/employee when you’re fried.
January 22, 2020: Card O' the Day: Eight of Swords. The Eight of Cups represents psychic/mental blocks due to attachments to ideas or concepts we THINK are positive, but are actually causing us more pain than good. One may FEEL powerless and restricted by circumstances, which tempts us to run back to bed and pull the covers over our heads until say, June.
This card represents my mom at the moment. She recently moved to a “senior apartment” which required a lump sum up front and carries a modest monthly rent. The place offers their clients ample time to sell their homes to raise this lump sum. Mom has been trying to sell her home for months and even has a buyer. But the buyer is having difficulty securing a loan because he’s an entrepreneur and doesn’t have a “day job.” Even though the apartment people are by no means demanding their money, my mom is driving herself insane with worry that she hasn’t paid them in full yet even though she has made substantial down payments. Her intense worry and trapped feeling (if I don’t sell my house NOW, the apartment people will kick me out!!!) is a perfect example of this card.
So, the first thing to do is to cut the cord between your brain and your heart. Get cold and analytical and look at your situation with clarity, reality, and truth, NOT fear and hysteria. Talk to the people in charge of the situation—if you’re not in charge directly—to see what you can do to tackle the problem in smaller increments. If you are in charge, make a realistic battle plan with reasonable daily actions. Put one foot in front of the other and this, too, shall pass.
January 20, 2020: Card O' the day: Princess of Cups. The Princess is here to remind us to be present to, and take pleasure in, the simply joys of your life. Really taste that morning cup of coffee or tea. Sit with it and wallow in the satisfaction of it for a few minutes. As you reflect on the magic that is your life, remember to keep balance between work and play. This court card’s personality tends to take an idea and get a little obsessed with it to the detriment of everything else.
Another point to ponder is your own worthiness for all that you enjoy. Yes, YOU. Explore your inner thoughts and you might notice the door to the cage you think is holding you prison is actually open. You just have to free your mind of oppressive, confining thoughts. Yes, it’s kind of emotionally fraught to think what could be if you put yourself out there, but this small beginning is destined to become a “good thing.”
The animal associated with this card is the beaver. Our busy, industrious little friends are super creative with setting goals and using their available resources. Take note and take a step.
January 19, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Sun, reversed. Put yer copper back on! It’s lesson of self acceptance and love didn’t stick for some of yinz!
When The Sun gets reversed, it indicates one is afraid to acknowledge or relish the joy and abundance you have in your life. There’s this sense of “yeah, but…” as in, things are good NOW, but wait until the sh*t hits the fan or the bottom drops out because it ALWAYS does. So, are you gonna walk around with an umbrella over your head the rest of your life waiting for it to rain!?!?
Doubt and confusion occasionally are totally normal. However, don’t allow that mindset to be permanent. Take a truly realistic view of your life and really SEE all the things going for you. What talents do you have? Who loves you? What material blessings do you enjoy? If there are thin spots, make adjustments where you can to give them a little boost. Otherwise, concentrate on the full part of your glass and know that all setbacks are temporary.
If you’re feeling the need for a stone, amber is our friend today. It absorbs negative energy and promotes your self-confidence. It also encourages decision making that will bring balance. And patience…it’s got patience to help you relax and stop stressing about what you don’t have.
January 18, 2020: Card O' the Day: Ten of Cups. Oh, wow…if we could only quiet the mind chatter and live here forever. This card says we can. It represents repose of the heart and happiness inspired from above. It shows us the interconnectedness of all living things in our world. Wellbeing, blessings, and security are offered as well.
While it’s a 10, and 10’s—in theory—herald endings that make new beginnings possible, I don’t feel the ending part today. I feel like we’re at the top of a ladder. But instead of starting on the bottom rung of a new ladder, we have the opportunity to just soar into the stratosphere and BE happy and blessed and secure no matter what. It’s a conscious choice to live in a state of joy.
Copper is the crystal/mineral associated with this card. It’s said to help one accept and love oneself and others. Calmness and healing are supposed to flow into you from this substance. (Does it REALLY? I dunno, but I’m gonna slap on some copper today!)
Allow yourself to soften and be more receptive to life. After all, being guarded against the bad stuff means you’re also closed to the good stuff. Yes, the bad stuff hurts, but the good stuff heals and lifts you high so you can see the glorious view. Welcome yourself home to who you really are…a creature of joy.
January 17, 2020: Card O' the Day: Four of Wands, reversed. What!?!!?!? The Four of Wands AND reversed is baaaack…. And what, pray tell, does it want to say today?
Yesterday I talked about everything being connected and how The Lovers represents moving from an immature “me” mindset to a more mature “we” in which you join forces with others to make the world a better place for us all. This desire to help look after your fellow Earth inhabitants and broadening of your view may feel like a sort of cultural rite of passage like a Bar Mitzvah or a natural one like puberty. Either way, you’re experiencing a shift that may be a little disconcerting. Maybe there’s a little “I’m not ready yet! I haven’t done a, b, or c yet!” going on that makes this time unsettling, too.
When we’re afraid to move forward with new ideas, ways of life, or phases—especially when others are involved—there’s going to be a certain amount of wondering if you can handle it. Do you measure up? Are you “enough” to hold up your end of Universe? Do you DESERVE this right choice for yourself? The answers are yes, yes, and YES! Therefore, revel in the gifts of the recent sixes and get on with your own badass self!
January 16, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Lovers. Another 6 here with The Lovers. In general, 6’s symbolize pleasure, beauty, and all things intangible and not of the material plane. They’re about doing what you love and putting a positive, optimistic spin on all situations. The Lovers, another 6, takes the basic message of the Six of Cups and expands on that…going from the “me” mindset to the wider “we” mindset as you shift your consideration of just one or two individuals to the whole world.
This card espouses making the right, higher choice for yourself and thereby for the others with whom you engage. In this way you begin to understand the deeper concept that EVERYthing is connected. The Lovers’ energy shows you the blessings Universe bestows upon you and makes you fully aware of these divine touches. It’s so easy to take these for granted; today’s card is a little reminder.
January 15, 2020: Card O' the Day: Six of Cups. This card is often interpreted with heavy emphasis on the past, nostalgia, and/or sentimentality. The only “past” I’m getting today is remembering lessons of the past to make the present better and to integrate into our future plans. After all, we don’t need to reinvent the wheel…or do “that” again, am I right?
Whereas the Six of Pentacles can represent reciprocity of the wallet, the Six of Cups is offering reciprocity of the heart. This is a nurturing love that feeds a need for someone else or yourself. It’s totally altruistic as in there’s no “what’s in it for me” but it’s all about how can I make things better for the other person. When you direct this kind of love towards yourself, you’re more interested in healing the spirit and soul and developing inner richness and maturity.
These are our keywords and thoughts for the day: kindness, generosity, harmony, acceptance of what’s true about you, and choosing peace. ‘Nuff said.
January 14, 2020: Card O' the Day: Four of Wands, reversed. This is our second 4 in a row (even though this one is reversed today). Fours represent stability of energetic routines in the suit of Wands, domination of one’s material plane in the suit of Pentacles, clarity of mind in the suit of Swords, and emotional tranquility in the suit of Cups. The danger of the 4 is stagnation. That could look like getting stuck in a rut (Wands), hoarding material things (Pentacles), having a narrow or closed mind (Swords), or boredom or apathy (Cups).
Today’s Four of Wands is reversed, which tends to disrupt the stability of the upright card. When your everyday routines and habits get changed, it can be a little disconcerting. Suddenly something you thought was “done” or settled is up in the air and that can bring on anxiety. For example, the washing machine/car/regular bus route suddenly doesn’t work. Crap! Now you have to cough up money to have the washer/car repaired (I can’t afford that!!!) or you have to find a different ride to work. If the disturbance is at your job, a project may need more work to complete it than you’d thought, final details might crop up, or anything else that makes the project last longer. UGH! Can’t I just be DONE already and have things runs smoothly for a change?
However, this energy glitch will settle and all work will be completed as it should be. The car/washer will get repaired and the alternative ride to work might even introduce you to a new friend. (There’s an emphasis on community with this card.) Universe is giving us a little shake today just so we don’t fall asleep at the wheel. Accept it, wake up, and enjoy the new.
January 13, 2020: Card O' the Day: Four of Swords. Again, this relates to current plans, whether actual things are in the planning stage—like building a house—or you’re in a more philosophical planning stage of personal growth. Something has come up that’s put you in a forced time out. Circumstances simply won’t allow further motion forward. The thing you need for the house is back-ordered or your basement flooded and you need to take care of this concrete thing before you can get back to contemplating your navel.
However, this forced stasis helps you recognize difficulties and address them early, rest little from heavy duty mental activity, bring sense to ideas and plans, and basically digest all that you’ve metaphorically swallowed up to now. It’s a time to organize your thoughts to find the practical route necessary to make the most of your resources or reality.
Some might find this mental quiet too conservative or dull. But it’s in this still place you can more effectively meditate, retreat to your inner self, and find the exciting spark of a creative vision that will be your next big mental enchilada!
January 12, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Chariot. The Chariot is continuing the ideas presented yesterday by the Two of Pentacles. Fresh starts or “journeys” are present here, but unfortunately the objectives are still unclear. This card represents the desire for a particular achievement, not the achievement itself. That’s why I say we’re still planning. Fortunately, the ground is “fertile” for our plans and we’ve got oodles of conviction and determination to “git ‘er dun!”
Because the final product isn’t quite clear yet (and it won’t be until it’s complete), you may have some doubts and stress surrounding this achievement or journey lurking behind all your outward confidence. Let that stuff go and remember Murphy’s Law: What can go wrong, will. Therefore, if you go into it KNOWING there will be snags and f*ckups, you can relax, let go of the notion of perfection, and learn fabulous lessons and experience the joy of solving problems! (This kind of mindset takes the sting out of failures. Ask me how I know.)
Finally, this card gives us the hell-bent-for-leather urge to charge forward but the self-mastery not to be a bull in a china shop. It’s a good card.
January 11, 2020: Card O' the Day: Two of Pentacles. Being of the Pentacles, we’re turning our attention to concrete things rather than our feelings, thoughts, or creative energy. This is stuff you can touch. The Two represents plans…you’re lurching in the direction of something new. For example, sending out resumes rather than actually interviewing for the job, reviewing which college to go to rather than already picking your classes, or reviewing the blueprints of a new house rather than hammering the first nails.
During this planning stage, you’ll figure out what’s impossible or too expensive. Fortunately, this card brings you adaptability and resourcefulness, which allows you to change gears, modify, and/or find another way to get what you want. MUST have a claw-footed tub in your new house but the contractor says it’s going to cost the moon? That’s where you get on Craig’s List or Ebay and find one for pennies. Or, you start looking for the most obscure scholarships to help you afford the college of your dreams.
Chrysocolla, the stone associated with this card, stepped forward today. It’s said to strengthen your intuition—your gut instincts, the “little birdie”, the voices in your head—so you don’t go all cold and logical when making your decisions. As in, “Okay. No tub. Too expensive.” Your softer intuition will help you keep the dream alive and make it happen.
January 10, 2020: Card O' the Day: Five of Swords. Some people are naturally more cerebral and less emotional—they feel sentiment can make the intellect weak. However, rigid control of the heart/mind relationship doesn’t allow space for flexibility or room to grow from concepts that were good in the moment to new and better ones. This card is offering the clarity you need to see the ineffectiveness of a narrow scope and ways you can be more generous in your mind and heart in your relationships with others.
Being of the Swords, this card cuts both ways. Perhaps you’re super generous to everyone but yourself. Are you often stuck in a mind-loop where you compare yourself to your peers? And how do you stack up? Here’s a thought: remove that word from your vocabulary. Do the best YOU can. Remember that EVERYthing is incomparably unique and has a place reserved in Universe. You are necessary for Universe.
Once you’re done with all these thought games, get cracking. This card offers lots of creative energy. Unfortunately, this creative energy is colliding with the mind/heart conflict and is being frustrated in its tracks. Balance your steel trap of a mind with your sentimental heart and you’ll become more versatile.
January 9, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Fool, reversed. The new beginnings, purity of intentions, and trust in Self and Universe are clouded by the reversal of this card. While utter fearlessness can put you in danger, over caution and not daring to step forward lest you look stupid is just as bad. There’s a saying that goes along the lines of you WILL fail 100% of the time if you don’t even try. The reversed Fool is hesitating to even try.
This card also could indicate some of you are pining for adventure in your lives, but either there is none or you’re staying home where it’s “safe.” This urge won’t go away until you answer it and answering it will be good for you. Now, “adventure” doesn’t have to be a month long trek to Katmandu. A day hike in your local state park, while not as exotic, will get the yen to shush a bit, is easy on your wallet, and doesn’t require the use of precious vacation days.
Back to the “hesitation to even try”—it could be you don’t know where to begin! Welcome to being human. All of us go through periods of apathy and not knowing what to do next. Here’s what you do: take. a. step. Go to the library and get a book that seems vaguely interesting. Skim a few pages. Worth taking home? If not, pick another book. Scan through You Tube and find a video that teaches you something. Join a club. My point is one step leads to another…. Put The Fool back on his feet and plunge into Life!
January 7, 2020: Card O' the Day: Nine of Cups. The appearance of The Magician yesterday was to remind you about your inherent power and abilities. This card gives you a tiny reality check regarding the limits of your individual actions to keep you humble. In fact, the Nine, while full of positive expansive feelings, confidence, and joy, prompts you to receive all blessings that come from outside of you with humility and grace. No, you don’t have to hide your good fortunes or apologize for them, but let’s not be an asshole about them. If you’re in a position to be generous, be generous because at any point in your life you may need the generosity of another. Pay it forward now.
This card, coupled with yesterday’s Magician, has us taking full responsibility for our own happiness. It’s finally becoming clear that no one else can “make” you happy. You’ve got to decide to BE happy. Examine what you need to do to create feelings of happiness and joy within yourself and keep doing that stuff. Once you own your own happiness and decide to BE happy, your personal parade becomes pretty rain-proof.
Along with all the “happy, happy, joy, joy” comes some pretty strong intuition and clear gut instincts. Listen to them. This obedience to Higher Self will translate into solid “executive abilities” to help you make decisions, develop personal boundaries, harness creative juices, and generally make you a pretty effective Captain of your own ship.
January 6, 2020: Card O' the Day: The Magician. The Magician is akin to the aces of all the suits in that it represents all potential and possibilities. We’ve been floating for a little while as we regained our footing after the artificiality of the holiday season. (By that I mean normal schedules, diets, and habits were thrown out the window to accommodate all the “extra” that was being offered.) The Magician has come to us today to make us aware of what we could accomplish this coming year.
Firstly, dig around a little in your psyche to find those hidden dreams and desires you think are out of your reach. As you come to understand them, you’ll see what’s indeed possible to make the best life for yourself. Notice I said “best life.” The Magician is urging you to reach for the brass ring rather than settle for what is or has been. Seeking a little bigger and better keeps you moving forward and out of a complacent rut. (Read: stagnation, rot, and the state of “dead man walking.”)
It’s becoming time now to focus on and commit to your plans. You have all the tools you need and the strength to make it happen.
January 5, 2020: Card O' the Day: Strength. As I prepared myself to draw this card, I felt a “punch" in my solar plexus chakra. This feeling was similar to the throat chakra opening I felt the other day when I drew the Justice card. It’s small wonder I felt a physical reaction in my third chakra when I drew Tarot’s Strength card; confidence, autonomy, and inner drive live there, which is Strength in a nutshell. My favorite depiction of Strength is found in The Tarot of Trees by Dana O’Driscoll. This card is our photo du jour.
Strength represents deliberation, self-awareness, and maturity in handling difficulty with grace. It offers you the choice of blaming others for your troubles or facing the challenge and growing from it. Notice the tree in our photo is growing, and THRIVING, in a place that’s “less than ideal”! It’s growing out the side of a vertical cliff, fer cryin’ out loud!
With such strength and confidence, you don’t need to prove yourself. You can accept your strength and power and share it even if you face criticism. It’s like dicks (this has nothing to do with actual penises). Those who are “hung to the floor” quietly go about their business and make their dreams reality. Those who have itty bitty dicks whip them out at every turn and wave them about screaming LOOK HOW BIG MY DICK IS!!!! Here’s a tidbit of Truth: everybody is born hung to the floor; it is you who shortens it.
January 4, 2020: Card O' the Day: Five of Cups, reversed. As we move away from losses—we’re invited to do so with this card and we’re aware it’s time—your resistance or disappointment is transformed into something better and/or more useful to you. For example, coping skills, emotional stability, and the determination to overcome misfortunes and anxiety are a whole lot more practical than wallowing, sniveling, and whining “I caaaaaaan’t.”
With your Big Kid pants pulled up and belted snuggly around your waist, you can start seeing the alternative routes to greater success and personal growth. In this frame of mind, you’re able to determine who’s offering helpful resources and is willing to stick with you. Ask those particular gems for assistance with your current journey.
This card is also about repairing rifts and burying hatchets. Whether that happens spontaneously and you all agree to “fuggetaboutit” or whether it takes concerted effort to negotiate a peace treaty, take the gift of healing and be grateful.
January 3, 2020: Card O' the Day: Justice. As I was getting quiet in preparation of drawing the card today, I felt a physical opening of my throat. A thought passed through my head regarding the throat chakra…open throat means truth, expressing your feelings and needs honestly. Justice is all about truth and honesty. What do you reeeeeaaaaaallllly want? How are you going to make that happen?
Firstly, getting what you want requires work—duh—but since no man is an island, we have to play well with others. Through balance between the ego (I WANT!!!) and the Higher Self (May I please have and what do I need to do in exchange?) this becomes possible. Justice = fair play, diplomacy, integrity.
Developing balance within yourself and your life requires some solid self-examination. What is your truth? Say it, own it, and don’t avoid it. What’s in your life that doesn’t allow balance? Which is better: keeping “that” or breaking with it so you can achieve balance? And so our journey around the Sun goes again…seeking truth, being responsible for it, and getting good with it.
January 2, 2020: Card O' the Day: Eight of Cups. Again, super appropriate for the beginning of a new year and decade. The Eight of Cups helps us recognize the need to leave some stuff behind. This could be a relationship, job or your total career path, belief systems, or actual tangible things. By leaving this stuff behind, you’re free to pursue more meaningful plans for your life.
I once had a “non-believer” pull this card when he asked for a demonstration of the Tarot cards. Oooooh! He was MAD when I slapped him with his truth! But it actually wasn’t me, it was his own Higher Self and soul who was saying, “c’mon, DUDE! We’ve got better things to do here.” Life was trying to deliver on the promises this card represents—happiness, journey, exploration, growth—but he was too stuck in his Devil Self to make the effort.
You’re being asked to seek a deeper meaning with this card. It doesn’t have to be HUGELY deeper, as in “digging all the way to China” deeper. It could be simply joining a book club. Venturing into uncharted territory is the point here. ANY venturing outside your usual rut will lead to growth. Only ONE step forward in a different direction can change your life profoundly. Look what it did for Neil Armstrong!
January 1, 2020: Card O' the Year: Ten of Swords, reversed. Welcome to a new year and decade. A lot has happened to us individually and collectively as humans—both pleasant and unpleasant.
The Ten of Swords represents an ending(s) that make beginnings possible. Under this suit, those endings may seem/feel particularly harsh. (Swords though of the mind are very connected to the heart, too). The reversal of this card softens the blow and turns the severity into sort of a “near miss” rather than a direct hit. It also speaks of having turned the corner, as in having hit rock bottom and the only way now is up.
Receiving this card on New Year’s Day can be literally describing the shit-show 2019 was for you personally. You’re now on your way up. It can be a figurative description of what you or all of us has endured this past year. But this card promises we’re on our way up. Turn your back on all that was shitty about 2019 and leave it behind. Bring only the happiness and good fortune, however small, forward with you into 2020. Plant those seeds of joy and plan for a bumper crop of abundance and delight. A little rain must fall this year, but know it comes to ultimately nourish the garden. Peace be with you.
December 30, 2019: Card O' the Day: The Hanged Man, reversed. My day yesterday was a total sloth-fest—notice there was no Card O’ the Day yesterday, I didn’t even do that. Today we have a “suspended animation” kind of card, but it’s reversed…it’s a reversal of the reversal.
Little things are still in your way that will prevent forward motion (echoes of the reversed Eight of Wands we got the other day), so don’t blame yourself too much for not blazing a new path. Some things you just have to wait to shift on their own because they’re out of your control.
Things within your control are also blocking your way, though. My husband just finished a pretty big creative project and now he’s fidgeting with nothing to do. Yesterday he pottered in his shop trying to picture what comes next…. Basically this card personified. A little wandering around is fine, just be careful this momentary feeling of being ungrounded doesn’t slide into apathy, procrastination, and fear of change. We’re still in the between-the-holidays doldrums so another few days/weeks of figuring out what’s next is fine; just don’t let it become a new lifestyle.
December 28, 2019: Card O' the Day: Eight of Wands, reversed. Upright, the Eight of Wands represents speed, inevitability, creativity, all work efforts falling into place, and the “you better be on the bus because it’s about to leave” type of energy. Reversed, it represents trouble working with others, barriers, a burst of little things going sideways, and emotions running high.
If you think about it, this sums up the last weeks in one card. Speed, hurry-hurry-get-everything-done! And, now that actual Christmas/Kwanza/Hanukah have passed (or are nearly over), we’re left with the energetic hangover. It’s called “burnout”, people. S-L-O-W D-O-W-N now and and try to calm your inner agitation.
Freeze the remaining holiday treats and switch to leafy greens, lean proteins, and whole grains. Get back to the gym for a light workout. Stay sober for the next few days. Try to get as much sleep as possible. Also, maybe clearing your social calendar wouldn’t be a bad idea. I know I’ve had quite enough of people and all the conversation, compromise, accommodations, etc. that is required when interacting with large groups. I’m ready for some self-care to unfrazzle my nerves and get my digestion back to normal. Aren’t you?
December 23, 2019: Card O' the Week: Ten of Cups. Family is coming and I’ll be concentrating on enjoying their company and keeping them fed. Therefore, this is a Card O’ the Week. Happy celebrations to you all!
Oh, please. Sometimes my Tarot cards can be so stinking spot-on, amazing, and appropriate for the moment. Could we not have a better card to represent our coming week?!
What we have here is love, love, more love, and did I mention love? The Ten of Cups gives the gifts of joy, repose of the heart, well being, blessings, and complete emotional contentment and stability. This kind of happiness doesn’t come from possessions, but from welcoming yourself home to who you really are and being good with it.
The rainbow, often depicted in this card, speaks of the peace that comes after storms. Therefore, give thanks for family, community ties, friends, and—most importantly—yourself. You’re here. You exist. You’re important to Universe. Revel in what’s happy in this moment, in this week. Leave your cares and woes at the door; they’ll keep for a bit while you party. That’s the message of the 10: enjoy the bliss while it lasts because 10’s mean endings…but also promise new beginnings.
December 22, 2019: Card O' the Day: Queen of Wands. The first thoughts in my head when I turned over the Queen of Wands was, “whatever it is, you’ve got this.” She represents a protective white light and a deep inner conviction things will turn out okay. She’s reminding you you’re actually in a place to share your love and joy—even if it feels so small at the moment—which then makes you feel more blessed and full. It’s a “vicious” cycle….
With her strength of character and integrity, she relies upon, and trusts, her own judgment and power. You don’t need to override others as you wield that power. People who underestimate themselves will try to feel more powerful by stealing that of others; but that’s not you. You have all the power you need to be happy, fulfilled, and lift others as you sail down your path.
December 21, 2019: Card O' the Day: Two of Wands. This card, as a two, represents that it’s time to make a decision about something rather important. You could say you’re at the threshold of a doorway. The question is do you go through it to explore new experiences and adventures or do you stay where it’s safe and secure? Before you can make that decision, however, there are some things that need to be sorted and cleared out of your way first.
While you’re at it, this card suggests developing a new mental discipline or returning to one that worked for you in the past. Think of it like going back to your healthy food regimen, returning to the gym after several months of “not having time”, becoming more brave about calling out rude people, or embracing a new religious ideology.
When you take the plunge and step through the door and readjust your thought processes, you’re going to begin to recognize your full potential. By harnessing and controlling your energetic force (that Qi we talked the other day), you can appreciate your own manifested, and manifestING, powers and capacity.
December 20, 2019: Card O' the Day: Nine of Cups, reversed. The quest for your deeper understanding of yourself and Life isn’t over as you look for more than mere overindulgence of material pleasures. As you find inner—rather than outer—happiness, you can drop the facade of keeping up appearances and discover what you really want from your life.
This card brings us truth, the frankness to speak it, sincerity in your perception of your reality, and the freedom from superficial or false attachments all that brings when you practice it honestly. My definition of “practicing honestly” is LIVING by example rather than flapping your gums about how “woke” you are.
Walk what YOU talk…whatever that means for you. There’s no shame in writing a check to the Kidney Foundation; you don’t actually have to donate a kidney to someone!
December 19, 2019: Card O' the Day: Prince of Wands. The past is only good for reminding yourself not to do “that” again because it didn’t work out so well. It’s also good for knocking yourself down a peg when you start to get too big fer yer britches…keeps ya humble. The future can be planned for, and it’s advisable to do so. However, excessive worry about the past and/or future is useless and makes you miserable. That leaves today, the present moment, the importance of now, and THAT is what our good Prince is trying to convey.
He gives us the willingness to take a risk and seek new movement and experiences. He sees a chance for action and is eager to take it. Seeking “new” and “action” requires change. Guess what? The opportunities are all around you to leave old ways behind and alter your existence. Not sure how to do that? Expand your perspectives on what you consider possible and entertain different points of view. (Prove to me it’s IMPOSSIBLE before you scrap an idea.)
Finally, I think the most important lesson the Prince of Wands has for us today is to renew your Qi, or the vital energy that is held to animate the body internally (Miriam-Webster), through living a heart-centered life. Love, love, and more love.
December 18, 2019:
Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?
Caught in a landslide, no escape from reality
Open your eyes, look up to the skies and see…
—Queen
These lyrics were running through my head this morning as I was outside feeding my horses. And then I drew The Devil…. This card is about temptations, entrapments, instant gratification, and all the other stuff we think we waaaaant. However, it has nothing to do with real life and the work required to make real life rewarding. For example, relationships have to be nurtured. You have to decide if your partner’s quirks are something you can live with or are deal breakers. Careers have to be supported through the lean times and you have to do the crappy grunt work that goes with ANY job.
It’s not a “bad thing” to want more, bigger, badder, better and to work towards making your dreams come true. But if all you do is waaaaant, then you’re missing the point of life. Read those lyrics again. Re-read the last line once or twice more. If you can let go of the attachment to “waaaaaanting”, you’ll see how much you receive every day, which then frees you to really live in happiness and inner harmony as your “wanting ego” is balanced by your True Self’s joy
December 16, 2019: Card O' the Day: Three of Swords. This is one of the gnarly cards in the Tarot deck. It contains very valuable lessons that absolutely suck balls because they’re so painful. Unfortunately, equal and opposite reactions to an action, and all that, mean the more deeply you feel love for someone or passion about a project the more badly you’ll be hurt if things go south. Physics can’t be denied.
I know that when my feelings get hurt my first move is to “turtle up”, hide my pain, and protect myself. (It’s not a coincidence my spirit totem is a turtle.) However, this card is urging us to erase some boundaries and allow love into our lives. You’ll actually heal faster with the support of others than when alone. Also, shared pain can build deep bonds with others because it teaches empathy. Not that y’all sit around trying to one-up each others’ tragedies, but when you see that others have pain just as deep as your own, you understand it’s not just you that Universe hates.
The silver lining to this card is it helps you understand the price of love. Through understanding this cost, you gain perseverance, faith, and resolution. With those gems in your pocket, you’re able to move forward, severe attachments to the past, and find relief from the pain and tension. Practice these beautiful forms of self care today.
December 15, 2019: Card O' the Day: King of Swords. After all the high emotions of the last few days, the King of Swords is here to take control. Strength, intelligence, and assertiveness just ooze from him. The most important quality of this guy, and his big reminder to us all, is frank and honest communication. This means open your throat chakra and say “no” when you need to. Self-advocate and speak your mind! If you keep swallowing your own words out of deference to others, you’re going to get heartburn—literally and figuratively.
With logic and analysis, you can organize your next week so you have your ducks in a row. Being super organized will go a long way towards reducing your stress. It will also show you where you can compromise and cooperate with others on some things. Life is a lot more efficient with extra hands working towards the same goal.
The bottom line is, you need to use your noodle and put your ego and heart in the back seat for a minute. This will allow all plans to be completed timely, which translates to you having more time to relax and enjoy your company…or not. This King is amused by socializing but really prefers solitude and harmony. I love when my family visits, but I reeeeeeaaaaallllly love it when they go home!
December 14, 2019: Card O' the Day: Five of Cups. A deep loss or ending has occurred for some of you. Grieve, process your pain, and come to terms with this sucky turn of events. However, during this period of solitude and reflection, you don’t want to stop living altogether. Completely giving in to despair means you’re not available to enjoy the pleasures you do still have in your life.
Keep this at the forefront of your thoughts, scrawl on a piece of paper and hang it on your fridge, or embroider it on a pillow: deep spiritual moments sometimes come at your lowest points. It’s a very painful price to pay, but ultimately you’re a better person in the end. Once you realize that, you begin to see the possibilities that await.
If you feel you simply cannot go on, call the suicide prevention hot line at 1-800-273-8255. It absolutely WILL get better.
December 13, 2019: Card O' the Day: Eight of Wands, reversed. And this is what a minimental melt-down can look like: inner agitation, uncertainty, panic, and indecision. Too much force is applied too quickly thereby wasting power. You know how kids can get “over excited” and they just need a nap or quiet time with limited arousal? Adults can get this way, too. Only we’re supposed to be “adults” and handle too much arousal with equanimity and aplomb.
Hahahahahhhaaaaaaa, *wheeze*, haaaahahahahahhahahahahhhaaaaaaaa! *Snort* (Oops, I tinkled a bit.)
If you find yourself getting overloaded with obligations, social events, holiday pageants, baking, cooking, decorating, etc. (as this card can indicate…not the actual holiday stuff, but the energy created by the holiday hubbub), and you don’t take a break for self care, expect an emotional outburst in 3…2…1… I guarantee you it will only create more friction and then you’ll have a mess to clean up. Do what you need to do to feel more secure and in control. Now excuse me while I go cancel some plans….
December 12, 2019: Card O' the Day: Princess of Cups, reversed. I think this holiday season stuff is the most dangerous for the Princess of Cups types. She’s dreamy and idealistic…still believes in Santa Clause and will do back flips over the first flake of snow. She lives for glitter, tinsel, and mint-mocha frappes.
Especially this time of year, when expectations are so high, the Princess can go upside down and become super emotionally charged. This makes her vulnerable to ridicule for her child-like wonder, being easily swayed, and being distracted—which makes her wide open to getting her feelings hurt. If someone wants to be particularly cruel to her, just tell her to grow up. That’ll reduce her nothing quite nicely.
Therefore, all you little Princesses out there listen up to Auntie: your gut is trying to tell you something, but you’re not listening. Lemme guess…your gut is saying let the haters hate because you DO believe in Santa; you DO adore all the trappings that go with this season; you DO wish for peace on Earth and goodwill towards EVERYone. Don’t let the haters get louder than your divine little guts. So put on your fuzzy kitten mittens, drink your cocoa with marshmallows, and tell the Scrooges to fuck off!
December 11, 2019: Card O' the Day: Queen of Wands, reversed. Happy holidays everyone! Is your house decorated to perfection? Is all your shopping done? Everything wrapped exquisitely? All out of town gifts mailed? I’ll just bet your freezer is crammed with pre-made casseroles, soups, and cookies that can be brought out for impromptu gifts or people dropping by for dinner! You uber-prepared Martha Stewart types just wanna make me barf!
Whenever my husband reminds me I’ll have a house full of relatives in just a week-and-a-half, I want to throat punch him. I do have things organized in my mind and have it all planned down to the wire. I WILL get it done and be ready for when my family shows up.
But the more I’m reminded and pushed the more obstinate I get. Last minute get togethers, which bring me happiness, are indeed another obligation. One is tempted to focus so intently on the future Big Event that the smaller things happening today or the preparations you can comfortably do today get lost in the panic.
So, set all insecurity aside; line up your tasks and delegate where you can. You’ve got lots of time. Breathe….
December 10, 2019: Card O' the Day: Prince of Pentacles. This card is the epitome of the old saying “before enlightenment, chop wood and carry water; after enlightenment, chop wood and carry water.” It took me a while to figure out what that actually meant. To me it means that no matter how “enlightened”, “woke”, and “spiritually special” I become, my shit will still stink. It can also mean life goes on no matter what. The sun will come up; the sun will go down. What happens in between depends entirely upon you.
Therefore, the Prince is reminding us to remain flexible and not blow a gasket if things don’t go EXACTLY as planned or expected (remember: expectations are merely anticipated resentment). Whatever happens—good, bad, or ugly—accept it and move on. Now, accepting what “is” doesn’t mean you just park your butt and throw up your helpless little hands. No, you do your best to make things happen and work your visions and dreams! Then, knowing you gave it your all, you accept the end result.
This super chill dude is also about steady work at an unhurried pace. Find stillness and calm in the actual work. With determination and focus, you can do anything you set your heart on doing. I find making to-do lists keeps me on track. You may have other tricks.
December 9, 2019: Card O' the Day: Five of Swords, reversed. This card represents the aftermath of a bothersome issue, conflict, or disagreement. It’s the day after the big storm when it’s time to own your responsibility for the part you played in the drama and make amends. Look to see what can be salvaged from the situation: renew it, recycle it, and be glad it’s still whole. What is permanently damaged or no longer useful, let that stuff go.
When you look beyond the loss or defeat, you can begin to recover as the uncertain outlook begins to improve. During this recovery time, glean the spiritual lessons that always come with this kind of upset. What can you do to prevent the same misunderstandings from happening again?
We have yet another Sword card today. Swords, in general, represent thoughts and communication. If you’re not communicating effectively, the other party is left wondering what you mean. And I’ll guarantee you that if you leave them guessing, they’ll guess wrong. Say what you mean, people.
December 8, 2019: Card O' the Day: Eight of Swords. Ooooooo! This is just TOO good. I’m doing a little happy dance in circles because of this incredible message from Universe that follows the message from the Ace of Swords so perfectly! I LOVE when my cards do this!!!!
While you’re sitting in your deep mental stillness encouraged by the Ace of Swords, you’ll come to realize a no-win situation you may find yourself in is of your own making. WHAT!?!?!!? Yes! Your feelings of helplessness and stuck-ness are fear-based! All the intense emotions of late have formed a barrier against rational thought. Furthermore, attachment to ideas you THINK are positive—but actually aren’t—have formed a psychic block. Do you know what this MEANS!?!?!?! All your problems are in your head!!
Some of you may beg to differ. As in, it’s NOT all in your head that you just got laid off, your car died, your significant other dumped you, or you have a real illness. While you certainly can’t control what Life throws at you, you CAN control how you feel, think, and react to the situation. The Eight of Swords offers you keen logic that shushes your nervous heart and helps you see a way out and forward. You have the power to fix everything wrong in your life. Use your noodle and make it happen.
December 6, 2019: Card O' the Day: Ace of Swords. When I choose cards, I hold the deck in my lap and move the cards left to right through the fingers of my left hand and to the fingers of my right. In this way I touch the cards with both hands and come to a stop on the “correct” card (don’t ask me how I know which one is “correct”). Today, several cards fell off my lap onto the floor during this process. Only one fell face up: Death. This is highly interesting because both Death and the Ace of Swords represent inevitable and irrevocable change.
The Ace also brings us new beginnings and fresh starts (that big change “Death” made space for). This particular Ace also lets you know you’ll be in the right place and time for expansion and abundance as you come to accept everything that’s been lost. The best months for this will be March, April, and May.
Because the suit of Swords is of the air element, it generally governs the mind. However, our minds can put a lot of weight on our hearts, so deep emotional feelings are indicated here along with calmness in the face of difficulty. Crystal clarity that’s detached and rooted in deep stillness at the core of your being brings new understanding for the losses, changes, and new beginnings.
December 5, 2019: Card O' the Day: Three of Pentacles. And now the actual WORK begins…. We’ve been talking a good game about our spiritual paths, formulating plans, learning who to bring with you on this journey and who not, and it’s getting to be time to put your money where you mouth is.
This card represents the exuberance, combined with industry, that stimulates inspiration and enthusiasm to harmonize all factors to create your own happiness. The truth of your deepest being is trying to show you the way, trust that inner guidance—that nudge from your gut—because it knows what to do even if you don’t.
TRUE wealth comes from knowing yourself and walking through opens doors rather than pounding on closed ones. In other words, life doesn’t have to suck! Find the work that brings you joy. When you work in joy, you’ll relish the prosperity it brings to you whether that work is on yourself, volunteering in a homeless shelter, or making oceans of cash.
December 4, 2019: Card O' the Day: The Hanged Man, reversed. Many people are “waking up” to their spiritual paths these days; myself included. I don’t know if it’s because it’s more acceptable to admit to your spirituality and your belief in magic or “other” or if it’s because Mother Earth, and all her inhabitants, are going through some Universal cosmic paradigm shift. Beats me, but I got sucked into the woo-woo world about sixteen years ago and have found greater peace and contentment than I ever experienced before.
The reversed Hanged Man suggests a recent awakening to the possibilities the metaphysical world has for you. It indicates a spiritual turning point with a sort of “now what?” feeling to it. Restlessness to move forward on this new path is thwarted by minor inconveniences and obligations to the old world. Be patient with yourself as you figure out what this is going to mean for you. Take inventory and make realistic plans. Now, realistic plans include discerning on whom you may rely with all this new stuff so you don’t end up getting “took” or disappointed.
Finally, certain sacrifices will have to be made if you want to make the most of your new spiritual/metaphysical/esoteric path. I found I had to sacrifice a little pride and face ridicule. But I got over it and now skip along merrily knowing full well some think I’m a bit of a whack-job. And that’s okay. Didn’t we JUST talk about Judgment and how we need to tend our own gardens?
December 3, 2019: Card O' the Day: Judgment. This card speaks of a sense of Self you’ve discovered through experience and your spiritual path. In such an aware state, you’re able to hear your true calling, vocation, great truth, or mission in life. I had a moment like this just the other day in which I had both this tiny and hugely mind-blowing epiphany where I felt sure of myself and my life. (The energies of the Tarot can come upon us and move us at any time, not just when a certain card has been chosen on any given day.) I think I’ve chosen Judgment today so all of you can have—or be on the lookout for—a similar experience.
Judgment represents a point of true change with a new spiritual consciousness emerging…these changes are those that affect everyone and everything through a ripple effect. It’s a time of accountability and responsibility for actions taken, choices made, and/or opportunities missed.
Lastly, we’re reminded to focus on our inner worth to discover what’s REAL; never mind what’s happening in someone else’s life. Checking on the condition of the “garden” of another only leads to judgment—of them and yourself as you measure yourself against them. Wherever you go, there you are. So tend the garden you’ve been given and make it your very best.
December 2, 2019: Card O' the Day: Eight of Swords, reversed. Interesting, as I closed my eyes to concentrate on choosing the Card O’ the Day, I saw a lot of green in my mind’s eye. Green is the color of healing and the heart chakra…the suit of Swords, while it governs the mind and our thoughts, is ruled by the heart chakra. And we all know how those voices in our heads can break our hearts by telling us we’re less than or “not doing it right.”
When the Eight is reversed, it indicates self-imposed restrictions have become intolerable. Whatever you’ve decided is your responsibility, must be done a certain way, or is a problem, has become a bigger burden to you than it’s worth. However, this card tells us you’re seeing the light and you’re ready to take those first steps towards liberating yourself from unnecessary “shoulds”, “oughts”, and “musts.”
Fortunately for us, ingenuity and improvisation are greatly increased at this time. Get creative and release your restrictions—or any obstacles—so you can gain relief from this pressure (that you put on yourself, just so we’re clear). All the power you need to transcend limitations and remove your confines is now available. Use it!
November 30, 2019: Card O' the Day: Four of Pentacles, reversed. Perhaps some of you went a little overboard with your Black Friday shopping…. The reversed Four indicates dissatisfaction with your financial matters or material concerns. This causes you to go in the extreme opposite direction and clamp down hard on your resources out of fear and defensiveness. On the other hand, if you’ve put a stop to all outflowing energy, there’s no room for anything to come back in.
Reconsider what you need to feel secure. Then establish a realistic budget and be patient with your finances as they bounce back and new pay periods approach. However, try not to let your new prudence with your resources devolve into stagnation, passivity, or covetousness.
Despite all the obstacles you perceive at this time, you can still work towards goals. Maybe you can’t set aside $200 each month right now. Maybe $10 is all you can manage; $10, though, is more than $0!
November 29, 2019: Card O' the Day: The Devil. How very appropriate for this particular day. We are being offered a lesson in perspectives and gratitude….
The Devil represents temptations on the physical plane such as over consumption and consumerism, seduction, hedonism, base desires, and indulging yourself in any and all of them. The ego, in its obsession with and attachment to things and its struggle not to lose control over them, causes you to cave to addiction, physical cravings, bad habits, and to forget your spirit and Higher Self. We are susceptible to this energy when we base the image of ourselves upon the opinions and possessions of others rather than our own experiences, beliefs, and values. It’s the “keeping up with the Joneses” syndrome.
Therefore, instead of rabidly shopping today and for the next month, take a walk around the block. Admire the Christmas lights your neighbors have put up without having to dash home and redecorate your own house more lavishly than theirs. Go deep into your psyche and figure out why you feel so “less than” that you cannot be satisfied with a more modest car, decorations, clothes, etc. Volunteer at a homeless shelter this holiday season. Then, when you get home to your “less-than-the-Joneses” house, you’ll feel waaaaaaay better that you even HAVE a house.
November 28, 2019: Card O' the Day: Seven of Pentacles, reversed. Yesterday we had very lofty aspirations of spiritual work, higher acceptance and patience, and basically tapping into our Zen state. And then we have the truth of today. Anxiety, impatience, bitterness, feeling as though there’s always more to do, and any goals you do reach, you achieve only the most minimal of rewards and reception of thanks. Sprinkle in some desperation and fear of loss and/or failure and you’ve achieved the ideal Thanksgiving Day dream in a lot of households!
Here’s how to turn that around and release the knot in your stomach. Firstly, change your attitude about your labors. Work with only the joy of the actual physical labor in your mind. Do so with no expectations of gain; do so with only charity in your heart. (Someone once told me “expectations are only anticipated resentment.” BOO-ya!) Dedicate your efforts today to the service of Mother Earth rather than your in-laws, Cousin Eddie, and your perfectionist mom, who never ever made a dry turkey or soggy dressing in her life. Riiiiiiight.
Release all your ideas about what this day SHOULD be and start with a clean slate of zero expectations and just receive and accept what unfolds.
November 27, 2019: Card O' the Day: The High Priestess. Funny…as I was about to draw the Card O’ the Day, I had whirling thoughts about my plans and shoulds and oughts. I consciously made an effort to still my thoughts. I even used the word in my mind as I told myself to be “still” as I prepared to choose the card. And look who showed up….
The High Priestess embodies the principle of perfect stillness and the ability to stay calm and be at peace in extreme situations. She represents the aspiration to the “higher”, whether that’s spiritual, ethical, or something else. As you begin to achieve your own greater spiritual development, share it with your community, posse, homies, family, besties, or anyone so that they, too, may find this inner stillness and peace.
I know it’ll be hard tomorrow to be still and calm as many of you celebrate the traditional holiday. Try. Try to find stillness as you peel the potatoes. Try to find stillness as you dress the turkey. Delegate tasks to others to lighten your own load and don’t freak out if that task isn’t done to your standards. Is it done and will it function as it is? If yes, then leave it and be grateful you didn’t have to do it as you move on to the next thing.
November 26, 2019: Card O' the Day: Ace of Pentacles. Another Ace…and this time of Pentacles. It’s a card that represents the winter months and is auspicious for good fortune, bliss, and spiritual wellbeing. It heralds the beginnings of new projects on the physical plane, whether that’s a new job, building a house, or simply knitting a sweater. The Ace of Pentacles provides you with the strength, abundance, and gratitude necessary for going beyond mere success to fulfilling the prophecy of magic each of us contains.
This Ace also speaks of a deep need for nourishment. Give yourself that. The Ace provides the solid base and foundation from which to work and the impetus to improve and expand—not just on the physical plane but in your spiritual world. And perhaps that’s more important right now…improving your spiritual connection to Self and Universe.
I think it’s especially important to recognize your spirit as we go into the year’s end celebrations. Material gifts and meals and socializing/networking take up all our consciousness right now. This is where the nourishment part comes in…don’t just feed your face. Take time each day to feed your soul with kind words, kind deeds, and compassion to others AND yourself.
November 22, 2019: Card O' the Day: Ace of Swords. The Archangel Michael, the angel of Truth, Clarity, and Protection, governs this card and he’s appeared today to help you find honesty, fairness, and real truth…not the truth you kid yourself with. Once real truth is exposed and recognized, you can accept yourself for who you are and not be so judgmental about your perceived flaws. And, BONUS! If you can accept your own flaws, that makes you more sympathetic to everyone else’s flaws and you can be more accepting of those who seem different from you.
The Ace of Swords offers a new way of thinking, enlightenment, and the emergence of new and more viable principles and values. Read: less judgment! Yes, you will suffer idealogical conflicts as you sort things out—changing your mind and your thinking patterns takes work. But as old patterns emerge are questioned, this makes room for new patterns to emerge and a giving way for progressive understanding and an open mind to all possibilities.
(To be clear: I am NOT proselytizing, preaching, recruiting, or trying to convert you to something in which I believe. I’m merely encouraging you to examine your ways of thinking to see if you’re in a stagnating rut. Is it time for change?)
November 21, 2019: Card O' the Day: The Moon, reversed. If you hope to heal yourself of any and all your psycho-emotional baggage, you’ll have to be ruthless in this quest. It’s not easy, nor for the faint of heart, but the reward is freedom from self-judgment and being comfortable in your own skin. And who doesn’t want those awful voices in your head that tell you you’re “less than” to Shut. The. Fuck. Up?
You’ll have to descend into the darkest part of your psyche and be brutally honest about the facts. It’s best to do this with a good therapist to call you on your bullshit and hold your hand.
The reversed Moon is suggesting it’s time to discover your crap, face it, and accept it as simple reality—neither bad nor good—so you can move past it. During this healing process, be gentle and patient with yourself, but don’t allow any sniveling or excuses. Git ‘er done!
November 19, 2019: Card O' the Day: The Five of Cups, reversed. Welcome to adulthood and all the hard choices that go with being a grown up! However, making tough choices will lead you towards a change in your lifestyle. Maybe that lifestyle is of being fat and out of shape or wallowing in your victimhood. Either way, moving past those sacrifices I spoke of yesterday land you smack into recovery and renewal…like how you feel after a really good massage only more or less permanently.
This card foretells of emotional stability that gives you the determination and fortitude to stick with those rock-and-a-hard-place decisions and sacrifices and maintain this new life of boundaries, physical health, and psycho-emotional strength. As you transform your resistance and/or disappointments into something better, you’ll understand you have complete control of your own happiness and how to achieve it.
Finally, the reversed Five has elements of blood relatives and alliances in it. I take this to mean that some relationships—whether blood, business, or friend—can be poison. If you don’t acknowledge that toxicity and the loss and sorrow it causes you to feel, you’ll never get past the pain and the never-ending cycle.
November 18, 2019: Card O' the Day: The World, reversed. Funny…yesterday was the beginning of the Major Arcana (The Fool is merely the traveler of the Tarot Path) and today we have the ending. But reversed. All the qualities of the upright card are present, just to a slightly lesser degree…like a partly cloudy day rather than pristine blue skies. Being an ending, that means letting things go that no longer serve you. Some things may feel like sacrifices, but know those sacrifices are made with wisdom and compassion for your highest Self.
You may find that your environment is the thing that needs to be “released” in that it’s become restrictive and limiting. You’ve become potbound and it’s time for some changes there. Apply for a higher position in your company, look for a similar job in a different company, or make a career shift altogether. If you don’t want to move houses, then rearrange the furniture, paint, buy new bed linens/towels, or even a new teapot from the thrift store. Make a change in your surroundings.
Yesterday we were given the good news that we’re on a new path and we have potential out the ying-yang! Today we’re told the “bad news” that something has to end to make way for the new. Don’t resist…you can do this.
November 17, 2019: Card O' the Day: The Magician. Oh, people. I’m so laughing right now. Yesterday we got Death…which is what I have been feeling like for several days: inert, stuck, sniveling, lazy, and with all the self-blame and guilt that goes along with not curing cancer before lunch and cleaning up the world’s oceans by supper. However, today is a NEW day and The Magician tells me all things are possible in this moment and throughout the rest of my life! Not that I HAVE to discover water on Mars…but I COULD if I tried.
The Magician has us feeling confident and capable, hands us all the tools we need to face our challenges and succeed, and then ladles on intense creative energy (I’m thinking of entering my sewing room for the first time in eons). With this raging will to create, magic will happen. But you have to allow it to come at its own pace. Don’t be discouraged by “mistakes”; those are just false starts or getting a little lost on the way to the new mall. The point is that you GET there, eventually.
Here’s your homework: ask yourself “What do I have to face within myself to reveal my inner gifts?” Who among you practices self-defeat? self-deprecation? self-abuse in thoughts or practice? Death came to take that shit yesterday. Today, we have The Magician to lead us in discovering water on Mars.
November 16, 2019: Card O' the Day: Death. If you’ve been feeling sluggish and inert lately, like me, then perhaps it’s because we’re entering into a sort of chrysalis or womb from which we will be reborn. While you’re in there, contemplating your navel, it’s a good time to face your fears, doubts, cover-ups, denial, the pile at the back of your closet, etc. and examine it in preparation of letting it go.
Death heralds new beginnings, but it’s a process. It’s not instant gratification. It takes some serious soul-searching to be really honest with yourself and not manipulate the truth into what you want it to be or how it will show you in the best light. This is like bathing suit shopping with overhead fluorescent lighting. It’s ugly.
But once you can face your cellulite honestly, you’re better equipped to deal with it and play up your assets. We ALL have “cellulite” in one form or another and we’re stuck with it. Therefore, decide to dance with your two left feet and transform yourself into the best version of you the world has ever seen. Let your self-criticism DIE!!!
November 13, 2019: Card O' the Day: King of Cups. The Kings of the Tarot deck can indicate you’ve topped out in a situation or environment. You can’t expect further growth or satisfaction of needs if you stay put and not make some changes. Today we have the King of Cups, which puts us into the realm of relationships and emotional stuff. Therefore, you can’t continue to grow emotionally or satisfy the needs of your heart in certain relationships. As with all things, our relationships will wax and wane according to the requirements of the individuals involved. You’re not failing at something, it simply “is.”
The presence of this king is a suggestion that some of you may have a tendency to suppress your creativity or emotions in an effort to behave responsibly or practically. After all, he’s the mature one in the room. This particular king is also apt to anticipate the needs/wants of others and be a source of comfort at their own detriment. Meaning, everyone ELSE gets the good stuff and the good King is left with dregs.
However, his appearance today represents a catalyst for change and message to rediscover yourSELF. Meaning, he wants you to adjust your love to be true to YOUR heart. This may require you to change the dynamic of certain relationships or end them altogether. Your soul is ready for a spiritual quest to find what’s best for you.
November 12, 2019: Card O' the Day: Seven of Pentacles. This card reflects the idea of long-term goals, letting go of the need for instant gratification, and the willingness to work hard until you get there. You’re realizing that some things simply take time and you’ve just got to be patient. However, you can stay busy while you’re waiting. Prepare for the new growth by clearing out clutter—literal or figurative—painting, pruning, and installing shelving to keep the incoming largesse organized. Some of you may need to slightly alter your course to reap the rewards you’re hoping for; that can be done while you’re waiting, too.
The other key concept of this card is fear of failure. You’re pouring so much of yourself into your work and hoping for such a huge return that the risk/gain ratio is pretty scary. All I can say is Trust. Yourself. To. Do. This. Thomas Edison is credited with the following quote: I didn’t fail. I just found 10,000 ways that didn’t work. The cleaning product called Formula 409 was the 409th recipe! The previous 408 recipes were deemed “not ideal.”
When you take a step off your path, take a moment to understand why this was an error and LEARN from it. Build your success upon every “oopsy, not gonna do THAT again” moment! The hidden gem in the Seven of Pentacles is the promise that inventiveness and mental/emotional stillness can be found as you meditate upon your dreams and goals. Breathe deeply and think 3-5 Year Plan….
November 8, 2019: Card O' the Day: The Fool, reversed. The Fool embodies new beginnings, growth, unlimited possibility, and adventure. But when he’s reversed, it represents you putting yourself in a box. You’d never DREAM of dying your hair purple or taking a leave of absence from work to spend two weeks helping to guard turtle nests or going to see Machu Picchu in person, dammit!!! Living life carefully, safely, and worrying about what the neighbors would say stifles our innate free spirit and sense of “what if?”
The concepts of freedom and original energy remain in the reversal, just under a cloud or basket. To me, this card is all about hiding your light under a basket and being too frightened to reeeeeaaalllly be YOU! Dare yourself to do something outside your norm and then do it today.
Now, the caveat is that you need to “dare” WISELY. The reversed Fool can also represent hasty actions without judgment or discernment. If you’re going skydiving, research the school and make sure it has a stellar safety record and triple check your gear before you jump. I SCUBA dive, which is considered to be “dangerous” by my life insurance company. However, I do it carefully with reputable dive captains and triple-checked gear. Now, git on wit’ your bad-ass self!!!
October 31, 2019: Card O' the Day: The Magician. How appropriate that we should have The Magician, today, this day of Samhain. This is a magical day on which we celebrate the end of harvest and settle in for the “dark half” of the year. Therefore, I think the good Magician has shown his face to remind us all of our own magical powers. Because, you do have them…we’re all magical, psychic, gifted, or whatever you want to call it. It’s just not too many of us acknowledge and use those powers. Just like any “muscle”, if you don’t practice your magic, it becomes weak and you’re even less likely to trust it.
In addition to representing all your magic, The Magician personifies using your knowledge, resources, and will to create change in the world. He’s CONSCIOUS magic and the unlimited possibility you could have if you tapped into it. Now, conscious magic doesn’t mean creating positions and mumbling spells to yourself. To me, conscious magic means recognizing and fully appreciating the wonder that is Life. Have you ever really studied the complex petal structures of a flower? noticed the varied tones of green on a single tree? listened to a baby’s cry and understood whether it was mad, hungry, or lonely?
You are a part of this fabric! Therefore, practice the magic of kindness and love towards others. The law of physics—or Karma—that dictates for every action there is an equal reaction means that love and kindness will return to you. Practice the magic of imagination to invent the next best mousetrap. Practice the magic of diplomacy to soothe a tense situation. As The Magician, you have all the tools you need to create anything new or fix anything broken. Get busy….
October 29, 2019: Card O' the Day: The Hermit, reversed. When The Hermit is upright, it can represent a time of being alone to quietly reflect upon life or a problem. That’s fine. We all need a little “me time.” However, when reversed, that “me time” becomes excessive isolation away from people who could help you or represents the refusal of good advice. Life is all about change; sticking your head in the sand and clinging to old beliefs, customs, or worn out ideals only makes you “old” before your time.
In efforts to stick to the “tried and true”, you’ll gloss over, ignore, or blur the facts. I know you’ve worn your hair parted in the middle and feathered back since high school, but it doesn’t look good on you anymore! Ditto the frosty blue eyeshadow! These may be frivolous examples, but any time you stay stuck in a rut—any kind of rut—for too long, you stifle your own growth and expansion.
You may have retreated into a hole because someone you held in high regard betrayed you. That betrayal may have been minor or crushing. Staying in your hole means you’re not getting the help and guidance you need to get past this block that holds you in place. No, nothing will ever be the same, but you can still thrive, albeit differently.
October 18, 2019: Card O' the Day: The Lovers. What!?!??! First the Two of Cups and now The Lovers!?!?!? WTF….
More choices as you face a test of maturity in which you need discrimination. This choice or decision is about considering options that have the fewest DISADVANTAGES rather than leaping at what has the most advantages. You are at risk of choosing based upon your emotions (some emotional input is good, but not ALL), but careful consideration is also required here.
Because this choice is not entirely in your hands, this process amy be fraught with frustration and feelings of impotence as this choice may be dependent on the actions or availability of others. It may seem like all is lost at several points. However, breathe deeply and try to find the light in the darkness.
October 16, 2019: Card O' the Day: Two of Cups. This is considered the “Big Romance” card of the Tarot (surprise! it’s NOT The Lovers). However, each of our amazing cards have so many layers and nuances to them, so today I’m not talking romance in the sense of Valentine’s Day. Today, we’re seeing romance with ourselves in the Two of Cups. It’s about developing a true partnership with your higher Self and finding friendship within. If you can get good with you, truly heal YOU, then you can be good with everybody else. Or nobody else…because you’ve still got you.
When applied to another person, this card represents the essence of true friendship. The kind where you’re both mature, natural, easy with each other. There’s no neediness about the connection—you want it, you don’t NEED it. There’s no desire to change the other into something else. It’s love without expectations or demands and CHOOSING to relate to the other person As. They. Are. They are who they are with all their drama, kindness, odd habits, snarkiness, etc. And you love them just like that. Or not. Just as you choose to love someone, you absolutely may choose not to if they rub you like sandpaper on an open wound.
Yesterday we were choosing joyfulness and including our friends in that joy. Today, we’re choosing the people with whom we want to share our joy.
October 15, 2019: Card O' the Day: Three of Cups. Following yesterday’s Princess of Swords, reversed, which indicated some of you may feel unloved, unappreciated, unsupported, and/or unheard, we have this lovely card reminding us that we do indeed have support, are loved, are appreciated, and are heard. Maybe not by the people you’d expect or hope, but each of us has SOMEone. And if you say “but not me”, then call a hotline for mental health. There IS a person waiting to talk to you. To hear you. To help you feel less alone and to explore the options available to you so that you get the support/love/appreciation you deserve.
This card is all about friendship, exuberance, resolution of problems, healing, and abundance. However, rarely does happiness just plop into our laps. We have to choose it. Choose it by calling a friend or a hotline. Choose it by taking a walk in the sun and saying “hi!” to every person you see. Admire someone’s dog and ask if you can pat it. Pick up a piece of litter and dispose of it properly. Let someone in front of you on the road.
We are a tribal species which NEEDS contact with other warm or living things (fish and reptiles like cuddles, too). Go find your tribe and be joyful among them!
October 14, 2019: Card O' the Day: Princess of Sword, reversed. The Princess of Swords, when reversed, can mean some pretty nasty language is directed at you. In other words, someone is being mean to you. My question is, is that someone YOU!?!?!? Self-belittlement and believing that you’re somehow “not enough” can cause lack of confidence that then causes you to stop communicating (Swords are about communication, among other things) because you think your ideas and words are stupid.
Chakra-wise, this means your throat chakra is being blocked. When we’re afraid others will get mad or not like us, that’s when we tend to clam up. We don’t want to make waves. However, when you speak your truth or call someone out for being disrespectful, hurtful, etc. to you, and THEY get mad at YOU!!?!? Oh, girlfriend. Huh-unh. No. Being mean to you is on THEM. It’s not your job to make them feel better for hurting your feelings.
Health-wise, swallowing unhappy worlds and thoughts can translate into speech difficulties. (Ya think?) Also, it can weaken your immune system leaving you open for more colds and sniffles this coming winter. We don’t want that, now do we?
October 13, 2019: Card O' the Day: Queen of Swords. The Queen of Swords is practical, pragmatic, and a born organizer. She’s very intellectual and thinks about her decisions carefully rather than going with her heart or gut. She’s also super “truth and justice” oriented. Why so much? Because she’s been done wrong, it hurt, and she’s not going to let that happen again. This can make her seem dry and emotionless, but she feels very deeply and is just trying to protect herself.
Her appearance today may indicate you’re feeling a bit dry and emotionless as well, but in a good and constructive way. This will allow you to set, and keep, personal boundaries. It’s also a good time to handle difficult things dispassionately and directly. For example, you may have been thinking about severing ties with someone, and in your current mood, it’ll be easier than at any other time. It’s sad, but best for you; you can cry about it later.
This current ability to think clearly will allow you to focus and do some serious brainstorming about any endeavors. Cut what doesn’t work, axe employees who aren’t up to snuff, streamline the processes! Gather your personal power and make it happen.
October, 12, 2019: Card O' the Day: King of Pentacles, reversed. When the King of Pentacles is reversed, it can mean money woes. But today, I’m feeling he’s just sort of grumpy…maybe a little unsure or overwhelmed by the earthly duties he carries (taking care of the house, car, job, family members, pets, etc.). The grumpiness may look more like feeling dull and plodding or melancholy. Lacking any sort of oomph, one gets bogged down in tedious, dreary activities. Like sorting paperclips or running an alignment diagnostic on the printer.
Couple the above with the little hiccups from yesterday’s Nine of Cups, reversed, and I think we could all use a “mental health day.” Let the laundry sit in the dryer, leave the dishes in the sink, do as little as you must to make life work, and then Netflix and chill. You have my permission to dive into the Ben & Jerry’s, too.
October 11, 2019: Card O' the Day: Nine of Cups, reversed. As you find a rhythm in your endeavors and you start to see success, don’t you dare become complacent! Stay with it because you’re laying foundations and you can’t relax just yet. It’s like creating a new perennial garden. Once you’ve busted your butt to clear and prepare the space, you carefully plant the flowers, nurture them, deadhead the blooms, water every other day, etc. But then as they start to take off and you get busy with other things, the weeds start coming back and a few plants suffer from not getting enough water on their new roots. (Ask me how I know all this...…)
Your slacking off will have repercussions and you may lose a little of your forward momentum. However, don’t shrink in humiliation for having “failed”, just get back to doing what you need to do. Create habits of the necessary daily work so you don’t forget it or let it slide again…kinda like feeding the cat every day.
By adding this work to your daily routine, you’ll find inner happiness that doesn’t depend so much on your apparent success. You’ll find happiness in the work…which is what the Four of Pentacles was telling us yesterday.
October 10, 2019: Card O' the Day: Four of Pentacles, reversed. This card continues the thread of the Three of Pentacles we had the other day. By finding your life’s work and passions, you’ll need to risk making some changes. The biggest changes will come when you release any binding or confining earth energies. That may look like taking a few bags of unused stuff to the local thrift store, cleaning the garage, or purging your refrigerator. I dunno, you decide what stuff is cluttering up your space and what you’ll feel freer without.
A friend commented on his recent weight loss and he made a very good point about carrying excess weight as a form of self protection or as a way to defend himself. This card is about stripping away those defenses and protections that have prevented you from expressing your true self. Maybe you, too, will lose a few pounds or streamlining your wardrobe will serve the same purpose for you. Each person’s “release of earth energy” will look different.
Finally, as you let go of possessions, especially if they are of the “status” variety, reconsider what your actually need to feel secure and powerful. Here’s a hint, your power really lies within you, not in your Gucci bag. The less you care about status bags and cars and club memberships, the more you can relax and be you.
October 8, 2019: Card O' the Day: Three of Pentacles. The last card I posted didn’t bode well for your money situation or work. This one is bringing us wine and roses to that department! Through assimilation of your skills and spiritual work, you’ll find your life’s purpose. The work that gets you up in the morning with a spring in your step and eagerness to get to it. Kind of like me with the Tarot! It’s my passion and brings me great satisfaction.
My path to professional Tarot card reading was a long one. I ignored the guide of my inner self for years. Why? I didn’t think I could do it, mostly. I don’t consider myself to be “psychic” and lawdy! remembering the definitions of 78 cards AND their reversals was too much for my tiny brain! But my personal truth won out, and I followed the path on the material plane that brought me wholeness and integration on my emotional, intellectual, and energetic planes as well. I want you to feel like this, too.
The Three suggests support and cooperation from others. Therefore, you don’t have to do this alone. You’re at the point of building a solid foundation that will support and recognize your worth and talents. This cooperation will lead to success and employment in your chosen field.
October 4, 2019: Card O' the Day: Six of Pentacles, reversed. Sooooo… regarding that project we talked about yesterday that you’re working on with others or have just completed, you may not be paid for your share of the work as handsomely as you’d hoped. Material energy flows a little less smoothly with this card, so there may be some delays in getting paid or you’ll be paid less.
This “less than” energy doesn’t necessarily involve money. You may feel short-changed or overlooked emotionally and not receive the kudos you think you deserve for your part in it all. This can indicate a hunger for attention, and I advise that you dryly, and without emotion, analyze the situation. If you really didn’t contribute all that much, then don’t expect ticker-tape parades for what you added. While it’s no fun being passed over, this too shall pass and you’ll get your day in the sun soon enough.
However, if you carried most of the load, and the director’s niece (who did almost nothing but fetch coffee) is getting all the recognition and/or a bonus, then speak up. But don’t forget to have your parts and contributions well documented so you can make a professional presentation to the director to bolster your argument.
October 3, 2019: Card O' the Day: Four of Wands. The energy of the suit of Wands finds its greatest fulfillment when we overcome the tendency to work or create something alone. This card is representative of concord within and participation in a “circle” of people. That “circle” could be at work, in a family, with your posse, in a ritual, within society, or as being a responsible human in this world. Working with direction, effectiveness, and TOGETHER, you all create something bigger, badder, greater, and more wondrous that any of you could have done individually.
This card also speaks of completion of a project, that it comes out well, and provides increase for all. Through an orderly and unified whole, y’all done a good thing. Time to pat yourself on the back and share a round at the local pub. You did this thing together, so be sure to celebrate together, too.
October 2, 2019: Card O' the Day: The Emperor, reversed. We are on a roll this week! Three Major Arcana in a row! Today’s Emperor, reversed, is representing the autocratic and self-righteousness of some of the belief systems that we talked about yesterday. (These belief systems don’t have to be organized religion, by any means. I am NOT bashing your church or faith.) ANY belief that you may hold, including racism, homophobia, fear or disregard of disabled people, any prejudice you may hold or were taught as a child can be limiting to you. It’s limiting because it holds you separate from your fellow humans.
Our reversed Emperor is telling you these thought patterns are coming from a place of fear and weakness. Fear of anyone “other.” Weakness in that you’re too inert, shy, or stuck in your ways to change your mind about things. It’s my humble opinion each of us has been put here on Earth for a divine purpose. Maybe a BIG purpose like finding a cure for cancer or a little purpose that just involves being in the right place at the right time. Universe has given each of us a space to take up. In whatever way you take up that space, it was designed for you. In whatever way your fellow humans take up their space, it was designed just for them.
Remember folks, we all bleed red. It’s time to examine some of your beliefs more closely and perhaps kick a few to the curb.
October 1, 2019: Card O' the Day: The Hierophant. Annnnnd THIS is why yesterday was such a crap-fest for some of us. Today’s Hierophant is representing the energies digging around in your brain that will stimulate inner growth and awakening. He’s all about the search for inner meaning…outer meaning, too, actually, as in “Where do I fit into the Big Picture and why?” This is timeless knowledge you didn’t know you didn’t know or that you needed it, but now’s the time to educate yourself. This can be uncomfortable because it requires self-examination and change.
The Hierophant offers a gift of inner or spiritual perception that goes beyond the merely logical thinking represented by The Emperor. Along with this natural intuitive perception comes the discipline and discernment of your inner voice that will help you understand and feel YOUR truth rather than simply mouthing the words or practicing the rituals taught by someone else.
As you come to know YOUR spiritual truth, I invite you to release the guilt that’s so often taught in organized belief systems and live your life according to your values and in harmony with the natural laws of society. (That part is important because prison is no fun.) You have the freedom to take knowledge and advice (even mine!) and decide what to keep and adopt as valid for you, or what to discard, as you make your way on your path.
September 30, 2019: Card O' the Day: Temperance, reversed. Maybe it’s just Monday or you’re on your period, but internal balance—physically, emotionally, intellectually—is whacked! Your scattered thoughts and energies leave you feeling weak and dissipated but at the same time strangely energized and excited. If you tried to nap, you’d just toss and turn without resting. Okay, try some aerobic exercise to get the juices flowing…whimper, whine…I’m too tiiiiiiiiired. Well, crap.
In this kind of condition, you’ll be distracted and highly inefficient. Things will seem very black and white, all or nothing. If it’s not PERFECT, it goes straight to the garbage, which means everything you touch goes into the garbage because you can’t do squat today with any skill or expertise. Tears of frustration, anyone?
And yet, through all this craziness, you have a strange intuitive sense of the right combination of elements that are required to launch you forward into your next big thing. It’s right there on the tip of your tongue…. But you just can’t articulate or grasp it. ARRRRGH!
What to do? Relax and stop trying so hard to make these wispy thoughts concrete. It’ll come to you and be clear as a bell when it does. Meanwhile, go to the gym, take a yoga class, go for a hard bike ride, or any other physical exercise. Force yourself. The blast of endorphins and smugness for having worked out will make you feel as though you accomplished something despite your crazy condition. And then just be….
September 27, 2019: Card O' the Day: Prince of Pentacles. These Prince types are self-contained and simply ooze high values, security, and order. Simply because they have their shit together, it helps you get yours together, too. He’s a good co-worker and friend to have.
However, the Prince of Pentacles can be a little stuck in his ways, so I feel his appearance today is to remind us to shake things up a little sometimes. Try a different flavor ice cream—I’m not talking the whole cone, but just the little spoon. (You never know; you might like it!) Meet new people, take a different route or bus to work, or change SOMEthing in your life just to be different. Different is good for the Prince of Pentacles.
The final, and best, lesson from our good Prince is he’s about letting go of expectations about yourself (the shoulda, woulda, couldas) and others around him. He helps us come to understand that we have to accept people as they are. We can control our own behavior, beliefs, and actions, but not that of others. Expecting a blind man to see just because you want him to admire your new car ain’t gonna happen. Expecting your cold and distant mother to congratulate you on graduating with honors is only setting yourself up for heartache. Therefore, stop expecting people to do things they are completely incapable of doing. Ask me how I know….
September 25, 2019: Card O' the Day: The Sun. Consider this a reeeeeeeaaaaallllly B-I-G affirmation of growth and the assurance the new beginnings you’re so longing for are right around the corner. You’re on the right path for you and are moving forward and planning for what you think is your perfect future.
This card speaks of being alive and present in the moment. Be sure to DO it and not just read about it in today’s Card O’ the Day. I don’t know what being alive or participating in joy looks like for you, but make sure you dwell, wallow, roll around, and squish in it. (We should all try to do that a little each day, actually.)
Take pleasure in your corporeal body, or “skin suit”, as you revel in the experience of being here on earth. It’s true that some of you may not like the outer appearance of your skin suit. However, marvel at what the lump of flesh that carries your brain and soul can do—even if that’s limited when compared to others. This card represents the wisdom of letting go of thoughts of “I’m less than” and acceptance of what each of us has been given to work with. Enjoy the snot out of it today.
September 24, 2019: Card O' the Day: Five of Cups, reversed. Yesterday there was something you NEEDED to get done (in reality wanted to get done, but you reeeeeaaaaaallllllly waaaaaaaaaaanted to get it done ten minutes ago), but road blocks prevented you from accomplishing your goal on YOUR time line.
Today, your heart has wisely understood the situation, returned you to emotional stability, and trotted out your normal coping skills. This has you feeling better this morning about the necessary waiting that had your panties in such a bunch yesterday.
In addition to feeling less stressed about waiting for the “thing”, you’re able to transform that resistance and disappointment of yesterday into something better and more constructive. I don’t know about you, but I’m going to go mow my pasture today while I wait. Good hard work outside on a gorgeous day can cure a plethora of ills!
September 23, 2019: Card O' the Day: Two of Pentacles, reversed. The Suit of Pentacles governs our physical world such as money, job, finances, the nuts and bolts of making life happen, contracts, and your own body. Today, though, I’m getting a money vibe.
Now that you’ve made a decision about something, you’re reeeeeaaaaalllly ready for it to happen. End the one thing so the new thing can get underway. However, when the Two of Pentacles is reversed, that means delays and setbacks prevent you from going at your preferred break-neck pace. Like, you need to talk to someone to finalize but they just went on vacation so now you have to wait for them to get back. That kind of crap that makes you roll your eyes and bang your head on your desk.
Trust the delays. Universe is slowing you down on purpose. You may need to change the order of things, shift your perspective, or re-organize certain financial matters to BETTER achieve your goal. Conversely, during your review, you’ll see you need to drop the matter entirely. Good thing you were delayed! At any rate, try to be patient….
September 20, 2019: Card O' the Day: Five of Wands. As you blaze forth into a fresh endeavor, any collaborative efforts required or enjoyed start to get a little too aggressive. Your ego threatens to push you past healthy competition into pettiness and rivalry. You may be tempted to over-spend if “the other guy” shows up with something new.
The best way to picture this energetic signature is a basketball team. During practice, the teammates work on their own skills and play more individually. This pushing, shoving, “skins and shirts” play tests skills and strategic positions. But often, tempers flare during these kind of scrimmage games as egos puff and you try to get a leg up on your teammates who have suddenly become rivals. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to transform this petty friction into a well-oiled team that works together towards the goal—never mind who scores the winning basket.
Therefore, re-organize your efforts to maximize your results. Even if you’re working on a project by yourself, look to where you’re getting in your own way by doing things “My Waaaaaaaaaaaay” and not allowing others to help or offer pearls of wisdom. Teamwork with others or simply Me, Myself, and I will get you to the prize without getting your nose out of joint.
September 18, 2019: Card O' the Day: Seven of Pentacles. More pentacles means working with yesterday’s Princess to get where you want to go. The Princess energy signifies new experiences. The seven here suggests a change of direction—but not a complete change of direction. More like tweaking to maximize your results.
Unfortunately for those of us who want instant gratification and immediate results, it ain’t gonna happen. Don’t panic and think you’re failing; just work hard towards your goal and ultimately you’ll get rewarded. I mean, c’mon, you’re not going to lose 15 pounds in two days of dieting. It’ll take eating right and sticking to an exercise regimen for at LEAST a month to reach that kind of goal. Probably more like two months because those last 5 are a bitch-kitty.
Meanwhile, make the most of your resources by weeding, purging, and removing what you don’t need or doesn’t serve you well. If you don’t have to clean it, water it, insure it, or store it, you’re saving time, space, and money. This will keep you constructively occupied while you wait for your “I did it!” moment.
September 17, 2019: Card O' the day: Princess of Pentacles. The Princess of Pentacles is pretty self-reliant but her appearance is a reminder to keep your eyes and ears open for possibilities that aren’t only of your making. Meaning, somebody else may have a good idea for something that would work for you. Don’t put on blinders and only act upon what you’ve created yourself. Pay special attention to tangible things right now such as jobs, homes, cars, etc. and any contracts that might be involved with acquiring those things.
This card also speaks of abilities you have yet to discover and probably won’t know how to use right away. Therefore, schooling or study of the subject will be required, but you won’t care because it’ll be utterly fascinating! You’ll just want to keep learning and learning because of a thirst for knowledge…never mind if it brings gain other than a stuffed and happy brain.
Finally, our good Princess reminds us to live life fully and not only during good times. For me, this summer has been tough, but these tough times have helped me learn some serious lessons and offered a good contrast to the ease and happiness in which I’ve been living. This contrast shows me just how good the good has been. So, release any resentment you may have for the hard times and live from your heart.
September 16, 2019: Card O' the Day: Nine of Swords, Reversed. The good news is that you’re coming back to the surface after hitting bottom. The sucky part was having to hit bottom in the first place. Now the trick to this situation is NOT bobbing to the surface like nothing ever happened. Like in SCUBA diving, you’ll get “ the bends” if you come up too quickly. Meaning, your speedy ascent will make you sick all over again. Therefore, as you slowly come back to normal, use this forced stasis well to rest, think, and digest the wisdom that you’ve worked so painfully to come to.
During the “bottom time”, you’ve been compelled to face some painful truths about people and things in your life. Therefore, you need to do some soul-searching to explore your fears, and any negative feelings towards yourself, that got you into this mess in the first place. Why did you over-spend/eat/drink? Why did you cross oceans for people who wouldn’t cross a puddle for you? Why did your mere “I would like…” morph into desperate NEEDING?
Things are now improving and you can have hope for an easier fall. However, take your lessons and truths with you (you worked too hard for them to just toss them in the kitchen junk drawer) so you don’t have to travel this particular path again.
September 13, 2019: Card O' the Day: Three of Cups. Well then. I guess I was wrong and it wasn’t too late to make amends and/or get things sorted. Yay for that because no one likes conflict or having to end relationships of any kind.
This card is all about celebration. Perhaps you moved past the miscommunications and are having a drink out to cement the reconciliation. Or you’re celebrating the end of that toxic relationship. At any rate, take a minute to feel joy, choose joy, and wallow in that joy!
This card also brings us control of our emotions, sharper intuition, positive energy, new ideas, and possibilities of all kinds. Therefore, be open and aware of the little signals from Universe that something this way comes…. Follow the fun and let the sunshine in!
September 11, 2019: Card O' the Day: Ace of Swords, reversed. Our communication problems suggested yesterday continue today. The reversal of this Ace indicates it might be too late since harsh words have already been spoken. This leads us to quick, snarling fits of temper, lack of confidence, disturbing thoughts, and general mental stress.
If you’ve tried to approach the other party and Plan A didn’t work, then logic dictates you need a Plan B. However, before implementing Plan B, ask yourself where your OWN fault lies? Do you need to apologize for anything (ego and emotions aside on this, be HONEST with yourself)? Do you need to forgive anything? This card can represent resistance to the truth, so it’s vital that you think about this issue to be sure you’re being fair on both sides.
It could be the situation has gone too far and the only solution is to cut yourself off from the problem and refuse to engage further. That will probably be painful. Allow yourself to grieve if you need to. If it’s not painful but rather a huge relief, then treat yourself to something nice and skip along your way free of that encumbrance!
September 10, 2019: Card O' the Day: Two of Cups, reversed. When I talk about a “relationship”, I don’t necessarily mean a romantic one. We have all kinds of relationships with family, friends, co-workers, and business partners as well as lovers. When the Two of Cups, a “relationship” card, is reversed, it means any one of your relationships could be having trouble.
This card indicates miscommunications and emotional misunderstandings. Things just aren’t working out right now! This situation will only get worse until one of you makes a move to clear the air. It might as well be you…put your Big Kid pants on and be the mature one to either make things better or end them altogether.
As for those business deals or partnerships, the reversed Two indicates you’ll do better to work alone because waste and/or folly are present here. However, I just said you need to be wearing your Big Kid pants, so don’t refuse to cooperate just because you’re feeling wounded or are having a snit. (This caution about refusing to cooperate goes for all relationships.)
September 2, 2019: Card O' the Day: Judgment, reversed. Wherever I go, there I am…again, my personal life is intruding on our Card O’ the Day. As most of you know, my mom is making the big move from our family home of 50 years to a senior living apartment. It’s the VERY best thing for her to do at this point in her life, and I’m proud of her for coming to this conclusion and working towards that goal.
However, this whole process of hers is not completely separated from me. I feel like my comfort and security of old ways, means, and possessions is threatened as my childhood home is emptied and readied for the next owners. This difficult transition means I’m one step closer to the ultimate and inevitable changes of old age and death for my mother and eventually me! Yet, through it all, I try to keep a stiff upper lip and not reveal to anyone how insecure I really feel.
Even though Mom’s doing a lot on her own, I’m helping in many ways. Logistics piled on top of my emotional state leave me feeling overburdened by everything (see Ten of Wands from the other day). Despite all that, I’m working towards improvement and am deliberate about sticking to these necessary decisions! Time marches on; resistance is futile.
September 1, 2019: Card O' the Day: Eight of Pentacles, reversed. The suit of Pentacles is about the physical world: job, house, car, your body, picking up the dry cleaning, grocery shopping, schlepping kids to various practices, etc. The Eight is a pretty significant work-related card, and when reversed, it represents a less than a yippie-skippy career at the moment. You may simply be bored and need a vacation, or it might be time to revamp your resume and look for something better.
If it’s not your actual job that’s being difficult, then problems lie with your perception of your physical world. Impatience, procrastination, loss of focus, nit-picking at little things so you don’t “have time” for the big things, and so on reflect your restlessness for something else. Ennui, believe it or not, signals it’s time for a different approach. After all, if you were still that excited about what you were doing, you wouldn’t feel so rut-bound now, would you?
Money and/or bills might be weighing heavily on your shoulders, too. So here I am telling you to look for a new job because you’re bored, but yet you’re struggling to find the next month’s rent! All the more reason to start actively seeking better employment. The Eight of Pentacles, upright, sometimes indicates retraining or enhancing skills. I feel it in the reversal, too. Find education grants—they’re out there—and demand more for yourself.
August 31, 2019: Card O' the Day: Temperance. How appropriate that we get Temperance today. We’ve been juggling responsibilities, tasks, chores, obligations, “gotta do’s” with a couple “wanna do’s” squished in between for quite some time.
Temperance teaches us that life is actually always in balance. What seems totally out of whack in one area is in reality maintaining the equilibrium with the thing in stagnation, stasis, or serenity. However, you don’t notice the serenity at the other end of the spectrum because the “whacked” thing is the loudest noise in your world at the moment. That’s how a lot of us live: giving all our attention to the loudest noise and missing the quiet that’s also present. And you wonder why you stress-eat pints of Ben & Jerry’s?
Therefore, today we’re reminded to find the serenity in our lives. Shut out the loud crap you’ve been multitasking and breathe for a minute. I love going to psychic fairs and expos, but after several hours of smiling, chatting, reading, and caring for my clients, I HAVE to be still for a minute. How do I do that? I go to the ladies’ room and shut myself in a stall! There I just sit, let my smile relax, and have a minute by myself. So, if you’re at work, go sit in the lavatory. If you’re driving somewhere, turn off the radio. If you’re at home, go sit under a tree for 5 minutes and just turn off the noise.
August 30, 2019: Card O' the Day: Ten of Wands. Still reading for myself and my personal situation….
The Ten of Wands represents feeling—or actually being—overextended. You have so many responsibilities! Yes, they require self-sacrifice and a large dollop of generosity. Nevertheless you’re dedicated to these tasks, to the bitter end, so that others may flourish. Some of these responsibilities can be shared or delegated (look for the ones you can pass off to someone else), other things can simply wait until your plate clears a little.
The good news is this card is a “10” which means the ending is nigh and these problems will soon be solved. Whew! However, there’s a snake slithering through the grass and its name is Anger and Resentment. Keep reminding yourself you’re doing these things for the greater good of another. Your sacrifice will be rewarded, and the end of this heavy responsibility is near. Do. Not. Let. Anger and Resentment take up space in your head or heart. That stuff burns like acid and will ruin all the good will you’ve earned for doing what you’re doing.
August 29, 2019: Card O' the Day: Two of Pentacles. Sorry folks, I still seem to be reading for myself. If you recall, we had the Two of Pentacles just eight days ago.
My mother called a little while ago today and we discussed the logistics of her big move. Again. I then drew the Card O’ the Day and, surprise! the Two of Pentacles returned to remind me that I HAVE the ability to handle this big, complex challenge with ease and grace. How? Well, this card is linked, via its infinity symbol, to Strength and The Magician. Therefore, magic and strength are with me as I navigate this change. I just have to trust….
As for the rest of you NOT helping your mother move, this card tells us that changes are more easily made now than at any other time. Take advantage! Do practice healthy personal boundaries because some of your difficulty with the changes could be emotion-based reactions. (Note to self…) However, this is a time of logical sense and not emotional clinging.
August 28, 2019: Card O' the Day: Four of Cups, reversed. When the Four of Cups gets reversed, it means you’re restless…but in a good way. Breaking out of a fallow period of discontent, you’re thirsting for fresh experiences. Suddenly, old problems seem so easy to solve with an obvious (but not until now) solution. Perhaps something you thought was dead in the water and a pointless pursuit can be revived, tweaked, and made useful. At any rate, this card bodes well for the transformation of your boredom and apathy.
Another aspect of the reversed Four is that you’re going to be extra “psychic” right now. Your “Spidey Senses” are on fleek! The trick will be to not get overwhelmed by all the fancy la-la woo-woo-ness if you’re not used to being tapped in to Universe. Keep one foot on the floor at all times to keep the spinning to a minimum and perhaps have your favorite grounding crystal handy.
August 27, 2019: Card O' the Day: King of Pentacles. I may have drawn this card for myself…my fall season started of with a bang and a lot of driving. I’m at home now for a goodly week before having to go out again, so I feel this King is reminding me of the pleasures, security, and stability of home. My home is a settled place in this chaotic world, and I’m king of my castle!
The King of Pentacles represents the energy of Spirit and your connectedness with Earth. He embodies the dual nature of both introspection and intuition. When he’s not out being social—and he does enjoy people—he uses his quiet time to access his inner wisdom and tranquility through his well integrated masculine and feminine energies.
Even though you may not be in a “leader” type position on the material plane, you have internal leadership capabilities and instincts. Trust them. You’re not stupid nor helpless. The appearance of this king is meant to be a catalyst for developing your self-confidence in the material world; therefore, that leadership position might not be too far off.
August 22, 2019: Card O' the Day: Prince of Swords. This Prince is the epitome of a young man going off on his first adventure! Fearless, dynamic, independent, individualistic, and impatient as all get out; he’s hell bent for leather and has the pedal to the metal! He wants to MOVE IT and push all his boundaries. Um…but the directions and goals may still be up in the air for this guy.
There are some necessary decisions that need to be addressed fairly soon. It also could be that Universe takes over and you have to just be prepared for those decisions to be made for you and roll with them. This may seem like your world is being blown up a little, but these new ideas/relationships/interests have been waiting and are rather tired of hanging out until you get off your butt.
Now, this Prince can also be very closed-minded, seeing as how he’s “always right” in his world. Therefore, his appearance today is a reminder to ground your ideas and ambitions in reality. I know I just said Universe could take over and make decisions for you, but you still have the free will to say “no, I’m not comfortable with that.” This card is about speed, so if you have the time, double check the details of any opportunities being shoved at you. If it doesn’t feel good in your gut, then don’t. But also have a little faith and dare….
August 21, 2019: Card O' the Day: Two of Pentacles. The Two of Pentacles represents big changes that will ultimately bring new stability. This will require balancing or juggling the various needs and obligations of your life. The question is whether you can do so with grace or do you see every aspect of the change an obstacle or agitation that’s just there to mess with you? Are you fraught with anxiety about the whole thing?
Welp. I know that I’m pretty darned fraught. My mother is making the big move from her family home of 50yrs to a smaller senior living apartment. Lots of fear, logistics, and planning go into such a big move for an elderly lady and therefore, she’s looking to me for help. I’m doing all I can to ease the way for her AND continue to live my own life as a business owner, wife, and “mom” to 11 animals. I’ll admit to failing the “grace” part and to being an anxious, agitated mess.
However, as “done” as I feel right now, I’m still upright and moving my feet. This card tells me to live in the moment because these next days or week need 100% of my attention. Therefore, I’ve stopped planning my Christmas shopping. Control of my precious personal resources is ESSENTIAL right now, and I’m all about self-care to keep my own equilibrium and balance. Otherwise, if I become a dithering, drooling puddle, I’m no help to my mom when she needs me the most. One day and one step at a time….
August 15, 2019: Card O' the Day: Ten of Pentacles. The Ten of Pentacles is here to tell us it’s going to be okay. Life will work itself out. You’re on a good path for finding security and financial stability. This card is acknowledging what you’ve accomplished thus far. True, it ain’t been easy, but you’re determined and pushing through. (And yes, you’re allowed to have cry-baby moments in between all your strong times. I certainly have them with beautiful regularity!)
We have another 10 today, and y’all know what that means…something is ending that should be so you can begin something new. Now, an “ending” can mean the end of a semester at school, or the end of summer before you go back to school. It doesn’t have to mean the “Ending of All Life as You Know It and a Complete Transformation.” A 10 in the suit cards is not as dire of an ending as say the Death or Tower cards among the Major Arcana.
Before the ending takes place, however, enjoy your surroundings and bask a bit in them. Look deeper than their shiny (or tattered) surfaces and give thanks for what has served you. Celebrate your personal wealth of spirit and enjoy your life to the fullest.
August 14, 2019: Card O' the Day: Prince of Pentacles. Yesterday I had the feeling that our work of “letting go” was moving up to our heads and today’s Prince of Pentacles validates that feeling. He’s ready to let go of expectations about himself and others. (Judgment, anyone?) By releasing these expectations, you can make space for a new quality of stillness and acceptance of what “is.” (Two of Wands, reversed. What? Are we just recapping the last five cards?)
The quality of this Prince is of being “home” within yourself. You already have all the power, control, determination, joy, and everything else you really need within you. However, you don’t truly believe that because the hesitation and lack of daring to move forward stems from a certain level of poor self-worth. Keep chanting “I’m enough!” until it sticks.
The energy inherent in this card is sustainable…it’s not a flashy paper fire that burns quickly and then goes out. We’re talking energy for long-term goals and plans. That said, you do have to remain flexible. Sometimes we hit snags or get thrown a curveball and have to make up a Plan B on the fly. Don’t get stuck in a rut on your way to The Goal. Remember, it’s the journey, the lessons you learn along the way, and the things you see and enjoy, not The Goal, that’s the meaning of life.
August 13, 2019: Card O' the Day: Ten of Swords. When this card turned over, I thought fer cryin’ out loud, it’s only raining! No need for the histrionics of the Ten of Swords! But then I dug deeper and came up with a few of the finer points of the Ten. Firstly, it’s a 10, which indicates endings that make way for beginnings. In fact, an extreme situation is already beginning to change, if you take a closer look.
The keywords associated with the Ten are liberation, acceptance, expansion, and turning towards greater spirituality. There’s also a certain amount of sassiness, which I applaud! The animal for this card is the boar, who represents healing, determination, power, and protection. And pigs are SMART! The mini pig my neighbors used to have was sassy, too….
The cards of late have been a lot about managing the changes in our lives. How we have to let go of stuff to make room for the new growth. Apparently, the ten of Swords is no different. But because this card is governed by mental energy, I would say the letting go and changing has moved to our heads. Sure, you’ve cleaned out the garage so the car fits again, but have you cleared out your mind of beliefs that hold you back and thoughts that cripple you into staying in bad situations; have you loved yourself enough to MENTALLY let go?
August 12, 2019: Card O' the Day: Two of Wands, reversed. Three days ago we got the Two of Pentacles. Two’s in general can indicate conflict, thus the “juggling” connotation attached to the Two of Pentacles. Today we have the Two of Wands…conflict again, but this time combined with energy. Think the Two of Pentacles on steroids. AND! It gets better! The Two of Wands is REVERSED, which makes it’s energy even more volatile.
Now, “volatile” isn’t a “bad thing.” Volatile means things can happen quickly, unexpectedly, and improve just when you’d about lost all hope for things working out the way you want them to. Therefore, continue to live in the moment and not judge what “is” in this little bit of time, because the Two of Wands says ANYthing can change at the drop of a dime.
More than ever, trust in Universe. The changes in fortune heralded by this card don’t come about by your hard work and will power but by miracles and synchronicity. Be receptive to changing plans within hours. Don’t say “next week I’ll have time.” If a golden opportunity plops in your lap, MAKE time and space to take advantage of it right now.
August 11, 2019: Card O' the Day: Judgment. By accepting what “is” rather than living your life in dreams of something different or “better”, then you can understand, based upon that information, what new direction to take or changes to make. Without drama or judgment, transformation takes place with a new insight that allows you to be in the present and enjoy it as it is TODAY. You may be surprised by the feelings of freedom you’re flooded with as you’re released from certain responsibilities and the constant feeling of obligation.
Expect an influx of psychic awareness and an understanding of the purity of your spirit. You’ll find a sense of Self that’s been earned through your experiences. Old belief systems and behavioral habits will fall away and no longer hold you rigid and inflexible.
When you can understand, without judgment, what “is” about a situation, you may feel a forgiveness so great that you’re able to see a little of yourself in everyone around you. When you can see that we are ALL human, then what you judged as “other than you” and therefore “bad” falls away and suddenly those differences are okay…just different and you don’t have to DO anything about it.
August 9, 2019: Card O' the Day: Two of Pentacles. The Two of Pentacles represents the relationship between available time, energy, and material resources and the perceived need of those. It’s necessary to balance your “daily grind” or the nuts and bolts of life with your true purpose of being here…to have fun!
This card allows changes to happen more easily. Therefore, anything that still needs to be purged will leave with less drama and gnashing of teeth. These harmonious changes will allow for personal growth and rebuilding of strength lost during the last few weeks of chaos. Despite all this good news, new projects will be difficult to launch. Too much fluctuation and juggling is going on to concentrate on starting something new.
As you maintain your balance during this juggle fest, don’t compartmentalize your life. Drop judgments or preferences and be in the moment. Figure out how to be light-hearted at work and do a little work-supportive networking while out having fun. Develop your witty 15-second “elevator speech” so you can casually slip your business card to just about anyone. Your gut will tell you when it’s appropriate to do so.
August 6, 2019: Card O' the Day: Princess of Wands, reversed. With all the “letting go” we’re being asked to do lately, it’s no surprise some of you may be resisting. “Nooooooo…not thaaaaaat.” Yep. Sorry, “that” has to go, too. It feels more like things are being taken from you rather than you freely releasing them. That’s okay, and I think it’s perfectly normal to feel ripped off and the rug being pulled out from under you.
The outward manifestation of your feelings might look like hesitation and uncertainty (some may accuse you of procrastinating) that delays the inevitable or necessary. Others of you may affect a “too cool for school” attitude and hide your inner turmoil.
Either way, your emotional process is normal, you’re allowed to have it, and your feelings are valid. Look at this as a “Learning Moment” (I know, total eye-roll, right?) and keep doing your work.
August 5, 2019: Card O' the Day: Ace of Pentacles. We have another Ace…. On July 19th we received the Ace of Wands, on the 20th, we got the Ace of Swords. The Ace of Wands reappeared on July 30th; today we have the Ace of Pentacles. Aces are all about new beginnings. Most of the cards between these Aces have been about letting go and making space for new growth.
The Ace of Pentacles heralds commercial success, physical security, and rewards for your labors. How nice for you…. It also represents yearnings and the necessity for deep, spiritual nourishment. There are unsatisfied desires, needs, and wants that have gone unfulfilled for too long. Thus all that crap about letting go of what doesn’t serve you, leaving behind stagnant situations, ending toxic relationships, and so on to give you the space for getting those needs and wants fulfilled already!
The silver lining to this card (no, the silver lining isn’t the material stuff, that’s just the surface of the card) is a shift in your consciousness that brings you new wisdom and knowledge. You’re RECOGNIZING there are problems, what they are, who they’re with, and that you’re not going to stand for it anymore. Welcome to executing your plans and actually walking your path rather than just chanting your mantras and lighting incense.
August 4, 2019: Card O' the Day: Five of Cups, reversed. Universe is just SHOVING us forward and demanding we get rid of sh*t and GROW, dammit!!!! It. Is. Time. To. Move. On.
This card represents the determination and fortitude you have to overcome misfortune and anxiety. You’re able to transform your resistance to change or disappointment that something is ending into something better. Hard decisions have been or are being made; expect to be rewarded for your efforts and to experience changes in your lifestyle.
Another meaning of this card is that some of you completely deny anything is wrong in your lives. All good!! Happy, happy!! But ignoring your pain, putting on a happy face, and frantically doing busy work only keeps you locked in your grief and/or victimhood. You can’t move through/past something you won’t even acknowledge. Take control of your life; don’t let others control it for you.
August 3, 2019: Card O' The Day: Seven of Pentacles. The Seven of Pentacles represents assessments and resulting changes of direction based upon the information gathered. Clearing and purging of the old emotions, stuff, people, and clutter allow you to heal and make space for the new growth and rewards coming (see yesterday’s reversed Hermit and the Eight of Cups from the day before).
Don’t waste a drop of your resources; they’re blessings and should be treated as such. Therefore take care to tend your projects or life events so that you can immediately fix little things that go awry before they become gigantic, expensive disasters.
Above all…patience. Some things just can’t be rushed.
August 2, 2019: Card O' the Day: The Hermit, reversed. When The Hermit is upright, he indicates a time of self-study and “me time.” When reversed, this self-study and “me time” becomes darker. There’s a need to plunge into and dissect an emotional experience or an ongoing situation in search of why you feel the way you do. And more importantly, why you put up with the situation as it is. You’ve been concealing or ignoring facts from yourself. It’s time to face the unpleasant truth that you’ve been following or trusting the wrong people.
What’s needed is a period of stasis and renunciation of what no longer serves you, what no longer fits, or what never fit in the first place but you were to blind to believe it. Like the Eight of Cups yesterday, there’s more walking away and letting go with the reversed Hermit.
Be careful, though, that you don’t isolate yourself from needed resources or from those who can help you right now. It’s okay to be a little anti-social for a time, but the only way to truly cleanse yourself of this dark energy is to talk to someone about it. It might be time for a session with your therapist or clergy person.
Peace be with you.
August 1, 2019: Card O' the Day: Eight of Cups. A time of growth and evolution brings liberation and happiness as you seek your higher purpose. After all, what could bring more joy than addressing your inner needs and wants?
Welp…sometimes those inner needs and wants require that you let go of something or someone. That transforming journey reveals that a vital piece has been missing for a long time or was never there. You were willing to do without and ignore the red flags, but it’s getting harder and harder. This thing will have to, at the very least, change shape or end altogether.
Deepen your insight as you approach your limit of doing without. Observe what comes when you speak your needs. And, perhaps, mourn the losses as you move forward and leave behind what must be left.
July 30, 2019: Card O' the Day: Ace of Wands, reversed. July 19th we had this same card. De ja vu, all over again….
And back to THAT same old song and dance: Doubt with a little soft shoe of hesitation. It seems like whenever we get a little momentum going and we’re feeling kinda sassy, the fear and worry of looking like an idiot takes over. Since when do we have to be like everyone else (okay, since about the fifth grade, but I digress)?
What are you afraid of? Your power? What will happen if you let yourself off the leash? What the church ladies will say if you bring hummus and pita chips instead of potato salad to the church supper!?!??!?
The celebrities we admire (Madonna, David Bowie, Prince, Michael Jackson, Elton John, Freddie Mercury, Thomas Edison, Benjamin Franklin, Neil Armstrong, Rosa Parks, etc., etc.) were/are OUT THERE. Who says you can’t be a little out there, too. Final question: why do you believe it’s okay for everyone else to have power but not you?
July 29, 2019: Card O' the Day: Justice. This card is about the divine intervention needed to create Universal Balance. It’s like volcanos or earthquakes…pressure builds, things go ka-BOOM, and balance is restored. Clarity and honesty help you make things right as you direct your life with character and integrity.
One of the first laws of physics is there’s an equal and opposite reaction to every action. Cause and effect. Your bullshit is coming home to roost, and you’re being challenged to balance your ego with your Higher Self. That means walking the walk and not just flapping your gums.
Since the Prince of Swords is ready to rock and roll and our Hanged Man is awake, I think some of us are about to take—or will be forced to take—a hard look at Self. It’s getting to be time to say/do the Truth. The REAL truth…not your version of the “truth” but the raw, less exciting or dramatic truth you’ve been telling everyone and/or yourself. It’s time to face the good, bad, and ugly in your life and get real with it.
July 28, 2019: Card O' the Day: The Hanged Man, reversed. When The Hanged Man is reversed it speaks of waking up and becoming unstuck. And now that you’re awake, you’re rarin’ to go (Prince of Swords yesterday)! However, like the Prince’s message to ground your goals in reality, you’re again being asked to slow down and take inventory of the situation before gadding off after the first shiny object you see.
In particular, the reversed Hanged Man is about spiritual awakenings. Maybe you’re becoming a little more aware of the coincidences or serendipities that seem to happen more and more often. That’s good! Just be aware there are many people out there who have the latest and greatest program that can help you become “fully awake” and reach your “highest starlight potential.” The cost is merely your first-born child (the advanced program will cost you a kidney), but in the grand scheme of things, what’s your child or kidney when you’ll be ONE WITH UNIVERSE!?
It’s said that when a baby bird hatches, it imprints on the first living thing it sees. Don’t be like a baby duck and follow a guru to the ends of the earth and your wallet. You have many more answers in your own heart and soul than you think. And they don’t cost a kidney.
July 27, 2019: Card O' the Day: Prince of Swords. Ooooh! Y’all are just itchin’ to MOVE!! The Prince of Swords is about fast movement forward and fast, racing thoughts. He knows what he’s talking about and decides what to do next on a dime. He’s also damn near impossible to work with since, of course, he’s totally right and you’re dumber than a bag of hammers.
Let’s take the good parts and temper the less (ahem) “desirable” parts. Yes, do a little free thinking and see where your mind takes you. Outlandish is okay because the next step is to ground those ideas in reality and feasibility. Communicate your thoughts clearly, but don’t be an ass about it. Diplomacy! If you can blend the derring-do, quick wit, and gung-ho forward motion of this Prince with courtesy, a little deference, and respect for your colleagues, you’ll be unstoppable!
Remember that we’re still in Mercury retrograde until the 2nd of August so it’ll be a challenge not to alienate friends, piss off your boss, or just generally stick your foot in your mouth. Good luck with that.
July 26, 2019: Card O' the Day: The Wheel, reversed. We received a blast of energy with the Seven of Wands the other day, but since Mercury is still in retrograde, that means the energy is a bit wonky as evidenced by the reversed Wheel of Fortune. It’s not bad luck, just spotty….like a car slipping it’s gears before it catches and can zoom forward.
Gains will still come, but they’ll be smaller and more short term. Plan accordingly. Alternatively, timing may be off and you just need to wait.
At any rate, I still feel a nice up-swing in fortunes and energy. Be patient and roll with it.
July 22, 2019: Card O' the Day: The Magician. Oooooh! Kids! The Magician is HERE. And I don’t mean he’s present with other cards to put in his two cents’ worth. I feel him take up the ROOM. Granted, I’m having a nice cup of strong tea and the caffeine could be talking, but I’m going to believe in magic for minute and take this card’s appearance as a HUGE jolt of encouragement.
Now that the Swords have cut through the fog and we’re clear and focused, we can use the ample resources The Magician represents to make life what it CAN be rather than settling for what is has been or is today. There are no boundaries or limits to our intellects when this kind of energy is zipping through us. This is the kind of brain activity that leads us to find what’s REALLY important, not just what we THINK is “important.”
The best part is that the resources necessary to manifest the dreams and hunches coming at us like buckshot is available. You have the creativity. You have the skill. Your knowledge, direction, and will are ready to make changes in your world if not in The World. We’re talking serious empowerment here. And do you know where all that’s coming from? You. Self-knowledge leads to empowerment, which leads to being happy. Not just “yeah, yeah, sure, sure, I’m happy.” No, I mean the “I’m deeply happy with WHO I am, and I can walk on air if I so choose” kind of happy.
July 21, 2019: Card O' the Day: Ten of Swords. Who knew clear vision could be such a problem? It’s brought to us again with the Ten of Swords to double down on yesterday’s Ace of Swords. All this clear vision and mental clarity is uncovering and forcing you to see some unpleasant truths. Whether that’s ten pounds gained or discovery that your kid has been doing drugs, it’s a harsh reality to look at this stuff. Try your best not to sink into exaggerated mental anguish over your problems and ride the “shoulda-woulda-coulda” guilt train deep into the night.
The good news is this card is a 10, which means endings that allow the beginnings of the Aces that appeared to us yesterday and the day before. We got the good news first, now we’re getting the bad news. However, there’s still more good news to come with this card, too: determination, fortitude, and constructive force that leads to growth, rebirth, and acceptance.
The herb that’s associated with this card is ephedra, which is supposed to promote sweating (like we need any help?). A really good sweat session can be extremely cleansing, and I can highly recommend a spiritual sweat lodge or sauna. If you don’t have access to either, a short jog around the block today will get you pretty drippy. The point is to move the stagnating water energy out of your body so you can get off the guilt train and make the most of the clear thinking ahead.
July 20, 2019: Card O' the Day: Ace of Swords. Another Ace! And upright this time, too!
It looks as though the last full moon’s energy has dissipated and we can all think straight once more. This card is all about mental clarity, insight, enlightenment, and “a-HA” moments. Having the lights back on, so to speak, allows for greater or renewed creativity that was stuck for the last little bit because of all the confusion. This is not only about new ideas but also about new ways to approach old ideas or problems. Therefore, revisit anything you’ve put on the shelf. I have a feeling you’ll figure it out this time.
Swords in general represent truth, communication, and justice or fair play. By receiving the Ace today, I think you’ll have the nerve to speak up, say your truth of what you want/need, and get it! There’s a thought…getting what’s yours fair and square! The final rumination on this card is “right place at the right time” energy. Couple that with your clear head and articulate communication, and I smell a nice upswing.
July 19, 2019: Card O' the Day: Ace of Wands, reversed. All these reversed cards must have something to do with the gnarly full moon we just had….
All aces indicate something new is about to happen or you’re moving in a new direction. The Ace of Wands can indicate budding new creations—whether in art, a knitted sweater, or a new and better mousetrap—or the energy to finally accomplish long-delayed goals. However, when it’s reversed, indications are the timing isn’t quite right. The energy is there but it’s running in circles without clear direction. It could be the blueprints for the new mousetrap still have a few glitches. The whole thing feels like having a word or concept right on the tip of your tongue but you can’t quite articulate it.
Try not to get frustrated or jump the gun. Sit back and breathe…allow things to develop and unfold organically. It’s kind of like a fart: if you have to force it, it’s probably sh*t.
July 18, 2019: Card O' the Day: Three of Wands, reversed. This card goes hand-in-hand with yesterday’s card in that work or projects continue to be harder than usual. Your general lack of focus means you’re not paying attention to details and/or planning things poorly. Carelessness and general sloppiness—totally out of character for you, I’m sure—make whatever you do get done rather haphazard. I’m betting you’ll have to go back and re-do a good portion of it because of the resulting low quality.
Now, being out of focus and kind of scattered is perfectly okay. The real crime here is being over ambitious and too proud to ask for help. Recognize you’re not at your best right now. Acknowledge your dip in creativity or productivity. Admit your limitations. Then, take responsibility for your current clumsiness and put off for later anything that needs you to be at your best. This is all a temporary cycle of troubles. However, it has the potential to teach you a valuable lesson: you’re not infallible and sometimes you need to back away before you make a total mess.
For those of you who simply cannot put life on hold until the current energy shifts, focus on smaller, less complicated tasks. Break a project into small segments and do all the easy parts first. By the time you get done with all the simple grunt work, this phase will have passed and you can tackle the heavy lifting again.
July 17, 2019: Card O' the Day: Princess of Pentacles, reversed. I seem to be reading for myself today.
The reversed Princess of Pentacles indicates distractions, wasted time, and dissipation of ideas or the energy to do a project. You may feel a certain loss of purpose…not The Purpose of My Life but more along the lines of “why did I come into the kitchen/living room/bathroom?” Clarity of thinking, linear thought (step 1, then step 2…), or grasping a new concept can be particularly difficult right now. Practicality suffers as well because you seem to take the “scenic route” on all things you do. Even taking a potty break becomes a half-hour endeavor as you get side-tracked by something else.
I find myself procrastinating and paying way too much attention to trivia rather than getting on with what I want/need to do. I read something interesting the other day about procrastination: it’s not that you’re being lazy by not doing the “thing”, but it’s more that you’re not emotionally ready to do it. Take cleaning the garage or a closet, for example. It needs to be done but you don’t do it and put 1,000 other things in line before getting to it. Then one day—boom—you tackle that job that’s been hanging around forever. And boy, does it ever feel GOOD to finally get it off your to-do list!
Therefore, if you’re usually pretty organized and take care of projects and chores in a timely manner, but are struggling at the moment, ease up on yourself. Let this current moon phase, planetary alignment, intestinal gas, or mood pass. You’ll stop getting lost on your way to the kitchen soon enough.
July 13, 2019: Card O' the Day: Nine of Swords, reversed. We have reiterations of the reversed Emperor with this card. Yesterday’s card gave us the choice of puffing and blustering or weakness and indecision. It looks like we use that puffing, fake smile, “I’m good” facade to hide the self-doubt, self-criticism, and timidity. Now, that’s okay temporarily. But if you find you’re FAKING being okay more than actually BEING okay, you may be hiding an underlying state of depression that needs to be actively treated so you can be rid of it. Some people wander along through a deep depression for YEARS without doing anything about it. Don’t let that be you.
The good news coming with this card is the learning of life lessons from this psycho-emotional work so that you don’t repeat the awfulness. Yes, it’s painful work that sucks balls, but it’s necessary. You cannot ignore your pain forever. Deal with it so you can be free of it. This card represents the first steps up and out of the darkness.
July 12, 2019: Card O' the Day: The Emperor, reversed. The Emperor represents inner power and/or authority figures in society. The authority figure could be your boss, mother-in-law, parent, clergy person, or anyone else who has control over some aspect of your life. When reversed, that power/authority is being abused or is totally ineffectual.
Regardless of whether the reversed Emperor is within you or outside, you’re not going to be comfortable with him. Two extremes are possible: excessive dick swinging or limp inability to do anything. Dick swinging means self-righteous micro-managing and over-criticism of everything you do. You can’t even breathe correctly according to this person or yourself. In an effort to control, organize, and bring structure to a situation, even the slightest deviation from a “perfect plan” causes epic meltdowns. Conversely, you or the authority figure skips the puffery and goes straight to the floor in a puddle of indecision and weakness.
If this sounds like someone you know, step back, give them, space and wait for the mood to pass. If this is you at the moment, go hide under a rock and protect the rest of us from your wrath/tears! But while you’re under your rock, practice a little self-care and ask why you’re feeling so insecure in your power. Because that’s the root of the issue: insecurity. You control everything you do, whether that’s making the best of a lousy situation or getting out of said lousy situation. Choose well and get on with your fantastic life!
July 11, 2019: Card O' the Day: The Devil. When you dig deeply into yourself and psyche, that’s where you meet The Devil! He represents all your addictions, wrong attachments, bad choices, obsessions, and the lies you tell yourself. He’s the irresistibly strong impulse that makes you sleep with your ex and have just one more beer. He’s the shame and guilt you carry for having made poor choices.
On the other had, you had to make all those poor choices to figure out what ARE the right choices for you. You tell a kid not to touch the stove because it’s “hot.” “Hot” doesn’t mean a thing to a toddler. He/she is compelled to touch the stove because Mommy said not to…if she said no, then it MUST be a good thing!! So they touch the hot stove, get burned, and have an experience by which to guide themselves next time. Such is The Devil.
Therefore, the experiences The Devil led you into are neither good nor bad. They simply are. If you enjoyed yourself, think such an experience is worth having again, and is good for you in the long run, then have at it. However, if you lose money, self-esteem, people you love, possessions you need, or someone gets hurt, then maybe that’s something to not do again. (Guilt and shame about a choice is a pretty fair indicator as to whether that choice is a “keeper.”)
Bottom line: keep the experience; drop the guilt and shame about having done “that.” (After all, you’re not going to do “that” again, right?)
July 10, 2019: Card O' the Day: The Hermit. The Hermit is here today to ask you one question: Who the hell ARE you? To answer that question, you’re going to have to get still and quiet within yourself. No, you don’t have to go on some expensive retreat; you can meditate quite effectively on the way to work. Turn off the radio, put down your phone, and be with you. This is also not a question you’ll answer quickly…if at all. But it’s one that needs to be pondered.
Many people shy away from self-discovery because they’re afraid of what they’ll find. As they discover their hidden talents and lightness, they’ll see the contrasting inabilities and darkness. Those inabilities and darknesses then overshadow the gifts with doubts of self-worth. Well, here’s the deal: you can’t see the light without having the dark to contrast it with. No one is 100% sweetness and light! No. One.
Make a list of all the things you’re good at. Without self-consciousness, recognize—and USE—those talents. Through recognition and use of your light, you’ll transcend self-doubt and get better at expressing your True, uh-MAZING! Self. Once you figure out who the hell you are, then BE it. Be it out loud and proud! Be it with glitter, rainbows, and ribbons! That’s the whole reason you’re here…to BE your True Self. Universe has a place for you, so take it.
July 6, 2019: Card O' the Day: Ten of Cups, reversed. Yesterday we talked about how it would be a good idea to work alone since the reversed Three of Pentacles indicated members of groups or teams are at odds with each other right now. The reversed Ten of Cups reiterates that disruption in the group dynamic. Divergent opinions, rivalry, and attacks from “below” (read: subordinate employees or group members) are the overt manifestations of this disturbance. It may even go so far as to member(s) leaving the group, which will feel like a “break-up” of sorts.
Oddly enough, while the group isn’t playing nicely around you, you’re feeling some darned nice inner emotional fulfillment independent of this external stimuli or chaos. Your higher Self (the “me, myself, and I” family) is coming together harmoniously, and it’s really pretty good in there with yourself and the clan.
The only fly in your ointment (because, of course, nothing’s perfect) is there’s some difficulty with appreciating what you’ve been given. And I don’t mean “appreciating” like being grateful, it feels more along the lines of you can’t believe your good fortune and don’t quite buy that you deserve it. But you do.
July 5, 2019: Card O' the Day: Three of Pentacles, reversed. The Three of Pentacles indicates working well with others and team efforts. When reversed, those team efforts sour. Those who should work together, and normally have no problems, will experience waste and mismanagement of their talents. It seems everyone is out of step with the other. Therefore, step away from the team and do your portion of the project alone. If there’s no group work at hand, then break down the project you are working on into small pieces and work on each piece individually. This card indicates meticulous, intricate tasks that need your attention but no one else’s…too many cooks in the kitchen, so to speak.
Spiritually speaking, examine your work or career path and re-evaluate it. Are you doing what you LOVE. Life is simply too short and we work too long and hard at our jobs to be doing something we hate our are “meh” about. You can improve this situation! Go back to school; grants, scholarships, work-study programs, and cheap tuition are available. Yes, it’ll take work and sacrifice to make changes in your work life. But imagine the rewards….
July 4, 2019: Card O' the Day: The Hierophant, reversed. The Hierophant, in general, represents the rules of society or religion and following those rules. But when reversed, it indicates one is being too rigid, too rule-bound, too dogmatic. Boxing yourself into this tiny space doesn’t allow for breathing, expression, or joy.
Fives are about the necessary changes required to break down this box or form that’s been built around your life. (The Hierophant is the 5th of the Major Arcana.) Certainly we need structure to support us, stay safe, and have order in society. I’m not suggesting you go off the deep end and chuck your entire life…just give yourself space to live!
When within the bounds of laws and ethics, being a little avant garde can be hugely beneficial and lead to prosperity. How? Because you can be creative in your thinking and dreaming when you let yourself off the leash. Stop micro-managing every micro-movement of yourself. Go to the beach despite your cellulite and fish-belly white legs; give yourself permission to say no without guilt; eat the ice cream cone if you want it. Stop strangling yourself with judgment!
July 3, 2019: Card O' the Day: The Wheel of Fortune. I seem to be reading for myself these last few days…getting cards with messages or encouragement that I need to hear. Today’s card is another for me….
The Wheel of Fortune represents the archetypal concept of linear time. It flows ever forward like a powerful river. We can try to swim upstream, but it’s impossible. We can try to stay in one moment in time by swimming across the current; nevertheless, we’re carried downstream. Some of those Type A people swim like hell with the current and just zoom down the river missing all the lovely flowers growing on the banks or the people swimming with them. Others just let the current take them where it will…and then complain they were taken somewhere too slowly or not to their liking.
This Great River, whether you swim hard and fast with the current or just float along for the ride, represents not only changes of fortunes but a profound inner journey during which you come to terms with who you are and all that means. The River is all about change and forward motion that’s futile to resist. Therefore, make it easier on yourself by practicing adaptability and tolerance (my constant prayer these days). Slippery Elm is an herb that might help with that. It’s said to be soothing for mood swings, brings comfort when you have difficulty accepting food or experiences, and comes in candy form! Bonus!
July 1, 2019: Card O' the Day: Nine of Pentacles. I’m fighting my inherent laziness today…it’s such a fine summer day, I just want to nap in the shade. But, no. Mother, Father, Spirit, I ask you to help me have the discipline I need to continue with mundane chores that bring a sense of accomplishment that’s grounded in Earth yet is sensitive to my spiritual side.
Physical accomplishment can, indeed, be a spiritual thing. In fact, when our boring tasks are done with thanksgiving for the work and finished product—no matter how small—we then elevate simply mowing the lawn into something divine. The Nine of Pentacles represents the discipline, maturity, and depth we all need to “fight the lazies” and do our work. While that work can bring material success and wellbeing, when it’s done well and with your highest Self on board, it fulfills your inner purpose of being.
June 29, 2019: Card O' the Day: Three of Wands. Two’s represent choices or decisions, a union created to make something, or the middle way out of a conflict. A three, then, represents that choice arrived at, the thing made, or the compromise for the conflict. Any one of these options requires flexibility, adaptability, and working well with others. The three of Wands isn’t a “doing it my way” or “solo endeavors” kind of card. When help is needed and/or offered, take it. Consider it a resource that’s useful to you and not a crutch or sign of weakness.
This card continues the “new beginnings” energy, but we’ve moved a bit down the road. Ideas are solidifying, and you’re ready to take a few well thought out risks. This desire for expansion and growth is natural and normal; it’s not coming from greed or ego. Therefore, allow yourself a little pride in your work and the results from it. I mean, the rose bush doesn’t apologize for its blooms, does it?
As you grow, be aware you’ll outgrow things or methods that have proven useful up to now. Don’t be afraid to upgrade, change, revise, revamp, prune, toss out, or give away the things that no longer serve you. Someone who hasn’t gotten as far as you yet may find your old stuff adequate for now. So. Let go and make space for your expansion.
June 28, 2019: Card O' the Day: Ace of Wands, reversed. Another Ace! Even reversed, the Ace of Wands indicates new beginnings. These beginnings may not be in your “muggle” self but more on the spiritual level. This card represents planting the seeds of new outlooks that bring you to a rebirth of self that changes the little “s” to a big “S.” Tangible results such as a fatter bank account, new car, etc. are not important; finding your happiness and the everlasting source of it is what’s vital.
Unfortunately, this kind of transforming requires soul-searching and hard work. Fear and doubt will dog your heels, which will result in setbacks and delays. However, allow the Wands energy to compel you to keep “moving your feet” along this path. Take time to consider each inch forward, savor it, nurture it, and don’t stop.
June 27, 2019: Card O' the Day: Ace of Cups. A good card for today, I sort of need it myself…
This card is announcing the opportunity for new emotional experiences or growth that allows for unconditional love, self love, forgiveness, and—most importantly—the courage to continue on. However, these “new emotional experiences” are going to be powerful and challenging as new feelings replace old and you transform and attune to Universe to find YOUR heart-based meaning of life and what that looks like for YOU.
Despite any upheaval this emotional growth may seem to cause, in actuality you’re entering into a period of peace wherein you have space and time to look inside to connect with your REAL needs and feel the buoyancy of life and depths of your soul. Trust the power of your intuition and follow it where it leads you.
June 20, 2019: Card O' the Day: The Fool (again). The Fool has returned to ask me to expand upon his meaning and share the deeper nuances of this card. The Fool represents every man, our human-ness, our fallibility, and our ability to make a complete hash of things. But his easy flexibility shows us that rigid thinking, fear, and preconceived ideas keep us stuck in small, “safe” little existences. He’s asking us to stop taking ourselves and life so very seriously and break free from narrow beliefs about society, others, and yourself.
As one who is free from self-imposed rules and attachments to possessions, The Fool is symbolic of the wanderings of each of us as we attempt to achieve wholeness of Self and Spirit. We lurch in the direction of, and are drawn to, this “wholeness” spurred by dreams of the future and our burdens from the past. The Fool helps us heal ourselves by accepting past vulnerabilities, shame, or failures as we move on to the next beginning, which gives us a NEW chance to excel.
During this journey, we can begin to see what we had thought was soooooooo important, is actually only an illusion. What is truly important becomes apparent.
June 16, 2019: Card O' the Day: Nine of Cups. This card bodes well for achievements and wishes coming true, but today, for me, it’s meaning is centered on just “being.” Maybe it’s the rain here in my neck of the woods or maybe it’s the promise of a nap later that’s making me feel so stationary and content in this moment. I’m asking you to be happy today. Regardless of the chores, “shoulds”, and “gotta do’s” planned for this Father’s Day, concentrate on feeling happy and see how that works for you.
The secret to finding emotional happiness is to take control of, and full responsibility for, YOUR happiness. No one can “make” you happy. No one can fulfill all your needs. You have to make up your mind to BE happy. When you can do that, whether for a minute, an hour, a day, or longer, you’ll find material, emotional, and physical wellbeing.
The shadow side of this card is complacency. Never forget the hard work it took you (psycho-emotionally and physically) to get to “happy.” When you feel that moment of happiness and warm-fuzzies, give a little shout-out of thanks to Universe and wallow in it. This is the head-space you’re encouraged to wallow in. Not self-pity, anger, or sadness—that stuff you have to move through. But happy? Oh, wallow, roll, smush around, and linger!
June 15, 2019: Card O' the Day: The Fool. The Fool is perhaps my favorite card of the Tarot deck. There’s such pure potential, anything can happen, “let’s see where the wind blows us” energy within this card. But the taproot, foundation, bedrock of this card is TRUST. Trust in your inner knowing. Trust in Universe. Trust in yourself as you do things in your own way even if it’s not the “normal” way.
Therefore, go ahead and take that risk you’ve been pondering. Your soul has been itching for new experiences and adventures. The Fool’s presence today is an urge to step out of what’s known and go ahead and dare. You’re ready!
The Fool also suggests unexpected changes. Often those can be physical changes (moving houses or jobs, travel, etc.), but don’t rule out changing your present beliefs and values. Those are being challenged right now as you become aware of new ideas and points of view. Change is good; embrace it.
June 14, 2019: Card O' the Day: King of Cups, reversed. The King of Cups can indicate something that’s coming to the surface—or NEEDS to come to the surface!—for exorcism and healing. At his worst, the King tends to be a drama queen and the host-with-the-most of his own Pity Party. We all know one of “those” people and have, at one time or another, been one of “those” people. (Cringe!)
When reversed, however, our good King pulls up his Big Boy pants and finds new ways to express his needs, feelings, and wants with less drama and/or emotional manipulation of those around him. This mature articulation is a more open and honest way to use your voice about what’s important to your inner being, life, or highest Self. Being a King, this card has qualities of leadership. Therefore, you may use your voice to lead yourself or take a stand on behalf of others.
In addition, the King of Cups is rather stunted and rigid emotionally. The reversal means that rigidity loosens, which allows for different ways of feeling about the world around you. This includes the traditional societal rules of gender roles and choices of partners/lovers. You may find yourself reconsidering what you thought was right/wrong with respect to what masculinity or femininity looks like to you. Yesterday, I built a couple new deck chairs. Just cut open the boxes, grabbed up a screw driver, and put ‘em together. My husband was THRILLED he didn’t have to do it. Just sayin’….
June 13, 2019: Card O' the Day: Justice, reversed. Years ago I began dating a nice man in July of 2001; we were still dating at the time of the 9/11 disaster. After that horrific event, my nice gentleman friend was so devastated he needed to make sense of it by placing blame. That blame fell upon anyone with a slightly darker complexion because he immediately assumed they came from a middle eastern country or had heritage from that area. His sense of “unfairness” made him reject a large number of people based upon the actions of a few. He may have always harbored a bias against people of other cultures, but the catastrophe caused his instincts to subsume his intellect and push his mere bias to outright bigotry.
During June, the month of LGBTQ+ pride, where people who identify as other than heterosexual and/or the gender they were assigned at birth, are more vocal and public than usual. Examine yourself to see if you’re struggling with a divided self when it comes to this subject. Does your belief system, what you were taught as “right” conflict with what you know in your heart? Is your intellect fighting with your instincts?
The reversed Justice card represents an internal imbalance and this intellect v. instincts war. Said internal imbalance can be pretty darned uncomfortable, and some of you may try to pass off responsibility for your biased behaviors and words as “it’s the way I was raised.” Guess what? You’re not a child anymore. A mature mind thinks for itself and takes responsibility for its thoughts and feelings. However, I believe the uncomfortable imbalance you may feel is your higher Self whispering to you that you could be wrong…. Think about it.
June 11, 2019: Card O' the Day: The Empress, reversed. The Empress reversed is pulling in attributes of the Six of Swords and Seven of Cups, both reversed, to reiterate, emphasize, and fully flesh out the messages of those cards. Upright, The Empress is all about abundance and fertility; whatever you start under her guidance grows almost without trying. When reversed, her energy is slowed down or delays get in your way. That’s okay because it gives you more time to think and plan rather than react through heated emotions. Even with the slow-downs and delays, this card offers manifestation energy, so don’t give up.
The reversed Empress also indicates things coming to light as clarification and truth emerge from confusion or cover-ups. More clutter, physical and psycho-emotional, has to be cleared out of your way. Look around. What else can you dump. (I’ve been ranting about clearing closets and removing stuff for weeks now.)
The other day (Seven of Cups, reversed), I suggested to get things done even if it wasn’t super creative and picture perfect like Martha Stewart would do. Continue in that vein today because traditional, feminine roles are not being useful to you right now. Do things around your house that you’ve allowed your partner or hired someone to do because they felt like a “girl” shouldn’t do them. Nonsense! Paint, mow, change out a light or faucet! You Tube has a tutorial for that!
June 10, 2019: Card O' the Day: Six of Swords, reversed. Okay, I really hate when my cards repeat on me. I mean, we JUST had the Six of Swords, reversed four days ago. Some new material please? So…what’d I miss? Looks like I didn’t miss anything, it’s just the other meanings are stepping forward today.
You’re attempting to release crap from the past, but it’s either too much work or you’re fearful of moving forward into the “unknown.” Thus you’d rather stick with what you DO know—the familiar, and thereby, “safe” crap. No, it ain’t pretty, but it’s yours and you’re used to it. However, staying in your crap means you stagnate mentally and physically and avoid the truth that you really need to face your stuff and move it out of your way.
If you buck up your courage and declare today is the day you shall break through the hesitation and indecision you’ve been mired in, be careful that you don’t bring a bulldozer to swat a gnat. This card speaks of “headstrong attempts to overcome difficulties.” Therefore, go back to the advice on the 4th of June: listen to your heart and gut, don’t over-analyze, and move forward with confidence and diplomacy. Move aside whatever or whoever is in your way without drama, gnashing of teeth, or breaking of dishes.
June 9, 2019: Card O' the Day: Seven of Cups, reversed. This card puts a heavy stress on clear and logical thinking, making realistic plans, and setting priorities. Certain goals need to be achieved or problems solved. Find the fastest, most efficient way to get these items off your “to do” list. We’re not talking romantic, scenic route; we’re talking interstate highways all the way.
Yes, I realize you want to do the job perfectly and with your signature creative flare. Now’s not the time, so save the stencils, colored markers, and organizing dividers for next time. Put yer Christmas decorations in a plastic bin, label it with a Sharpie, and shove it up into the attic already! It’s flippin’ June!
Now, with those chores done (okay, not P.E.R.F.E.C.T.L.Y., and Martha Stewart would sneer), you can relax and take a break. While you’re sitting poolside or on a hike, think about how quickly the problem was solved and the goal achieved. Hmmm. Just maybe taking the most efficient, albeit least picturesque, path sometimes has its benefits.
June 8, 2019: Card O' the Day: Nine of Pentacles. Yesterday, the reversed Devil was there to point out the way (and to tell you it’s time) towards extricating yourself from addition and bondage. This nine is recognizing the struggle that is because of the real conflict between desire for practical achievement, psycho-emotional wellbeing, and security and the urge towards “right now” self-indulgence.
This Nine, which numerically represents completion (of your addiction? instant gratification?), is offering you the discipline, dedication, and discernment to walk away from life’s “candy” and towards living your real ideals. When you’re true to your Higher Self, you no longer feel the need to prove yourself to anyone because you’re “at home” within. This card bodes well for gaining maturity, depth of character, and spiritual awareness.
We continue to explore our shadow sides not just for today, but for many eons to come, I’m sure. And during that examination of self, we learn to accept, release self-judgment, and finally learn our worth.
June 7, 2019: Card O' the Day: The Devil, reversed. The Devil card represents, among other things, bondage to destructive behaviors. When The Devil is reversed, it means release and recovery from addictions to food, drugs, alcohol, gambling, toxic relationships, etc. It can also mean release and liberation from false inhibitions (“Oh, I can’t do THAT! What would the neighbors say!?!?!). Manipulation by others and codependency are finally seen for what they are: unhealthy, unproductive, and wrong for you.
You’re getting the memo and seeing through the illusions that you used to convince yourself all that crap was something you deserved or was somehow a “good” thing. It’s now time to turn away from all the superficial and destructive garbage you indulged yourself with and get comfortable with you. All of you. Even your dark side…that stuff you’re less than proud of, that stuff you wish didn’t exist in you.
Guess what, kids? That dark stuff is what contrasts your light and makes your light visible. You cannot see the profound message written on a price of white paper unless you write that message in dark ink! The contrast allows you to see the bright white of the paper. And unless the paper is bright, you can’t read the message written in dark. Embrace all of you! Even your kinky leather fetish or 2am eating-mayonnaise-straight-out-of-the-jar. If it’s legal and not hurting anyone, have at it.
June 6, 2019: Card O' the Day: Six of Swords, reversed. Sometimes we need to really think about a problem, weigh all the pros and cons, gather data, and analyze the snot out of things before making a decision. Other times, we can over-intellectualize a situation that really needs you to make a gut- or heart-based choice. This is that time. Look to where you’re over-thinking something. You probably have all the information you truly need but are afraid to go with your gut. Conversely, your gut could be telling you to run away, but you’ve put so much time and effort in, you can’t see yourself just dumping and running.
Part of this tendency to over-intellectualize is that you’re looking at the circumstances from a very limited perspective—your own! What don’t you know? What are you missing? At the risk of sending you back to your pros and cons lists, I don’t think you have the entire story. You may have to dare a bit and venture out of your security zone. Don’t cling and don’t give in to fearful, negative thinking. You can do this.
This card has a final meaning I feel compelled to share. Something is about to come out into the open. A communication of some nature, a public notice, a declaration of feelings or intentions. Perhaps it’s you who’s decided, after a great deal of thought, to run for office. Someone may finally admit they have a crush on you. You may break the news to your partner that you’re going back to school or changing careers. This “breaking news story” might just be the thing you’re over-analyzing.
June 5, 2019: Card O' the Day: King of Cups, reversed. When upright, the King of Cups can mean it’s getting to be time, or you need it to be time, for some emotional healing. Reversed, the King says, “now’s a good time!”
As you dig around in your psyche, resit the urge to become maudlin, depressed, or disappointed in yourself. Whatever you’re remembering for healing, remind yourself you did the best you could, with the tools and experience at hand, in. that. moment. Self blame now is completely pointless. Therefore, don’t do it! Review the events, feel the emotions, acknowledge those emotions as being sucky, and then toss them in the trash. The icky feelings, that is; the experience that teaches you not to do “that” again, you keep. But again, just the lesson, not the guilt, shame, sadness, anger, grudge, etc. that has become attached to the lesson.
During this process, you’ll figure out new ways to express your feelings and inner life (new spiritual beliefs, renewed religious practices, and such). If one way doesn’t seem to fit, experiment with another. We don’t always find the perfect shade of lipstick on the first try, amirite? (And when we do, the company usually discontinues it. But I digress…) As you do the work of sorting your clutter, it’s okay to be little selfish and spend more time on you. Just don’t be an asshole about it.
June 4, 2019: Card O' the Day: Death. DO. NOT. FREAK. OUT. In the language of the Tarot, the Death card (or in some decks, The Unnamed card), simply heralds change. Those changes are not your choice; they are inevitable. They may also seem rather harsh. But, the “death” is required so that you’re available for the next good thing. I find that Death usually refers to a physical change rather than a change of heart or opinion (that’s what The Tower card is for). By example, you may get fired or laid off from your job, which then leaves you open for a new and better job. A relationship may end; this will leave you free to go out with that new, intriguing person without “stepping out” on your partner. You may have surgery, lose/gain weight, or otherwise change your physical body for the better. A new living arrangement may occur.
Think of this change as an opportunity for rebirth, transformation, re-creation of you. With every breath we take in, it’s a chance to revitalize our thinking, being, and doing. Welcome this card.
This morning, by the by, I spent a few minutes dead-heading the flowers in my garden. We all know that judicious pruning dead blooms or limbs encourages new growth on the plant. See what needs to be pruned in your own “garden” as you allow Death to sweep through your life to ready it for the rebirth that’s coming.
May 30, 2019: Card O' the Day: Ace of Swords, reversed. Yesterday’s card talked of diplomatic negotiations and debate. Today’s reversed Ace basically is saying “I don’t wanna!” Now, it’s true that sometimes a situation is indeed a lost cause and it’s better for all to simply end it. This solution means that all aggression and hostile interactions cease. However, are you thinking of giving up because it’s too haaaaaaaard! to find a compromise?
Struggling to find a middle way with another person (or yourself) can lead to self-destructive temper flares that consume your time and attention rather than actually doing something. You may be denying that you’re even bothered and resist the truth that the circumstances need to change. So, if things aren’t working by doing A, then reason dictates approaching the problem from a different perspective and trying B. Or C.
Remember it’s your REACTIONS to a situation or the deliberations that set the mood. Do you react with calm in the face of insults or shouting? You cannot control the other guy; you can only control your reactions to him/her. Sometimes the only logical reaction is to walk away. But consider for a moment why the other guy is so pissy…could he/she be pissy for the same reason as you? Tone down your temper, put your dick back in your pants, and communicate like an adult.
May 29, 2019: Card O' the Day: Two of Swords. The nation’s politicians, from lowest township level all the way to Washington, D.C., could take a note here…. When two sides (of a marriage, your own head, departments at your work place, etc.) are in opposition, it may APPEAR that the only way forward is that one side “wins” and the other “loses.” However, marriage or politics isn’t a baseball game where one side makes more runs than the other during the prescribed limits of the game.
Opposition and confrontation don’t have to be negative. A truly constructive debate is thoughtful, mindful of the other side’s opinions, and made dispassionately and without name calling. It’s not a power struggle; it’s a way of presenting ideas based upon facts. Finding compromise requires negotiation and diplomacy.
If a situation seems like it’s become the choice between a “rock” and a “hard place”, put all ego aside, cease trying to shout over the other guy, and follow your heart. Your heart (wherein lies all your power) not your ego (wherein lies all your fear) will be able to see another route. A route that allows BOTH sides to win. A route that allows BOTH sides to save face. A route that allows the sides to blend to one force moving forward for the greatest good of all.
May 28, 2019: Card O' the Day: Four of Cups. We received the gift of the Ace of Pentacles on Sunday, which indicated new beginnings on the material plane. This card reiterates the new beginnings with the assurance of lots of opportunities within your grasp. However, you may have to shake things up a bit in your own heart and re-think what your assumptions and fantasies were/are for you. Sometimes, when we get our minds/hearts set in one direction, we put on blinders to anything that falls outside the parameters of that “direction.” It could be your goals have to change to meet the opportunities available.
The Four gives us assurance of safety from which to move forward towards those goals with optimism. A little self-exploration and tapping into your intuition will help you make the right choices as you tweak your five-year plan according to the circumstances.
This card also represents selfless love, compassion, and kindness. Did you know you can hold all that in your heart and STILL maintain healthy personal boundaries? We’re being asked to step back from any drama and simply observe. Don’t get caught up in trying to fix it for others at your own expense. You’ll end up giving too much of yourself away by solving the problem for them but leaving yourself worn out and depleted.
May 26, 2019: Card O" the Day: Ace of Pentacles. Back in the days when steam engines pulled trains, they took so long to actually get moving, one could run and still catch the train after it technically began moving. That’s how the Ace of Pentacles feels today…very powerful energy but slow and steady before it hits its stride. And like a steam powered train, you’re not going to get from point A to point B in mere minutes, like you do on the “bullet trains” of Europe and Japan, but you ARE going to get there if you keep at. Since this card is a good omen when it comes to long-term plans and dreams, set your sights on the horizon, not just the next city over.
This card is also representative of the spiritualization of the Earth element and is governed by the root chakra. The root chakra is your home base, your foundation, the source of all your strength. Your growing power is flowering upwards from this chakra like magma rising from the depths of Earth. Feel it. Be sure of it.
Physically speaking this “new beginnings” card of the material plane could manifest into that first job out of high school or college that puts you on your career path (yes, even Taco Bell counts as “career path” material). Ditto the “starter home” or first apartment or a first car that ain’t pretty but moves. If you’re like me and have reinvented yourself a few times in the career department, this card may be indicating it’s time to switch it up and retire from whatever you’re doing now and start over with something else. Perhaps it looks like selling the family home and down-sizing to a smaller house, apartment, or motor home now that the kids are out of the house, which also counts as starting a new phase on the material plane. If you ain’t dead yet, you CAN start something new!
May 25, 2019: Card O' the Day: Eight of Cups, reversed. We’ve been asked to stay still for the past little while, and today is no exception. The bus isn’t leaving the station any time soon, so you still have time for a nap, careful consideration of options, snail-mailing paperwork, etc. This quiet time is about self-preservation, which makes me think some of you need more time to heal and replenish your proverbial cup.
Sometimes we get wild hairs up our butts and make quick changes, get radical hair cuts or tattoos, or pick up and leave for a weekend in Las Vegas. This card does not bode well for any of that. Any sudden changes made “just because” will be regretted almost immediately. Travel snags are indicated by the reversed Eight, so that rules out the Vegas weekend. Unfortunate haircuts take months to grow out; ugly tattoos are permanent. I’m opting for the nap….
May 24, 2019: Card O' the Day: Princess of Cups, reversed. The Princess of Cups is an emotional, intuitive dreamer who makes most of her decisions based upon how she feels about something. She believes people are inherently good, and most are. But when this card is reversed, the Princess is being being disparaged for her gifts. She’s being told to become more practical, put her feet firmly on the ground, and grow up.
I’m a big believer of listening to your intuition or instincts (your gut) when it comes down to it. This reversal indicates you’re not listening, refusing to listen, or being told your gut is wrong by more “practical” people who may not have your best interests at heart. This is called “gas-lighting” and they want you to do something that benefits or is easier for them.
Because she can be emotionally influenced, the Princess is taking this deceptive “advice” and is closing off from her imagination and intuition. Conversely, though, it may send her to the nearest “spirit guide”, Tarot card reader, or psychic looking for the answers that are right there in her own gut! At the risk of putting myself out of business, we ALL are gifted with a strong gut/intuition. Do your research when making big decisions or about what you believe to be true, collect opinions from those you love, but ultimately LISTEN to your gut and go with it.
May 23, 2019: Card O' the Day: Four of Swords, reversed. Normally when we get the reversed Four of Swords, it’s wakey-wakey time. However, stillness and thoughtfulness still lingers. Which is a good thing because recuperation isn’t quite completed. No, don’t stagnate, but continuing to think about what has just passed will bring clarity and a different perspective.
As things come into focus, you may find you’re stuck on the horns of a dilemma. This dilemma, it turns out was the cause of the recent upset in balance. With emotions out of the way, your foresight regarding your next steps will seem supernatural. By seeing the future so clearly, you can wisely administer all resources with economy and efficiency.
But not quite yet…rest a bit longer.
May 22, 2019: Card O' the Day: Five of Swords, reversed. Now that the zit on your chin has healed (see reversed Princess of Wands from the other day) and your three-alarm drama has settled, we move into the aftermath. You may feel spiritually, emotionally, or even physically pooped out following this episode. Kind of like you feel drained/exhausted after a really long, hard ugly-cry. You’ll feel better, but not yet your best because there’s still a certain amount of grieving to do over recent losses or chaos.
Lots of lessons are ready to be learned, and I urge you to see the potential for spiritual growth. However, you’re going to have to be honest with yourself and own your part in it all. What did you do to start it, fuel it, keeping it burning, etc.? Your recovery period can act as a good cover for your own humiliation, guilt, or shame for said part. As you realign your ducks, you can also quietly agree with yourself not to do “that” again and then let go of the useless self-recriminations.
As is always true of times of inaction and regathering of strength, there’s a danger of stagnation and wallowing in despondency. The message of this card is to rest and recover, but just don’t stay here too long.
May 19, 2019: Card O' the Day: Princess of Wands, reversed. The Princess of Wands represents new energy that’s on the cusp of becoming something great. Adventure awaits and it’s all good! Picture a young person going off to college this fall…. However, when reversed, this young person is reduced to a 13 year old girl with all the theatrics, drama, and superficiality that goes with it.
This card indicates enthusiasm for all the new stuff coming ahead, but because you don’t know precisely what that is yet, you’re uncertain and hesitant in your actions. If you do move, fine details are overlooked or ignored altogether. You feel scattered and unfocused and are entirely too conscious of any challenges you may face (is the crush of your life going to notice that GINORMOUS zit on your chin!?!?!?).
Because you’re so unprepared and are REacting more than acting, your ideas may well be rejected. Try not to take it personally! YOU’re not a bad person, you just haven’t done your homework. Therefore, go back to your desk, get yourself sorted out, and re-submit your plans when your zit has healed and you can focus.
May 18, 2019: Card O' the Day: Four of Swords. We tend to argue or become upset when we feel our personal power is being threatened for whatever reason. Perhaps your mother disagrees with your outfit choice, your partner tries to sway your political ideals, your friends try to give you parenting advice, or any of the myriad ways our own beliefs and plans come into question by others. When we make choices, good or bad, we are standing in our power and believing in ourselves enough to think we know best for OURSELVES. Today’s card is about finding the source of power within yourself, feeling it, believing it, and standing in it.
This quiet time of contemplation is where you don’t really “do” anything and take time to “be” with yourself. Replenish your cup, reclaim your power and authority over your own life. You may need to employ a little circumspection and diplomacy (true power is without force) to gain the space and time you need to become still and find your center, but do it.
During your period of thought and consideration, you’ll see the time isn’t right for some of the things you want to do. Something is in the way and/or the highly charged energies swirling around haven’t solidified into a concrete plan. Pay attention to your dreams and visions as they tend to reveal inner knowledge through “a-HA!” moments and random epiphanies. Digest what lessons and information you’ve gathered and add that to the mix. This will help you manifest what’s currently on your drawing board for when the time IS right.
May 16, 2019: Card O' the Day: The Wheel. We all recognize the impermanence of life. The sun comes up and goes back down, the moon waxes and wanes, the flowers bloom but then whither and die, the water in the river flows by and is never the same again. Certainly, a lot of things stay more or less the same, but not exactly. This card is here to make us examine the cycles of life in general and the cycles and patterns of our lives in particular. And as we become more aware of certain patterns, we then have the opportunity to break them if they’re “less than good” for us.
When The Wheel appears the concept of ending/beginning is also called to our attention. Today, I’m feeling more significance to the ending or completion end of that spectrum. (The last couple days talked about the new paths and possibilities coming; today we’re emphasizing the endings required before the new beginnings.)
“Adaptation” is the big keyword for this cycle of ending/beginning. Great strength and humor will also be necessary to keep from collapsing into a heap of “I can’t do this.” Influences, input, help, and assistance will come at you from all spheres of your life, so don’t be afraid of the coming forward motion. While the movement/risks may be something you initiate and welcome, it could also be you’ll be swept along by circumstances. If that’s the case, open your mind to new ways of being and believing so that your reaction to that movement is in line with YOUR will. Accept changes, relinquish the obsolete.
May 15, 2019: Card O' the Day: Ten of Wands, reversed. This card has some serious underlying shadows…. On the surface is can mean laying down burdens, relief from pressure, and the end to an oppressive situation. Clearing out debris, junk, or otherwise “old stuff” (physical and/or psycho-emotional) allows new paths to open thereby giving you space to move forward.
The real question is whether you make this happen with integrity and authenticity. WTF do I mean by this? Sometimes people will break or simply throw away their own things because they’re in a snit. Rather than put the item away, clean it, or deal with it honestly, they literally throw it in the trash just to get it out of their face. Imagine the bratty kid not getting his way, so he picks up his ball and goes home. He doesn’t face the conflict to look for a solution.
This is “false cleaning.” It’s self-destructive sacrifice rather than CONstructive. It’s a form of victimhood or martyrdom. It’s a cleansing that doesn’t feel good or make you feel more free. You do it out of anger and it only leads to resentment. Therefore, as you lay down your burdens, clean closets, and remove debris, the way to tell if you’re doing so with authenticity and integrity is whether you care if anyone notices. If you do it quietly and without fanfare, that’s real. But if you splash it all over social media and become madder as you go, then you’re playing the victim.
May 14, 2019: Card O' the Day: Three of Wands. Today is my birthday, and as I was immersed in my morning meditations giving thanks, I was moved to tears by the blessings I enjoy every day. Often, I ask Universe to bless the world in the way I have been blessed. Therefore, I happily share this positive, dynamic card of productivity and success I have drawn today with all of you.
The Three of Wands has similar elements to those of The Tower. Not the destruction inherent in The Tower, but the new beginnings that come after restructuring. To make that process happen, first we explore and experience the wonder of the possibilities unfolding before us. The Three said Yes! You CAN accomplish this! because your heart and intentions are pure and you’re willing to take the risk to step on a new path and give it a go. Commitment and clarity of thought and foresight will result in expansion.
We are not only being encouraged to follow our visions but also dared to…triple-dog-dared! Now, you’ll need to stay flexible and improvise because nothing stays the same for long—not even these new plans you’ve got buzzing through your mind and veins. Just go forward knowing the strength is there to follow through.
May 11, 2019: Card O' the Day: Queen of Pentacles. The Court cards represent the personalities of the tarot deck and match the sixteen personality types recognized in modern psychology and psychiatry. The Queen of Pentacles is “my” card, and I exhibit most of the personality traits she does…including the not-so-flattering ones.
The Queen is big-hearted, nurturing, and loves to prepare food and make a lovely home. This combination creates a warm, comfortable, and inviting atmosphere for her friends and family. (Never turn down an invitation to her parties!) She’s also rather independent and likes to maintain her identity and personal security; she hates to lean on others for her needs.
Unfortunately, this combination of independence and nurturing of others can mean the Queen gives too much of herself away. All the cooking, cleaning, and looking after everyone else—without asking for help—means she can get burned out and cranky. Therefore, this holiday weekend, if you’re making brunch for Mom and the rest of the family, make it a pot luck. Hire a lawn service to spiff the yard. Delegate chores and tasks. If you try to do it all, you won’t enjoy your own party.
P.S. After the weekend celebrations are over, take this tidbit of advice and carry it forward through the rest of your life. Yes, we Queens of Pentacles are completely fabulous all on our own and CAN do it all ourselves. But, why?
May 10, 2019: Card O' the Day: Four of Swords. As I said yesterday, with regard to the Ace of Cups, reversed, it’s time to figure out why you’re keeping your heart guarded. This card, the Four of Swords, is here to help us do that. With some solid “me time”, you can descend into your deepest self, relax all anxieties, and quietly contemplate your situation. You may not be able to get the job done during one day at a spa…if fact, probably not (though it can’t hurt to try). This is stuff that needs to be explored with a licensed therapist, clergy person, or spiritual advisor. This is a time of down-and-dirty digestion of what has passed that has put you where you are today.
The point to this work is recovery and returning to your center of balance. During this exploration of Self, you’ll find out stuff about yourself you never realized. Like, how much strength you actually have. I mean, you’re still breathing, right? But best of all, you’ll get to where you can release the grief and forgive. I can attest to the benefits of talking to a professional; I swear by therapy. With help, I’ve been able to unload tons, come to levels of patience and tolerance I never had before, and feel okay about taking what I need. Am I “done”? Oh, HELL no! But I am lighter than I was before.
May 9, 2019: Card O' the Day: Ace of Cups, reversed. When the Ace of Cups is reversed, it indicates that some of you may be guarding your heart a little… or a lot. Past painful experiences make you doubtful that new opportunities are sincere, and so you keep life at arms’ length to protect yourself from similar pain or failure. (These new opportunities can include business deals, promotions at work, making new friends, etc. We’re not talking just about “love interests.”)
In addition, you may not even be aware that you’re not living as fully as you could by daring to take emotional risks. You just consider yourself “prudent” or “cautious.” Perhaps you don’t ask for a promotion or apply for a more challenging job because you don’t consider yourself qualified or don’t want to risk taking on more responsibility lest you fail. On the other hand, you may indeed be aware that you’re not taking chances to become bigger, better, and more, but you deny it’s a problem and/or it doesn’t matter to you.
It’s fine with me, and probably with Universe, that you live the way you do. But check in with yourself. Does it matter to YOU? If you shut down that little voice in your gut that whispers it DOES matter with food (too much or not enough), alcohol, or drugs, it’s time to figure out why you guard your heart so closely that you limit yourself from living your fullest life possible.
May 8, 2019: Card O' the Day: Princess of Wands. The good news is that most of us are pretty resilient. Yes, we get down or feel defeated from time to time, but we do rise again. Yesterday’s reversed Nine of Swords indicated we were beginning to pull out of a slump and the Princess confirms it. Some definitions of this card indicate a “willingness” to begin work on fresh and new things. I’m rather a lazy person so the phrase “willingness to work” always makes me eye-roll. And yet, I’m not immune to the restlessness inherent in the Princess of Wands.
Another definition of this card talks about approaching challenges with “eagerness” and “excitement.” However, if you’re like me, fire energy makes me feel compelled…I feel pushed to do something rather than dash forward of my own volition. Again, I’m interpreting this card through my own personality traits, but the end result is the same and the thing gets done, started, or proceeds in another burst of activity. So, pushed, pulled…we’ll take whatever works to make that first step towards this shiny new beginning.
The shadow side of this card reflects that we are, indeed, playing with fire here. Therefore, you may be so impatient to see tangible results in your new project that you become irresponsible about the shoulds and oughts of life. Laundry still needs to be washed; the cat box still needs to be cleaned; the lawn won’t mow itself. These mundane daily chores will get in your way and make you cranky. Thyme, the herb due jour, is supposed to help with confidence, growth, and developing skills. It also smells really nice and has a relaxing effect on cranky moods.
May 7, 2019: Card O' the Day: Nine of Swords, reversed. Now that you’re getting a better grip on your fears of being shafted and getting back into the sandbox, you’ve actually found some new insight and wisdom. Sometimes being forced to stand still a minute and question why you feel a certain way is good for you. It’s call “shadow work.” This card represents doing your shadow work willingly. Hahahahahah! Who does shadow work willingly!?!??! It’s a nasty business that’s worse than cesspool cleaning. Nevertheless, doing the hard, gross work enables you to shift some shit and move to a better place. Or to use a more metaphysical word, “rebirth.” (Barf.)
This card also signifies pulling out of a low period! Yay! Guilt and self-blame have been alleviated to some extent (I mean, are we EVER free of guilt and self-blame) thanks to using your voice and saying what you need to say, taking responsibility for any missteps you’ve made, and generally clearing the air. Enjoy your day knowing you’ve done some good psycho-emotional work and you get to take a break from being “woke” today.
May 6, 2019: Card O' The Day: Three of Wands, reversed. Now that I’ve totally scared the snot out of you with all the talk of deceit and trickery these past couple weeks, this card is indicating fear of asking for help and feeling cut off or isolated from the rest of the group. Sheesh! We can’t win for losing! It also talks about getting over-ambitious, having lack of foresight, and difficulty putting your plans into action.
So, how are we going to work in this energy shift? Firstly, there’s precious little you can do COMPLETELY on your own, unless you move to the wilderness and live like a hermit. Thus, trusting others to do what they promise is something you’ll have to come to grips with. However, there ARE ways to trust yet keep tabs on your investments of time, energy, ideas, money, etc. That’s where contracts in writing, patents, trademarks, and the like come into play. They act as insurance policies that protect your stuff in case things go wrong. Now you can relax and go play with the other kids.
As far as the rest of it goes, this is a matter of checking your ego. Are you not trusting others to participate or help with your plans because you think you’re the only talent in the room? As brilliant as you are, you’re not going to see every detail. You will miss stuff. It would be prudent to have a second pair of eyes to help you see the things you don’t or to work on the parts in which you have no expertise. Otherwise, you’ll experience, ahem… “difficulty putting your plans into action.”
May 5, 2019: Card O' the Day: Seven of Swords. Aaaaand we’re back to the Seven of Swords. But THIS is what I love so much about the Tarot in that the meanings of each card are so layered and nuanced! What I discovered today about this card is slightly different than what we had a few days ago, but yet the core element of being less-than-truly-dead-dog-honest with yourself is still here.
The Seven of Swords indicates insight and intuitive understanding of others. What can they really offer you? What do you expect of them? Do those match? If they don’t match, things will stay out of balance until you find a different route. That route may be to lessen expectations or drop them altogether. The point is you’re setting yourself up for disappointment if you keep going down this particular road.
Have you ever noticed emotional insecurity is behind your greatest fears? (We expect, we don’t get, we feel insecure.) Ask yourself why you’re insecure. You weren’t hugged enough as an infant? Daddy issues? Trauma? Everything that was ever unpleasant in your life can add to the insecurity. To try to feel secure, you’ll hold yourself back and not take risks. Which means there you sit in your little world feeling insecure and unfulfilled. Wah.
You need to figure it out (therapy helps with that) and get past it. Here’s the deal: EVERYone is just as insecure as you! NO one is without fear! Even those “fearless” people who are totally out there living their lives on the edge are scared shitless. Join them. Fall down. Make a mess. Be embarrassed. Fail. Just do the best you can as you scream all the way down the rollercoaster hill of life.
May 3, 2019: Card O' the Day: Ace of Wands, reversed. As with all Aces, new beginnings are indicated here. This, coupled with yesterday’s Eight of Pentacles and its good ju-ju regarding work, I’m encouraged your ideas are good and could really launch you.
But again, patience is strongly advised. Rushing forward may lead to dissatisfaction with your share of the profits since the reversal of the Ace represents a “not right now” kind of feeling. The right opportunity hasn’t presented itself or the right opportunity is here, but more details need to be finalized. Get ALL your questions answered and have the agreement IN WRITING so your ASSets are completely covered. My inner paralegal is wrinkling her nose and screaming caution because something isn’t crystal clear yet. Remember, we’ve had a couple cards with “sneaky” and “deceitful” written all over them lately, and today’s card indicates someone may not deliver on a promise.
May 2, 2019: Card O' the Day: Eight of Pentacles. This card indicates good luck and abundance in the business/material world. You’re showing skill in your business, and your intelligence is well applied to material affairs. Trust Universe that things will work out for you in the end.
With that said, manipulation and secrets are still lurking around the edges. (Recall the cards of the previous two days.) Therefore, do your homework and build carefully and patiently. It’s essential that you safeguard your work product and investments by having things double checked to ensure YOUR best interests are being protected. If you’re getting pressure to act quickly, invest money without hard contracts in place, or you feel at all hinky in your gut, YOUR ass isn’t being covered.
I know I said to trust Universe, but in this case, I’m asking you to help her out a little. Work hard, watch your money closely, and make your own success. Your abundance comes from your diligence, not from random luck.
May 1, 2019: Card O' the Day: Prince of Swords, reversed. The Prince of Swords has a very quick and active mind. He’s got to be “doing” at all times otherwise he gets bored. When bored, he gets…shall we say “cranky.” He’ll start doing things and stirring pots just to get reactions and to cause destruction. After all, if something has beed destroyed, then he can rebuild it! Something to do! Or not. The Prince is kind of capricious that way. And especially when reversed, he’ll break dishes out of spite and leave you to clean up the mess.
Like yesterday’s reversed Seven of Pentacles, where we had lack and stealing ideas, this card also has elements of swindle, fraud, or deceit. Because our hero of the day is bored, he may be imprudent and charge ahead at this time without listening to solid advice. His theories and bright ideas might not be very practical; but even if they are, they really should be checked by attorneys and financial advisors to find what he may have missed.
My point for today is the “personality card” of the Prince is showing some unclear thinking. Couple that with two cards in a row that show deceit and dishonest taking in some way, and I feel like the Prince is gonna get took fer a ride. Don’t be the Prince!
April 30, 2019: Card O' the Day: Seven of Pentacles, reversed. There’s anxiety about money present in this card. Do you have any bright ideas or other kinds of intellectual property that you’re hoping to sell someday but are still unprotected? I don’t mean to sound paranoid, but telling everyone you know about your brilliant cure for cancer may not be the smartest thing. You can certainly discuss the possibilities and nuts and bolts of manifesting your new thing with a few trusted comrades, but blasting it on Facebook might be a mistake.
Don’t dwell in negativity, fear, and paranoia by any means, but do cover your assets. When you’ve worked long and hard for something, it should be yours. Protect it through patents, copyrights, or trademarks—whichever is legally appropriate. Once your project or idea is covered, you’ll be able to relax and not be fearful of losing it to someone else.
April 24, 2019: Card O' the Day: Seven of Swords. This card is all about the different connotations of lying. Lying to others, yourself, being “less than completely honest”, manipulating the situation, lying by omission, and generally being tricksy just to name a few ways we can be untruthful. Now, it’s true that sometimes, we simply must lie or bend the truth for ethical reasons. Doctors will tell loved ones the patient died without suffering when he knows damned well the patient fought and suffered until the end. You’ll tell your partner it was “good” for you, too, just to help them feel a little better about themselves and so you can roll over and go to sleep. The coach tells the worst kid on the team that he can see “improvement” to give the kid a boost in self esteem.
My point today is to really examine your motivations behind your untruths. Are you saving someone’s feelings? Are you motivated by compassion and sympathy? Or are you lying to save your own skin or ego, to weasel out of something you don’t have the balls to straightforwardly say you don’t wanna do, or to get something you want at the expense of another?
If you’re lying to yourself about something, stop. Face your truth: you actually LIKE to smoke, you’re just too lazy to exercise, and you hate smoothies/love bacon. Do you have to do anything about the things you lie to yourself about? No. But if you have to lie to yourself to shut something up, then there’s a deeper urge that’s saying maybe you should do something about that. Food for thought.
April 23, 2019: Card O' the Day: The Hierophant. This card is really resonating with me today. I know, yesterday I said the reversed Queen of Pentacles wasn’t for me, but I’m beginning to think she was. (Not that you can’t have her, too. I mean we ALL need to ignore chores and have adventures sometimes.) Anyway, I’ve gotten a new Tarot book, and I’m utterly on fire about it. I’ve devoured my previous “new book” and am digging in to the NEW “new book” with the thirst of a gaggle of girls out on Ladies Night.
The Hierophant represents anything that stimulates your inner awakening and growth through knowledge and education. This could be a religion, belief system, tradition, or studying anything about a passion of yours…whether that’s knitting, black smithing, physics, organized religion, or Tarot cards. This is about the study becoming an active, enjoyable, and satisfying experience.
The Angel of Spiritual Teaching is one of those associated with this card. This is not merely an educational experience we’re exploring here; this is about finding self-awareness through learning that reaches a spiritual level. The Hierophant is the link between conscious thought and intuitive understanding. It’s the gut understanding of steel or glass as you carefully work it into something of beauty.
The warning/lesson that comes with this divine tutelage is to never forget the direct conflict between your humanity and the reached-for divinity. Humanity will always win until you transition out of your human form. Read: your shit will always stink. Therefore, no matter how “divine” you become in your chosen passion, you’ll occasionally miss the mark. Stay humble.
April 22, 2019: Card O' the Day: Queen of Pentacles, reversed. Most of the many definitions of, attributes regarding, and personality traits assigned to the Queen of Pentacles apply to me, personally. I identify strongly with this card and every time I read about it, I’m thinking “yep, yep, and yep.” With the card coming up reversed today, I immediately thought that I wasn’t feeling particularly upside down today…so what gives? Well, for one thing, my cards are rarely about me; I’m just the messenger so I can get out of my ego now.
The Queen is a super earth-mother-y, Martha Stewart type and her reversal is telling us to let the laundry go, never mind the dust bunnies, and go outside to run barefoot in the grass. No, don’t go pulling weeds or mulching your flowerbed. Ignore. The. Chores. Look for a little adventure…or a lot of adventure. This kind of self-care has been on the back burner for too long and is pushing forward at you now. Stop “doing” for others for a little while and “be” for you. At least for today.
Or…maybe not just for today. It could very well be it’s time to delegate some of the traditionally feminine household duties to others (read: the men in the family). Your eight year-old kid is old enough to start doing his/her own laundry and making his/her lunch for school. Your partner is perfectly capable of making dinner and doing dishes and few nights a week. Taking off your apron will be an exercise in self-control and discipline, but most exercises are hard until you get the hang of them.
April 21, 2019: Card O' the Day: The Sun. Well, then! There ya have it! Sunshine on a cloudy day. This card represents relief after a lot of intensity. In this ease of pressures, you’ll have a clarity of vision that helps you see the new beginnings before you. What next? I dunno, you tell me! This is the highest of all the “yes” cards in the deck so you’re getting the ultimate thumbs up from Universe.
The Sun also signifies your indomitable spirit that’s been struggling against hopelessness, despair, and total defeat. Even at your rock bottom, you’ve held onto your soul and kept moving forward. Truth is freed from illusion—like that your life matters and you aren’t a complete waste of oxygen. Resurrect your innocence and be sure to play today.
With that said, I hate to be a buzz-kill. Even this card isn’t giving me the total warm fuzzies topped with rainbows and cupcakes. Am I cynical an incapable of seeing anything bright? No…I’m just not giving you a free pass to ignore your work. Therefore, ask yourself the following question: Am I feeling happy and fulfilled? If the answer is less than a resounding YESSSSSS!, then ask yourself this: What do I need to do to regenerate myself after all the crap I’ve been through? Do that. Finally ask yourself what kind of people you need to surround yourself with to help you reach your highest potential. Go find them and develop relationships with them. Get to the place of YESSSSSS!
April 20, 2019: Card O' the Day: Seven of Swords, reversed. This card is murky as hell today…either I need another cup of tea, I’m simply stupid right now, or something is lurking in the mists. There’s a lot about warnings and betrayals in this card. However, I don’t know what to warn you about. Turn on your spidey-senses and be extra observant.
Another aspect of this card is looking back or going back to a place to try to figure out what went “wrong” then or there. This is good…self-reflection about past behavior is always useful to prevent repeating mistakes. Just don’t get on board the “shoulda, woulda, coulda” guilt train. THAT never helps.
I think the main theme of our card is vulnerability. What are you particularly vulnerable to today? Are you worried about keeping up with the Joneses because they seem to have “more” or “better” than you? Do you hide your vulnerability by down-playing your troubles to save face? When it comes to the Joneses, you have no idea what’s going on in their house—their shit stinks, too, trust me. As for your troubles, ask for help.
April 19, 2019: Card O' the Day: Eight of Swords. I get that your emotions may be overwhelming you, but don’t you dare lock yourself up in your head and try to rationalize everything and make “sense” of it! You’re being asked to FEEL, dammit; don’t run from it into solitude or hiding.
Two things that might help: celestite and apples. The celestite is to calm your mind and help you change your perspective about what’s going on in your psycho-emotional house. The apple is said to help with insight and self-discipline (anyone who can eat an apple instead of a big ol’ pepperoni pizza with double cheese is HUGELY disciplined in my book!). And, just sayin’, that apple may help you poop out some stinky, negativity that’s been stuck in your gut.
Your efforts into self-examination and reflection are what’s causing the emotional tsunami. The intense feelings are causing you interference and blocking rational thought (thus the urge to retreat into your head and away from your heart). However, these emotions are interwoven into a conflict that must be externalized. By bringing the feelings to the surface, you can heal them and evolve. Don’t fear these necessary transformations because you’ll move forward lighter and freer of crap.
April 18, 2019: Card O' the Day: Ace of Cups. As with all aces, this card is indicating new beginnings and therefore, change is coming! Yay! (Some of us hate change…ahem, coff, coff.) The standard descriptions of this card include exciting keywords such as joy!, fulfillment!, opulence!, abundance!, and unconditional love!. But notice they all come with exclamation marks attached. I don’t feel all warm and soft with this card today…it’s like I’m being forced to Have Fun! and Be Joyful!. I’m being handed the jumbo stick of cotton candy and I feel both overjoyed and a sugar coma coming on.
The shadow aspect of the Ace of Cups is that feelings and emotions can be overwhelming, even good ones. When things seem to go too well, we tend to start looking for the rug to be yanked out from under us and prepare to fall. Life simply doesn’t treat us THAT nicely, now does it?
The lesson today is to accept this gift, trust it, and don’t over analyze. Allow yourself to dream big dreams and take joy in them—even if they’re slightly ridiculous (like a lightbulb or telephone, for example….). In addition to the sparkles and cupcakes this card offers, there’s fertility of the heart and mind that leads to productiveness. Meaning, your dreams have weight and aren’t ridiculous.
April 17, 2019: Card O' the Day: Nine of Wands, reversed. This card reminds me of zooming along a freeway, making excellent time on your trip, and then hitting road construction. Your three lanes are reduced to one and you’re shunted from on side of the road to the other. Cones, barrels, signs, and temporary concrete barriers impede your every move. And let’s not forget the assholes who zoom along in the last few feet of reducing lane just to squeeeeeeeeze in front of you. Really? Now you sit in crawling traffic fuming.
However, this reconstruction, reorganization, and repair is necessary to make the route ultimately more efficient and smoother to everyone along their path that much faster. To survive this personal “road construction” period, let go of your defensiveness and frustrations. All that does is raise your blood pressure.
Find your zen, let the important parties know you’ve hit a snag and it’ll take a little longer to deliver on your promise, and then get busy chipping away at the obstacles. Do what you can today. Mark your calendar for the things that simply MUST wait. Clean something that you haven’t had time to clean in a while. Walk around the block. Universe is forcing you to deal; see if you can do it without anger.
April 12, 2019: Card O' the Day: The Hanged Man. Some of you have taken my little ass-kicking of yesterday to heart. This card is about readjustment of views, ideas, beliefs, and your attitude. You’re coming to realize there’s so much more to life than what you have and are now doing, and you’re finally getting brave enough to maybe go get it. Or explore it. Or believe it.
Any suffering, literal or figurative, is self-imposed because suffering is a mind-set. Most suffering is resistance against societal “rules” and norms that someone decided are perfect for all, but you’re coming to understand aren’t perfect for YOU. (The most glaring examples are how to worship the Higher Power of your choice and who to love.) Another place of suffering is realizing you’ve been spending your life thus far pursuing a dream you outgrew eons ago. But you’ve invested so much time and money! You can’t just chuck it and do something else this late in life! Yes. You. Can.
The Hanged Man is telling you something in your life has run it’s course and is figuratively dying. This could be a relationship, career, religious belief, political leaning, or anything else you once thought was important until your grave. Surrender to the ending; it’s time. It may be painful, but nothing better can happen until you clear the decks and make yourself free for it.
April 11, 2019: Card O' the Day: King of Swords, reversed. April 5th I introduced the subject of dick swinging and this card is dick swinging at it’s finest! The reversed king corrupts his power by being excessively rational and logical. Merely methodical and organized don’t begin to describe this asshole. He’s cold, severe, harsh, and cruel simply because he can be. Magic and emotions? Fuggetaboutit! Getting married tomorrow? Too bad; you’re scheduled until midnight, and don’t you dare clock out a second sooner. If your fee-fees get hurt, go whine and sniffle on your own time.
But the big secret this asshole is hiding is that he has no self-esteem, feels stuck with no possibility of ever getting free, and is weak, weak, weak! The only way he can feel taller for even a minute is to stand on someone else’s back.
True strength and power is shown through compassion, kindness, and quiet knowledge that you’re hung to the floor. No. One. Takes. Your. True. Power. If you feel powerless, it’s because you’ve given too much away. Learn to say no firmly, with dignity, and softly. If you’ve got a reversed king in your life right now, put a lock on your buttons so they can’t be pushed. Take legal action if you have to. If YOU are the reversed king today, take yourself out behind the woodshed, drop the nearest anvil on your foot, and apologize to everyone you know for being an asshole. Then ask yourself why you have to be such an asshole?
April 10, 2019: Card O' the Day: Judgment, reversed. As it often happens, my readings and my bestie’s are in sync. D.j. Fuller is a very talented empathic reader in her own right, and I’m proud to call her mentor and friend. Recently she posted that finding magic requires sacrifice, but not of goats, chickens, or your first-born. Magic and true self-change requires sacrificing your fear and judgment. You need to risk your attachments to your identity to truly find your highest Self.
Her wisdom brings me to today’s card: Judgment, reversed. Fear of failure and insecurity tempt you to remain closed and static and refusing to move forward through the psycho-emotional crap you hold close like an old bankie from childhood. But guess what? The forward motion and sacrifices have already begun and no amount of running away is going to stop it.
As you shift and grow, expect push back from your tribe, family, society, as you break from the comfort and security of old ways, means, and possessions. The people who are truly on your side will stay with you and cheer you on. Those who take issue with your growth must be left behind. And let’s be real, your fear of change and growth is rooted in the fear of being shunned by society or judged by your peeps. You’re afraid nobody will love the New You. THAT’S the fear and judgment that must be sacrificed.
April 9, 2019: Card O' the Day: Queen of Cups, Reversed. Our reversed Queen of Cups is the epitome of Spring Fever today, and I don’t blame her a minute!! The fecundity of Nature…everything is blooming, the bees are buzzing, the birds are singing…the larger animals are preparing for giving birth and the smaller animals are doing the deed right and left. Sex, sex, and more sex! It’s hard not to get caught up in this mood and energy of life. You may feel extra emotional, nerved up, and blow hot and cold. The “hot” is in response to the atmospheric energy and the “cold” is your effort to rein it in and behave more “properly.”
The unfortunate part is that our society is, on one hand, horribly Puritanical and AT THE SAME TIME sells EVERYthing with sex! Car shows have beautiful women oozing all over the cars, burger joints have the servers in scanty uniforms, everywhere you turn there are products to help you appear more luscious and f*ck-worthy. But heaven forbid you should actually indulge in your natural urges: scandal! debauchery! immorality!!!
To that I say, “have at it.” It’s natural, normal, and feels good. If it’s not hurting anyone, under-aged children, or animals, let your freak flag fly!
April 4, 2019: Card O' the day: Six of Wands, reversed. The youth and inexperience of yesterday’s Princess of Cups is showing in this card. Doubt, insecurity, and apprehension may cause you to keep any ambitions or plans secret. Ask yourself why you don’t want to share and are acting alone. Are you afraid someone is going to steal your brilliant ideas? Or do you fear being laughed at for having “pie in the sky” dreams? Are you worried you’ll never achieve these goals because of lack of skill or other obstacles?
This card, along with the secrecy and doubt, also represents the trust and foresight necessary to plan your path to your goal. As you travel that path, you’re asked to appreciate each little step forward. Don’t look at school or technical programs as YEARS of study. Look at them one semester at a time. For example, Fall Semester take Intro to BioChem and Carburetors 101. Once that semester is over and you passed your classes, celebrate!!! You passed your perm rolling segment in beauty school? Celebrate! Break up the Big Goal into small goals, appreciate the snot out of each achievement and then sail forth to the next one feeling wonderfully proud for having successfully done that thing you were afraid you’d never master.
April 3, 2019: Card O' the Day: Princess of Cups: The Princess/Page of Cups indicates the tentative beginning to something that’s not fully formed quite yet. There’s a vague idea and impetus behind it, but it hasn’t fully matured. Don’t discount the power of imagination and fantasy to turn this mere wisp into something solid. It’s destined to evolve positively.
In the mean time, curiosity about and reflection upon the magic in the world will help you see the door to whatever has been caging you has always been open. That cage has been in your mind all along.
While you’re looking outside with wonder, look inside with that same wonder at YOU. Learn to trust your feelings as valid and valuable; dare to FEEL, and love, at all! And if you can dare to love, let’s start right at home, with yourself. Because if you can learn to love yourself, and be okay with aaaalllllll your perceived flaws, then you’ll have a better chance of being able to love the rest of us poor, miserable wretches, too.
April 2, 2019: Card O' the Day: Prince of Swords, reversed. Upright, the Prince of Swords is all about “full steam ahead and damn the torpedoes!!” Details are left for the plebes to attend and clean up in his wake. However, reversed, the Prince is ready to be more conscious of and conscientious about his life. He’s telling us it’s time to overcome impulses and become more thoughtful and careful as you move forward. Lately we’ve been hopping from one foot to the other as we scream at the microwave to COOK FASTER! Recent cards have had us blasting through convention and rules to make our own ways, and that’s good stuff. But you want to break the rules carefully and with thought behind WHY they need to be broken so you can put something better in their place.
Now, this is not to say that you should slow down to the point of inertia. Doubt, fear, and over caution are also present with this card. Yes, be thoughtful in your actions, but don’t stop the acting part completely.
Check final details about travel plans carefully. Reversed Prince of Swords can mean delays or cancellations. Have a Plan B in mind so you don’t freak out if your plane gets grounded.
April 1, 2019: Card O' the Day: Seven of Swords, reversed. We were JUST talking about not hanging with your homies enough! This card signifies support and assistance from others. If that’s merely on a personal level, good for you and nothing more needs to be said.
However, this card has some extra stuff with regard to said “support and assistance.” Public announcements or letting some secrets out of the bag are also present. You might feel ready to come out of the “closet” about something because you’re aware you’re supported and it’s safe to do so. Now, coming out of the proverbial closet is not only for those with other-than-heterosexual orientations. You may have a secret desire to put everything in storage and travel the world or run for public office. But up to now you haven’t said anything because you didn’t want to be laughed at. You won’t be laughed at, and you’ll get unexpected help once you make your move.
Another tidbit about this card is it has qualities regarding seeking more joint efforts for serious and meaningful changes. I read that as making a difference in society, whether that’s on a local scale or going to Botswana to help far flung villages gain access to clean water. So, maybe it’s not about having a kegger in your back yard with your peeps (it’s TOTALLY okay if it is!), but more about getting with like-minded people to save the world.
March 31, 2019: Card O' the Day: Three of Cups, reversed. The Three of Cups is all about yer homies, besties, peeps, those who gots yer back. But it's come up reversed today, which means you're not having time to hang out the way you used to or you're just not feeling in the mood to be with people at all. Maybe you’ve decided your friends are shallow, too “deep”, don’t care about the things you find important, care too much and try to guilt you into recycling and saving the whales, etc. At any rate it’s just too much work to make the effort….
Well guess what? Having friends takes as much work as having a partner. Even if you beg to differ on their politics or crusades, lend an ear and enjoy their passion about their “thing.” Encourage them to be their most authentic selves even if it isn’t your bag. Now, I do understand we grow in and out of friendships for various reasons. If the friendship has legitimately cooled, so be it. I’m talking about something different here.
And that “different” is being a lazy friend. You’re so caught up in your own drama that you’ve passed on too many invitations to hang out or go places. If you keep passing, they’ll stop asking. Just sayin’. So, throw a lazy girl party by inviting the whole gang for a thing. All you have to do is drive to the liquor store and stock up. Then hit the snax aisle and get 40 bags of crunchy salty things. Go home and clear the laundry off the sofa so everyone can sit. Put your sweats back on (if you changed out of them to go to the store, that is), open the booze, and just BE with your friends.
March 30, 2019: Card O' the Day: Justice. Just so you know, in some Tarot decks Justice sits in the eighth position of the Major Arcana. Thus we have another 8 today…third one in a row…just sayin’.
In addition to the good news of sometimes being considered an 8, Justice indicates we’re in the process of swinging back into balance and finding clarity again. Some decisions have been necessary of late and Justice is helping you see the equal value in things that seem vastly different. Such as the value of taking a day off and relaxing as compared to working overtime to get a fatter paycheck. While conscious effort brings reward, if you’re too tired to enjoy the rewards, what’s the point?
Justice also represents all things that help us feel safe and stable. But safety and stability can also be rigid and prevent growth. A plant carefully nurtured in a pot on your windowsill will thrive until the pot becomes too small and further growth is stifled. Outside, the same plant could die, but more likely it’ll reach it’s fullest potential because nothing is holding it back. Therefore, don’t judge yourself or others or base important decisions upon rigid societal rules or belief systems (the inside flowerpot). The body aspect of the card is the heart; make sure your heart and inner wisdom are involved with your choices and judgments.
March 29, 2019: Card O' the Day: Eight of Pentacles, reversed. And the wild hair continues…now I know why some of you were ready to jet, but Universe was saying stay put and work it out (Eight of Cups, reversed yesterday). We spend a large part of our lives on our careers, jobs, or just keeping a roof over our heads, and it matters a lot—in your head and heart—to be safe and secure. Thus, we get this combination of reversed eights: the Cups relating to our emotional attachment to security and Pentacles relating to the physical need for security.
The reversed Eight of Pentacles indicates careers or jobs are seemingly dead-end and you’re tired of putting in your “110%” to reach that promotion, raise, or next skill set. Impatient for your rewards and recognition, you’ve lost focus, ambition, and concentration. You might even start looking at “get rich quick” schemes because you just want yours NOW. But know this: anything you don’t really work for and honestly earn is wasted effort.
The good news is that 8’s (yesterday’s and today’s) signify diligence in pursuing your goals that result in progress and structure. Therefore, get your crown chakra out of your root chakra and get back to the reality of your life. You got dreams? Then WORK for them!
March 28, 2019: Card O' the Day: Eight of Cups, reversed. Even though you’ve got a wild hair up your ass right now, let’s not throw the baby out with the bath water. When upright, this card indicates it’s time to let go of something or leave a situation that’s emotionally fraught. Reversed, I think we’re being told not to make any rash, emotion-based decisions that burn bridges. There’s potential for improvement and cautious optimism, so don’t bail on all you have.
You may not be thinking of leaving altogether, but just want a vacation or a break as a form of escapism from your current situation. There might be snags or delays on that front. Plan carefully and for all contingencies. I don’t begrudge you the need for a respite, but luck may be against you; therefore, make your own luck by doing everything you can to mitigate any difficulties.
As frustrated and restless as you are right now, know that you have a pretty good thing going. It’s not time to go, give up, or make drastic changes just for the sake of doing something… anything. Ultimately, you’ll find satisfaction and happiness here as corrections and improvements are made.
March 27, 2019: Card O' the Day: Queen of Pentacles, reversed. One would expect the Princess of Wands to be feisty and capricious. She represents fire and youthful energy and is ready to take on the world! But the Queen of Pentacles? Nooooo…. She’s stately, mature, and so very responsible. However, being reversed, even she feels Spring in the air and is ready to blast loose from the duties and traditions that define her life and to buck the system!
If the Queen had appeared alone, I may have thought it’s just the warmer weather making her a little crazy. After all, it’s expected of the Princess of Wands to be wild and temperamental; the Queen of Pentacles, on the other hand is everyone’s rock. Steady, reliable, wise, decisive. But she’s still a person…her own person. The reversed Queen following the Princess indicates none of us are “safe” from being shaken from our static slumber.
If this card represents you right now, I urge you to be a little crazy and express your inner child. Let her imagination off the leash to dream big dreams. If anyone has the acumen to make slightly nuts schemes come to fruition, it’s the Queen of Pentacles.
March 26, 2019: Card O' the Day: Princess of Wands. As the day’s get longer and Mother Earth forces us into a new cycle, our physical bodies respond instinctively by feeling alive and joyful just being upright and breathing. Thus, you can feel yourself slowly getting more energetic, antsy, and curious about what’s coming next. Will you make changes or improvements to your career path? a relationship? your living quarters? At any rate, you’re feeling it’s time for something new, and you’re willing to start.
All this spring energy (hel-LOOOO Wands!) can be very powerful. It’s up to you to keep it grounded in realism and common sense. You have the strength to harness this burst of energy and put it to good use.
The only fly in this particular ointment is your own ego. You may WANT to sail forth and conquer the world, but you’re too afraid of making a mistake and looking like an idiot. (My thoughts on that are not appropriate to write here; bad words are involved). And that’s where your past lessons of what didn’t work come in handy. Also, do the BFD test. If you did X, Y, or Z, would there be copious Blood loss—yours or anyone else’s? How about Fire? Death? Would anyone Die? Is the answer no to the B, F, and D? Then strap on a pair and go get ‘em!!
March 22, 2019: Card O' the Day: Five of Swords, reversed. Apparently, the Five of Swords, reversed, showing up on March 17th was portends of things to come. In other words, we ain’t out of the woods yet. In the past few days, we released tears and grief, energetic crap (Five of Wands, reversed), and got a grip on ourselves (The Chariot) so that we could face the big hairy truth that something we’ve put a whole lotta faith in is, in the end, smoke and mirrors. Well, sheeeeee-yit.
The good news is that when reversed, the Five of Swords emphasizes moving past grief and into recovery. I think it showed up the other day to let us know we would be entering into recovery, and today it’s reminding us there IS recovery after the crap hits the fan.
Sometimes the best way to cope with emotional chaos is to get rather dry and analytical about the situation. It’s like returning to the wreckage of your home after it’s been pretty much demolished by a tornado. You cry your eyes out and then go about the business of seeing what’s left. Some may view that as being cold. However, you cannot stay in a state of weeping mess. At some point you have to move forward and that means drying your eyes, wiping your nose, and getting on with it.
March 21, 2019: Card O' The Day: The Hierophant, reversed. I try my best to view people without judgement as to who they love, how they worship, how they wish to nurture their children, what they believe is in their and society’s best interests, etc. I understand it’s simply Not. My. Place. to tell others how to live their lives (unless, of course, small children or animals are being harmed and then I take issue). Therefore, I’m hesitant to get into this particular card because today its religious aspects are screaming at me.
The upright Hierophant represents the rules of society, the “oughts” and “shoulds” we live by, and organized religions and each one’s beliefs that are required to be a “good” Catholic/Muslim/Jew/Methodist/Baptist/Lutheran/Etc. When reversed, the card indicates some of you may be dealing with an organized religion that’s gone sideways for you. You may be experiencing harsh judgment from your religious group because of some perfectly human mistake. As you seek help and spiritual guidance, you’re faced with fanatical pomposity and arrogance. Dominance and manipulation is disguised as bringing you back to the “righteous” path. However, that path is actually limited and restrictive to your personal and spiritual growth and development.
Discovering that the beliefs, dogma, and tenets by which you’ve lived and held to be true are indeed flawed and represent false knowledge can cause a great deal of emotional distress. Mental struggle and inner chaos about what to do next can be crushing. But yesterday we received The Chariot…self-mastery. Universe told you yesterday that you’re strong enough to weather any storm. Even a crisis of faith can be managed. God/Source/Jehovah/Allah/Universe/WhateverYouWantToCallHigherPower will be waiting for you on the other side.
March 20, 2019: Card O' the Day: The Chariot. This card is all about gaining self-control. Control of your ego so you don’t act like an asshole when things don’t go quite your way, or so you can effectively lead others without alienating them (we all know THAT boss; don’t be one!). Control of your emotions so you can see past and around obstacles instead of collapsing into a puddle of tears or useless snit-fit. This self-mastery will then allow you to be assertive and useful in difficult situations at work, home, or in your community.
The energy of The Chariot is coming from within. It’s sort of behind you and pushing you forward to DO something…anything. The “something” is not calling you forward. See the difference? This will allow you to act without doubt or hesitation. However, unless you couple this fire-under-your-butt energy with appropriate control of your ego, you’ll act with over-confidence and imagine you’re more skilled that you actually are. So, put that scalpel down and step away from the cardiac patient unless you’ve been through med school. Conversely, there’s the danger of becoming a control freak. Being in supreme control of yourself doesn’t give you the right to be in control of everyone else around you. Stay on your mat! (Yoga reference.)
As you take the reins of your life and gain control of your ego and emotions, you can release any psycho-emotional crap that’s holding you back to transform negative energy or events into positive outcomes. The simplest positive outcome being you won’t do “that” again. And by NOT doing “that” again, you grow.
March 18, 2019: Card O' the Day: Five of Wands, reversed. Yesterday, we received the Five of Swords, reversed, and today we’ve been given the Five of Wands, also reversed. Fives indicate conflicts or difficulties arising from changes initiated by the dynamic interaction between formless energy and tangible structure. (The proverbial unstoppable force colliding with an immovable object.) However, Fives also represent health and the physical body. Therefore, consider the role of this conflict in your process of healing. As you suffer, your fears are revealed, but your strength is ALSO revealed, which will transmute all the pain and anguish into life lessons.
The reversed Five of Swords helped us release the mental torment with regard to current problems. The Five of Wands, reversed, is allowing us to release the energetic torture. After a really good cry or an extra hard workout, you feel wrung out and exhausted but also strangely serene as you come to understand the worst is over. A new clarity of mind/body/heart/soul allows you to prioritize what’s truly important in your life and prepare for your recovery from the sh*tstorm.
March 17, 2019: Card O' the Day: Five of Swords, reversed. When things go to hell in a hand basket in our lives, we may react with anger or sadness or both. Regardless of your reaction, a certain amount of grieving must be done, which includes crying. Fun fact: the chemical makeup of your tears changes according to the emotion being released. Therefore, crying is actually a way to physically detoxify your body of negativity. Who knew? Another gem from Nayyirah Waheed: Grieve so that you can be free to feel something else. (A moment of silence as my head explodes in awe…)
The reversed Five of Swords indicates the “bothersome issue” that upset you is actually over or finishing up. Therefore, you’re in the aftermath and need to focus forward past the defeats and losses. Your weaknesses are being tested and it’s reeeeeeeelly tempting to sit and wallow in your pain. Don’t. Keep your feet moving otherwise you’ll stagnate right where you stand. And do you really want to stay “here” forever?
As you stumble forward, see what can be salvaged. Relationships may be different, but the person doesn’t necessarily have to be completely out of your life. What you thought was a solid career may become a starting point to the next thing or a good place holder while you prepare for your next thing. After salvage come release. Let go of the things that are unsalvageable. In the end, accept the growth and lessons from this life event so you don’t have to do it again.
March 16, 2019: Card O' the Day: Six of Pentacles. The suit of Pentacles corresponds to the Earth element and represents the entire atmosphere of your physical world. It’s not just about jobs, careers, and money. The number six is about balance and harmonious energy. Therefore, we’re talking about keeping all areas of your life balanced with each other. This card is about finding a balance between your work and play, your family and friends, your good deeds and “me time.” This balance is also between feast and famine. I’m sure you’ve heard heart wrenching stories about families or individuals which seemed to have it all only to lose everything and end up living in a car…or on the street. “There but for the grace of Universe go me or thee….”
This card is also about rank and influence. If you’re currently blessed with rank in your community or influence in your society, use it wisely and with integrity. Don’t even think about selling your honor to the highest bidder. Use that power for the betterment of all through philanthropy and giving. If you’ve been at the receiving end of blessings, be sure you’re also at the giving end to maintain that delicate energetic balance. If you’re currently down on your luck, count your blessings, be grateful for each, and look to where you can give to someone who has even less than you. As they say, what goes around comes around, and giving starts the circle back to receiving.
March 14, 2019: Cards O' the Day: The Wheel of Fortune and Death, reversed. …And now I know why the cards of the previous two days appeared (King of Wands and The Lovers, both reversed).
The Wheel of Fortune is indicating you’re coming to a place of expansion and abundance as you create your personal vision. A fortunate turning point, at which you’ll need to make some tough decisions, is rapidly approaching. If you can dare to take the gamble when advantages open up to you, you can expect good luck and success.
However, Death reversed is speaking of fear- and self-doubt-based stagnation and resistance to change. Thus you stay put trying to make the best of a bad situation because it’s the “devil that you do know.” So, until you’re ready to let go of what doesn’t serve you (that which is “dead”), you’re not going to move forward into your abundance and visions. The silver lining to this card is you still have some time for planning before your ship leaves port.
A question to ask yourself is “Who am I afraid of letting down if I move on to my own triumphs?” By avoiding that question, that’s how you got sucked into the work, project, or favor that’s really not your cup of tea, in your field of expertise, and/or quietly sucking your soul dry. Going back to our question, I’m going to ask you another: Why is it okay to let YOURSELF down by getting caught up in this quagmire?
March 13, 2019: Card O' the Day: The Lovers, reversed. My feelings of some of you being in over your head (yesterday’s card) morph slightly to being in a situation that’s not best for your highest self. I think you were presented with a tough choice. By trying to be nice or helpful, you decided to dive in but it’s been terrible for you.
This card shows a lack of analysis or an impulsive or an uninformed decision. This has put you in the middle of something that’s suppressing your individuality. (It’s their way or the highway. But wait! You asked me for help!!) Struggles for power and dominance over you make you feel even more taken advantage of and cranky.
Lesson O’ the Day: be careful of making choices against your best interests. Doing good deeds shouldn’t involve shooting yourself in the foot.
March 12, 2019: Card O' the Day: King of Wands, reversed. This card indicates some of you may have been hornswoggled into something you’re not exactly prepared for or don’t have the skill set needed. In an effort to be a “good pal” or “team player”, you’ve reluctantly agreed against your better judgment and your personal boundaries.
Now that you’re knee deep, you see how much work is involved and how woefully under qualified you are. This can cause you to shirk the responsibility to the pledge you’ve taken to help. Being put in this moral dilemma will give rise to resentment of the expectations others have of you to follow through. Resentment is expressed in blowing a lot of smoke and excuses about the whole thing to hide your own insecurities and horror at doing a disappointing job.
Now, no one is born knowing stuff, so it’s perfectly okay to say you need help. You can also cry uncle and explain you’re in over your head and simply don’t have the necessary expertise. Yes, your ego will take a hit, but your integrity will take a bigger hit if you continue trying to fake it and turn in a piss-poor performance. Be stand-up enough to know when to allow another to take over the job. You have other fantastic skills…just not in this particular area.
March 7, 2019: Card O' the Day: Ten of Swords, reversed. To recap this week: anxiety for someone else and guilt that you didn’t or can’t fix it for them and making the best choice for YOU (and possibly letting someone else crash and burn while you move forward).
Now we see beneficial changes and improvements for you since you made the best choice for you (or will very shortly). With those changes will come new personal power and authority, which will bring you further advantages. The only caution there is to be careful with that new power and not try to take over the world. You know, that integrity sh*t.
Something else that lingers around the edges of this card today is psycho emotional baggage. The “shoulda, woulda, coulda” train from Tuesday has added the “if I had only…” car to it. Stay in the coffee shop at the station and get another latte!! Be late for this train! Do. Not. Get. On. You don’t need this crap holding you back. Certainly, review events for any lessons you may have missed. But do so drily and without emotion. This is key, because allowing remorse or reliving the pain means you’re wasting your own time and energy.
March 6, 2019: Card O' the Day: The Lovers, reversed. Most assume The Lovers card is all about love relationships. Actually, it’s about making the right choices and unions of any nature—not just love matches. When the card is reversed, miscommunication is present, and that’s what’s shouting the loudest at me today.
Clear, objective communication isn’t happening. This leads to arguments and disagreements because you’re failing to get the entire picture, which causes you to balk and get defensive because you feel taken advantage of. If you do make any decisions based upon bad or incomplete details, they’ll be uninformed and possibly impulsive as you try to do anything besides sit and wait. Furthermore, if the decisions were about joining with another, for business or pleasure, that merger may seem smothering and as if you’re getting the short end of the stick. This makes a once desired union less attractive.
What to do? Step back, put your ego in a time out, and ask for clarification. Once you have that clarity and full facts, you can make the best decision for YOU.
March 5, 2019: Card O' the Day: Nine of Swords. Worry, worry, more worry and anxiety. Most of this is on behalf of someone else, though. Add guilt, because you feel like you should have “done something” to prevent that person from getting into trouble. Guess what? Not your circus or monkeys! This other person got themselves into this mess and they’ll have to sort it out. (Unless, of course, it’s your underaged kid. Then it’s your circus and monkey.)
The negative “shoulda, woulda, coulda” train circling your head right now is only the way you feel about the situation, not the actual situation. Therefore, the good news is you can change your thoughts and get off the train! As soon as the mind-chatter starts, change the channel. Put on some loud obnoxious music and dance your butt off. Put on music you hate and spend your mental energies hating it. Exercise yourself into a sweaty mess. At any time your thoughts head back to Negative Land, consciously change them.
This is not to say you need to cut the person who’s in trouble out of your life. Do what you can comfortably do to help, but don’t twist yourself into a pretzel of guilt and anxiety over something you can’t control.
February 28, 2019: Card O' the Day: Eight of Wands. On Tuesday we had the hard-to-control energy of the Nine of Wands; today we have the equally dynamic Eight of Wands, but it seems you have a good grip on what needs to be done. This card signifies courage, decisiveness, and taking an active role in achieving your goals. Synchronicity will clear obstacles, things will seem to “magically” fall into place, and energies align among all those involved, so just go with it and don’t question this gift.
You’re being asked to be open and receptive of new ideas and outside inspiration. Just because you didn’t think of it or make it doesn’t mean it’s not useful to you. Acceptance leads to abundance. Now, DO ground these ideas and sparkling thoughts in organized practicality. You have to create a structure for this fire to work in. Otherwise it simply looks pretty, is warm for a minute, and burns away to nothing. Use it wisely or lose it.
One of the significances of this card I read was “motionless movement.” And…that means what, precisely? It means you’re moving towards your best self from within. There’s restlessness in your soul that you’re responding to. Be assured that Universe has noticed you’re ready and Spirit is at work. If you’re not sure about your next step, ask for guidance. (Which takes us back to yesterday’s card regarding ego v. true intuition. Ask for what your Highest Self NEEDS, not what your ego wants. I had dinner with a friend not long ago and I WANTED a nasty, greasy pizza! My body, for its health, NEEDED a salad. I ate the salad and felt better for it.)
February 27, 2019: Card O' the Day: The High Priestess, reversed. The High Priestess is a pretty heavy-hitting spiritual card that speaks of your Higher Self and your connection to the Divine. When this card is reversed, it may indicate you’re not taking your spirituality as seriously as it must be taken to be authentic. It’s true that spiritual practices have become more accepted; it’s not that nutty to say you read Tarot cards anymore. But are you joining the party because you’ve truly discovered that other realm within you or are you just trying to appear “woke” and are merely dallying with a fad?
Be careful that rituals, altars, crystals, herbs, and the like aren’t reduced to mere props to make you seem more “witchy.” Don’t mistake the desires of the ego and the need to be cool as intuition. Your intuition will honestly tell you if you’re just play-acting while your ego will push you towards even more trappings, workshops, and secret midnight meetings as you corrupt the genuine connection with your Highest Self.
The High Priestess wants to make a Public Service Announcement for all ladies: check your calendar to see if you’re due for a pelvic exam or a mammogram. A new year, annual check-ups, yada, yada, yada. With spring coming, you might be feeling extra sexy, too. Therefore, check your birth control supplies and stay healthy.
February 26, 2019: Card O' the Day: Nine of Wands. The dynamic energy of the Nine of Wands is like a very spirited race horse: riding that horse to victory is difficult, hard work, takes finesse and knowing, and is scary as hell. You may come to a place where you’re so exhausted with the fight that you dissolve into tears or a flaming temper tantrum. Black tourmaline is the stone for this card and it might be time to have some close. It’s said to promote self-reliance and stamina so you can continue with your efforts. It also repels negative forces or energies (whether from within or outside you) and/or transmutes that gnarly ju-ju to positive spiritual energy that’ll help you persevere.
When things go wrong and we feel beaten down by Life, some may take on a pessimistic view and live in expectation of difficulties. This card reflects that attitude where you expect the worst and hunker down into a little ball of anxiety bracing for the crash. Well, there’s no guarantee of a crash, so why waste your energy cowering? Wait and see if things do go up in flames before you stand there with the hose.
The Nine of Wands foretells of great success and victory preceded by fear and trepidation. It also represents the stamina and strength which you need to stand firm. Don’t run; all your hard work is about to pay off. You’re almost there!
February 20, 2019: Card O' the Day: Five of Swords.The nice big false smile I spoke of yesterday is getting hard to hold. Some of the bummers you’re feeling of late actually are coming from negative mindsets. Meaning, the way you view your life is part of your problems. By comparing yourself to others (unfavorably, of course), you enhance insecurity and lose perceived “battles” before you even get out of bed.
Learn how to protect yourself from that negative thinking pattern by redirecting your imagination. If you imagine scenarios in your mind about asking for a raise, for example, instead of imagining being turned down (so why bother asking?), imagine citing your virtues and the success you’ve brought to the company as you make your case for getting that raise. Athletes use the power of positive thinking to enhance their performance all the time. So can you.
Fives indicate challenge and conflict (inner conflict today), but they also represent new phases. Therefore, take advantage of this unsteady energy to make changes in the way you view your life, yourself, and anything else you’re being a Negative Nelly about.
February 19, 2019: Card O' the Day: Prince of Cups, reversed. The reversed Prince of Cups can represent some pretty shady dealings and narcissistic behavior. I don’t feel that level of duplicity towards others. I’m still hung up on the idea that there’s a lot of personal crap that needs to be moved along.
Therefore, the emotional dishonesty is coming from within—you’re kidding yourself that you’ve got it handled. The chameleon-like adaptability inherent in this card is a way of flying under the radar so no one notices you’re struggling. A nice big false smile keeps anyone who might be concerned about you at arms length and prevents them from asking sticky questions.
Because you can’t honestly and sincerely give of yourself right now, don’t commit to anything. No, you don’t have time to bake cupcakes for the Cub Scouts. Sorry, can’t sit on the decorations committee for the Spring Fling. Not gonna be a chaperone for the zoo field trip. Why set yourself up for becoming overextended and miserable? Sort your own self out and replenish your cup before you start giving it all away again.
February 18, 2019: Card O' the Day: Strength, reversed. Great. Is Strength, reversed going to be the “new” Ten of Swords? (See February 15th Card O’ the Day.)
A few days ago Strength, reversed was indicating there were strong emotions that needed to be expressed constructively lest they come out inappropriately and destructively. Day before yesterday, The King of Cups represents deep wounds coming to the surface to be healed. Yesterday’s Prince of Swords, reversed, showed us how our strong feelings can really mess with our heads as we try, try, try to keep a lid on it and act “as if.” Is anyone else seeing the trend?
It’s time to face facts that some sh*t needs to be dealt with. If you can’t do it on your own, I HIGHLY recommend you see a therapist, clergy person, shaman, or licensed social worker and TALK about your feelings for a few hours! Shoving your pain down only leaves it to fester. If you have no shame in going to the doctor for a hinky appendix or broken arm, then why not see someone for your broken heart, uncontrollable grief, overwhelming anger, etc.?
February 17, 2019: Card O' the Day: Prince of Swords, reversed. Did I not say stuff was bubbling up from the depths? No matter how hard you try to be in control, your head is tripping out. Words and ideas don’t make sense, and you can’t express yourself well or with purpose. Doubt and fear begin to creep in as emotions begin to overwhelm. This is all supremely frustrating so you may act out in fits of anger, waste resources and time, be extravagant, or indulge in impulsive actions. Conversely, you may not be able to get out of bed. Inertia is a common reaction to feeling overwrought.
Guess what? It’s the weekend and you totally have my permission to give this day a pass. If you’re too antsy to sit still, go for a hike, to the zoo, or to the movies. DON’T go shopping! You could melt your credit cards in this frame of mind. Also, don’t make any big decisions today. Keep it lighthearted and just be.
February 16, 2019: Card O the Day: King of Cups. The King of Cups is highly sensitive to the needs of others but hides his fierce nature behind a calm exterior. In the face of crisis, he’s the “go-to” man to take care of any problem. His integrity is unparalleled. He’s capable of depth and introspection and is a master of self-reliance and control. This King is the epitome of the strong, silent type.
As a King, this card indicates you may have stayed too long in a state of being, relationship, job, or other situation. You’ve basically become root-bound and can’t grow any further until you’ve made some changes, whether they be physical, emotional, or spiritual. Because this card represents a yearning for spiritual growth, I’m going to say you need to make changes more in your spiritual or emotional houses rather than your physical house.
Being sensitive to the needs of others is all very laudable, but not so good for you if you put everyone else first at your own expense. Nobody is THAT altruistic, so I’m guessing you’re being noble is a way to avoid dealing with YOUR own sh*t. However, if you allow those deeply buried wounds—that have burbled to the surface whether you like it or not—the love they need to be healed, it’ll go a long way towards lessening your struggles and suffering. Who knew!? By being open and accepting to yourself (oh, gee, there’s a thought), you can become healthy and whole. And when YOU’re a happy camper, you’re that much more helpful to those in your circle.
February 15, 2019: Card O' the Day: Strength, reversed. A couple days ago we started a new thread, so to speak, with the Eight of Pentacles. In that card we examined the spiritual journey many of us find as we become more settled in the physical nuts and bolts of life. After the career, house, and partnership is established, we may question whether there’s more to life than just running on a gerbil’s wheel. Once we started self-examination, the head trip started with guilt, fear, and doubt (Eight of Swords): Am I making the most of my life!?!? The Nine of Pentacles, reversed, showed up to poke you with the “What will the neighbors, my parents, my boss, etc. say!?!??” stick. More guilt, fear, and self-doubt.
Today, this concept of fear and self-doubt continues. Through deep thought and spiritual consideration, you may have found a well of raw power and passion you’ve kept hidden. This stuff is magical and heady and STRONG! You know if you let that dog off the chain there’s no calling it back. But because you fear the dog, you weaken it by keeping it on a short leash. The dog may pretend at strength with shows of bravado, but it’s slowly being strangled.
These are some very strong emotions that must be given constructive outlet before they burst forth inappropriately (i.e. a fit of rage that doesn’t fit the situation, self-medication with drugs or alcohol, sexual shenanigans, and so on). The Strength card is the eighth of the major arcana and therefore carries the traits of the other eights. Recall my points about eights of the other day: inevitable, unstoppable change that allows you to move forward and magic. But Strength was reversed today, which reduces the magic and change to mere possibility because it’s blocked by your fear and doubt of worthiness.
February 14, 2019: Card O' the Day: Nine of Pentacles, reversed. During our upbringing, we are introduced to certain social norms and values. Those norms and values will be different according to your religion, the country you live in, and what your parents introduced you to, to name a few factors. Those societal rules by which you’ve been living may seem false to you right now. Or they may seem to cover a darkness by “keeping up appearances” on the surface. It may be time for you to reevaluate what being a good person and following the rules means to you. This card can indicate a period of flaunting social convention or regulation, so it may well be that some of your guidelines to life have been outgrown or you see them for what they truly are: false fronts.
There are also threats to your comfy contentment. Is that threat coming from your own restless mind as you question what you’ve grown up holding as true? Or is the threat coming from outside in the form of forced rule changes or the rule keepers upon which you’ve relied are no longer there?
As this upheaval occurs, you may begin to question whether you’re even worthy of your contentment, success, and abundance. I’ll tell you right now you’re COMPLETELY worthy. Having questions about what you consider “right/wrong” doesn’t negate your worthiness to be happy. Even if you decide boosting cars is a “good thing” in your new social parameters, you’re worthy of being happy and successful. Whether you’ll actually BE happy boosting cars and breaking a lot of social rules is something else.
February 13, 2019: Card O' the Day: Eight of Swords. Another eight…. Eights represent rhythmic cycles such as the annual seasons. There are eight seasonal celebrations—four astronomical (solstices and equinoxes) and four pastoral (planting, harvest, etc.)—that comprise the year in the physical world. In these inevitable, unstoppable cycles, you learn to let go of the past and allow changes as you pursue your goals. Pursuing goals leads to manifestation. Eights also contain inherent magic and imply successful magical work.
This card in particular, on the other hand, indicates our personal struggles as we negotiate the changes and cycles of our lives. You may feel like you’re cruising in some areas, but are lost or stymied in others. How can that be? Total control and ease here and utter chaos over there. WTF?
News flash: you’re letting a head trip control your progress. Fear, self-doubt, second-guessing yourself, and even self-sabotage makes you appear stuck. Oh, and let’s not forget a goodly helping of guilt that you’re not enough in some way. This “no-win” situation is of your own making. Swords are about analysis and intellect. Therefore, control your feelings and thoughts, and you control the situation.
February 12, 2019: Card O' the Day: Eight of Pentacles. While this card is again of the material plane (it would seem I can’t get a good mix…first Swords for days and now Pentacles), there are spiritual aspects to it and those are what are standing out to me. Yes, abundance comes after hard work, but there’s a different feel to it. The Eight of Pentacles can be considered an “apprenticeship card” much like the Three of Pentacles. But this time it comes when you’re further along the path. It’s not so much about learning your craft and getting rich, it’s more about finding and doing what you LOVE. It’s a renewed apprenticeship to Life. Prudence of labor and with resources is in the form of spiritual and community preservation to continue the harmonious energy flow.
Even though you may be working in a field where there’s lots of cooperation, you return to more individual work—work within yourself. It’s the actual work that matters to you, not the end result. The actual digging in the garden and turning over the soil is what’s important, not the expected tomatoes later this summer.
So I ask you, are you enjoying your Journey?
February 9, 2019: Card O' the Day: Six of Pentacles. There’s a concept taught to us when we’re very little (that’s repeated ad nauseam every Christmas) and that is “it’s better to give than receive.” Actually, that’s not true. It’s not “better” to give or receive. What you truly want to keep is balance. Which means you need to take as much as you give to keep energetic balance in your wallet, soul, spirit, and heart. It’s a delicate thing to find balance within yourself between those desires for cool and sexy stuff and your spiritual abundance.
The cards of the last days indicate success on the material plane, and this card continues that thought. So if you’re finding more resources are available to you and are in a position of power and influence, now’s the time to test your integrity. What do you do with that “extra”? We all know that sharing resources benefits all. Do you take some responsibility for your fellows by performing acts of charity by sharing those extra resources?
This card represents the energetic balance of fair exchanges and reciprocity. This is a hard thing to do—maintaining that balance of give/take because sometimes you’re not in a position to give much. Or you don’t think you are. The give/take thing doesn’t have to be about donating to charity, though it certainly can be since energy exchanges can take any form. However, the soul-based exchanges that flow from love are those that embody true generosity.
February 8, 2019: Nine of Pentacles. It’s no coincidence that all organized belief systems/religions have some version of the Golden Rule and the Ten Commandments included in the tenets, teachings, and values of each said religion. We’re all taught not to kill or steal. That’s sort of obvious. But coveting is the foundation of all sins, in my humble opinion. “I see the other guy has ‘that.’ I don’t. I want it, too.” When we pine for something we don’t have, it makes us live in a place of lack. There are those who lack for nothing and yet live in a place of emptiness. There are others who have nothing tangible to call their own, and yet they live in abundance.
The Nine of Pentacles represents security, self-sufficiency, and earned rewards for your work, ingenuity, and tenacity. Maximum expansion is achieved through long-sightedness, good management, and good luck. But as the rewards come, maintaining what you achieve and creating more abundance becomes of paramount importance. Your work becomes not a labor of love but a struggle against the odds to get more…regardless of the cost. Covetousness and egocentric control push you forward for more stuff not personal growth.
The message of this card is finding the balance between earning yummy things you desire and deserve and being satisfied when you get it. You may think you “have it all”, but you actually have nothing without inner purpose and continued development of your spiritual awareness. By learning to build your abundance from within your own heart and soul, you create abundance for all. When there’s good fortune and bounty for all, and inside yourself, you’ll never feel lacking.
February 7, 2019: Card O' the Day: Ace of Pentacles. Being an Ace, this card represents beginnings in general or new starts to specific projects. The spiritualization of the Earth element is emphasized here, so those beginnings or projects can certainly be in your spiritual center and not only on your physical plane. However, if your spiritual center is getting good support from Mother Earth, then you’re in a good place from which to launch tangible endeavors.
Feel the solid base under your feet. Structure is the root of this power. All that’s tangible is represented here. The Ace of Pentacles is a “winter” card (December, January, February), but we’ve passed mid-winter (Imbolc, Groundhog’s Day) and are moving towards spring and reawakening. Even though some areas still may have snow, the sap is beginning to rise in the trees as the flora and fauna feel the impetus to improve and expand.
There’s unlimited movement, in any direction, suggested by this card. The trick is to decide if that movement leads you to gain or loss. If opportunities aren’t obvious to you, then you’ll have to create your own luck. It’s like the old adage that you can’t win the lottery if you don’t buy a ticket. With the good luck positively oozing from this card, you’re already getting a boost from Universe…don’t hit the snooze alarm.
February 5, 2019: Card O' the Day: Ten of Swords, reversed. I swear, people, I'm throwing away this deck. The Ten of Swords must have a bent corner or something so that it makes my fingers stop to choose it. What are the odds of pulling this particular card 5 times in the last three weeks?
As you navigate shadow times in your life, look forward. Ever forward. Yes, this moment in your life may suck, but the next moment is still unknown and unknowable. How do you face that next moment? High, drunk, asleep, despairing, or with hope? During my own darkest hours, I faced my future in all of the above. I admit to drinking and sleeping simply to escape the moment I was in. I would numbly watch the same movie over and over. I collapsed in the shower sobbing...on the occasions I could actually bring myself to shower.
This card signifies that something extreme is happening, has happened, or is about to happen. But it will clear the way for something new and possibly better. My mantra, during hard times, is always "Left foot right foot, left foot right foot." If "here" is unbearably sucky, then move your feet to see what "over there" is like. I've found it does get better.
February 4, 2019: Card O' the Day: Two of Wands, reversed. My acupuncturist told me that in the traditional Chinese belief system, today is the first day of spring and the new year. It will be the year of the Earth Boar. She also said the energy will be more "yin" and things will still happen, albeit slowly. I agree with that.... Mother Earth does things at her own pace and you can't rush her. Pigs are very intelligent, and yin energy tends to be more contemplative, considered, and thoughtful before any action is taken.
With that thought in mind we turn to the reversed Two of Wands. Being reversed, the energy is blocked or hampered. Being a two, we're called to address a conflict or make a choice...I'm feeling like there's conflict about a choice. Once you sort things out, the energy will break free like a dam bursting. I think you'll have a huge "a-HA!" moment followed closely by an eye-roll and a slap to your forehead as you wonder why you never thought of "that" sooner. Never mind, it's here now.
This a-HA! moment may also come from another person. Put your ego aside and accept this unexpected gift. Just because you didn't think of it first doesn't mean it isn't valuable. Take advantage of anything that falls in your lap.
February 3, 2019: Card O' the Day: Ten of Swords. My first thoughts when I drew this card were "NO WAY!!!" followed closely by "f*ck me, f*ck me, f*ck me." What, pray tell, is Universe trying to say already with the Ten of Swords!?!?!? Upon closer inspection and study of this card, I see the lighter and more hopeful aspects. (Everything has light and dark to it.)
Consideration of new ideas is coming into your realm of reality. As in "hmmm...I wonder if this will work?" Realistic assessments of those ideas will tell you whether those ideas are pure fantasy or plausible. Include looking for a partner because this card indicates gain coming from a complementary and compatible relationship. It doesn't specify romantic or professional partnerships, so you'll have to see what that looks like for you personally. Through courage and willpower, things will improve thanks to--or in spite of--extreme changes.
This card also represents bringing the mind into balance with the soul. The "scales will fall from your [spiritual] eyes" as you end delusion and resume clear thinking. This is in addition to yesterday's card (also a 10!) about coming into balance within your heart.
February 2, 2019: Card O' the Day: Ten of Cups, reversed. A ten, therefore endings that allow beginnings.... Because it's of the Cups' suit, we're talking about feelings. You may have come to the conclusion that some of your core values or ways of feeling--that you once thought were written in stone--are changing.... This shift may leave you feeling unstable as your perception of your reality wobbles and morphs into something new. You may feel guilt about rejecting these feelings or values (what will people say!?).
I sense also a difficulty appreciating what you have. Why? Do you feel unworthy of your blessings? Are you always yearning for more and attach the state of your happiness to what you have in hand or have achieved?
At any rate, expect to feel emotionally drained as you try to sort things out. The good news is that as you sort yourself out, you'll come to recognize your psychic "family" within. Your "me, myself, and I", so to speak. Coming to understand and being good with this little troupe will help you to move forward with more love for Self and not so much concern for what the neighbors say.
February 1, 2019: Card O' the Day: Eight of Swords. Universe, sweetie, there are 14 cards of the Swords suit in the Tarot deck of 78. Today's Sword is the tenth in the last 17 days. I realize it's cold outside, but do we have to add to the cabin fever by stewing about all our failures?
...And the Eight of Swords is indeed all about cabin fever today. Some of you may be feeling imprisoned by the cold and rain/sleet/snow/ice that's making outside movement treacherous. One look at the thermometer and you're tempted to crawl back into bed. But the problem with that is the more you restrict your movement, the more locked in you'll feel.
There you'll sit, allowing self-doubt, shoulda/woulda/couldas, and despair to creep in and steal your joy. The power of the past stops anything new from emerging because you can't see beyond immediate the limits. And I'm willing to bet those limits are emotionally based; those are the hardest to vanquish. This card contains potential for liberation. The question is can you let go of the limits your heart sets on you?
If you haven't already, bundle up and walk around the block. It'll help. I promise.
January 31, 2019: Card O' the Day: Ten of Wands, reversed. Ten of Wands upright can mean carrying big burdens; when reversed, it can mean laying them down. That's where I'm going today...laying down burdens and/or getting away from an oppressive situation. That "oppressive situation" could be in your own head, seeing as how we've had a hella lotta Swords lately. Also, path clearing is indicated if not actual walking or throwing away is involved. Again, the clearing can be literal cleaning of closets or garages or figuratively clearing thoughts of all negativity.
Another way to lay down burdens is to finally ask for help! If you're doing all the housekeeping, for example, it's okay to hire a maid or ask your partner to take on some of the chores. (This can happen at your job, too.) You don't have to be the chief cook and bottle washer if you don't want to, or if it's too much.
Now, we're being asked to lay down burdens conscientiously. (Ugh! *eyeroll*) You can't just shove the mess from the closet under the bed and call your closet clean. You can't just stop doing the dishes and demand someone else do it FOR you. The clearing has to be done with integrity, honesty, and fairness. No just dumping your life in somebody else's lap and running off to the mall. (sigh....)
January 30, 2019: Card O' the Day: Nine of Swords. Numerically, a nine indicates moving towards a completion of some nature. Nine is also associated with The Hermit, which is our favorite "contemplation" card. During your contemplation of your life, try to be as objective as possible when it comes to your circumstances. What is. Facts only. Then, observe your feelings about the situation. Are you worrying yourself right back into a hole? Because this card also represents the power of worry and regret that can cripple us if we let it.
Fluorite, one of my favorite crystals, is the stone du jour for this card. Whether purple or green or everything in between, this stone may help you with your mental and spiritual development. It's said to bring calm and order to your thoughts and aid in meditation or contemplation. If nothing else, it gives you something pretty to focus on while you sort things out.
Finally, have courage! Trust that Universe has a plan and your back through all this. You're working on a great transformation right now and it ain't easy! Think along the lines of the pain of childbirth or of losing a loved one. Have patience with yourself as you struggle. You CAN do this.
January 29, 2019: Card O' the Day: Princess of Wands. And here we go up....
Yesterday the Ten of Swords appeared again, and I pointed out the only direction to go when you've hit bottom is up. The restlessness inherent in this card indicates you're pretty much done with doom and gloom. You're daring to look up from your feet and the troubles in your path to see what might be coming in the near future. You're ready to hope again and engage in life more robustly than you have been lately.
Fortunately, at this time, you're not required to have specific experience, knowledge, or skill, but only an openness to new ideas, the desire to succeed, and a willingness to begin. The Princess of Wands is here to give you the drive to search for new growth and self-improvement in your quest to better know thyself.
Finally, this card, more that any other in the Tarot deck, represents an emissary. I don't normally predict future events, but keep your eyes and ears open for unexpected news or opportunities. Just sayin'.
January 28, 2019: Card O' the Day: Ten of Swords. GAH! Not again!!! We just had this card 8 days ago....
"Kleshas are considered the root cause of all ... pain and suffering in ... human experience. According to Patanajali’s Yoga Sutras, one of the oldest texts written about yoga, there are 5 main afflictions or kleshas: ignorance, egoism, attachments, aversions, and fear." (Jennifer Meek, yogtimes.com) Having just come from an intense yoga teacher training, I'd say many of us are wallowing in our kleshas. That's not a "bad thing"; it simply is. However, it's food for thought and I invite you to look to where you're painfully attached to some thing or someone, ignorant of what you really want, stuck in your ego, averse to a truth, and what you're afraid of.
Being a ten, this card is symbolic of a beginning/ending, and today I'm very aware of it's number significance more than I was the other two times this card appeared this month. Acceptance, even if forced, will blast you loose from your past and thus allow you to move forward to your future. It's the end of the line, rock bottom, whatever you want to call it, but I think many of you are DONE! and ready to go the only way you can: up.
Now that the makeup and Spanx are off, you can truly see the truth past all the airbrushing and photoshop. The view you relied upon as your reality has collapsed. But this actually comes as a relief and cleanses you of what's gotta go (people, job, things, false beliefs, etc.). Welcome to rebirth and your new spirituality.
January 27, 2019: Card O' the Day: Three of Swords, reversed. I think we were given a break from our heads to get our feet back on the ground and to take a deep, cleansing breath. Refreshed, we then go back into our psyches and intellectually handle some troubling things. Frankly, this is the easiest way to deal with painful stuff: by careful analysis, emotionless review, and drily addressing the issue before it can get worse. Not only do you not fling blame around and look like a child having a temper tantrum, you also don't drown yourself in self-recriminations.
This is not to say you should ignore or deny your darker feelings. Admit you're jealous, angry, bored, frustrated, or have just had ENOUGH!! All your feelings are true and valid. Allow them space in your life. Notice I said to recognize them, not act upon them. Throat-punching someone is not a constructive response to your anger.
Once you have your feelings front and center, ask yourself why you feel that way. Are you partly to blame for the situation that led to those feelings? Then take responsibility for your part, communicate calmly and clearly how you would like the situation to change, and do what's necessary to heal the rifts. It's amazingly empowering to own your shit and make things right!
January 26, 2019: Card O' the Day: Ten Of Pentacles. This card has similar attributes to the King of Pentacles in that it indicates abundance, stability, and security on the material plane. You're absolutely "allowed" by Universe to enjoy luxurious things and gustatory pleasures, but understand even on the physical plane, there's more to life than mere "shiny objects."
To truly get the most out of life and all that Universe offers, one must delve into the unseen, the intangible, and heart/gut stuff to be completely whole. The King of Pentacles has his yin/yang energies well blended, but he's still over-involved in the physical/material aspect of life. This card is a nudge to look deeper...otherwise "abundance" becomes ordinary accumulation of stuff.
Being a ten, this card recognizes the ending/beginning cycle of eternal creation/destruction. Tap into that eternal cycle in your own little corner. You'll then understand how EVERYthing is interconnected. And none of us is ever really on our own. There's community and connection built into the fabric of Universe...you just have to see it.
January 25, 2019: Card O' the Day: King of Pentacles.This card turned up and the first thing that popped into my head was "Dad's home!". I was fortunate enough to be excited when my dad came home. For those of you who weren't let me rephrase: common sense, stability, security, maturity, and rationality are home! After spending several days in our heads and all caught up in racing thoughts, our feet hit the dirt once more. This card is a catalyst to developing self-confidence on the physical plane.
This card indicates a full integration of the yin/yang* energies. You may not feel excessively balanced at the moment, but that will come as you blend with the Spirit (yin/yang) energies of this card. The King embodies the dual nature of intuition and introspection. Meaning, he's as comfortable with his gut as he is his head. His appearance today is a reminder not to forget your gut and allow it as much input into your plans as you allow your head.
Being of the Pentacles, physical health and wellbeing are a topic for discussion. The King is reminding all of us to find physical outlets and forms of exercise that maintain physical and mental health. Even in the dead of winter when we'd rather curl up by the fire. Ugh.
*Yin/yang energy is sometimes referred to as feminine/masculine. However, I don't like to assign a gender to these energies because they are present, at the same time, in all of us. Also, there's the whole gender identification thing.... I don't believe energy recognizes the concept of "gender" and therefore, I shan't either.
January 24, 2019: Card O' The Day: Two of Swords, reversed. Yesterday "barriers were opened" and today a static balance held through complacency is broken. The egg is hatching...ready or not. Staying safely in a cocoon is all warm and snuggly, but it doesn't allow for growth. This breaking free will probably cause disruption emotionally and intellectually. That's going to be uncomfortable. But we only make changes when we're uncomfortable. Remember the old adage "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"? Well, it's time to break it so it can be fixed!
What's going to cause this "discomfort" is the coming to light of certain deep truths. These deep truths can be about your religious beliefs, sexual orientation, career choice, partner choice, etc. They can pertain to anything about which you were once passionate or that in which you once solidly believed.
Bravely face these new facts. Assess then, make a plan based upon them, and get all your ducks in a row BEFORE you make any move. By changing wisely, carefully, and based upon reality, you'll make the easiest transition with the least amount of physical displacement. You can also just light a match to your current life and walk away. But that method leaves a lot of legal loose ends. Just sayin'.
January 23, 2019: Card O' the Day: Seven of Swords. Same card as yesterday, but with a twist.... There's still a crisis at the moment, but barriers have opened with this card appearing upright for us today.
Some have associated the skunk (or polecat) with this card. This cracks me up. But consider a skunk's behavior: it will only spray when completely cornered and scared witless. But it's a self-sabotaging behavior because they're then vulnerable for ten days while they refill their stink tanks.
Insecurity driven self-sabotage and struggles rooted in the emotions that cause cloudy thinking and vacillation are suggested by this card. This may tempt you to stop short of your goals, which then negates all the hard work you've put in and wastes all resources used thus far.
However, also present is creative imagination, strategy, new plans, and--best of all--perseverance and fortitude to keep going. At some point you've realized some things require a tweak or two (thus the new ideas and plans), and fortunately, new roads and methods have appeared and are available to you. So is some good advice. You probably should take it.
January 22, 2019: Card O' the Day: Seven of Swords, reversed. And here we have an example of how we like to make simple things complicated. In what way you ask? By over -thinking and getting caught in circular "shoulda, woulda, coulda" thinking.
On the one hand, you seek the support and assistance of others to help make more meaningful and substantive changes for yourself and for your community. Unexpected sources of ideas, money, stuff, and extra hands come out of the woodwork to add oomph to the whole project. Yay!
But on the other hand, your lack of confidence leads you to see manipulation and dishonesty in those extra hands. These are fear-based problems and not real. Your desire to make a bang is limited by your vulnerability to your own nay-saying. This card suggests you go back to your past to find the root of this self-confidence thing. What went "wrong"? What lesson did you miss that could help now?
January 21, 2019: Card O' the Day: Prince of Swords. A-HA! Awesome sauce! The Prince of Swords is a master of himself and is able to overcome his own limits, including (and most importantly at this time) the limits to his thoughts. He uses logic and reason to gain objectivity and control of his emotions. Meaning: he can see that the minor inconveniences some of may have suffered due to the recent weather (or any other reason) are just that--minor inconveniences.
This card can indicate the need to make a decision and/or a quick turn of events. (Perhaps the do-over required a few days ago is taking hold this time.) A quick mind and inventiveness will help with all projects and tasks. But just because your synapses are all abuzz, it doesn't mean that everything that pops into your head is 100% perfect. Keep an open mind and listen to criticism. Someone else's input may just save your bacon.
Another stone stepped forward today and it's carnelian. It's said to help facilitate concentration and accelerate development. (We all want to "get there" yesterday, am I right?) So put down the smoky quartz and thank it for its service because it's carnelian's day today.
January 20, 2019: Card O' the Day: Ten of Swords. We received the Ten of Swords just six days ago, but it was reversed then indicating you were getting the hang of the new year and all that it holds for you. Yesterday, I warned you about letting negative energy invade your psyche when we got the reversed Wheel of Fortune and all the frustrations that are represented by that card. Today's upright Ten of Swords indicates the grip on your positive thinking is tenacious...grab your smoky quartz and hold it close today. It's said to help you replace negative thoughts with positive behavior patterns.
While this card does indeed speak of victim mentality, surrendering to unfortunate circumstances, difficulties, and disruptions, it's of the Swords suit--meaning it's all in your head! You're tempted to make mountains out of mole hills. Two-five inches of snow does not a blizzard make. Save your teeth gnashing and hair tearing for something truly life threatening.
Find and CHOOSE! positive thoughts. My friend came out this morning to find her car covered by ice and then several inches of snow. It took her a bit to scrape and thaw the car so it was drivable. She told me the entire time she was scraping, as her toes and fingers went numb, all she could think of was how pretty the snow was...like glitter! Release judgment about "good" or "bad." Accept what is and work with it.
January 19, 2019: Card O' the Day: Wheel of Fortune, reversed. The energy that's been pushing us forward the last days is still there, but it's being stymied. When The Wheel is reversed, it means snags are in your way. The development and expansion you're working on is being delayed by circumstances beyond your control. However, breathe and maintain your courage and stamina because this is not a permanent block. Don't let negativity creep in and negate all your hard work.
Something may have to be repeated and extra effort on your part will be needed. The fastest scenario I can imagine is that your application or paperwork got lost, isn't complete, or you have to reapply because the current "thing" is full for this month or spent for this quarter. All. Is. Not. Lost. I encourage you to take a deep breath, a brisk walk around the block, and persevere!
January 17, 2018: Card O' the Day: Queen of Wands, reversed. The reversed Queen continues our current trend of stepping lightly and handling the current energy with finesse and diplomacy*. You're being asked to not let simple things get blown out of proportion or cave into your frustrations by having a temper tantrum. This personal growth and development stuff is HARD! However, you've been given the fire energy to make it happen because Universe trusts you can handle it.
*My personal definitions of diplomacy v. political correctness are as follows: diplomacy is the act of policing yourself, whereas political correctness is being policed by the societal norms of the day. Back in the 1960's, the "N" word was considered vulgar but not taboo. Today, it's considered (and rightly so, in my humble opinion) taboo and one "shouldn't" say it. On the other hand, using diplomacy means one's integrity doesn't allow the use of hurtful words or actions against others. Ever. Therefore, I consider myself to be diplomatic rather than politically correct.
January 16, 2019: Card O' the Day: Five of Pentacles, reversed. The reversed Five of Pentacles is asking you to change your approach because the same old, same old isn't working so well. Fortunately, yesterday's Prince of Wands is considered the "idea man" of the deck and has arrived to help. By switching things up, you'll probably reveal an opportunity that was being lost in the shuffle.
Not only does this alternative route work in the material world, but it's also going to shift things emotionally. Look to see relationships strengthen or be allowed to wither. It's not a "big break up" type of thing but more along the lines of losing contact as temporal and physical space from someone increases. As we all know, relationships expand, contract, wax, and wane just like anything else.
Coming back to the Prince of Wands: excessive speed and dynamism could make things too volatile and thereby unstable. Keep that Prince energy on a very short leash or this precious resource will get away from you and leave you in the dust.
January 15, 2019: Card O' the Day: Prince of Wands. The Prince of Wands is an intellectual visionary, which makes him the key person on every brain-storming committee. He can come up with some pretty hair-brained schemes that actually could work if he could combine that vision with reality. However, he's one to let the "lesser members" handle the finer details of his incredible ideas.
The Prince is appearing to us today to urge us to let our brains and imaginations run wild. Write down your crazy ideas and a few notes about what you'll need to start (i.e. more training/education, business loan, building supplies, etc.). The energy behind this card is that which pushed the great explorers to discover new places, Edison to invent, and those at NASA to put men on the moon.
The trick is to harness this energy without breaking it. Dream big, by all means! And then make it happen...that's the hard part. Like I said yesterday, dare to believe you can do this.
January 14, 2019: Card O' the Day: Ten of Swords, reversed. The new year and its fresh energy is starting to kick in and show. (I know we're two weeks in, but you don't see results on your physique after your very first workout! You've got to keep at it for a bit before you see a smaller waistline.) Your efforts have slowly changed your outlook and you're turning a corner that brings relief from stress and a different feeling of looking forward to the coming months. Dare I say we're feeling a wee optimistic?
However, this budding optimism is precarious and must be nurtured carefully. Meaning, your reactions to previous pain and failures (i.e. self doubt, low self-esteem, etc.) threaten to undo all your work thus far. Kind of like "well, I tried before and failed, so I'm sure to fail again this time around because I'm such an incompetent loser." You have to truly let go of the negative feelings about any past events. Start fresh with fresh efforts and a fresh mindset! Dare to believe you'll get it right this time.
This card also promises advantage, gain, and success if you can believe you're worthy of it. (And you are.)
January 13, 2019: Card O' the Day: Nine of Cups. We received the Nine of Cups just six days ago, so let's see what I may have missed then, if the message has changed, or the same message is being reiterated from the 7th of January....
The shadow aspects of this card aren't slithering around my ankles today. What are singing loud and clear are all the bright and exuberant representations: abundance, integrity, joy! Positive expansive feelings are there to enhance your emotional happiness. Maybe it's the thick blanket of gorgeous snow outside my window, but this card is giving me the "warm and fuzzies." I encourage you to find what makes you feel warm and fuzzy, too.
Let's also acknowledge your hard physical and psycho-emotional work to get to this moment of your life. Take a minute to pat yourself on the back as you count your many blessings. (If you're reading this, then you're indeed blessed with access to an electronic device and the Internet! Universe is asking you to count your BLESSINGS, not all the things wrong with life right now.) As you count your blessings, notice how you focus less on your own ego and your own complaints....
January 12, 2019: Card O' the Day: Six of Cups, reversed. This card is often interpreted as the "nostalgia card." Ahh, the good ol' days.... But when reversed, we tend to over-dramatize those good ol' days. People were either kinder and gentler or incessantly evil. Of course, we intellectually know that's not true. Very few people are COMPLETELY one or the other. Therefore, you're being asked to be a little more honest about your past and how you're allowing it to affect your future.
Now, if it's traumatic events that are holding you hostage, that's another problem altogether. "Shoulda, woulda, coulda's", rehashing old perceived failures, and endless "what if's" are absolutely pointless! It's in the past and you CANNOT do anything about it. (Unless you time travel.) Gnashing your teeth and pulling your hair over what you did or didn't do back then only drives you deeper into despair.
The silver lining of this card is that it does offer renewed trust in the future. Again, therapy with a clergy person, shaman, psychologist, or licensed social worker can help you see the positives Universe has to offer for you TODAY and everything after that. The beauty of the future is that it hasn't happened yet. You haven't had a chance to ruin it, or be a putz, or anything else you think you might do "wrong." So, what are you going to do right today?
January 11, 2019: Card O' the Day: The Moon, reversed. When I choose pictures to go with my daily reading, I usually write the analysis first and then choose a photo that seems to evoke an idea or feeling from the reading.* Today, when I drew the reversed Moon, I instantly saw the image of the moon reflected in water. This represents the softening of the meaning of The Moon.
Yes, fear and illusion is there, but somehow it's a little less scary, and you're more willing to do spiritual work. Because this card speaks of illusions and changes of perception, don't make assumptions, commitments, or take any risks. You may not be getting the entire story and if you jump in, based upon what you think you know, mistakes will be made.
While you may be willing to explore your darker side, it's no less confusion or frightening. I don't blame you for wanting to stay on the surface, stick your fingers in your ears, and sing "lalalalalala." I have found therapy with a psychologist, clergy person, shaman, or licensed social worker to be vastly helpful when I need second opinions or someone to ask me the hard questions and hold my hand as I seek the answers.
January 10, 2019: Card O' the Day: Eight of Cups. Growth, evolution, and creativity continue with this card. While some interpret this card to mean it's time to leave something behind, I'm not getting that today. It's more along the lines of tweaking what you're already doing or have. Combine your intuition with your constructive intelligence to see how your project/endeavor/"thing" is maturing and changing.
Be aware that The Goal you've been working "all your life" to achieve may have changed or become less important to you. That's okay. Change is good! Don't be embarrassed if you spent a lot of time and money on something only to realize it's just not going to happen the way you pictured it. Think of all the experience and wisdom you got through this project even if it ultimately failed. Any failures always come with valuable lessons.(Ask me how I know this....)
I can't stop here without mentioning the deeper spiritual connotations of this card. Something is still missing, and I believe that "something" has to do with your heart, spirit, soul, and/or True Self. As you search for this missing link, you'll be asked to venture into unexplored territory to find deeper meaning to your life. And that, my friends, is where you'll find your true power that'll help you create your next Big Thing.
January 9, 2019: Card O' the Day: Three of Wands, reversed. Oooooh! Told you to hang on to your hat! That Seven of Wands energy is crazy!
The reversed Three is giving you a warning shot across your bow. Just because you got a huge burst of energy doesn't mean you can be over-ambitious and impractical with your schemes and plans. The energy push means your well-thought out and carefully constructed projects will work nicely. Also, if you shoot for the moon, you risk scaring yourself into inertia because it all seems too much.
When this card of harmonious cooperation gets reversed, you may feel hesitant to ask for assistance or delegating tasks. Actually, your unconscious assumptions (oh, nobody really wants to help little ol' me) are the problem here. Nobody's talking trash behind your back or secretly hating you. They're just busy with their own worries. So ask! What's the worst that will happen? If one person says no, ask another. The point is, don't see drama or blocks where there are none.
January 8, 2019: Card O' the Day: Seven of Wands. A big cold front is coming through SE Ohio and therefore it's quite windy outside. This card presented itself during one of the bigger gusts and reflects the blast of energy the Seven of Wands represents. This kind of energy can evoke raw passion within you and be difficult to control without being swamped by it. Try to harness this wild steed as best you can because it can lead to great openness, manifestation, and growth.
This card is also about explaining yourself and holding true to your convictions. Fortunately, the confidence and courage to do so is also present. Others may not see your vision or point of view as clearly as you do. Thus diplomacy, composure, and clever maneuvering may be required to get your point across or ideas funded.
If, despite your best efforts, you find you're trying to sow your seeds on a parking lot, you may have to seek more fertile grounds. Don't waste this dynamic energy if it becomes obvious pretty quickly that no one's listening. Don't be shy about searching elsewhere to find a group or resource that will support your ideas.
January 7, 2019: Card O' the Day: Nine of Cups. Being another Nine (manifestation), this card is much like yesterday's card in that it offers good luck, expansion, growth, and abundance, too. However, being of the Cups suit, we've shifted from the material plane to the emotional plane. Therefore, in addition to moving towards material largesse and creativity, your relationships with others will bloom as well. Not only do you feel more warm and fuzzy towards your fellow man, but they're noticing your "glow" and are being attracted to your light.
While this card is considered the "wish" card and receiving it means wishes will come true, there's also a big fat caveat attached that warns of complacency, resting on laurels, and smugness. You may feel like you've "arrived", but you must remain humble. Practice gratitude for all that you have TODAY. Never mind what you're developing for next week. Be grateful for that stuff next week when (if?) it arrives. What is in your hands TODAY needs to be recognized and valued TODAY.
January 6, 2019: Card O' the Day: Nine of Pentacles. Now that you've gotten your priorities straight and your ducks lined up, let's get started.
The Nine of Pentacles is representative of manifesting your goals, and Universe is on board with offers of plain old good luck! Not being one to pass on any opportunity, your mental discipline combines that good luck with good management to produce fertility of ideas and abundance in returns. During free time, you're encouraged to pursue interests or creative hobbies. Don't waste your precious noodle and imagination by numbly staring at your phone (ahem, Annette are you paying attention?)
Even with all this abundance, something is still lacking.... Oh, yes. That would be inner purpose and spiritual awareness. It's very easy to get caught up in achieving and amassing and thereby losing sight of your True Self and your true reason for being here. An easy way to reconnect with Spirit is to share your current wealth and pay it forward. Put something into your karma bank for the next time you're a little low and need a left.
January 5, 2019: Card O' the Day: Two of Pentacles, reversed. Busy, busy, busy.... Are you sure it's real work that must be done or are you finding busy work to do as an excuse to NOT do what really needs to be done?
While you may believe you've gotten your ducks in a row, it's not showing up in the real world just yet. This card indicates lack of focus in your efforts and a lot of plate spinning and running in six different directions at once. Meaning, you're not being efficient with your resources. To achieve your goals, you'll need to reorganize your tasks (shifting piles of papers from one corner of your desk to another doesn't count). Delegate where you can, and assess your time lines. Can you legitimately put something off and concentrate on things that have a shorter deadline?
Now, it IS Saturday and some things just can't get done outside business hours. Therefore, determine what those things are and set them aside until Monday. How about you take a walk right now? Even if it's raining or snowing, go outside for half an hour. Mother Nature will soothe your soul and help you get back on task.
January 4, 2019: Card O' the Day: The Emperor. The Emperor contains the power of all elements, and therefore he reminds you it's not IF you have power (because, of course you do!), but what you do with it. By having such power, you can afford to be gentle and kind to those who have less or are not sure of their own power at the moment.
As master of his own ship, The Emperor is free of society's "shoulds" and "oughts." He's not a fashion follower, but a fashion innovator. He makes the music that will become the next big thing. However, this is not to say he's completely unconcerned with responsibility or consequences. On the contrary, he's very mindful of fairness and the equality we all share. He understands that with great power comes great responsibility and he's the builder of foundations upon which we all can stand.
The Emperor appears today to challenge you to take on projects or roles that allow (if not force!) growth. Perhaps that will manifest in running for office, starting a business, or simply ending a bad habit. No growth is insignificant, and thus I challenge you to be all you can be!
January 3, 2019: Card O' the Day: Six of Swords, reversed. This card seems a little contradictory in its interpretation at first blush. However, what I see is recognition of fear of change and the reactions to it coupled with the energy to get past blockages.
First, the fear and reactions part. With all the urgings to FEEL and acknowledge your very valuable feelings and emotions we've had of late, one can get stuck perceiving life from a subjective (i.e. "I feel this, therefore it must be true.") point of view. I repeat, your feelings are valid, but you may not have the entire story. Set aside your feelings for one moment (no, don't suppress them or discount them) and review your world for the solid facts. You may FEEL like you're being sabotaged, but is it TRUE? Apply this logic and analysis wherever you feel fearful or hesitant about something.
Secondly, the energy behind this card. Even though there's fear of and resistance to change, this card indicates a silence will be broken and efforts to release past wounds will begin again. Also, there's a need to handle a turbulent situation. So, despite holding back and wringing your hands while in line for that super-amazing-scary zip-line ride, your analysis of the situation will help you get past your fear and over the hump.
January 2, 2019: Card O' the Day: The Moon. The High Priestess has come to use twice, reversed and upright, in the last few days. She's connected to The Moon through the unconscious knowing represented by both cards. The fact that The Moon has come to us today reiterates the need for internal intuitive work and indicates strong activity of the spirit on your material/physiological plane. If you've already sensed the need for such work, these cards are your guide posts telling you you're on the right path.
The Moon has its own key points, too, however. During this wonderful (and scary!) personal development, important truths will be discovered. It's your job to determine which of those truths are basically illusions and which are real things to fear and fix. Can you accept the stuff that must be fixed and let the illusions go?
It's hard to do and you may be swamped by your emotions and insecurities as you navigate this difficult phase. If you can move through the weakness of your will and uncertainties, you'll be rewarded with rebirth and evolution.... Until it's time to move again, of course.
January 1, 2019: Card O' the Day: The High Priestess. I realize this is the first day of a new year, but let's consider this card for just the next little while. We keep track of time to organize our world and lives, and that's useful. However, I don't want to rigidly adhere to the qualities of this card for ONLY today, because we'll outgrow it once we've integrated its lesson.
The other day we had this same card but reversed. When reversed, the High Priestess urged us to really experience our feelings--even the painful ones--and not just live safely within four beige walls. When she's upright, she offers you the capability to accept darkness and light, sadness and joy, and remain calm within whatever storm comes your way.
As you truly experience your feelings and emotions, you'll learn to understand what they mean. Why are you frustrated? Why are you angry? Why are you sad? That'll be the first step to fixing the situation, which will lead to more pleasant emotions. Recognize your emotional needs so you can fill them with real, nurturing "food." By that I mean leaving a stultifying job, ending a toxic relationship, or facing and dealing with grief. Don't just brush your feelings aside or cover them up; value them as the assets they are.
December 31, 2018: Card O' the Day: Ace of Cups. Yesterday, the reversed High Priestess told us to pay more attention to our feelings and let 'em rip! Today we're given another big "feelings" card: the Ace of Cups. The Ace represents an opportunity for new emotional experiences and growth. You're being asked to allow yourself to experience pleasure, to be happy, and to understand you're worthy of it.
Allow emotions to come to the surface to heal pain or embrace joy. If you suppress your emotions, they cannot be felt or experienced, which makes for a very bleak and gray existence. It's scary to feel some of the more awkward or painful emotions, but trust that Universe will support you. You must come to accept and understand "unhappy" emotions to truly appreciate the "happy" ones. As they say, there cannot be light without dark.
The Ace of Cups also represents enlightenment and a true heart. As you create a more spiritually and emotionally alive new world for yourself, you can expect upheaval, the replacement of some old feelings for new, and challenges. However, all that brings transformation as you find your True Heart.
December 30, 2018: Card O' the Day: The High Priestess, reversed. This is also a good card to receive at year's end. I've seen many memes with the message "new year, new me" or "new year, new me is bullshit." Either way, it indicates inevitable changes where you'll set new standards for yourself and be more self-reliant and independent.
The reversed High Priestess represents letting your hair down and letting yourself off the chain. You may try new things or return to old habits you stopped because they were supposed to be "bad" for you. Loosening the reins might include flirtations and sexual dalliances just for the sake of getting laid.
Even if you don't go to extremes with your behavior, move towards your passion and dig deep into your feelings. Stop ignoring them and FEEL! That pain, joy, anger, frustration, etc. means you're ALIVE and not just existing day to day, paycheck to paycheck. Just know that if you dare to act outside the "norms" of society (read: being a little different), you might be called a witch, bitch, or ball-buster. Wear the label with pride.
December 29, 2018: Card O' the Day: Eight of Swords, reversed. Self-imposed restrictions are getting to be intolerable as the harness you've bound yourself in is beginning to seriously chafe. And guess what? Those restrictions you imposed upon yourself are there thanks to others whispering indoor ear that you should do it this way--the cool way, the proper way, the way that everyone else does it.
However, as you begin to see clearly, you'll find your first steps towards liberation of this harness, these "shoulds" and "oughts." Your ability to see through and around obstacles is greatly enhanced right now, and the power you need to transcend these confines is available. Therefore, get the hell outta yer own way and haul ass!
December 28, 2018: Card O' the Day: The World. I feel this card is especially appropriate for this time of year. It's almost time to turn over the calendar to 2019, but you have three days left to finalize the endings and prepare for the beginnings that are inherent in this card. The World is asking you "What's next!?!?" and other essential questions about your life. You're being encouraged to travel outside your comfort zone this coming year during your coming journeys. Don't be satisfied with the same ol', same ol'!
While you're literally clearing out closets and drawers, you're being asked to liberate yourself from negative thinking and patterns. Get okay with You this year! By releasing petty concerns (does my butt look good in these jeans? is my makeup on fleek? is my car rad enough? etc.) and security (continuing to socialize with the "in" crowd even though you have nothing in common with them anymore), you'll find personal power. This power will give you the tenacity to achieve ... anything.
Don't wait until midnight on the 31st. Start your new path right now.
December 27, 2018: Card O' the Day: King of Swords. As we lurch back to normalcy, the health aspects of this king seem to stand out. There's a need for relaxation. Now that all the family obligations are completed, the final holiday is one of revelry and letting go of the past year. Whether you stay home and just chill or go out and whoop it up, this one's for you. The herb associated with this card, is St. Johnswort, which has calming qualities. A nice of cup of camomile tea can provide the same relaxed mood as well as soothe overworked tummies.
Something else the King of Swords represents is dominance over emotions. This allows one to smooth ruffled feathers and let go of defensiveness that may have come up during recent family gatherings. Unless any offense was truly egregious, chalk it up to fraught holiday emotions, (and a little too much Christmas cheer) and be glad you have another year before having to see "those" people again.
If you want to take it further, this king is very analytical, impartial, tactful, and tolerant. By using those qualities to review the past few days, your keen perception and controlled emotions will help you see through to the real issue behind any harsh words or perceived slights. Which, in the end, will allow you to more easily forgive and forget.
December 23, 2018: Card O' the Day: Prince of Cups, reversed. More obstacles crop up when inner fascinations (what you really want to do) conflict with outer responsibilities. Those obstacles will tend to be emotional as you pretend your way through the holiday season with a big fat fake smile.
Holiday parties, concerts, and gatherings are attended out of obligation and not any real anticipation of fun or delight at seeing people or hearing music. When Uncle Joe gets drunk and goes off on a bigoted rant, you sit there feeling awful but are "too polite" to call him out. And the whole time you're chanting to yourself "it's all good!"
Here's a thought: be emotionally honest with, at the very least, yourself. Just because it's holiday time, it doesn't mean your troubles vanish. You still have to pay rent, get along with your partner, and suck up to your boss to keep your job (or find one for that matter). If you can't afford the time, energy, or gas to go to an event, don't go. You have my permission. If Uncle Joe makes you want to vomit, leave. Or better yet, tell him to shut his pie hole and get out!
Remain authentic to yourself as much as you can as you move through these next days.
December 22, 2018: Card O' the Day: Eight of Wands, reversed. I seem to be drawing the card that I most need to see these days.... The reversed Eight of Wands represents a period where Murphy's Law rules. I just got a new phone (old one finally croaked), and I'm having a hellish time transferring everything. The lesson from this card is to learn to cope with frustrations and use your noodle to find the work-arounds. Of course, this is easier said than done because at some point you just want to throw the phone across the room, pour yourself a stiff drink, and dissolve into tears.
Let's not do that. Firstly, keep a cool head and don't let emotions get in your way. Secondly, look to where you're wasting precious energies rushing in three directions at once to get all the last minute things done. Make a list of what MUST be done yet and methodically get each item done to the best of your ability (no time to thaw the 45lb turkey? get a ham--heat and eat!). Delegate as much of the list as you can to lighten your own load. Finally, if it was meant to be, it would have happened so let those final details go (no one will miss the calligraphy place cards).
We're in a period where even the sun is resting and just holding steady. You should, too.
December 19, 2018: Card O' the Day: Ace of Wands. If the Princess of Wands from yesterday wasn't enough of a kick in the fanny, then we have the Ace of Wands to inspire us today. Inherent in this card we have personal power, strength, and a rush of vigor. New beginnings of any nature (but especially in your career path) are encouraged!
However, this big energy isn't yet directed or channeled efficiently. This can be a "good thing" as the sky is the limit and you can do anything you want! It can also be a "bad thing" causing you to run in circles chasing every shiny object and thereby wasting this resource. If you find yourself scattering in all directions, do what's necessary to ground your thoughts and center your activities to one path at a time. It's okay to abandon a path if it seems to be a dead end, but traveling 40 paths at once won't give you any real feedback other than chaos.
While this card is a big celebration of life itself and all it brings, it also represents finding fulfillment in simple things. Yesterday, as I was cleaning my house, I would get a little cranky and bored with my tasks. I would remind myself to just be in the moment and enjoy the beauty of the cleaned surface...I did that; I made that nice in my eyes. I plan on holding that attitude as I continue with holiday preparations and chores today.
December 18, 2018: Card O' the Day: Princess of Wands. Oh, THANK YOU Universe for this blast of fresh energy! (I was getting awfully tired of being cranky.) This Princess is delivering us playfulness and the ability to approach our challenges with eagerness and excitement (dust bunnies here I come!). Take full advantage of this little burst of sunshine under your tail feathers and get as much accomplished today as possible.
The only caveat to this bright light is you must stay grounded and practical. Don't allow your giddiness to take over and start promising to bake 400 dozen cookies for the community food pantry! At this point in the holiday season, work on what YOU need to achieve. This is not "take on the world" energy, but more along the lines of "I can get done all the stuff I want to before the party starts" energy.
And be SURE to take care of yourself right now! Make time for your regular yoga class, gym routine, run, bike ride, etc. Your normal self care schedule should not be sacrificed. It's more important than ever right now to keep balanced and happy. Trust me, your bowels will appreciate it.
December 17, 2018: Card O' the Day: Queen of Pentacles, reversed. Ooo! My panties are showing! I am the Queen of Pentacles, so having my card show up reversed like this exposes me and my mood of late. Betrayed by my own cards....
When This card comes up reversed, the whole home arts thing goes down the tubes. I've got relatives coming, so I'm all into the cleaning, pre-cooking, and decorating thing--because it's expected of me--but I'm not liking it. This card indicates an increased involvement with people, to. Well, DUH! Christmas and all....
What am I going to do about my feelings of crankiness and forced conformity? Drink wine!! Okay, well, seriously...yes! There will be wine! But also there'll be adhering to my personal boundaries the best I can, self care, and a whole lotta letting myself off the hook for not being the perfect epitome of Martha Stewart. I'm just me. Like it or lump it; harrumph.
December 16, 2018: Card O' the Day: The Hanged Man, reversed. It has happened a few times that I drew the same card two days running, but I don't know if I've done this before--drawn the same card, but in reverse. Hmmm...
The Hanged Man of yesterday had you thinking about and pondering things which brought you clarity and insight. Also, you may have been reevaluating what was once thought to be crucial to you. With the card's reversal today, I feel like some of you may be frightened or uncomfortable with this new independent thinking.
When the Hanged Man is reversed, it indicates being at the mercy of others' opinions. Being so bent on pleasing everyone else, you're letting their perspectives override your own. That's because you're still searching for direction. You're feeling ready for the next thing, but you're not sure what that looks like, so you're allowing too much input to interfere with your personal "turning point." Also, some of the "letting go" mentioned yesterday will feel like sacrifice. This card's reappearance, but reversed, tells me there's hesitation or unwillingness to release what needs to get gone.
December 15, 2018: Card O' the Day: The Hanged Man. Your spirit, higher self, gut, whatever you want to call it has recognized new, and greater, possibilities. Things that once seemed so very valuable and highly prized are suddenly disposable to allow room for the new. In addition to "stuff" being let go, so is control. When you're gripping your life with both hands in an absolute choke hold, new ideas and fresh energy can't get in. This card indicates you're "getting it" and are changing your mind about a lot of things.
As your point of view and mind shifts, you'll achieve insight and clarity and understand there's more to this life than what's apparent on the surface. This "aha" moment is facilitated by the pause imposed on you right now (nobody can get anything done during the holidays, am I right?!). Therefore, take that involuntary lull and accept what is in this moment, in this day.
My personal test for absolute necessity is asking myself "what's the BFD?" While many of us know this acronym to mean "Big F*cking Deal", I changed it to Blood, Fire, and Death. So, when you're faced with frustrations, check for blood, fire, or imminent death. Not there? Then relax; it doesn't reeeeeeeeeelllly need to happen right this minute.
December 9, 2018: Card O' the Day: Five of Pentacles, reversed. Your standard solutions to life's problems (avoidance, over indulgence, going along to get along, etc.) won't work anymore. You need to try a different approach to solving interpersonal or material world conflicts. And when you do start facing problems and actively trying to solve them, you'll see previously hidden possibilities to overcoming disharmony in your life.
Accomplishing this "different approach" will require you to put your ego aside and be present to this lesson. You're at a spiritual/personal crossroads. You can either continue to avoid, over-indulge, or smile and nod, or you can stand up and take control of your life by stepping into your inherent power. You choose: the easy but ultimately miserable way, or the hard road to empowered happiness.
December 8, 2018: Card O' the Day: Six of Pentacles. The key concept of this card is reciprocity. When we can truly give of ourselves and receive like energy back, without thought or expectation of reward or recognition, then we have achieved reciprocity with Universe. Reciprocity is how we can connect our tribes, families, communities, and society as a whole and thereby uplift ALL members.
However, inherent in the giving/receiving dynamic, there's a situation of dominance and submission between the "haves" and "have-nots." By developing a strong foundation of inner security and healthy attachments to your resources, you'll be able to share those resources without creating lack--material or spiritual--in yourself. And if you feel as though you're living in abundance, then the acts of charity, kindness, and compassion are easily made.
December 7, 2018: Card O' the Day: The Star, reversed. You're being called to shed all ideas about yourself and who you are that are based on your social status, physical appearance, and possessions. Those things have NOTHING to do with your True Self. Stop running after outer trappings and start being in the moment, the hour, the day.... Put down your phone and TALK to the person across the table from you.
There's a deep need for healing of yourself and others. The world is hurting. Be a catalyst for change and a soothing hand on someone's brow.
How are you--little ol' you--supposed to fix the world? By letting go of the illusion of what's important. No, I'm not suggesting you should give away everything and be naked in a cave to find your "enlightenment." We still gotta eat and we're allowed to have nice stuff that pleases the senses. But I want you to understand none of that is Truly Important. Your inner Star is Truly Important. Start there.
December 6, 2018: Card O' the Day: Five of Cups, reversed. You've made the hard choices required--or are getting up the nerve to make them--to allow you to move on. This shows up in the form of difficulties being resolved, hatchets being buried, and garbage being taken to the curb. Disappointments or resistance are transformed into something better.
This kind of work is painful and you may have to grieve a little. Allow that to happen; it's not weakness and you don't have to put on a mask of "it's all okay, I'm good." You actually have the coping skills, determination, and fortitude to fully deal and heal. Having a good cry with your besties or indulging in a couple of quiet days by yourself are examples of coping! Therefore, cope in the way that works best for you so that you can do all the work (ahem) eloquently outlined above.
December 5, 2018: Card O' the Day: The Wheel of Fortune, reversed. The Wheel of Fortune heralds good luck and changes. However, when reversed, the smooth turning of the wheel becomes jerky and unpredictable. This could mean expected events could be delayed or you may suddenly become resistant to planned changes (am I REALLY ready to do this!?!?!).
Even though development and expansion is still possible, to a certain extent you'll be at the mercy of circumstances beyond your control (labor strikes, weather, etc.). However, with some quick thinking and effort, you'll find ways to overcome, or work with, the problems to still get to your goal.
As we move into this coming holiday season, you'll be invited to and obligated to attend more and more social events. This can be very energy-sapping. Be sure to find time for yourself to exercise, get chores done, and/or read a couple chapters in your current book. Refuse an invitation or two if you must. The reversed Wheel can indicate a social life that's spinning out of control. Don't let it run you over!
December 4, 2018: Card O' the Day: The Devil. In typical depictions of The Devil in Tarot cards, it shows a central figure with two smaller figures chained or bound in some way. This bondage to "the devil" represents your physical cravings, addictions, and power for power's sake that separate you into hatred, lack, and finiteness. It's about forgetting your spirit. Ask yourself is my human side going to sell out my spiritual side?
When you cease to give love wholeheartedly and freely, you're no longer linked to higher powers through which you illuminate your truth and magic. Love simply becomes a tool for submitting to another for a price.
The Devil forces you to look at aspects about yourself that you don't necessarily "like", and tests the darkness of your unconscious mind. But your darkness isn't "bad", no part of you is "bad." Embrace and integrate your shadow side into all of you to liberate yourself. The most brilliant diamonds have many facets! The more facets you allow yourself to have, the brighter you can shine!
December 3, 2018: Card O' the Day: Three of Swords. The seriousness and intensity with which you've been doing your work is laudable, but there is validity in the statement of "too much of a good thing." Staying closed off, aloof, and too self-involved at the expense of your friendships, relationships, and teamwork responsibilities damages those links. Then, when you're ready to come back to them after your personal quest, they not longer exist or are weakened. Which means you have to rebuild those connections and it's more work for you.
Therefore, it would be wise to erase certain boundaries and let more love in your life. While your intellect understands--and is wary of--the emotional costs that are inherent to opening yourself to others, you'll ultimately be richer and more fulfilled for having experienced the love.
So, it's a very valuable time of introspection, acknowledgement, and release for all of us. There's great potential for transformation if we can dare to endure the pain that's required of us to do so.
November 30, 2018: Card O' the Day: Queen of Cups, reversed. Yet another reversed "mother" figure indicating you're just not in a space right now to care for others beyond what you must do. Moodiness and loss of that sense of service to others--which is your usual mode--troubles you, and you may want to deny what's going on in your head/heart.
Here's a thought: allow your feelings to wash over you so you can examine them. It may feel overwhelming and "lost." However, by letting the dam break and swimming in the resulting flood, you'll release your inner tension.
Again, solo work is advised, so keep your thoughts and feelings to yourself as you sort it all out. Spill your guts to only your most trusted besties because as you verbally process, you could wound others. Verbally processing includes saying things out loud to see if it's how you REALLY feel (e.g. I HATE my mother-in-law!). That's why you play it safe and speak to a very few who will merely nod and ask whether you're SURE, and not judge you for having those fleeting feelings or ideas during your time of clearing.
November 29, 2018: Card O' the Day: Three of Wands, reversed. Threes denote unions or groups. With the Three of Cups, we're looking at groups of friends and family and the connections between those people. With Pentacles, that union/group shifts to your work life. The Three of Wands represents the collective energies of people endeavoring to create something new. But when reversed, all of these cards show trouble when relating or working with others.
The cards of the last couple days have indicated energetic upsets that have interfered with your relationships. The reversed queen indicated you needed to step back from "mothering" others. The reversed Three of Cups reiterated that message along with identifying the group you've been "mothering." Today's reversed Three of Wands--with its static energy--tells me there are some things you have to endure and sort out on your own.
Postponement, tranquility, and meditation are keywords that go with this card. So, even though you've got good friends who want to help, ultimately, some spiritual or psycho-emotional stuff has to be sorted out on your own. Sure, you can lean on pals for encouragement, but their well-meaning advice is not for you at this time.
November 27, 2018: Card O' the Day: Three of Cups, reversed. Your ambiguity and confusion don't lessen any with this card. Everything is so up in air right now!
The Three of Cups is the "friendship" card. All your pals, people you hang with to celebrate each other's accomplishments, or just go out with for a drink fall under the umbrella of this card. But when reversed, it indicates your suspicions about their motives (see yesterday's Queen of Pentacles, reversed) haven't subsided. That might be for a good reason in that the coming changes include relationships.
The "old crowd" may not seem as much fun as they used to be or you seem to have less in common with them of late. That's okay; friendships wax and wane like fashion. However, it might be darker than that, especially when your gut has been less than charitable regarding them. Maybe your gut is right and they're blackballing you in some way or are envious of your accomplishments rather than truly happy for you.
Yesterday I suggested that you should allow your friends to help with your personal crisis. Let's tweak that to TRUE friends. Your intuition is speaking and shouldn't be ignored. Therefore, while you're tossing out last year's fashions, review your tribe to see who needs to be reduced to "mere acquaintance" status.
November 26, 2018: Card O' the Day: Queen of Pentacles, reversed. With your "tower" falling down around you, I wouldn't be surprised if indecision, uncertainty, insecurity, and more confusion have you guessing as to which way is up. And if anyone comes to you needing a "mommy" right now, SO not even! Please, YOU need care and help! How can you possibly provide it for others?
Also, there are self-worth issues lurking about. Nothing you do feels good enough, and you're suspicious about motives of friends and family. Do they think you're not able to do A, B, or C? Horrors! Do they see how incompetent you really are? Why are they being nice and trying to help!?!
Here's a thought: take off your Wonder Woman bustier, accept that cup of tea or glass of wine being offered, and go ahead and "be weak" for a minute. Your personal doo-doo is hitting the fan, and you need all the help you can get. Let your friends support you, for once, the way you usually support them.
November 25, 2018: Card O' the Day: The Tower, reversed. A friend, who's been doing some serious psycho-emotional work and is in the process of transforming, was just telling me today that s/he felt like s/he was falling back into old patterns or habits. This work my friend is doing is VERY "Tower-like" in that some seriously deep-seated stuff is being dragged up, examined, and discarded. It's incredibly impressive to watch and makes me wonder if I could ever be so brave....
The glitch comes when there's a refusal to accept or a resistance to the inevitable changes necessary with this kind of intense personal work. The intellect declares "this" must go, but the emotions want to keep what's known even if it's toxic. This clash causes pain and confusion. The hard part is to keep going. You're being asked to trust that what's solid and worthwhile will indeed survive.
This card is a strong directive to adjust to the changes and not cling to the old. Digging in your heels only makes it worse.
November 24, 2018: Card O' the Day: Eight of Pentacles. After the crankiness of this past week, energies return to a more harmonious state of balance and flow. With perseverance and practical steps, we can return to our labors for the sheer joy of working. Having a clean house or a tidy garden becomes all the reward we need. There's beauty to be found in work...consider the beaver's dam or a bird's nest. The animal is compelled to build a place for living and raising young. But they are also guided by Universe to create a structure of beauty and they work diligently to do so without expecting kudos or anything more than a safe place to live.
This attitude towards one's work contributes to your spiritual preservation. Remember when you were on an endless car ride with your family and everyone would whine "are we there yet?" Life's journey isn't about getting "there." It's about looking out the window and enjoying the scenery as you learn one lesson after another, as you learn to recognize yourself, and as you learn to be satisfied with a job well done by you.
November 22, 2018: Card O' the Day: Ten of Wands. The perfect card has stepped forward today. It represents self-sacrifice, generosity, but also repressed vitality. What started out as a good idea has proliferated and grown to take on a life of its own. You're becoming over burdened by it even as others expect you to keep it all going...and maybe add to it! But regardless of whether the urge to keep going is coming from within or you're being pushed by outside forces, it's getting to be too much and you're going to crack under the pressure.
I'm picturing the millions of people who'll be celebrating the holiday with family get togethers. All those family leaders who started inviting family members and/or neighbors and/or holiday orphans to a merry gathering of 10 or so...which has been gaining ground every year. You're up to a good 30+ guests this year, and you don't know how to stop!
What to do? First, figure out how you got to be in this position. Secondly, delegate everything you can. Thirdly, learn your lessons, forgive yourself for having been a wee over ambitious, and don't do "that" again.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!
November 21, 2018: Card O' the Day: Magician, reversed. The "cranky" of yesterday is actually stemming from confusion and difficulty focusing your energy, as we see from the reversed Magician of today. Furthermore, communication may be a problem and you might be feeling unheard. News flash: it's not they who cannot understand you, it's YOU who cannot say what you mean.
Hesitation and insecurity prevent you from taking steps forward. Which is a good thing at the moment, because you're too scrambled to act with any real purpose. So, take this time to study your approach: is your "easy way" of least resistance actually harder on you than growing a pair?
November 20, 2018: Card O' the Day: King of Pentacles, reversed. Ooo! Cranky energy, and it's not even Monday. You're cranky because you feel lacking in some way. Whether it's time, money, love, or another resource, feeling like there's lack in your life can make you feel insecure. Feeling insecure makes you want to withdraw and hoard. Hoard your body's warmth cuddled up in a blanket. Hoard food by eating too much junk. Hoarding time by not keeping up with friends and your responsibilities to others.
AND THAT'S OKAY!!! Sometimes, you've just got to take care of Number 1. Do only what you need to do to get by. The rest can wait until you're in a better head-space. (Try to eat at least one apple and take a stroll around the block. Your bowels will thank you by moving out the garbage...literally and figuratively.)
November 16, 2018: Card O' the Day: Queen of Cups, reversed. This queen indicates there are some of us who are still lost in the emotional world and are having trouble connecting to reality. In an effort to appear rational, it's tempting to be less than honest about feelings and desires. And "desires" are certainly overwhelming right now...sensuality borders on debauchery. Do your best to honor and satisfy those wants and needs safely.
I repeat yesterday's advice to not accept responsibilities you can't hold to right now. If you are one of those who is lost in the sensual self, you can't be in charge of anything beyond the usual feeding of your cat or children.
None of this is wrong...it just is. And knowing why you may be feeling lusty, emotional, and scattered will help you navigate this current energy flow. Don't try to police yourself and box yourself in to rigid ideology. Some stuff just needs to be experienced so it can move through you. These reversed Cups are demanding that we let loose a little.
November 15, 2018: Card O' the Day: Prince of Cups, reversed. Insincerity and emotional dishonesty come with the reversed Prince. I don't feel this is malicious; it's more that you have too much on your own mind to be able to give of yourself to others. You want to be available, but you simply can't be. Therefore, don't make promises or accept responsibilities you won't be able to keep.
Also, be careful that you don't misstep in your current state. Inner fascinations, dreams, and plans are consuming your every thought, and this makes you a little less astute than you need to be. A situation is not as it seems. You'd do well to proceed with caution and/or have an attorney, CPA, financial analyst, electrician, or whatever professional you are not take a look at your latest endeavor. Something's not right, and you can't see it.
November 14, 2018 : Card O' the Day: Five of Cups, reversed. Yesterday's 10 of Swords can be interpreted as a "suffering card"; so can the 5 of Cups, reversed. However, both days I don't feel the suffering but the determination and fortitude necessary to overcome troubles. Instead of wallowing, there's a sense of "welp, that sucked; moving on!"
Cards of last week encouraged weeding the garden and pruning off dead wood. In that process, some hard choices were made or became apparent they needed to be made. At any rate, you're beginning to see what's left after the cleansing. Your REAL friends have stepped forward to stand by you. I suggest you thank them warmly and do what you need to keep them at your side.
All this clearing, cleansing, and weeding is bringing a change of lifestyle which results in recovery and healing. Having come through it all, you've gained emotional stability and coping skills. Pay close attention to those skills so you can trot them out the next time your boat hits stormy seas!
November 13, 2018: Card O' the Day: Ten of Swords. The usual connotation of this card is of utter despair and having bottomed out. I'm not feeling that today. (One of the benefits of having studied dozens of decks and books on the topic of the Tarot is that I have lots of information from which to choose on each card.) Swords are of the air element and represent thoughts and ideas; tens signify endings/beginnings.
Today, this card is about determination, growth, and imagination. Some of this "determination" may come out as sassiness and a bit of snark. Not in a mean way, but as a ballsy way of getting your point across and ideas heard. Don't be shy about using your voice. If a couple F-bombs help to amplify what you need to convey, then so be it. (I'm certainly no stranger to salty language as anyone who's sat with me can avow.)
If you need a little crystal help, try some smokey quartz. It's said to help timid people manifest dreams into reality by changing negative thinking into positive patterns of behavior. And for you herbalists out there, mandrake root is supposed to help banish negative mental images. So, go with the 10 of Swords to end the crappy thinking and begin a more positive and determined outlook.
November 9, 2018: Card O' the Day: The High Priestess, reversed. The High Priestess represents the unconscious knowing and intuition we all have. Fortunately, society is becoming more accepting and aware of alternative healing modalities, the powers of crystals, spiritual practices, and just generally looking beyond the surface of what we can see/touch. That's the key to finding your inner High Priestess: look beyond and within.
However, when she's reversed, this pure, ego-less knowing becomes commercialized, materialized, and faddish. Be careful in your quest for self-knowledge and striving to become, and be, your highest Self that you don't follow the "woke" crowd. Blindly embracing the virtues of coconut oil and yoga, without doing your research and practicing within the limits of your body, is your ego just trying to appear "with it."
Also be mindful of isolating yourself from your "muggle" life (friends, family, job, etc.). Certainly follow your own spiritual path, but be sure it's organic and comes from your True Self. Don't just jettison stuff and relationships to join other "hermits on a hill" to live closer to Source/Universe/Mother Earth. You're only switching one type of society for another with its own rules, judgments, and confines.
November 8, 2018: Card O' the Day: Nine of Cups, reversed. The quest for ... whatever you need to get to the root of, isn't over yet, and there's no time for complacency. You've got to go deeper. That's going to require moving the sofa, going under the bed, and taking the rugs out for a good beating on the clothes line, metaphorically. Only then will you find the hidden things you'd really hoped were gone but aren't.
It's not fun, but it's sooooo necessary. We talked a bit about weeding the garden yesterday; today you have to remove the uprooted crap to the compost bin and not just toss it to the next row over. Some stuff will simply reroot.
By example, I've had clients tell me the psycho-emotional energies showing up in their readings was a years-ago drama and they're over it. Guess what? No, you're not. You've shoved it to one side but never really dealt with the hurt, betrayal, anger, grief, shame, humiliation, etc. the circumstances brought to you. Don't be one of those clients; eradicate the roots of that poison ivy.
November 7, 2018: Card O' the Day: Seven of Pentacles. The most basic meaning of this card is fear of failure. But it also signifies the willingness and ability to endure hard times in pursuit of a goal. Hold on to that courage as you appreciate each step forward, even if it's tiny! Know this: magic is beginning to take root. You just have to be patient and allow the fruits of your labor to ripen. It's a situation that simply can't be rushed.
However, being patient doesn't mean you sit on your duff doing nothing. See what you can purge to make room for the new growth. You've got to keep the garden weeded. If your rewards seem to be a bit thin, you might need to change direction a little bit or try alternative techniques to amplify returns on the investments of time and energy you make.
Finally, this card represents healing. I wish you all blessings and abundance.
November 6, 2018: Card O' the Day: Queen of Pentacles, reversed. When the Queen of Pentacles is reversed, her normal organizational skills become scattered...much like her mind right now. Uncertainty and indecision govern her thoughts and actions. And if she does manage a decision, she's apt to change her mind because she's afraid she's made the wrong move. All this prevents her from being the solid care-giver she is normally as she's much to self-involved with her own thoughts to give a hoot about anyone else.
This upset in the balance of the mind stems from feelings of privation and a deep need for security. While you may not actually be teetering on the brink of financial or emotional losses, the current social atmosphere has many people feeling unsure about societal rules and norms. Will laws change that will add or remove assistance upon which you rely or rights to which you've become accustomed?
November 2, 2018: Card O' the Day: King of Cups. This king has all the admirable qualities of the kings: strong leader, good businessman, creativity, and kindness towards others. However, he has deeply buried wounds (don't we all?) that aren't being addressed. The reason is it's too painful to deal with his own shit, so he helps everyone else deal with theirs. This makes him everyone's best friend who they call when in a jam.
Guess what? It's time to pay attention to your own needs and wants. It's time to dig up those long-buried owies and admit they hurt, heal them, and move on. If you need help doing so, or don't feel you can share your pain with your friends, I strongly encourage you to seek a professional to help you (it doesn't have to be expensive, check your options).
By getting to the core of things and finding peace within, you'll be that much more of a good friend and helper to others. Your creativity, zest for life, and joy will be set free when you unburden your psyche from old crap. Stop sweeping YOUR feelings under the rug just to help someone else!
November 1, 2018: Card O' the Day: Princess of Cups. So, in response to Mr. Grumpy Mean Person (yesterday's Emperor, reversed) we get a dose of Pollyanna. And I think a little Pollyanna, now and again, goes a long way to lighten us up and bring our attention back to the full portion of our glasses rather than dwelling upon the empty portion.
The Princess of Cups is deeply idealistic and is devoted to living life in pursuit of a good cause rather than lining her own pockets. She forms friendships and associations by listening to her heart and gut. Logic may tell us that Ms. So-and-so would be good for our careers, but the gut tells us that she's an opportunistic backstabber of whom you'd do well to steer clear.
Let's remember life isn't all bad and tune in to the wonder and magic of it. Look for cheap or free adventures you can take. Read stories about mother dogs or cats adopting orphaned litters of squirrels or groundhogs. Try to find the silver lining in the clouds over you. Give out compliments to strangers. And just be kind.
October 31, 2018: Card O' the Day: The Emperor, reversed. The energy of this card may represent someone close to you or someone who has power over you. In any regard, he/she is NOT. NICE. and is misusing power in the grossest ways. Over-criticism and judgment coming at you from the outside will jack your own latent lack of self-worth and confidence to the moon. Your internal disapproving voices will get louder, and you may lash out in defensive aggression in response to this needling.
Know this: it all stems from fear of inadequacy. The actions of those who have power over you and your reactions to that tyrannical behavior stem from fear of not being "enough."
In your fearful and weakened state, you may have trouble making decisions or facing challenges. If you can, delegate responsibility or delay obligations to lighten your load. But most importantly remember that you ARE enough. You cannot control others, but you can control your reaction to them and how you feel about yourself.
October 30, 2018: Card O' the Day: Queen of Pentacles. The Nine of Wands we received yesterday indicated a shift towards work. Today's Queen of Pentacles reminds us about organizing that work efficiently and balancing it with self-care and healing contact with nature. She recognizes when she's had enough and will retreat to a park or the woods where she can recharge her own batteries. You should do the same before you burn out from too much giving to your work and others.
The powerful and ambitious Queen is an excellent family manger and business woman. Her management of resources is unparalleled, and she's especially good at recognizing what no longer serves and ditching it. You may not necessarily like having to remove certain things or relationships from you life, but it's what's needed.
October 29, 2018: Card O' the Day: Nine of Wands. The Nine of Wands represents powerful energy, stamina, and perseverance that has been channeled into your work. But you've become a workaholic in your efforts to manifest dreams or to get ahead. That's not life. Labor and toil isn't all you're here for, and you'll begin to pay a physical price--if you haven't already.
If you're having to put so much of your time and resources into your work, it's probably true that road blocks are slowing you down. I mean, if it was all smooth sailing, you'd be able to go home on the weekends, right? So, carefully assess and reevaluate your methods. Where do you need to make adjustments or prune deadwood? Also, take a hard look into the origins of those blocks. How have you contributed to them?
October 28, 2018: Card O' the Day: Ten of Cups, reversed. I prefer to be as neutral as possible with my card posts, but sometimes the energies of personal feelings/situations, or those of close friends, or world events will creep in. Today's card, I believe, is a reflection of the current energetic climate of our nation these past few days.
When upright, the Ten of Cups represents happiness, love, harmony, and the connection to our hearts as we navigate our lives and interact with others. When reversed, all that love "pours" out of our cup. We're left with diverging opinions, anger, bullying, and rivalry between "us" and "them."
Because many of us are living in a constant state of pursuit, I ask you is there ever "enough?" Certainly all of us ARE (tall, short, thin, fat, beautiful, ugly, smart, dumb, etc.) "enough." Cabalism teach that we are all enough as we are and that each of us takes up our space in Universe perfectly.
So, if we, ourselves, are enough, then that leaves HAVING enough. I go back to is there ever "enough"? Happiness isn't a state of having more, or having anything, actually. It's a state of mind, of being. By choosing to be happy just as you are and with what you have, then you have, and are, enough. And by being and having enough, you won't be so concerned about what your neighbor is or has.
October 27, 2018: Card O' the Day: The Empress. In The Empress we find Mother Nature personified. And we all know Nature can be as cruel as she is kind. With no judgment she understands what shall be kept and what shall be released as no longer useful or pragmatic. She cares for her children fiercely but can punish them ferociously when they step past what is due them. She shows us the interconnectedness of all things and how balance must be kept.
This card represents the area of our psyches where the True Self lives. That thing which guides us to be our best version of a spiritual, kind human.
The Mother energy of The Empress is full of healing, progress, development, and evolution with boundless creative potential. Her appearance today reminds us all how we're blank sheets of paper just waiting for the stroke of the pen or brush! Be who the "Mother Nature" inside you asks you to be....
October 26, 2018: Card O' the Day: Seven of Wands, reversed. Yesterday we talked about the "completion" aspects of The World. Today's card indicates to me that those "completions" probably have something to do with other people rather than some personal or work-related project.
The strong interpersonal energies within the current situation can make you feel overwhelmed, anxious, full of self-doubt and self-conscious distress, and tempted to back down or run away. Try not to over-compensate and hide your feelings with aggression (little dog syndrome...they get aggressive when they feel insecure).
On the other hand, backing down and stepping away to gather your thoughts and courage may not be such a bad idea if you find yourself yapping and biting at ankles. Find a safe and peaceful place to do your thinking. While you're pondering, you'll find you're really stronger than you think and you're READY to overcome fears and step into your power. Your inner resources are just like Dorothy's ruby slippers: right there under your nose but you've just never noticed.
October 25, 2018: Card O' the Day: The World. Hey, I shuffled, I cut, and I shuffled and cut again! And yet we've been given The World again!
The previous appearance of The World spoke loudly about the spiritual evolution all of us are capable of, but this time I'm very aware of the completion element of this card. Ask yourself what you need to release energetically before moving forward. Grudges, stuff, possessions, emotions, concepts, beliefs... anything that's cluttering up your life. Are you racist? homophobic? have an "us v. them" mentality? What are you afraid will be taken from you? Who do you need to forgive or remove from your life? What is standing between you and your True Self?
By resolving conflicts, finishing projects, and tying up loose ends, you clear the path for what's next. It may very well be difficult, messy, and painful to end certain relationships or circumstances, but it wouldn't be wise to leave things undone before it's too late. Now, this doesn't mean you have to have a Jerry Springer type show down with anyone, you can quietly end things in your own heart and mind. I'm suggesting, though, that it be conscious, mindful, and determined.
October 24, 2018: Card O' the Day: The Star. It's interesting to me that we've been given three heavy-hitters in a row. It's also interesting the order in which they arrived. First, we were giving The World, which showed us our divinity and place in Universe. Then came reversed Judgment, which mirrored our "nooo waaaayy" reaction to The World. Now we have The Star, which helps us see and understand, concretely,--through recognition of patterns and correlations unnoticed until now--what The World had announced to us on Monday. With each noticing and accompanying "a-HA", we find new inner belief, strength, and spiritual clarity.
This card helps you look towards the future. Your distant visions, dreams, and insights that come to you now will manifest later. By relying upon your inner sun, you'll be guided to opportunities for development. So, sit and be silent with your inner Self, your True Self. As you practice being only in the moment, you'll bring your own vibration into harmony with that of Universe.
October 23, 2018: Card O' the Day: Judgment, reversed. Yesterday brought the understanding of what your True Self's place in the universe means. But today's reversed Judgment indicates some of you may be having trouble adjusting to the mind-blowing concept of a "True Self" and that you have one! Don't worry, Universe will wait while you get comfy with this idea.
The reason you're a bit whacked out by this is it poses a threat to your old way of being and thinking. You're going to be pushed out of your safe, secure cocoon into new philosophical territory. Some people in your life may not stick around for the "new you." (Hint: you won't want them to anyway.)
There are also elements of over self-criticism with this card. You may be berating yourself for having "followed the leader", and now that you can see something different and bigger, you may feel sort of stupid for having been a blind muggle for so long. S'okay. Better late to the party than not arriving at all! Now that you're here, something new is beginning for you.
October 22, 2018: Card O' the Day: The World. This card is indicative of all four of the earthly elements combined with Spirit/God/Creator/Jehova/ Yaweh/Allah/Source/whatever higher power you believe in. It's all the potential you have becoming active and connecting with your inner Divine-ness. The physical feeling is of calm awareness and balanced clarity.
Having just re-read that back to myself, I'm thinking Yeah, bwahahahahaahhahha 😂😂! But no, seriously, take just a moment and quiet your mind. Can you feel your teensy part of the Whole? In the vast universe, here you are, taking up space. You are taking up divine space in this universe in this moment of time like no one else could before you, can now, or ever will.
The World represents the moment of understanding what your True and Highest Self means to the universe and that Self's place in the Grand Scheme. And I do mean "the moment" because just when you think you have it all figured out, things change and you have to start all over to find yourself! But take a breath and recognize that precious equilibrium of being Divine. Consciously look within to see how ultimately perfect and unique you are.
October 19, 2018: Card O' the Day: Princess of Pentacles, reversed. Obviously, we haven't found our "inner balance" yet! 🤣 When the Princess of Pentacles is reversed, she tends to lose her patience when her expectations aren't immediately met. (You can't do anything until Mr. So-and-so calls back, and he's now on VACATION!!!!) Or, it could be worse: things fall through entirely.
The reason you feel totally jammed up and angry if you can't get the gains you're dreaming of is you're too focused on the bottom line. This will cause you to be distracted, impractical, and your clarity of thought will suffer. You may also overreact to criticism or suggestions about how to fix the situation.
Take a step back and look at what you HAVE achieved. Focus less on what's not happening and more on what is. As you congratulate yourself for achievements and celebrate ANY success, you'll feel like less of a failure. It's the old half-full glass v. half-empty glass. The reversed Princess tends to be a half-empty glass kinda girl.
October 18, 2018: Card O' the Day: Justice. The two previous cards were about chaotic and unstable energy and finding our way despite the obstacles. Today, we're given Justice. It represents the intelligence and ability to measure and evaluate situations before things go too far awry. Foresight, planning, and using the process of elimination helps to clear the path to what you really want in life. However, the big gift of this card is learning how to maintain your inner balance and integrity through it all.
Diplomacy is repeated again today. With self-assurance, composure, and patience, you'll be an effective peacemaker among others and will easily take control of any situation. Remember, compassionate power that's applied gently and objectively achieves much more than critical or derisive dick-swinging.
October 17, 2018: Card O' the Day: The Wheel of Fortune, reversed. This card reiterates the reversed Two of Pentacles we had the other day. Energies are unstable and unpredictable, which will cause you minor inconveniences and delays. Try not to get frustrated by these small annoyances. If you're forced to wait for a return call, say, use that time wisely to organize your thoughts and strategies. Look for anything that could come up to further snag your progress and try to eliminate that before it comes.
Changes, along with development and expansion, are still coming. Check timing; some of the delays could be issues of "ripeness." Some things simply can't be rushed, so learn patience. However, some blocks must be overcome by the old "where there's a will, there's a way" attitude. Finesse, diplomacy, and tact are all tools to get what you want from others when you want it. Did you know that?
October 14, 2018: Card O' the Day: Two of Pentacles, reversed. Okey-dokey, then. The cards of all week have been going on and on about very fortuitous energies and your willingness to dive right in and take on the world. And heeeeeere we go!
Now that things are starting to really roll, that means contacting a gazillion people to coordinate everything. Phone calls, emails, and messages will have to be answered and your calendar will fill up with working lunches, meetings, and networking opportunities. Therefore, re-organize your schedule and make the best use of your resources. That'll mean multi-tasking.
Careful balance and delegating might not be enough. As you move forward, don't try to be a hero and do it all. Some stuff may have to be dropped if it becomes too much. You can only do so much well, and then you'll start doing a lot of stuff half-assed the more overloaded you get. You'll be less impatient with it all if you feel in control of a few things to which you can really pay attention.
October 13, 2018: Card O' the Day: Six of Wands. More personal power and leadership...! Whether that leadership is of others or just yourself remains to be seen. However, self-leadership to get to where you want to be is the beginning of this process. To get there, you need faith in yourself and Universe. The current energy "climate" is balanced and ascending. If now is your "time", it's going to be quite the ride.
There are caveats, however. Number one is know that you'll be inspiring others. Therefore you must maintain your integrity and humility. Number two is to find time to relax and recharge yourself. Recognize when you need to say no and allow someone else the chance to excel. There's room for all of us, and the success and achievements of others don't diminish your success and achievements.
October 12, 2018: Card O' the Day: King of Wands. And it keeps on coming!! Get out of your own way!!
The King of Wands represents mature understanding of how life works and becoming the master of your own passion and power. Social responsibility, kind-heartedness, and practical uses of all resources (recall the Six of Pentacles of Tuesday) means undertakings will bring enrichment to others as well as yourself. This king uses his ideas and energy for creation rather than destruction. He's the "fire-starter", the initiator who sees a need and organizes all the components to make it happen.
While all this sounds really exciting, all the resulting authority and responsibility may seem a bit much. Yeah, you want to do good, but you still need time to go fishing or read a trashy novel. Be careful not to overload yourself. You can be ON the committee, you don't have to chair it.
October 11, 2018: Card O' the Day: Ace of Cups. Still riding on the good times! This card indicates opportunities for new emotional experiences and growth. This is a time to follow your heart and intuition and trust the pure objectless root of your emotions. Meaning, respond to situations with your feelings rather than mental analysis. Trust your True Heart right now.
Because you're so in tune with your heart and gut (or should be), you'll be aware of energetic flows and positive vibes as they come your way. This fortuitous energy will boost your creativity and make manifesting those ideas that much easier.
Now, all this emotional activity can be a little overwhelming! Your emotional state is going through changes and how you feel about things is shifting, so you may be a little hypersensitive. You may be less or more "enthusiastic" about people or situations than you have been in the past. Embrace what's feeling good and let go of what's fading.
October 10, 2018: Card O' the Day: Ten of Cups. Wow. We must have done something right to get this one after the Ace of Wands and Six of Pentacles! True, it's a ten, which can mean endings, but I'm not going to rain on anyone's parade. And besides, two days ago we had an Ace, so I'm not anticipating endings so soon. Enjoy this happiness welling up from your heart.
It's interesting that the art form associated with this card is cooking. Where does cooking occur? In the heart of the home: the kitchen. We love and nurture ourselves and our loved ones through food. It might be time to make a batch of something special to share with your tribe.
All cups have been filled and are now overflowing with joy. Revel in the moment and don't look too far ahead. This is good stuff RIGHT NOW. Namaste, folks!
October 9, 2018: Card O' the Day: Six of Pentacles. We're riding that wave of the Ace of Wands! The Six of Pentacles brings feelings of expansion and largesse in our physical world. This means practical application of resources and continued flowing energy that allows for manifestation of our dreams and visions. Because of this sunshiny energy, your faith is renewed, which then leads to the self-discipline needed for the hard work ahead. But the good news is it won't feel so hard because of your lifted spirits.
As I said, spirits are being lifted by this card, too. So the generosity and charity you're able to bestow upon others is from your heart and not just your wallet. Compassion and respect for others is becoming easier for you under the influence of this card.
Finally, one of the primary keywords for this card is "reciprocity." This means that karmic balance is maintained through giving AND receiving. I have a feeling some of our cranky feelings of late were due to giving away too much and placing a "price tag" on those gifts. If you keep score, you'll only be disappointed. It's better to hold to your personal boundaries than to give, give, give and then resent what you don't get back.
October 8, 2018: Card O' the Day: Ace of Wands. YAZ, people! Last week is OVER and a new week has begun. Whew! I was getting tired of those cranky cards....
Today, the Ace of Wands brings purpose and firm action coming forward out of the fog of confusion. There's all kinds of potential for evolution and growth encouraged by the stable yet flexible and fluid new environmental energy. Your renewed hope and courage help you focus on new ideas or a career, phase, impulse, or spiritual path with passion and clear intention.
Get that wet blanket off yourself and let your inner light shine, Shine, SHINE!!!
October 5, 2018: Card O' the Day: Eight of Pentacles, reversed. Perhaps we now have a clue as to WHY you're pissy-cranky with the world; your job isn't satisfying to you. It's just a J.O.B. We spend too much of our lives working to simply exist at a J.O.B!
This current loss of focus, procrastination, and irritability that's invading your private life stems from a dissatisfaction at work. Either you're over-qualified and are bored or are under-qualified and feel like you're slowly sinking. Either way, your mask of "I've got this!" is starting to slip, and it's only going to get worse until you do something about it. In the mean time, you waste effort and resources by concentrating on organizing your paper clips rather than getting to the meat of a project.
If you're over-qualified, this card may indicate your current consideration or actions regarding career or job changes. If you're under-qualified, it's time to stop making mistakes because you simply don't know how and get on with LEARNING how! (For those of you who do know how, more education is never a bad thing.) Unfortunately, continued education or cross training is more work for you. But your choice is this: stay put and stagnate or work harder now for a job you LOVE and a brighter future.
October 4, 2018: Card O' the Day: The Hanged Man, reversed. Finally we get to the real root of the issue! It's not that you're pissy-cranky with your family, or everyone else, you're pissy-cranky with yourself (I can raise my hand right this minute)! a-HA!
The Hanged Man represents thoughtfulness and contemplation of life and next moves. Reversed, that energy gets skewed into ungroundedness. You can't hold a thought long enough to truly meditate upon it let alone attach to an idea or vision. Apathy, boredom, and procrastination only add to the "I don't know what I want to do, but it ain't this!" feelings. Worse yet, there's a feeling you've missed an important opportunity.
What to do? Netflix and chill. Read a book. Take a nap. Sometimes the inner toddler in us all just needs to be indulged. Try again tomorrow...adulting today is just too hard.
October 3, 2018: Card O' the Day: Prince of Pentacles, reversed. Yesterday's reversed Four of Wands indicated you were not really thrilled with family gatherings. This reversed Prince shows your antisocial crabbiness extends towards everyone, not just family. It's okay to want a little alone time from familiar faces, but this card goes further into loss of concern for anyone's feelings--even your own! What's up with that?
Being of the Pentacles, the physical world is represented within this card. The results of labor or acquiring the next big "thing" seems more important than the people in your life. Some of you may even go so far as to excuse the means to get to your end result, even if you have to walk a low road. On a less sinister note, you may be just losing interest in your current project. Your steady dedication to it is getting to be too much (or you're getting lazy). Is it time for something new?
No, I don't think it's time to ditch your project. It IS time for you to figure out what's up your butt these days, though. Seasons changing? Holidays coming? Mercury in retrograde? Whatever is causing your mood, see what you can do about getting your crown chakra out of your root chakra. My favorite thing is to enjoy Mother Nature, even if it's only for an hour. She'll listen to you snivel and won't judge you for it. She'll just quietly love you....
October 2, 2018: Card O' the Day: Four of Wands, reversed. The Four of Wands has an emphasis on family or tribes and the rites and rituals that are observed within that group. Also, work is accomplished and shared among the members, thereby making everyone's load a little lighter. However, when the card is reversed, the normal joy and camaraderie of the clan is strained.
Inhibitions and insecurities are making you want to skip a family event. Either you don't want to be seen as the "loser" in the room or don't want to hang out with people who you perceive as "losers." At any rate, the dynamics within this group have been disrupted and you feel like you don't belong, so it's become awkward to associate with them.
Even reversed, this card still represents family ties, tribal groups, and working towards a common goal. I encourage you to work through your feelings of wanting to stay home and not participate. Unless this group is more than mildly annoying or boring, go and play nice. You might need a kidney from your cousin Ralphie someday. Just sayin'.
September 26, 2018: Card O' the Day: Seven of Wands. This card brings with it a big rush of intense energy that has to be managed well. If you're not up for it at the moment, don't try to jump in because you'll get overwhelmed. There's no sin in waiting until you're ready if you're still in "quiet preparation" mode. (See yesterday's card)
For those of you who are ready, have courage and a flexible and adaptive mind to clear all obstacles as you move forward. This will include realizing you're not the BEST person to do some tasks. Delegate to professionals or others better suited. Yes, you'll have to check your ego, but trust your minions.
Also, your current location may be flawed in some way and not have the right feng shui, traffic, ju-ju, neighborhood, audience, etc. for your endeavors to really flourish. You may have to find a different street corner, shop, website, or what have you to maximize your efforts. If moving locations is not an option, make physical changes like rearranging the furniture, changing the drapes, painting, and so forth to revamp the "look" and thus the feeling of your site.
September 25, 2018: Card O' the Day: Four of Swords. This card represents quiet preparations before taking action. You may find yourself retreating from social activity or declining invitations so you can concentrate better on what's going through your mind at this time. It's through this centered stillness that you can best put together your thoughts about what's next for you. Don't discount your dreams...they'll provide valuable information about your hopes and fears. To be clear: this is NOT stagnation or procrastination, it's a time of gathering forces.
As you sit pondering, take care not to "what-if" yourself into a puddle of anxiety. Write down any foreseeable setbacks or snags, and then make an appointment with a professional (lawyer, CPA, financial counselor, etc.) to discuss these possibilities and learn what you can do to prevent them. Recognition and anticipation of difficulties means you can nip them in the bud before they gum up the works, or avoid them altogether.
September 21, 2018: Card O' the Day: Five of Swords. A couple days ago the Queen of Swords was urging you to speak your truth, and today's Five of Swords indicates that's not going to be received well.... The "communication breakdown" indicated by this card may mean tribe members will no longer speak to you. More discord.... But for your own sanity, you've got to drop the smiling mask you've been wearing and stop sucking it up for the harmony of the group.
There's a lot of comparing and sizing each other up in this tribe. Let them continue if they want, but you need to tend your own garden for now. Are you being your best self in the best way YOU know how? Remember, there are countless ways to iron a shirt. Just because you don't do it the way "they" do it your shirt is still smooth once you get done.
As old structures and patterns fall apart and losses start piling up, you may find the situation simply can't be fixed. If that's the case, walk away and use your energies where they're appreciated and not judged "less" than.
September 20, 2018: Card O' the Day: Two of Pentacles, reversed. We continue with the "stepping away" theme that's been running through our daily cards. This card represents discontinuing something you used to take care of, which will cause disharmony. But you must drop this thing because it's either become too much for you to handle, or it doesn't serve you anymore to do it.
While you may believe you've shifted your perspectives and are now seeing things in a different/true light, nothing concrete has manifested yet. The manifestation is your "proof" you've done it, and without that solid evidence, you're getting a bit antsy. I'll bet things you want to change have a certain time line that can't be rushed. You're ready to make the changes RIGHT NOW, but it CAN'T happen "right now."
Therefore, keep practicing your shift in perspective, because it must be practiced consciously until it's become "muscle memory" and happens on its own. This change of heart/mind/view didn't come overnight. You've got time to let things happen as they do; there's no need to rush...except in your impatient little soul!
September 19, 2018: Card O' the Day: Queen of Swords. The last couple cards o' the day indicated you're becoming disenchanted with your family, tribe, or community. The Queen of Swords tells us why. She's a great truth teller and has zero tolerance for BS. I have a feeling you have realized or will soon realize some things about the people in your lives, and it ain't pleasant.
If you decide to step back from a group or an individual because an uncomfortable truth has come out or your own loss of respect, be sure to clearly communicate why. If you're vague, you do yourself a disservice by not revealing your honest feelings. This queen is VERY good with diplomacy, so you'll find a way to express yourself authentically without stabbing someone in the eye.
The final thought about the Queen of Swords is that she's a pretty concrete thinker. Black v. white, right v. wrong, no gray areas or mitigating circumstances. In some situations, of course, there is truly no wiggle room. However, think carefully before you burn bridges and throw the baby out with the bath water. This queen learns from her mistakes; think back to other bridges you've burned...were they mistakes? Is this current situation salvageable through compromise?
September 18, 2018: Card O' the Day: Ten of Pentacles, reversed. The word "family" evokes thoughts of blood relatives and in-laws--people you're related to. However, for this reading today, I want you to look further afield...consider this card relevant to your usual "group", homies, circle, friends, "tribe", any whole that you're a part of that has set traditions, norms, beliefs, and/or roles for its members. Ya feel me?
Okay, now that we've broadened the definition of "family", know this: you're about to buck the system. The norms, beliefs, traditions, roles you've been accepting as yours, etc. are no longer working for you. You've outgrown them. What once worked, doesn't sit well for you anymore. I don't think it's a quick decision, but more of a slow burn that's been building for a while. It began as boredom, dissatisfaction, or disappointment that has grown to restlessness, resistance, and flat out "I don't wanna!"
Eventually, you won't be able to stand it and will have to escape this "safe zone" of tradition and defined roles to find freedom and fresh air. This will piss off some people in the group, especially as the holiday season nears. Drama will ensue. Stand firm and don't engage. Ultimately, you'll be happier breaking away from the same old things.
September 14, 2018: Card O' the Day: Judgment, reversed. Your community/tribe is going to go through some difficult transitions. The incoming information isn't going to be accepted well...by you or other members of the group. It would seem the self-styled (or "elected") leaders of the group haven't been doing what they promised or what was expected of them while they help that position. This will be disappointing to say the least.
As you discover this unfortunate reality, you may be tempted to criticize yourself for having trusted too easily, relied too heavily upon others, and the like. Don't. You made good-faith decisions based on what you knew at the time. Move forward with this new information, make improvements, and correct any mistakes you're responsible for. And just maybe, per the card of the 12th, YOU should take over that leadership position and show them how it's done!!
September 13, 2018: Card O' the Day: Six of Swords. The suit of Swords governs the mind, your thinking processes, and the voices in your head. This card indicates it's time to change the way you do certain things or go about solving problems. If you continue in your mental habits, you'll continue to return to the usual solutions you've used...those same solutions that leave you feeling dissatisfied.
An example of this may be to procrastinate over getting a project done until the very last minute. Then you go to your usual solution and kick into high gear. Yes, you get the thing done, but it's slap-dash and you need three days to recover from the frenzy. And you know damned will you could have done a better job of it had you started sooner.
If you can accept your limits, and the limits of others, you'll be able to plan a way forward that doesn't require so much stress. Actively change your life for the better by changing your mind about it.
September, 12, 2018: Card O' the Day: The Magician. Each of us takes up space in Universe uniquely and specifically. The Magician represents that shape of your space and you're being encouraged to fill it entirely. By filling your allotted space, you complete your portion of the "big picture" and the part of the whole we were talking about yesterday.
You're consciously aware of where improvements must be made, and you're ready and in the position to focus your purpose. Feel, trust, and use your power for creating a greater good for your community.
This card indicates very strong forward motion and unlimited possibilities. Your will and ideas are ready to change the world as you know it, and you're acting as a catalyst for the actions required to manifest the change. Combined with the community card of the Four of Wands, I feel like some of you will be compelled to engage in "do-gooding"...helping to clean up after hurricane Florence, perhaps, or running for public office.
September 11, 2018: Card O' the Day: Four of Wands. I don't know that I could have drawn a better card than this one on this particular day.... Our country's people do well in crises and pull together to help our neighbors. This card reminds us just how well....
The Four of Wands represents community, society, and a unified whole that works and creates in stability, harmony, and peace. If you notice all creatures form families and communities--life simply works better when you don't have to do it all yourself. This card is indicative of a tribe or group working together to make a unique contribution that creates a unified and vital whole. You have an opportunity right now to be a part of this group and to add your personal touch to something greater and more beautiful than any one of you could have made alone.
While the recent phase of self-exploration is starting to wane, you're being asked not to give up inner journeying altogether. Perhaps it won't be as front and center as it has been of late, but we should all continue search for our highest and truest Selves.
September 10, 2018: Card O' the Day: Queen of Cups. The keyword for the day is "receptivity." This queen represents gratitude for whatever comes her way with no attachments, expectations, or demands. She reminds you to accept gifts gracefully and receive lessons with equanimity.
She also represents favorable emotional energy-- whether your own or in your environment. This is a "good luck" thing as it provides a safe space for deep emotions to emerge to be examined and cherished or healed before being let go. Listen to your deep inner voices when making decisions about what to keep and what to remove.
Because the energies of this card are super compassionate and nurturing, it can be easy to overstep your own boundaries (we talked about that yesterday, too) in your efforts to care for others. Maintain those personal fences so you don't get overwhelmed and lost in everyone else's crises and emotional garbage. Though you want to help, some things must be experienced so growth can occur.
September 9, 2018: Card O' the Day: Nine of Wands, reversed. Insufficient or impractical preparation for your end goal is snagging operations. Resistance is also an issue--yours to the hard work ahead or someone else's to your idea or methods. This trouble and inconvenience can make you want to just chuck it all and go home. It would make life a lot easier to just hit Netflix and eat Cheetos all day. However, with some hard work, this all can come together and be quite successful. After all, nine's are about completion!
The reason you're getting your drawers in a twist about this stuff, and are not able to react to road blocks more gracefully, is that personal boundaries are not being imposed. People then step past, and you get cranky even though you say it's okay "this time." Let go of your defensiveness and simply reiterate and enforce your boundaries.
September 8, 2018: Card O' the Day: Ten of Wands. Many times the Ten of Wands can represent oppressive burdens and having bitten off more than you can chew. This time around, though, there's a renewal of your spiritual call, and you're ready to confront and conquer! heroic tasks. There will be a lot of responsibility and striving to meet or maintain your goals. Be determined to remain dependable and follow through with what you promised. Your integrity and word are at stake.
This job may be a solo venture, but I'm feeling more like your work is part of a whole. Your dedicated tasks must be done so the "whole" succeeds and flourishes in creative professional realizations.
A lot rests on your shoulders! It's going to be hard in the next days or weeks to get everything done. Therefore, take well-timed pauses to rest and refresh in order to press forward. Trust me, in the end, all this hard work will be worth it!
September 7, 2018: Card O' the Day: Queen of Wands, reversed. The reversed Queen of Wands can become possessive about her territory and what she perceives as "hers." If she feels thwarted in any way, she may become catty and snarky behind the back of those who have gotten in her way. She views healthy competition as cut-throat rivalry and will merrily back-stab to get what she wants. If she can't get it, then she'll make sure everyone else is miserable through her drama and volatility.
Sorry, folks! I brought this one on. A few moments before I drew the Card O' the Day, I was attending to some business administration and discovered a minor annoyance. Really! A very MINOR annoyance...and yet I get slapped with the reversed Queen. It's not like I blew a gasket or anything. I observed the situation, wrinkled my nose and gave a frustrated snort, and then moved around the obstacle. In the end, I gained my objective.
Therefore, the question is: am I kidding myself in thinking I'm not upset or is this a lesson for us all? I'm going to go with "lesson for us all" for $300, Alex. I really don't have my panties in a twist, but I can see how some frustrations can get out of control if we let them.
September 6, 2018: Card O' the Day: Six of Pentacles, reversed. The need for independence continues...others' independence from you and your independence from "doing for them" as you push them to need you less. Certainly, you'll always be needed, but strive to be needed for more than your laundry, cooking, yard work, babysitting, checkbook balancing, etc. skills. Ideally, you want to be needed for your love, humor, wit, charm, strength, etc.
If you notice, those two lists above are comprised of tangible skills--things you DO for others--vs. intangible skills--things others enjoy by knowing you. Intangibles you freely share and give, whereas the tangibles can become expected and taken. You're being asked to reconsider how you use your resources, tangible and intangible, for their highest purpose and your highest good.
This card also represents coming to understand that each of us has as much to offer the world as the next guy. Artificial social strata or castes mean nothing. Therefore, there's actually no "wrong side of the tracks" to come from or rise above. Unfortunately, not all of us have received this memo.... Until then, do YOUR best to ignore the social divisions of "The Haves" and "The Have-nots" and treat all with dignity and kindness.
September 5, 2018: Card O' the Day: Ten of Wands, reversed. Yesterday I asked you to get out of your own way and allow the Wands' energy to flow through your life. This card indicates you're going to have to do some active and purposeful clearing of debris and clutter. This can include literal cleaning of closets or cupboards, but I'm betting it's going to be more along the lines of getting people who depend upon you to become more independent of you. Are you still doing your teenager's laundry? Do you go in to work early to start the 20-cup coffee urn in the break room? Do you run special deliveries for your boss because he/she missed the regular mail?
If you expect to make your own dreams come true, you must place a value on your time and energy...no one else will. You can't expect others to read your mind, see past your half-hearted "I got this...", and automatically give you the space you need. You have to ask for help. You have to draw a line and say I won't do that for you anymore. If you continue to carry everybody's water for them, you'll end up angry and resentful, which will only limit you further.
Shedding responsibility for others won't be an easy habit to break, but you'll be surprised by the relief you'll feel when you manage it.
September 4, 2018: Card O' the Day: Eight of Wands. Eights indicate manifestation and Wands represent the energy that makes things happen or sets things into motion--be that mental, physical, or spiritual energy. Therefore, this card is heralding a time of change and movement forward. Trust your personal powers and get out of your own way. Tune into the subtle energy shifts within yourself and your environment so you can understand what action (or not) is needed next.
This energy is pretty big stuff and must be guided and controlled. This card indicates a conflict between your own impetuosity and logical foresight. For that reason, ideas will need to be structured and organized lest you get carried away by the speed of it all and advance too rapidly.
As you throw yourself into this energetic Level 5 Rapids, you'll be giving your all to it. Keep in mind the importance of each step on the journey, not just the end result. Finally, recognize when you need a break and take it otherwise you'll burn out before reaching the goal.
September 3, 2018: Card O' the Day: Three of Cups. We just had this card a few days ago but the message today is slightly different...more in tune with the reversed Sun of yesterday. In general, this card indicates difficulties of late are beginning to soften as healing and resolution takes place. This allows energy to be used for expansion and growth rather than protection and damage control.
True celebration, as represented by the Three of Cups, comes from your joy, not from outside events, circumstances, or special achievements. Have the courage and determination to celebrate small events without the shadow of anticipating the return of hard times. ("Yeah, things are better NOW, but just wait. I'll get knocked down again soon enough so there's no point in being happy." 
) Give yourself the permission to be fulfilled with what you DO have and experience (consciously choose!) the joy life contains.
September 2, 2018: Card O' the Day: The Sun, reversed. It's interesting that the body aspects of The Sun are your legs and movement quality. What does your walk say about you? Do you stride (or sashay!) forward with pride and assurance, or do you take tentative steps? (And no, it has nothing to do with physical ability... a person in a wheelchair can still sashay energetically and with aplomb.)
If you find your movements to be hesitant, it could be that you're lacking in confidence, criticizing yourself harshly, and then projecting a false front to cover your insecurity and self-doubt. When feeling uncertain, it's probably because you're stressing too much over the empty part of your glass and forgetting about the full part. The Sun is all about consciously CHOOSING joy.
In every circumstance or experience there will be pros and cons. You're being asked to develop a new objectivity about those pros and cons...especially the cons. Look for the hidden pros and CHOOSE joy.
September 1, 2018: Card O' the Day: Queen of Pentacles, reversed. As you explore your inner workings and person, you may find dissatisfaction with social "norms" and the gender-specific expectations family, spouses, or your community place upon you. This Queen is generally considered the "Martha Stewart" of the deck; but when reversed, conformity and obedience to "rules" is questioned.
Recently, you may have been spending more time outside, with friends, volunteering, and generally finding what you need and want out of this life. The dusting and vacuuming may have been neglected (ahem), which then causes you guilt and shame for having been a lax housekeeper. But hey, if you're not running a restaurant out of your kitchen, who cares?
What this really boils down to is this question: Dare I be so different? Yes! Dare! Then if you don't like it, go back to making soup, homemade bread, and keeping the dust bunnies down to just one generation. If, and only if that makes you HAPPY! What society considers traditional roles might be what you live for; they could also be a prison to you. You decide which.
August 31, 2018: Card O' the Day: Three of Cups. By receiving this card today, I see the contemplation of your inner depth and wisdom has been fruitful, and you're coming to realize you're at "home" within yourself. No, we're not "islands", but being good with your own company, abilities, and achievements is a good thing. Getting pats on the back for your good works does feel good and it helps motivate for future endeavors; however, be able to congratulate yourself and MEAN it. This internal feeling of "I'm pretty darned cool!" will give you the strength and courage to try things outside your normal safety zone.
This card also portends of inspiration tempered by reason, skill, and intelligence. And instead of being a wet blanket on your magical ideas, said reasoning helps you find the compromises necessary for making things actually happen.
The shadow of this card is overabundance, indulgence, and escapist behavior. Be careful that your celebrations are done with responsibility and temperance. Nothing ruins a good party more than having to pray to the porcelain god. Just sayin'....
August 30, 2018: Card O' the Day: The High Priestess. The High Priestess represents our inner knowing from a deep inner place. This place is hard to access while living in the very busy material world. Yesterday's Wand energy is chaotic, and The High Priestess is telling you in order to make sense of it, you'll have to be still, silent, and patient. The answers will come to you if you pay attention. Now, I don't mean you should try to meditate for 8 hours straight! If you force it, you'll end up over-thinking and driving yourself nuts. Be gentle with it.
The High Priestess also reminds you of the necessity to stay calm in extreme situations. Now is not the time for action, because there are too many voices pulling at you from all sides. There is potential for abundance...it's just not yet clear.
August 29, 2018: After Two AMAZING expos in Skokie and Raleigh (and a lot of driving in between) it's time to return to the... Card O' the Day: Ace of Wands, reversed. Upright, this card is all about new energy and beginnings! However, when reversed, it's like the steering wheel to this ride is just for show--it's not attached to anything substantive. I feel like a ton of energy is rushing through that makes me want to get right out there and...what? But if I knew, I would...how? And remind me why? A frustrated restlessness compels us to DO something, but there's no concrete direction.
Impatience is absolutely NOT the answer. Beware of making any decisions right now regarding what seems like the "greatest thing next to sliced bread!" It's illusion and not based in solid thinking or upon an energetic foundation. "Mistakes will be made", as they say.
What to do in the mean time with all this ambition and anticipation? Find a physical outlet. Burn calories via exercise or organized sports. Even lively games of cut-throat Euchre or Scrabble will keep your mind occupied, which is what you need to avoid those oh-so-wrong "bright ideas."
August 23, 2018: Card O' the Day: Three of Wands, reversed. Yesterday's Prince is a slow, cautious fellow who's eminently practical. However, that can also translate into fear of taking the occasional, well thought out risk. That's the self worth thing showing up again.
Because you hold yourself to rather unrealistic standards, and expect to build Rome in a day, you're getting overwhelmed by all that you've set before yourself. Where to begin!?!?!? Well, asking for help is out of the question because then everyone will know how weak and incompetent you are, right? Oh, no...they'll just make fun of you or condescend to offer a little help that's worse than if you'd just kept your mouth shut.
You can stay here, overwhelmed and alone or you can encourage forward motion by breaking down the big task into smaller, doable pieces. Then give yourself a more practical timeline. Then trust your community to give you the help you need. If you can do that, you're burdens will fall away
August 22, 2018: Card O' the Day: Prince of Pentacles. Even though this card is a "prince" (or knight, depending on the deck) and the energy represented is youthful and active--rather than mature and contemplative--its earth element keeps this energy grounded and stable. Yes, okay, some may call it plodding, but slow and steady is called for at this time. Dare I say the "p" word? Patience.... This card is guided by the angels of Concentration and Purposefulness to give you unwavering attention and a realistic approach to your plans.
These qualities of the card are laudable and something to aspire to. However, there are some shadows that are worth mentioning.
The humble prince is a great protector of his tribe and does so without fanfare. And because he's "always there", his people rely heavily upon him. He allows this because he secretly believes he's not worth much and has to be extra helpful, at his own expense, to earn his keep in society. Therefore, I'm reminding you of healthy personal boundaries and that you absolutely matter, too. Take up all of your space and say "no" occasionally.
August 21, 2018: Card O' the Day: Six of Pentacles, reversed. This card indicates that some of us are attaching personal validation to money. That money isn't flowing as we'd hoped right now (a payment didn't come in, the raise didn't happen, your lottery ticket didn't win, etc.), so we're feeling like losers, "less than", or not "enough" in some way. When caught up in this material lack, you may feel cranky, shortchanged, or covetous of what you perceive others to have.
What you really want is attention! Go seek it from your friends, community, or tribe. Organize a potluck picnic and invite everybody. Organize a happy hour. Contact everyone you know, and tell them it's 80's night at the local cantina. Fill your cup with emotional and spiritual validation. It's actually way more valuable than a nicer car, better clothes, or more bling.
Finally ask yourself this: Am I willing to recognize success as being something other than a bigger paycheck or bank account?
August 16, 2018: Card O' the Day: Prince of Swords.
The Prince of Swords represents youthful, impetuous, action-oriented energy. There are bees in your bonnets that are buzzing loud and need to be let out and manifested. But the inherent recklessness and restlessness of this energy makes it difficult to ground ideas in reality and be responsible for all the little details. Another caveat is that anyone this caught up in their own head is going to be very headstrong and loathe to listen to others.
Part of the instinct for survival is to mask pain. In the wild, animals can't afford to favor a limb or be seen wobbling about. If sick, they need to lay low lest predators see their weakness and target them for an easy kill. This Prince is like that, too. He covers himself with armor so no one can see his sadness, broken heart, anger, or resentment. While the armor shields the view of outsiders, it also holds the emotions in preventing them from being healed.
The sparkling intellectual energy represented by this card is vastly useful. But it's a tricky tool to use. It's a brilliant horse that needs to be trained, not broken. Find a way to harness this energy, but use a delicate touch.
August 15, 2018: Card O' the Day: This High Priestess, reversed. The High Prestess signifies a time of inner communion and contemplation. When she's reversed like this, and added to the cards of the past week or so, she signifies coming out of your shell and no longer holding back your voice or on your needs and wants. This independence may leave you feeling a little "on your own", but it's in a good way like when you got your first apartment. And now that you are on your own, you'll be setting new standards and boundaries.
Be aware that some relationships may begin to feel superficial and one-sided--as in, you're doing all the work to stay in touch, make plans, and perhaps even finance outings to keep a relationship alive. These are your needs, wants, and voice standing up for you. This is your B.S. tolerance dropping to zero. Ending these relationships may be uncomfortable in the moment, but you'll feel so relieved when that nonsense is no longer in your world.
Lastly, as you begin to dare to act outside the expected social norms your community has placed upon you and refuse to be anybody's doormat, there'll probably be gossip and side-eye at the grocery. Finding this freedom within yourself can be extremely sexy, and if you indulge your passions, you may be labeled a "slut." Other nasty names may include bitch or "too much." All I've got to say is have a blast being "too much"! There's a heavy metal song that goes: One life! I'm gonna live it up!!!
August 13, 2018: Card O' the Day: The Sun. BOO-ya! Somebody just pulled in a shit ton of celestite, turned of their brain, and took a deep-ass breath! It may be Monday and Mercury is still in retrograde for another week, but Universe just gave us assurance that life is good. What a difference a day makes!
In receiving this card we're given a moment of clarity in which we can understand anything is possible and everything is eternal. Put down your phone for 5 minutes and look outside. If it's raining, watch the rain and relax. If the sun is out, count the leaves on the trees an relax. In a high-rise downtown? Then watch the cars on the street below and relax.
A new cycle is coming, probably when Mercury goes direct on the 19th. Between now and then try on a few different "hats" to see what's next for you. Watch other people and see what works for them--it might work for you, too.
August 12, 2018: Card O' the Day: Eight of Swords. Oh, wow! Tying ourselves in knots, are we? This card indicates many of you are overthinking life and mind-looping yourself into a frozen pile of inertia who's afraid to draw a deep breath lest you do it "wrong." Life isn't supposed to be this hard!
This kind of self-doubt can become crippling if you let it overtake you. A little is normal and can be shaken off with a pep talk from friends or your stronger Big Kid self. However, if you find you simply can't shut up that negative voice in your head, seek counseling from a licensed therapist, clergy person, shaman, or someone else trained in talk therapy. This doesn't mean you're crazy, by any means! You're just a bit stuck.
Celeste is a lovely baby blue crystal that is said to calm the mind and help you see a clear path ahead. If you're too short-sighted, you'll only focus on the obstacle right in front of you rather than looking for, and seeing, ways past it. Perhaps the atomic frequency will help you realign your own frequency, or you'll just enjoy a pretty rock. Either way, contemplate the beauty of its crystal structure to distract yourself from yourself long enough to get a different perspective on life. And breathe....
August 11, 2018: Card O' the Day: Eight of Pentacles. Not every job is going to be a Stellar Accomplishment. Life requires that you attend to menial tasks, so step into your integrity and do them well. This card represents doing your work steadily and carefully without concern for reward or recognition. I mean, really; no one is going to throw you a ticker tape parade for emptying the dishwasher or folding the clothes in the dryer. Nevertheless, that work is important, so take pride in it.
By understanding that the actual work matters more than the result, you will learn to approach tasks, even mundane chores, with pride and sincerity. Live in your highest purpose while you scrub your toilet, because giving a task your best shot is love in action.
August 10, 2018: Card O' the Day: The Empress, reversed. As you begin to open your heart to finding your inner joy, you may realize you've been nurturing, helping, coddling, and protecting others for too long. The Empress is the archetypal "mother" figure and, when reversed, she's had enough of being the mommy. It's good to discover this. With this realization, take time to understand why you tend to over give and be too nice at your own expense. It is absolutely okay, and NECESSARY to say "no" and self-advocate to retain boundaries you need to be comfortable.
That said, be careful not to take that "me, myself, and I" thing too far. In your efforts to shed the mantle of caregiver, firmest shoulder, and thriftiest shopper to allow more for others, it can be tempting to blow the budget at the mall and ignore the phone. Balance, balance, balance! Find how can you indulge your own needs and yet still be a supportive member of your tribe.
Finally, The Empress reversed can indicate an out-of-control growth like cancer. Just for chuckles, do a self exam of your breasts (guys, too) and check for lumps. Also, take a gander at all your moles, freckles, pimples, and random brown patches. Check the BACK of your legs and look in the mirror at your posterior side. Do yourself a favor and have anything hinky checked out. I'm just sayin'....
August 9, 2018: Card O' the Day: Ten of Cups. The Ten of Pentacles represents having a solid material foundation and wealth. Yes, it's a happy and secure place to be to know you'll have enough for retirement and a little left over to give to your kids after you pass. On the other hand, the Ten of Cups signifies the kind of lasting happiness that cannot come from mere possessions. (I kind of beg to differ on this because the perfect pair of pumps can bring me a certain kind of joy...but I digress.)
The kind of serenity, peacefulness, and happiness the Ten of Cups represents is true, INNER joy and satisfaction. It's the realization that you're fully at home--within yourself-- wherever your feet end up taking you. This kind of happiness already exists in your heart; it's just waiting to be discovered. Allow yourself to be softer and more receptive to feeling and experiencing joy...you certainly deserve it!
Never doubt that ALL things are possible for you....
August 8, 2018: Card O' the Day: Queen of Swords. This card is a continuation of yesterday's World as it signifies letting go of old ideas to make space for and grasp new beliefs, ideas, and knowledge. The Queen of Swords is a natural analyst and intellectual being. With her mature yin energy, she encourages thoughtful planning and non-action at this time. Trust your thought processes and inner knowing to guide your timing for eventual action.
This may seem cold and calculating, and you may be accused by others as being unfeeling or inconsiderate. However, in actuality you're feeling EVERYthing very deeply. You're just in a place where you can stop to think about the consequences of your actions your feelings may drive you to do. Instead of being carried away, you can sit with your emotions, consider them carefully, and understand what's truly best for you.
We're being asked to use our analytical powers to cut away all illusion and face any truths you may be avoiding. With crystal clarity, align your truth with that of others. Meaning, stand firm where you must but also compromise where you can. You'll have to be willing to make some tough choices.
August 7, 2018: Card O' the Day: The World. Because this card is the last of the major arcana, it signifies an ending of some kind. However, all endings make space for new beginnings, and we're being asked to look forward to those rather than mourn the ending part. This is a moment of natural balance...that wonderful time of having completed the final task but before you have to begin work on the next thing. Have a party and celebrate this moment of freedom!
The World can also signify some pretty profound spiritual epiphanies. Perceptions of your world may shift and expand past previous boundaries. You may have thought you had a solid world view, and of your place in it, but something is causing you to reevaluate. You may come to understand your concept of the world is only aspect of an infinitely faceted world. As your view expands, so does your consciousness, and you'll find yourself shedding some earthly concerns and security as you realize you simply don't need them.
August 2, 2018: Card O' the Day: Five of Swords. This card helps you see the consequences and results of negative patterns in your life, whether that pattern be smoking, overeating, spending too much, being stuck up, trying to out-do you neighbor, etc. All this posturing is to much work and your facade of "this is who I am" is getting harder and harder to maintain. Once you can move past the "win/lose" mentality and appeal to your higher self, you'll find a lot of clarity about what you need to really be happy.
This card echoes what I said the other day about the Kabbala's teaching that everything is incomparably unique and each thing and each being has a special place in the universe. Only you can do you as perfectly as you do!
The shadow to this card is you may have to put up with a certain amount of eating crow. Your ballsy persona has been pretty pretentious, and some people may not be able to resist telling you "I told you so." Gracefully accept your giant slice of humble pie and move on lighter in heart and spirit.
August 1, 2018: Card O' the Day: Nine of Pentacles, reversed. The Nine of Pentacles represents material largesse and ease. But when reversed, what you do have may not feel enough. Look! the Joneses across the street have a new car! We need to get a boat....
But the more you seek to gain material stuff, the more oppressive those things become since you have to take care of them, make time to use them, make space for them, and protect them against others who covet them. Being afraid of having your stuff stolen or damaged leads to insecurity. And even if you can afford all these expensive toys, continued accumulation threatens to overwhelm and suffocate what you already have. Therefore, you never actually enjoy any of it.
If the "shine" wears off your new toy almost immediately and your find yourself seeking another new thing to get that "shiny" feeling back, I'd say Universe is sending you a message that it's time to work on YOUR shine. Once you feel shiny INSIDE, you'll feel peaceful, serene, and not need to keep up with the Joneses.
July 31, 2018: Card O' the Day: Queen of Wands. Whew! Looks like you've heeded the advice to stop spinning your wheels, because today's queen represents withdrawing from struggle or challenges to regain or maintain an optimistic point of view. Good on ya!
I applaud the fierce determination she has to get her own way or pursue her own interests. However, her persistence can morph into obstinacy if she's not careful. Also, because she's so very sure of her own judgment and power (NOT a "bad" thing by any means), she must exercise those qualities with care lest she runs roughshod over others working with her or in her path. I'm not asking anyone to dim their lights, just navigate with courtesy and compassion.
The stone associated with this card is yellow topaz. It is said to bring light and joy to those who wear it or keep it nearby. It's also supposed to inspire loftier thoughts and liberate the soul. Bonus: it's pretty!
July 30, 2018: Card O' the Day: The Chariot, reversed. Over commitment is reiterating the over burdens of yesterday, and being over committed means you're not using your resources and energies wisely or economically. This stems from impatience to "get there." The process is as important as the final goal, and some of your ideas for implementation actually are opposed to your aims. This will lead to running in circles and being easily distracted from your course as you have to fix and adjust the mechanics almost constantly.
As you continue to spin your wheels in the mud, you'll begin to doubt yourself and see obstacles at every turn. You might become overly aggressive and unreasonable as you try, and fail, to salvage what you've started.
The first thing to do is stop wasting gas; turn off the engine and rest a minute. Be present in the moment of relaxation. Breathe deeply as you count to 90 and listen to the silence. Now, without emotion or judgment, assess the situation. What's working? What's not? What do you keep and what do you let go? Then put yourself back into FIRST gear and move forward slowly.
July 29, 2018: Card O' the Day: Ten of Wands. I LOVE WHEN THE CARDS ARE SO FREAKIN' OBVIOUS! The Ten turned up, and I thought Wha? "Overburden", "too much", "what you thought was a good thing actually overtakes you kinda like kudzu".... But of course! Yesterday we were given the green light to let imagination rip! You have to dream it first before you can make it happen, right? Today we get the warnings that act like seat belts in a Ferrari. We're not slowing down the car, we're just keeping you safe (-ish) while you go zooming down the road.
This card also represents the hard work you need to do once your vision has solidified and you've got a direction. It promises success, creative professional realizations, and new experiences. (Which is kind of a "duh!" statement because we all know hard work usually leads to success and reward. But it's nice to have that validation and encouragement.)
It will become essential to relieve stress and tension. Once you've gotten on a roll with your bright ideas, you'll be tempted to work 24/7 lest you miss any random micron of fortuitousness. That mindset is actually coming from a place of lack. Allow yourself time to relax. Okay, you might miss ONE small opportunity, but it isn't going to be the Big Brass Ring anyway. However, the refreshment you gained from relaxing and letting that little thing slide is way more beneficial to your health and wellbeing than that little thing ever could have been. Which then allows you to grab the real Big Brass Ring when it comes.
July 28, 2018: Card O' the Day: Seven of Cups. I'm being reminded that life is short and fragile.... A good lesson from the belief of Kabbala is that we're born to be happy. (Yesterday I reminded you that only you can do "you" completely and perfectly. My other favorite Kabbala lesson.)
In addition to our many talents and gifts, we humans have the ability to dream and fantasize about making our futures better. The Seven of Cups is representative of this imagination, our daydreams, and wishful thinking. We're being told the way forward is not always shown to us through sober realism. By imagining an end result, we then hit the drawing board to create the steps to get there. Mankind didn't achieve the ability to fly by first creating a wing and then wondering what to do with it.
The shadow of this card is about keeping emotions bottled up.... You're not expressing frustration, anger, sadness, etc. and that's not good for you. Stay true to yourself by daring to dream and then taking the steps necessary to improve your situation. Only you have the power to make yourself happy.
July 27, 2018: Card O' the Day: Ten of Cups. I've been seeing a lot of posts about Mercury in retrograde and that we can expect things to go...um..."awry" to put it mildly. Therefore, the experts are advising to batten down the hatches. Okaaaaay.... Just as I believe we can feel the atomic frequencies of crystals--which can make us feel better or worse--I can certainly buy that planetary alignments can make us feel awesome or whacked out depending on the gravitational pull those planets exert on Earth.
However, as a Tarot card reader, I've got my own two cents' to toss out there. The Ten of Cups is among the TOP "happy" cards of the deck. It's right up there with The Sun. All that "happy" is not being bestowed upon you by excelling at work, winning the lottery, getting engaged, etc. This particular type of "happy" comes from within. It's your secret little pocket of "I can do this" or "I'm enough."
I think receiving this card today, in the midst of Mercury's shit storm, is a reminder of how truly resilient we are. When you lose connection during an important phone call, get a flat tire, have your ideas shot down at work, break a nail on your wedding day, forget your SO's birthday, etc., etc., remember you are a creation of Universe. You have a place here, and only you can take up the You-Shaped space as perfectly as you do. You ARE enough. You CAN do this. Even during Mercury retrograde.
July 26, 2018: Card O' the Day: King of Wands, reversed. The reversed King of Wands really wants to be left alone to handle his shit and get himself sorted out. Long established routines of responsibility and expectations from others are grinding him down, and he's getting resentful and intolerant. Certainly, he maintains the stuff he must do, but a lot of stuff others can do for themselves...yet they want him to keep doing it, so they don't have to.
Because personal boundaries and limits are being overrun, the reversed King tries to aggressively establish and hold them. He may come across as defensive and self-righteous as he refuses to continue carrying everyone's load for them. The reason the King is being so obnoxious, loud, and pushy is that he's actually very insecure about his necessary fences and feels guilt for having to let some responsibility go. He excessively explains why he won't or can't do something. It's as if he's trying to justify his limits to himself because he perceives them as being selfish (which we are taught is a "bad" thing) or wrong (a "good person" wouldn't turn their back in such a way).
What to do? Assess the B.F.D. As in, is there blood, fire, or death? If not, stay on your own mat* and resume dealing with your own shit. Let everyone else sort their shit on their mats. *(A yoga reference)
July 24, 2018: Card O' the Day: Prince of Wands. A former ballet teacher of mine would come to my company and guest teach and coach us. She would always fully participate in the classes she taught rather than merely tell us what to do. She was an absolute firebrand and taught killer-hard classes. We, 20 years her junior at least, would groan and whimper with exhaustion while she, herself drenched in sweat, would holler "If not now, WHEN?!"
This card is indicative of her energy and the recognition that now is the time to combine your intellect with your restlessness to be experimental, forward thinking, and oriented to the future. You're being challenged to seek broader and greener pastures at the very least in your attitude towards life. If you can actually make physical changes (see July 20th's card), all the better.
I'm still convinced you need to work on your own since the Prince doesn't find the opinions of others important or helpful. It's not the advice of others which will hold you back--only you can do that--it's simply not relevant to you at this time. One word of caution, though: examine your motives. Are you taking dares based on "fight or flight" reaction to your current situation? Move forward by all means, but don't run forward to the future out of fear of the present.
July 23, 2018: Card O' the Day: Three of Pentacles, reversed. I've picked the same card two days in a row before, but I think this might be a first: picking it upright and then reversed.... AND, by the way, we had this same card 8 days ago. What!?!
The phrases "acting alone", "unwillingness to ask for help", and "refusal of advice" are leaping at me, and I'm wondering if there are some things that need to be sorted out by you and you alone. Coupled with yesterday's spiritual work of finding and trusting your inner GPS, I feel like it's time to be alone and do your work without input from besties or parents.
If you absolutely have no idea how to tap into your unconscious, perhaps a pranayama yoga class or two or a guided meditation class might get you pointed in the right direction. There are also guided meditation CDs or audioblogs you can listen to in your own space. However, because this stuff needs to be worked out in your own heart and mind, try to limit how-to classes or CDs to just a point in the right general direction. They should not become crutches you depend upon to do the work for you.
Generate you OWN new ideas, even if it's a struggle and they're wholly impractical and fantastic. The point is those are yours, and you practiced listening to your guts and seeing your guiding light all by yourself.
July 22, 2018: Card O' the Day: Three of Pentacles. This card is often interpreted as being about teamwork and initial success after beginning work on the material plane, but I'm feeling the deeper, more spiritual connotations today.
Spiritually, this card represents the guidance of your inner truth and Self. Your gut knows what's real and true about any situation before your heart and brain can (or are willing to) catch on. Your gut is the bestie who can see a mile off he's no good for you, but you keep going out with him because you're "in luuuuuuv!". It's the old conflict between solid common sense and emotional desires, which, by the way, can be present under any circumstances and not just in your love life. Like, say, buying a car with excellent gas mileage versus a Hummer that gets 2 gallons per mile but looks cool as shit.
Another valuable lesson from this card is the cultivation of deep concentration and understanding of a project or relationship as the cornerstones of the foundation of said project or relationship. Meaning, you've got to truly understand where you're trying to go and how you're going to move forward before you even break ground. Once you have that understanding of the most basic requirements, perseverance will bring powerful expansion and positive outcome.
July 21, 2018: Card O' the Day: Two of Wands. Personal power, boldness, and rebellion is welling up inside you, and you're ready for adventure and all of the many opportunities that appear to be meant for you! However, this volatile, energetic oomph! that's blasting through you is very scattered and unfocused causing you to waste most of it through inefficiency or foolhardiness. Actions right now are knee-jerk reactions that may bring radical change but more likely will bring you unpleasant surprises and/or unwanted result.
Destruction is often the first step in any creative process. A good example of that is razing an old building to make space for a new one. But do you know how much careful planning and engineering goes into blowing up a building so the whole thing collapses straight down without damaging its neighboring structures? That's what you need to do...develop the necessary mental discipline to seek your fortunes without destroying the security of established foundations or neighboring supports.
July 20, 2018: Card O' the Day: Judgment, reversed. This is so weird.... Last week, when reversed Judgment came up, it followed the King of Pentacles. It comes again this week following the Queen of Pentacles. The King is representative of traditions, continuity, and your family...all that anchors you and provides stability and foundation from which you grow and build your life. The Queen represents the management of the daily tasks and interactions which make up that tradition, continuity, and tribe or community. Reversed Judgment signifies difficulty with or resentment towards transitions and changes.
Because the "difficult changes" came right after "physical plane" PERSONALITY cards, I feel as though changes need to be made in YOUR physical world, not in how you think or feel. (I remind you that the court cards indicate you or people you deal with.) Concrete changes to your body, your house, your job, and/or the people you interact with are what is being indicated. All the changes Universe is asking you to make are to bring you better health, greater joy, and more fulfillment.
So, I'm now asking you: What do you need to do to make your body healthier? Who do you need to remove from your life? What changes do you need to make to your home to settle your soul or help you sleep? What career choices do you need to make to find fulfillment in your life's work? Often, we can make substantial revisions in our lives with attitude adjustments or speaking our minds a little more often. This time, we need tangible, physical changes.
July 19, 2018: Card O' the Day: Queen of Pentacles. The Queen of Pentacles is the mistress of the nuts and bolts of life. She manages the household resources, can make gourmet meals out of leftovers, coordinate the schedules of six different people, maintain order in chaos, and still have time to make friends feel welcome and important to her. And yet, as the epitome of "self-value", this queen never puts herself last. Lastly, because she's so connected to Mother Earth, she reminds you of the importance of being in natural surroundings to renew your own connection with nature.
Her appearance today means she's had enough of these off-energy, touchy-feely esoteric days and wants you to return to ground and the tangible blessings you enjoy every day. Today, anchor yourself in the here and now by digging in the garden, cleaning a closet, washing your car, or going for a run. Be present in the concrete world and put spiritual quests and emotional upheavals on the back-burner for a minute.
If you need help, the stone associated with this card is agate. It can help connect you to Earth and reality. It also aids in your search for what is factually true (not what you believe or perceive). Facing facts, no matter how unpleasant, is the first step in changing unpleasant, unhealthy, toxic, or wasteful circumstances for the better. So, if you're inclined to include rocks in your life, put a piece of agate in your pocket to remind you to be real today.
July 18, 2018: Card O' the Day: King of Cups. Even the most spiritually unenlightened among us can generally understand when they've stayed too long in a situation and can't expect any further growth, happiness, or benefit from it. Changes and new directions are necessary to create a fresher environment...your roots have become pot-bound, and it's time for a bigger pot in which to flourish. This may mean moving to a bigger place if your current space has become cramped; conversely, it could mean down-sizing in order to more efficiently use resources.
If you are spiritually aware and connected with the more etherial aspects of our existence, you may have the courage to allow deeply buried wounds come to the surface to be healed. Acknowledging the reality of this old pain means no longer hiding from yourself or others. "Water under the bridge!", "It's all good!", "No use crying over spilled milk!" and similar phrases minimize and ignore our feelings. But then those hurt feelings simply stay in a box on your shelf and never get resolved.
Create an open and accepting environment in which you can be honest and say "Hey! That HURT!" Once feelings are recognized they can be dealt with and healed. And this goes for everyone's feelings, not just your own. In such a receptive place, a lot of misunderstandings, intentional injuries, and drama can be resolved. I caution you about holding unrealistic ideas about yourself or others, though. Sometimes the "healing" means ending things once and for all.
July 17, 2018: Card O' the Day: Six of Wands. The energy of today is much more balanced and easily managed compared to yesterday's energetic snit fit. The number six indicates harmony, and when coupled with the fire of the Wands, we have smooth, creative energy that we don't have to fight with or tame. So, make a point of enjoying the good vibes that bring optimism, a willingness to accept challenges, and the oomph to pull you out of the mire of lethargy.
Whenever you have tension, frustration, setbacks, or upsets, it's important to really and fully release that stress. Just heaving a sigh of relief that it's over and continuing to push on isn't enough. Athletes make cool downs after a hard workout or contest part of their process. They warm up, work hard (apply stress to their bodies and minds), and then cognitively and purposefully cool down to remove the excess lactic acid in their muscles. If they just plopped down and had a beer after, they'd pretty much freeze up into one solid ache. Mental and emotional stress needs to be just as pointedly and consciously released through a nature hike, yoga, meditation, hot bath, night out with friends, etc.
July 16, 2018: Card O' the Day: Temperance, reversed. Maybe it's Monday or because it's hot, but we're still whacked and out of balance. When Temperance is reversed, the imbalances continue. Whereas Judgment reversed shows imbalance in your thinking v. your instincts, reversals of Temperance lead to imbalances in your emotions. Therefore, for those of you who cry when frustrated, embarrassed, or angry (raising my hand here, too), you may have to hide your tears behind uncontrollable sneezing, coughing, or a dash to the restroom for "gastric upset." Because projectile diarrhea is so much less humiliating than cry-baby tears, am I right?
Ever feel like you know exactly what you need to do, but you just can't seem to make it happen? There's a lot of that happening with this card. In addition to the fumbling to execute anything on the physical plane (this includes writing or making presentations), it's not a good day for decisions, changes, or tackling huge problems. Do the best you can for now, and try to at least get the bare minimum done. Forgive yourself for being less than your stellar best, and let this off kilter energy pass.
July 15, 2018: Card O' the Day: Three of Pentacles, reversed. I think it's time for a break from your routine or a solid vacation. Three's indicate the product of a union of effort and ideas, and Pentacles indicate the physical plane. However, when this card is reversed, that indicates all is not well on your physical plane. Your actual body may be fatigued or out of sorts; your mind/emotions/spirit may be in a "mood" or snit.
This crankiness will cause you to mismanage your resources. You might try to "wing" things that you really aren't qualified to do, and you're too snarky to ask for help. Like a toddler, you insist on doing it yourself and end up doing it badly. Apathy leads you to accept a piss-poor job, but trust me when I say you'll regret having to do it all over again later.
Therefore, drop what you're doing--before you make a complete hash of it--and muddle along until you can take off on a quick weekend camping trip, overnight bike tour, fishing day, or whatever is in your budget of time and money to get you back to nature. Living entirely within the man-made world is not good for your body or soul. You NEED nature to thrive!
July 14, 2018: Card O' the Day: Seven of Swords. The number seven is a magical number based in nature (7 colors in the visible spectrum, 7 musical notes per octave, each moon phase lasts 7 days, etc.), and the suit of Swords is of the mind. Together, they can herald "magic of the mind", which can be interpreted as some rather brilliant thinking and sparks of inspiration. Now, these fantastic ideas may not be viable or successful, if implemented, but the good news is the wheels are turning. While there's no guarantee any of these bright plans will succeed, trying is always better than doing nothing.
So, things will continue to feel out of balance and off-kilter until you find a new route of action. This action, any action, will help you feel less trapped. This card isn't saying the crisis has passed, but rather that your mind is getting in gear and is helping you see new hope, renewed trust, and relief from isolation (whether self-imposed, circumstantial, imagined, etc.). And with that renewed ambition, you'll be willing to take a few chances (see above re trying bright ideas).
Finally, this card has some very deep spiritual components to it. Beneath the surface, if you're willing to look, can be found both hidden truth and opportunity.
July 12, 2018: Card O' the Day: Judgment, reversed. It's always interesting to me how my (almost) daily cards will follow a theme for a few days...like each card is part of a bigger spread which is revealed to us one card at a time.
Yesterday, we had the King of Pentacles. It's representative of tradition, family, and continuity within society. Judgment, reversed threatens that continuity. It signifies the resistance to or fear of the process of constant change and inevitable movement forward. This process includes (but isn't limited to) growing old, children moving out, retiring from your life's work, ending relationships, transitioning from what you think you want to what you know is better for you, having to give up on long-held dreams because you're too old or the effort to make the dream reality just doesn't fit in your life.
The threats to the continuity in your life can come from within, too. You may have come to a point in your relationships, career, lifestyle, hobbies, etc. that you realize it just isn't working for you anymore. Changes must occur or you'll wither on the vine without fully ripening.
We earth signs or King of Pentacle types really struggle with any alterations to our routine. I get that. But try to go with it because staying put isn't best for you.
July 11, 2018: Card O' the Day: King of Pentacles. When a court card comes up in a reading, you may be exhibiting some of the personality traits of it, or you may be dealing with another person who has those traits. It can be a female; just because the King is assigned a male gender, it doesn't mean that his traits are exclusively found only in men. This is true of the Queens and Princesses/Pages-- males can have some of the personality traits of those court cards, too. In the case of this card, the personality is fully integrated and is at home with both masculine and feminine qualities.
Being a king, this card denotes maturity and wisdom. Being from the suit of Pentacles, we add rationality and practicality in all things. This suit also represents the physical world, which makes the King very cognizant of the usefulness and value of things. This combination, if taken too far, can morph into stuffy, curmudgeonly, and scroogey tendencies. Therefore, it's important to stay connected to fun activities and people lest you forget the lighter side of life.
This king's appearance today makes me feel like we're especially capable right now of seeing what options are best for solving problems and correcting imbalances. Because this personality feels fulfillment by taking care of others, traditions and career are probably uppermost in your mind as you work on an important project or towards a promotion at work or help organize a family reunion. As noted above, try to keep these important occupations fun.
July 6, 2018: Card O' the Day: Princess of Wands, reversed. I'm not surprised to have this card follow the cards of the past two days. The reversed Princess reiterates the frustration and resentment yesterday's King was representing. While his feelings seemed a bit more "mature" and "reasonable, the Princess speaks for the inner child who is basically spitting mad. Her True Self is being ignored and rejected as she tries to behave as she "should."
Like toddlers in full on melt-downs, actions are rash but uncertain stabs at something, ANYthing with a desperate hope it will fit and feel good. However, discernment is off, and the wild stabs are more about finding what you DON'T want rather than what you do. You must remember that most of life is about failing and flailing and floundering as you make your way to where you want to go. It's society and "The Rules" that make us feel stupid for each mistake, and thus we become fearful of making any move at all lest we do it less than perfectly.
This card also represents ideas and teaching. As in, "I have an idea! Let's give it a whack! Um...well, no, that's not it. Lesson learned, and we won't be doing that again."
July 5, 2018: Card O' the Day: King of Wands, reversed. Interesting.... I thought yesterday's Lovers was what we need to exhibit in our interactions regarding Love of others. But today's reversed King is telling me that some of you are requiring that pure, expectation-free Love from others. Our good King resents the neediness and requirements that are being presumed of him. This is making him move away from responsibilities just to get some air already!
Some may view this "I NEED to do this for ME!" attitude as being ego driven and self-centered. However, insecurity of Self is rising up and is causing this boiling in the guts. Having finally come to realize a situation is no longer working or has become dissatisfying, it's apparent continuing would be pointless.
Remember that Nature requires balance. You cannot be an effective partner, business person, friend, lover, caregiver, etc. if you're not happy. Making yourself happy means you have to make some self-centered changes in your environment. Others may not like it because it upsets THEIR balance. If that other person is truly important to you (your spouse or child), then compromise is the answer to "having your cake and eating it, too." On the other hand, if you're not invested in the emotional well being of those particular others, then it's up to them to adapt to the changes.
July 4, 2018: Card O' the Day: The Lovers.
What the world needs now is Love, sweet love
It's the only thing there's just too little of
What the world needs now is Love, sweet love
No, not just for some but for everyone
--Written by: BURT F. BACHARACH, HAL DAVID
The Lovers recognizes this need for love that honors the unique individuality of others beyond the Self. It's Love that's based in freedom and not in expectation or need. Pure Love is a balance of apparent contraries: freedom/necessity, cause/effect, love/hate, good/evil. Love is the coin, the contraries are the heads and tails of that coin.
When you understand and really connect to the concept of Love, you'll be able to see others as equals, share what you have without resentment, accept and appreciate their individuality, and communicate effectively. To be clear, this does not mean you give away everything that defines You. It's about including others in your circle of abundance and fulfillment.
June 29, 2018: Card O' the Day: Six of Wands. Sixes denote harmony, and when combined with fire energy, that gives us fuel for the long haul. It's a stable and controlled burn capable of being used well and efficiently. This card also encourages you to have faith in yourself and Universe; you'll need this faith to achieve success in all you attempt. And that faith is well-placed because long-desired interests are coming to fruition. In addition to faith, which is a good thing, your personal leadership is going strong as you marshal your skills and make the choices that are right for YOU.
That said, don't forget to relax. Recognize when you've put in a good day's work and then take a break to refresh yourself. It does you no good, and will ultimately delay your success, if you become exhausted physically and emotionally. You NEED occasional breaks to continue even the most enjoyable tasks or endeavors.
June 27, 2018: Card O' the Day: Two of Wands. Vast, internal energies are trying to move but are blocked by responsibilities, security, safety, or other perceived limits that hold you back. This results in discontent, restlessness, and seeking adventure. To find your peace again, you'll have to make a choice (thus the doubt and fear that is also present): protect what you have and stay with what you know or go forth into the new and unknown?
Now, this does NOT mean you have to turn your back on everyone you know, your family, job, pets, living situation, stuff, and everything else that makes up your life. You can find adventure on a hike through your local woods. You can find opportunity by attending your next local Rotary Club meeting. You need to help others? Volunteer in your town. My point is, you can change the world while maintaining your current life.
That said, there are infinite possibilities, so don't be easily contented. Life is too brilliant to settle.
June 26, 2018: Card O' the Day: The Empress, reversed. The "mom" in you wants to run away from home. Traditional "feminine" roles or chores are just too much right now and actually irritate the snot out of you. There's a desire to self-indulge and not do a damn thing that's expected or wanted by anyone else. Frustration, lethargy, and feeling just ... blocked make you want to indulge in a "quick fix" of action that brings a moment of empty pleasure (retail therapy, anyone?). Or maybe a giant bowl of ice-cream, bag of Doritos ... a six-pack of TWINKIES!!! Unfortunately, binging on junk food or shopping will only leave you feeling even more bloated and depressed.
What's the reason behind these feelings? (UGH! Yes, I'm going to make you go there and examine "Why?") Are you feeling unheard regarding who you really are? Are you giving too much of yourself away? Have you allowed yourself to be taken for granted?
If the answers to the above questions are yes, then what are you going to do about it? You can't go on like this, you know. Eventually, your health won't allow it because you WILL get sick, literally, of caring for everyone else but yourself. Food for thought....
June 21, 2018: Card O' the Day: Two of Pentacles. With all that goes on in life on the physical plane--job, gardening, hobbies, cleaning, meals, bills, schlepping children to and fro, etc.--adding spiritual work to the mix can be the straw that breaks your back. The Two of Pentacles represents the balancing act life is, and it brings you the gifts of cleverness, agility, and determination. Also, being a "2" you may have some choices or decisions to make. Learn to tell the difference between what you really need and what you only want. It may help with these decisions or choices.
Life coaches and business managers generally espouse the virtues of having a "5-year plan." I loosely agree with that concept, but this card is urging you to drop judgments, preferences, and attachments to concrete details of those long-term plans. Because life is so tricksy, and everything can change in an instant, you simply cannot set your future in stone. So, be present to what's happening in the moment; it'll help you maintain your footing when life throws you a curve. Yes, have basic idea of where you want to be in five years, but just know it may take you ten years to get there, and THAT'S OKAY!
June 20, 2018: Card O' the Day: Queen of Cups. The importance of this card today is it's another queen. Queens denote mature, contemplative energy (rather than action, "doing" energy), and by having two in a row, it could indicate you're more fully developing your inner depth. Like the Queen of Wands of yesterday, the Queen of Cups also represents abundance and "cup-runneth-over" goodness. By sharing that, it comes back to you multiplied.
Since the Queen of Cups is so very emotion oriented, her appearance may indicate some fear of your deepest emotions. We're taught at an early age (especially boys) that displaying too much emotion isn't appropriate and that we shouldn't allow them to get out of control. And yet, that's how we fully live--through our emotions! Therefore, it's vital you're in touch with your emotions, intuition, and empathy so you can better understand and interact with others.
The caution sign that goes with this card is queens tend to work behind the scenes. The old adage "behind every successful man is a good/strong woman" is true of the queen energy. However, this out-of-the-spotlight facilitation and management can easily morph into manipulation. Keep a grip on your integrity and be certain of your intentions: for the greater good? or because you want it and getting others to do it for you is easy?
June 19, 2018: Card O' the Day: Queen of Wands. Our good queen's appearance today indicates you're in a position to share your love, laughter, and joy. You're being asked to allow your inner abundance to overflow and envelop others in the warm fuzzies you're experiencing right now. This sharing will make you feel even more blessed and full. In addition to the good feelings, you're capable of giving optimistic and generous advice to those who ask. The trick is to rely upon, and trust, your own judgement without overriding others in the process of helping them. A tricky balance to be sure....
And if you're struggling to relate to this card because of personal bad luck, then I encourage you to find these sensations. No matter how miserable you may be, doing something kind for another will lift you just a tiny bit. It's a proven psychological fact that if you help others less fortunate than you, you will feel better about your own life. I don't mean you have to drop everything and devote your life to solving the world's biggest problems. Simply picking up a bit of trash or letting someone merge in front of you in a traffic jam will give you a burst of feeling like you've done something good.
Even during our very darkest times, there's an innate, deep conviction that things are going to be okay. It's called our instinct to survive. Just as we know things could be worse (Murphy's Law), you must believe things can get better. Then make it happen.
June 18, 2018: Card O' the Day: Two of Swords. This card is indicative of the old "rock and a hard place" type of situation that requires a tough choice. At a crossroads or doorway, whatever you want to call it, this "thing" needs to be addressed. However, I don't think you're aware of every option...there's more than two ways to tackle your conundrum. Step back and broaden your view; look for another path. By the way, the one option that is NOT on the table is staying put. That road just leads to stagnation and more frustration.
Another angle of this card is that your energies are working against each other rather than in collaboration. You're basically swimming upstream. If you want to go in the direction of upstream--which is fine--get out of the water and walk on the bank! Way easier.
As you consider choices and options, suspend judgment of yourself (the shoulds and oughts and guilt), and try to figure things out dispassionately. Because no situation is ever black and white, you'll need compromise, tact, diplomacy, and all your best finesse to find your middle way. Take your time and choose wisely. Universe will wait.
June 16, 2018: Card O' the Day: Nine of Cups.
You won't get [happiness]
Thinkin' and a-prayin'
Wishin' and hopin'...
--Dusty Springfield
This card is often referred to as the "wish card" and can indicate a time of wishes coming true. But as we all know, wishes don't come true by themselves; you have to do the work to make them come true. Even wishin' and hopin' to win the lottery comes with the work of buying a ticket! Therefore, the secret to emotional happiness is taking responsibility for it and being in control of your own joy. Sitting back and waiting for it to land in your lap will leave you disappointed and resentful.
If this card finds you at a high moment in your life, know that you ain't "there" yet. This card is reminding you of the limits of your individual actions that it took to get to "here." Now is not the time to gloat, lest you become complacent in your self-congratulation, but to keep moving forward and doing your work.
Sheesh! When, then, do you get to rest on your laurels? When THIS lifetime has ended. And will you HAVE laurels, from this lifetime, to rest upon? Are you building a life of which you can be proud when it's all said and done?
But enough of that heavy soul-searching crap! Go outside and play!
June 15, 2018: Card O' the Day: Queen of Pentacles. Like the Empress, the Queen of Pentacles is very mothering and Nature-based. Also like the Empress, our good queen is a protective healer, caretaker, and/or nurse. However, the queen is better on the material plane than the Empress and can manage anything...people, resources, plans, bills, schedules, etc. She's also very realistic and pragmatic, and is the holder of high standards to keep the rest of us in line.
However, the queen is not as good in the Spiritual world as the Empress. Her appearance is reminding us to keep attention on our spiritual work and to make time for relaxation and play. I have a feeling all this soul searching is getting a bit heavy, so many of us escape into practical, day-to-day living. You can actually escape serious spiritual work through a day hike or swim in a lake. As you're enjoying the great outdoors, your soul is secretly recharging and sneakily nurturing your spirit.
After such a day of self care, you may have an epiphany about yourself that gives you new hope or direction. At any rate, there's still stuff that needs to be sorted and doing busy work won't make it go away.
June 14, 2018: Card O' the Day: The High Priestess, UPRIGHT. When we don't fight the lessons, that's when we learn the most. It's hard and it's painful, but go with it because some things must be understood through experience. Meaning you can read all about swimming, watch endless how-to videos about swimming, but you ain't swimming until you get wet. By experiencing things first hand and examining why you do what you do, or don't, say what you do, or don't, feel what you do, or don't, you will begin to understand reality and develop the capability in accepting both the light and darkness in yourself and others. Understand and accept the pig you're trying to put lipstick on is still a pig!
The High Priestess represents the most unfamiliar, yet most influential, aspect of our unconsciousness. She's our deepest selves and is both beautiful and ugly, refined and coarse, constructive and destructive. Ask yourself where you might be looking for answers outside when you should be looking within.
June 13, 2018: Card O' the Day: The High Priestess, reversed. When we act as the inspiration or muse for others, or guide them through their own suffering and growth, it is possible to give too much away and lose your identity or sense of self. This can lead to clouded insight and difficulty connecting to your inner wisdom, common sense, and most authentic core. Such cloudiness may manifest in lack of impulse control and/or the NEED to act and do...something...anything.
Be careful as you navigate these treacherous waters, but do keep going. You cannot continue to be used and caged as you have been. Just know that in daring to act outside expected norms and refusing to be a doormat, you may be labeled with "slanderous adjectives" such as slut, tramp, uppity, self-centered, wild, narcissistic, and any other negative word for being your own person.
June 9, 2018: Card O' the Day: The Moon, reversed. Am I willing to know my inner crazy? That's the key question with the reversed Moon. Your intuition is quietly, or not so quietly anymore, telling you some things have just got to give. You can't go on ignoring your "less than perfect" parts in the hopes they'll go away.
There's a great need to accept your animal self...the lizard brain part where you are driven to eat, breathe, and mate. In our efforts to be "civilized" and "good" in the eyes of society, we tend to bury those instinctual drives behind oughts and shoulds and mustn't's. But the problem with burying those primitive needs into secrets and isolation is they tend to get so stopped up they eventually blow like Kilauea.
It may feel like a you're descending into madness or that you're reliving past lives or experiences as your personal volcanic pressure builds. Acknowledge and accept the demons of your unconscious mind. By giving them space in your conscious world, they can get appropriate exercise and exposure to daylight. And in the light of day, I'll bet those demons aren't nearly as ugly as you imagine them to be.
June 8, 2018: Card O' the Day: Nine of Pentacles, reversed. As a "9", this card is associated with The Hermit. We just had The Hermit yesterday. Both The Hermit and today's 9 came up reversed. Hmmmmm.... This indicates to me that today's card is reiterating the dangers of self-isolation and "journeying" inherent in yesterday's card. The way I see the Tarot cards is that, when upright, the meanings of the cards sit at the top of a Bell Curve. The slopes up to and back down from the peak of the curve indicate the reversed meanings. Therefore, these slopes are the meanings taken to extremes, not just opposite to what's on the peak. That's how the normal introspection of The Hermit becomes avoidance; seeking inner wisdom leads to chucking all that you know for the ephemeral "something better."
By itself, the reversed Nine of Pentacles signifies threats to your physical and emotional contentment due to feelings of entrapment and the desire to roam and seek freedom. But random roaming will only lead to insecurity, self-loathing, loss of discipline in or concern for your life as it is, and ultimately, isolation.
Finally, 9's represent idealism and moral values. Are you willing to walk what you talk? And I don't mean just the fun stuff that pleases you or is convenient.
June 7, 2018: Card O' the Day: The Hermit, reversed. The Hermit represents all that is good about self-reflection, alone time, and seeking spiritual wellbeing. When reversed, though, The Hermit becomes more hermit-like in a "bad" way. Perhaps you're feeling alone, deserted, and/or misunderstood, so you slink under a rock to lick your wounds (or pout). This urge to run away and isolate yourself from all those who can help only exacerbates the loneliness, which makes it even harder to communicate your feelings.
Another way the reversed Hermit can mess with you is by twisting the search for The Truth Of The Self straight into a mid-life crisis. In the throes of "finding yourself", you may escape into immaturity and irresponsibility.
So, did you walk away from your tribe first? (You tell yourself it was so you didn't see their backs walking away from you.) Have you turned your life on its head? (Yeah, well, it's cuz you couldn't BREATHE anymore!) By staying out of your ego and remaining practical, you'll see the real and unpleasant truths...and by that I mean accepting your part in your own situation. Does that fix it and make it all better? Maybe not completely, but at least you're being honest with yourself.
June 6, 2018: Card O' the Day: Eight of Cups. Often this card appears when we need to stop "beating the dead horse" and leave a situation, thing, or person behind. But today, I don't feel the heaviness in my steps as I walk away. Here's a visual: Dorothy taking her first steps on the yellow brick road. She's leaving the wonder, beauty, and relative security of Munchkinland to seek the Wizard's counsel in the Emerald City.
That's what's happening today for you. The need to venture into unexplored territory isn't made with heavy steps and hearts AWAY, but with bated breath and excitement TO journeying, exploration, and growth. Recognize this turning point, this "finishing", and move on to the next big thing. Some letting go is required; that might tug on a heart string or two. However, it's necessary to seek your personal higher, better, "more"....
June 5, 2018: Card O' the Day: Three of Cups. The Three of Cups represents celebration of the love of friendship and community. You're in a safe and secure environment with a supportive tribe who will help you explore and expand with an open heart and inquisitive mind. If you should be disappointed on your journey, know that they've got your back. During the synthesis of love, you'll find healing and the resolution to step away from certain people, places, and beliefs that don't serve you or your highest purpose. (In real speak that means you'll figure out who can stay in your tribe and who's gotta go!)
Now, with the above said, be sure your celebrations of love and friendship are an organic expression of joy from within and not just an excuse to go get wasted with a bunch of other people. That kind of hedonism is just escaping from responsibility. You still have to live on this material plane and fairly contribute to the larger society if you want to maintain what you've established and built so far. A delicate balance of give and take....
June 1, 2018: Card O' the Day: Five of Cups, reversed. As you learn to take, as well as you give, you'll find this change of personal habits will transform any resistance and/or disappointments into something better and more useful. Coping skills strengthen, which allow you to move away from feelings of loss or lack. This is some really good change of heart and attitude towards life. Rather than waiting for someone or something to "make you happy", you're in the position and mindset to do it for yourself.
Another strong current going through this card is about kin, tribe, and reunions. Because you're feeling more generous towards yourself, you may feel more generous and forgiving towards someone with whom you have been feuding. It's a good time to bury any lingering hatchets....
May 31, 2018: Card O' the Day: Six of Pentacles. The primary keyword associated with this card is "reciprocity," which means give AND take. We are taught as small children to share, give to the less fortunate, and think of others to maintain ease and comfort for all. But some societies take that concept too far, and the wonderful, individual being is lost in the homogenous crowd. On the other hand, thinking only of the individual leads to anarchy and societal chaos. This brings us to the other important keyword of this card: balance.
On the surface, the Six of Pentacles indicates balance and harmony on the physical/material plane. The nuts and bolts of life are humming along without too much trouble. There's potential for increase and gain if you're willing to put in the time and effort. The undercurrent of this card is that we can be tempted to cut corners on our integrity/truth for greater rewards physically or materially. The equilibrium between positive and negative is precarious....
However, this brings us back to the "take" part of reciprocity. When your decisions to give or take are based in love, love of society AND love of Self, your whole environment--internal and external--will be serene and peaceful. The rule of thumb is to take what you need, but not more. You must take. If all you do is give, balance is destroyed, and you'll be miserable.
Learn to take, as well as give, within your truth and integrity.
May 29, 2018: Card O' the Day: King of Wands, reversed. The fiery King of Wands, when upright, uses his energies to create rather than destroy. Reversed, we've got a temper tantrum brewing.
Under the influence of this card you may be tempted away from your responsibilities and resent others for their expectations of you. How dare they tell you what to do?! But acting without scruples, tolerance, and ignoring the larger world means there will be a price to pay later for today's thoughtless actions. Errors in judgment will weaken your position in your community and with the members of your tribe.
Where does all this out-of-control fire come from? Insecurity of Self. There's the thought that you have to shout to be heard or be bigger and badder than anyone else to be noticed. Current and past world leaders such as Hitler, Mussolini, Bashar al-Assad, Stalin, Putin, and others are all excellent examples of the King of Wands in reverse.
Tread lightly, people, lest you burn bridges and lose everything you've held dear.
May 28, 2018: Card O' the Day: Three of Swords. The suit of Swords is tricky. It's technically of the mind, but it affects the heart deeply. That's because the dialogs in our heads--especially about ourselves--can cause so much guilt, shame, inner turmoil, doubt, fear that we're not enough in some way, and general emotional drama. And in what area of life do we suffer the most guilt, shame, inner turmoil, doubt, and fear of not being enough? In our interpersonal relationships and attachments, whether they be romantic, business, friendships, or family.
As uncomfortable as this suffering can be, there is great wisdom and unrealized intelligence in it. Through honesty with yourself and faith in your own beliefs and integrity, you can release the upset and accept the sorrow that some situations or people cannot be as you would wish them to be.
With the greatest of compassion, erase certain boundaries, criteria, quid pro quo's, and all other score keeping mechanisms you're holding for yourself and others, and simply allow love to enter.
May 26, 2018: Card O' the Day: The Lovers. We are tasked with making a choice...a higher choice. Self examination is necessary to determine your most deeply held values originating in the depths of your consciousness. This choice probably involves another person, although it could be about taking a harder but higher road. There is a necessity of considering the long-term implications of this choice very carefully.
Being faced with such a heavily moral decision has probably come because in an effort to be accepted, you've given too much of yourself away. So, you're faced with continuing on this path that isn't really comfortable for you and gaining desired acceptance, or you step back to firmer ground where your integrity lives. If you can let go of the attachment to acceptance (being seen as "cool"), you'll be in a better position to make your decisions from a spiritual level.
The high road is harder to walk. It's not as much fun. It requires some sacrifice. You may be called a goody-two-shoes. But in the end, you'll be able to live with yourself in serenity knowing that you did the "right thing" for you.
May 22, 2018: Card O' the Day: Five of Cups. Fives are energetically volatile, and the suit of Cups indicate emotions. Put them together, and I'm guessing some of you may be having your emotional waters stirred up right about now. All the astrology sites are ranting about big changes and instability caused by the current alignments in the heavens, and my cards are reflecting the same.
Disturbances and disappointing experiences in relationships or partnerships will be happening or coming. Emotions will be involved, and it may get yucky. But as with all yucky experiences, you'll learn some valuable lessons and face some blinding truths. Regrets? Probably. However, try to frame those regrets into "Well, I don't need to do THAT again." rather than "I'm a total waste of oxygen."
These next weeks may put you very off-balance. Through self-reflection and serious introspection, I'm asking you to feel your emotions. Don't run from them; sit in them and get real about them. Release all self-judgment and be who you are. Claim your personal power and make your way through this period of discovery, disappointment, and change of self.
May 20, 2018: Card O' the Day: The Chariot. After the two doubt-filled cards of yesterday and before, I'm delighted to see The Chariot today. This card gives us the shifting gears we needed. Whereas we may have been stuck in neutral or first, this card puts us nicely into drive!
Self-control, mastery from within, and a triumph of will are represented by The Chariot. Even though you're up to your eyeballs, these efforts will be both engaging and stimulating and will pay off in the long run. Persevere through this next phase!
As you align with your world, move forward with your plans. Expect travel in the coming weeks/couple months that has something to do with your development--in other words, I'm not feeling said travel is for vacation only. The other day I mentioned being open to obscure opportunity...be sure to take advantage of anything prime. There also may be some "merging" with another whether for business or the fun of it. Merging can mean forming a partnership, friendship, or frequent contact that leads to favorable, long-term circumstances.
May 19, 2018: Card O' the Day: Four of Wands, reversed. I've drawn another "not happy at work" card. Upon further study, I think I may know what this is about.... It's getting to be graduation time--whether college or high school--and many graduates have final projects due before the end of their studies. This card also represents certain rites of passage (graduation) and a "leave-taking." (Oh! How about weddings? Getting everything done before the Big Day and then departing on a honeymoon, moving to a new city to begin married life, etc.)
At any rate, these final projects or preparations are weighing you down and becoming overwhelming. The labor necessary to get it all done is becoming forced and rushed because you're running out of time. It's starting to feel monumental and the incompletion is causing anxiety and dissatisfaction. Disorganization makes you even less efficient. Finally, to top it all off, you're just not READY to graduate or walk down the aisle or whatever is on your plate right now.
The thing is, who's EVER completely "ready"? Things can be planned down to the very last detail, but then you still have to have faith in yourself and dare to leap. Let go of the minutia and prioritize. Then do tasks in small manageable pieces. Take a break and go for a walk around the block, and do some more. What doesn't get done obviously wasn't THAT important, and you're going to be okay.
May 18, 2018: Card O' the Day: Three of Pentacles, reversed. The Three of Pentacles often represents your work and how you work with others. Reversed, it can mean there's struggle in that area. Such struggle could be haste or immaturity in your management techniques. (I'm not talking about management of a restaurant or department at your company. I'm more concerned with how you manage your own resources, time, knowledge, assignments and so forth that you're directly responsible for. [And this could be at home, too.]) You could have set the bar for yourself too high and are seeking the impossible.
Therefore, I want you to ask yourself, "Am I doing what I love? Am I doing what suits my talents and knowledge?" If the answer is less than a resounding "yes", then it may be time to reevaluate your physical plane. More training/schooling is never a bad investment in yourself if that's what you feel you need. Reduce the size of your current projects/chores into more manageable and realistic steps. Look at the goal and consider what you should do TODAY to advance forward. Give a more generalized thought to the coming week rather than micromanaging every step for the next year.
My point is this card is indicating getting tangled in the details of the physical plane. To go further, you're required to put more effort in the basics: more sleep, more contact with nature, better food, quality time with people who "get" you. Certainly we all have obligations that must be attended to, but see where you can minimize those obligations and spend more of your life catering to your most authentic self. Therein lies happiness--you being you.
May 17, 2018: Card O' the Day: Seven of Swords. The suit of Swords, in general, is pretty shadowy because it's all about what's going on in our minds. As we all know, that's where the voices of judgment and self-doubt live and work to hold you back from your natural daring and high-spiritedness. Your "voices" may encourage you to stay isolated, keeping yourself to yourself, where you can't interact and engage with others. Because, of course, that's how you get hurt.
This card represents all that, but it also represents a lot more, and this "more" part is what I want to emphasize today. Creative imagination, new concepts or plans, and invention also live in your mind. Heightened inspiration push you to research your ideas and create the strategy you need to get things out of your head and onto the table. This card also brings you the courage to be unpredictable and go for what you want or imagine.
The spiritual components of this seven ask you to realign with your truest center, your gut. Listen for hints and truth bombs. Be alert to hidden opportunities. Finally, come out of your shell because this card indicates ideal unions between friends or partners of any kind (business, romantic, etc.).
May 16, 2018: Card O' the Day: The Sun. Well ain't that special? Even on this rainy day (in Athens, Ohio at least) The Sun has shone on us all.
Esoterically and/or spiritually speaking, this card signifies great and pure energy, new beginnings, and the optimism that anything is possible. As you look on life with wonder, you come to feel "at home" in yourself, and you're at peace with what you life has brought you thus far--good, bad, and ugly.
On a less metaphysical level, this card represents enjoying simple pleasures and accomplishments. It's about finding satisfaction and happiness with what you do have and not kvetching about what you lack. The Sun is reminding you that it's awfully nice to be alive and experiencing the miracles of each day.
Finally, and most importantly, The Sun's appearance is an omen of joy. Look for joy in all you do--today and always. Even on your most "unfortunate" days, look for joy and The Sun, because as long as you remain breathing, there is joy to be had.
P.S. In the more than two years that I've been drawing a Card O' the Day, I've never pulled The Sun. I've drawn The Sun, reversed, twice (Dec. 31, 2017 and Oct. 3, 2017) but never the upright Sun. Trivia...or food for thought?
May 15, 2018: Card O' the Day: Princess of Swords, reversed. A good friend of mine has a name for herself when she gets on her holier-than-thou high horse: Judgy McJudgerson. This name is completely appropriate for the Princess/Page of Swords when she's reversed. Yesterday I asked you to let your freak flag fly and not be afraid of your personal passion, instincts, and urges. Today Ms. McJudgerson is feeding you the disinformation that you're "wrong" to do so as she belittles and shames you.
This feeling of "wrongness" may cause you to hesitate to share personal details or your creative ideas with others. That ugly, derisive voice in your head saps your confidence and leaves you feeling unprepared or too stupid to handle your job, home life, or recreational activities.
Even though this card is governed by the heart chakra (mental energies have an effect on your heart), throat chakra difficulties are indicated. Meaning, you can't speak up for yourself to yourself. Therefore, today's homework is to tell that vile, judgmental voice in your head to Shut. Up. Remember the test: is it legal? who does it hurt? If it's legal and it's not hurting anyone, then you have my permission to do your thing!!
May 14, 2018: Card O' the Day: Strength, reversed. Some people are simply more reticent and others more bold, which then creates an imbalance in society. Social norms and laws help keep the bold ones from overly annoying the quiet ones and thereby keeping peace among all. At the same time, even the quietest of a tribe will get a wild hair up their asses occasionally, and the usually bold ones aren't nuts all the time.
When Strength is reversed, as it is today, this indicates that the "wildhair" energy has become a force that cannot be confined or controlled. An overwhelming Will pushes one to behave in an uncharacteristically bold or daring way. These passions, urges, or instincts--the wildness within us all--can be seen as personal weakness when not appropriately governed. One can doubt one's own sanity or "goodness" and become very emotional and fearful over this perception of oneself as being "wrong" or "bad."
However, if you suppress and unreasonably deny your passions and wild hairs, those strangled feelings will emerge eventually, and it could be a big and inappropriate mess! Think of the stereotypical midlife crisis where a guy dumps his family, buys a red corvette, and runs off to Vegas with his new girlfriend--who's 20 years younger.
The thing is, we're ALL prone to moments of being "socially unacceptable" at one time or another! The trick is to let yourself off the chain occasionally so you don't build up a big head of steam that causes you to blow up. Leak off that steam in small spurts to maintain your balance between proper citizen and wild and crazy guy. As long as no one is getting hurt and it's legal (never mind what your grandma would say), let your freak flag fly!
May 13, 2018: Card O' the Day: Eight of Cups. So, maybe it's not just me and my jet-lag. This card represents a decline in interest and lack of creativity as we wander from "thing" to "thing" looking for something to catch our fancy. We're not quite sure what, precisely, we're looking for, but what we've got or are doing ain't it. Therefore, I suspect, like me, you're indulging in distractions and briefly amusing pastimes like Netflix binges or video gaming.
I think we're caught in what sailors call the doldrums...a place at sea where the winds are still and the currents sluggish. Thus, a ship could sit for days or weeks going nowhere fast. At the same time we're stuck, wondering what "the next thing" will be for us, know there's a secret transition happening while we're bored to tears. Remember, nothing changes unless forced, so that means we have to get good and darned bored before we get off our rumps and do something about it.
This is a time of endings, a lull in activity and interests, and then a transition into the new. I suggest we go with it and indulge in another round of Netflix while the winds aren't blowing!
May 12, 2018: Back from BMSE Hawaii!
Card O' the Day: Seven Cups, reversed. Okaaaaaaay...maybe this one is for me. Feeling lost in daydreams: I'm definitely still punch-drunk from jet-lag and lack of sleep.
Also for this card we have relaxation, loosening up, and taking time out to decompress and recharge. I guess ALL the laundry doesn't really have to be done TODAY.... I did get the damp SCUBA gear rinsed off yesterday, but I can let it go another day or two before putting it away. It's really something when you have to pointedly chill out when coming home from a vacation.
A nap is definitely on my agenda today.
May2, 2018: Card O' the Day: Prince of Cups: It would seem yesterday's Judgment card was congratulating you on the hard work you're doing but not that "you're done." *Sigh* Our Good Prince represents a difficult, but profoundly rewarding, spiritual quest of personal revelation and healing.
I don't know that we'll ever "get there" or "be done." However, these cards of late that keep harping on trust and personal growth are here to remind us that only we can make ourselves happy by following that journey within. Whether that happiness comes from deep contentment, achieving goals and dreams, getting good with past mistakes or abuse, forgiveness, or whatever it is your soul needs and calls for, you've got to do your work. No one can do it for you.
So, today's Prince is inviting you to take on challenges, with absolute trust and no reservations, that will help and/or force you to grow. You will experience tremendous exhilaration if you jump into the unknown and dare to be YOU!
May 1, 2018: Card O' the Day: Judgment. Oh, wow. All the hard work we've being doing this year is coming to fruition. This card reiterates that your truth and reality is not to be found outside yourself in other people, activities, vices, practices, hobbies, volunteering, etc., but it's to be found within you. Look there to find the way to make yourself happy.
Judgement represents hearing and heeding a call--an awakening to your truth--that brings rebirth to your soul, spirit, and life. A personal decision will be made that will make significant impact upon your life and the way you move forward from here. Such a decision can bring freedom from confinement and bondage, achievement of goals, and joy. However, these changes will require total dedication to "stick", because they won't be easy, and it'll be very tempting to just slide back into the same old rut and behaviors.
Finally, Judgment is the courage to look at yourself and recognize what's lacking. With this new-found wisdom and clarity, you'll see doorways to peacefulness you couldn't see before.
April 29, 2018: Card O' the Day: Ten of Swords, reversed (again, see 4 days ago). Apparently, we're being reminded that "this, too, shall pass." That, or to really, seriously, this time for sure, Let. It. Go. Keep looking forward and keep your feet moving. Remember what happened in that Bible story about Lot and his wife as they were leaving Sodom; she turned back for one final look and was turned into a pillar of salt. If ever there was a lesson about letting it go....
As you look forward, I'm sure you're feeling SOME anticipation about what's coming next. Excellent! Dwell heavily on those feelings of excitement and "I wonder...." Concentrate on every advantage you do have, and try to morph any weakness or disadvantage into something you can use. Have insomnia? Do on-line research about building your own website rather than bing-watching Netflix. Would rather take a hike or bike ride than build your website? Then use that "me time" to brainstorm!
Some keywords for the Ten, reversed: Gain. Success. Power.
April 28, 2018: Card O' the Day: Six of Pentacles. When I signed on to Facebook, just now, to write this Card O' the Day, there was an animation about it being "Pay it Forward Day." How VERY appropriate that I've pulled the Six of Pentacles!
This card indicates flowing material energy of the kind that can bring success and influence. But the meat of this card is about what you do with that fortunate energy, because it also represents a precarious equilibrium between Positive and Negative. This means if you don't use this energy for charity, kindness, and to pay it forward (all the time, not just today), you may find your success tastes bitter and you have diminished connections to everyone. To put it bluntly, if you cave on your integrity and go for the quick, but less-than-honest buck, you will be sorry.
The key word to this card is reciprocity--meaning you enjoy the rewards of giving and receiving without caring about keeping score. How you value and handle those exchanges determines your Karmic balance with Universe. Don't take more than you need, and give to those who have less than you. Trust me, you'll sleep better at night.
April 27, 2018: Card O' the Day: Ace of Wands, reversed. Even upside down, this card heralds new beginnings. But the reversal means those beginnings may be delayed, or the right one just hasn't arrived yet. Yeah, you're ready for changes and new stuff, but hold your horses and wait for it. Don't go off half cocked just because you've got ants in your pants. You'll only end up making mistakes that slow you down even further.
What to do while you're waiting? Research. Once you decide what you want to do, research how you can make it happen efficiently and with the best use of your resources. That'll keep you busy and make you feel like you're doing something towards your goal.
After spending a couple hours Googling and planning, go outside and burn calories in Mother Nature. Not only will you bleed off excessive energy (if you're too pooped from tilling the garden, you won't have any oomph left to get into mischief through bad decisions), but Mother has a way of calming fears, reducing stress, and making you feel that all is right in your world.
April 26, 2018: Card O' the Day: Five of Cups. This is a continuation of yesterday's card's message regarding circumstances that clear the way for renewal. Based on today's 5, I'd say said circumstances originated from an unpleasant and unexpected disturbance causing feelings of loss and deep disappointment. Betrayal of some nature may have been involved. At any rate, it completely sucked, and it's hard to try to see silver linings at this moment.
Remember, this time in your life will pass and you'll come out the other side. Something valuable will remain, and with that remaining asset, you'll find new avenues and possibilities.
As with the 10, we're being asked to let go of what was and accept what is now, because that's what you're dealing with--a new set of facts and reality, not what was true before the "disturbance" blew a hole in your life. Check to see if you're ego-bound to a sense of being "right." Can you swallow your pride, accept this didn't work, and move in a different direction?
April 25, 2018: Card O' the Day: Ten of Swords, reversed: Many Ten of Swords cards are depicted with a person face down on the ground with ten swords stabbed in their back; some even show a pool of blood. When this card is reversed, the swords essentially "fall out." Yay! What this means is, the worst is over, and you can start to relax and recover. You've survived and turned a corner.
The recent extreme circumstances have actually cleared the way for rebirth and exciting breakthroughs. These can lead to advantages, gain, and success. Which, in anyone's book, is a good thing, right?
However, don't let any lingering negative feelings over the recent past events keep you locked in upset. Holding on to sadness, anger, disappointment, etc. will only prolong the experience you're trying to get over. Examine the situation without emotions or self-blame, accept responsibility for your part in it, take note of the valuable lessons, make arrangements in your life to never do "that" again, and move on. This is your chance to (wait for it...) Let it Goooooooooo......
April 24, 2018: Card O' the Day: Princess of Wands, reversed: When the fiery Princess of Wands is reversed, her energies tend to be a little out of control. Because she's very conscious of the challenges in her way right now, she may hesitate to act. But at the same time, she's fearful she'll "miss the bus" so to speak, so she'll stab at things indiscriminately in a vain attempt to do SOMEthing that will bring her the desired results.
Guess what? It ain't gonna work. Get a grip and do nothing without careful thought and planning. If you can't concentrate on said careful thought, then go do something physical to burn off the energy without causing harm, and leave the big decisions for another day. Swimming laps or going for a run are good ideas because you can do them on autopilot and just burn calories. Stay away from activities that need coordination and attention while you do them--like splitting wood.
Because your attentions may wander under the influence of the reversed princess, you may be a bit accident prone (thus, the no wood splitting thing). Take extra care with "hot" things like the stove or fireplace; minor burns could be in the picture for your today.
April 20, 2018: Card O' the Day: The Empress. The Empress is also very fact oriented in her way of thinking (see Eight of Swords, reversed). She give us courage to try new things and, if we fail, there's no judgment or recrimination. She will help you examine your motives, actions, and mistakes without drama, so you can learn from what went wrong and do better next time.
The key to awareness is found in love, acceptance, nurturing, and physical care of yourself. When you're feeling whole and well-cared for, then you have the energy and sense of well-being to show compassion to others and share your abundance. Many times I've spoken of being sure to keep your own "cup" full through self care, because if you've given everything you have to others, there's nothing left for you or to share further. You have to keep yourself healthy in order to continue to help those around you.
In addition, this card represents creativity, progress, life renewed, and action. The energy behind The Empress is well grounded, and her Hermetic symbol is a door. Will you step through that door?
April 18, 2018: Card O' the Day: Eight of Swords, reversed. Upright, the Eight shows us how we can get trapped in our own limited thinking. When the card is reversed, the potential for liberation is greater as your thinking becomes clearer. Also, your ingenuity and improvisational skills are high right now.
When eights (representing manifestation) are combined with Swords (representing the mind, your thoughts, and your thinking processes), the answer to your problems is all in your head. Use your noodle and THINK your way out of your difficulties. Look at your problems analytically--no emotions, dreams, or wishes--and be very dry and honest about your abilities and resources. What do you have, in hand, to help you move forward? Where are you procrastinating about taking concrete steps? No blame or guilt for not doing something already or overestimating your talents or wallet: just what are the facts?
The final question to ask your self is Why? Why did you procrastinate or overestimate yourself? Are you setting yourself up for failure subconsciously (or consciously), because you're afraid of success and the work it takes to continue that success?
April 12, 2018: Card O' the Day: Queen Of Cups, reversed. When a pendulum swings, it goes to extremes in both directions until it finally comes back to center and balance. As I've mentioned, we had a long period of inner journeying, and as we rejoin the material plane, we can feel unmoored and disconnected. Think of astronauts who spend time in space floating effortlessly in zero gravity. Then they have to come back to Earth and slog through the heaviness of normal gravity. I feel like that's what we're dealing with now.
Coming out of zero gravity and back to reality can be a very emotional experience. The flood of feelings can be overwhelming, and it's awfully tempting to want to go back to "space" and "zero gravity" to continue floating in the wonder of spiritual connections. Back in reality, every nerve seems so alive it's almost painful, and the slightest criticism is devastating.
The Queen of Cups, reversed, also represents sharpening your practicality and seeing past illusion. Therefore, she's acknowledging our difficulties, is sympathetic to our highly emotional states, but wants us to get back to work. The wood won't chop itself, and the water hasn't yet grown legs--get carrying the buckets.
April 11, 2018: Card O' the Day: Nine of Wands. There's new energy coming into shape, but it can be volatile and might make you a bit emotional. You'll want to maintain control and personal boundaries (this energy may tempt you to say "yes" to everything). However, be aware boundaries keep out the good as well as the bad, so use discernment when saying no.
As you come to recognize the actions needed right now to carry you forward from your recent contemplation, honor your conscious mind and unconscious soul, which are working in harmony right now to give you clear direction. This card brings great strength that is intensified by this internal guidance.
If you find your way blocked, look deeply at the cause of those obstacles and consider how you contributed to the problem and/or attracted this negative energy. (Rarely does anything happen TO you without some input of your own.) Victory is coming, but it will be preceded by uncertainty and a little fear. Trust that you're doing it right.
April 10, 2016: Card O' theDay: The Moon, reversed. While this card can mean a denial of all things "unseen" and esoteric, I'm just thinking it's time to get back to the real world for a while after all the journeying and soul searching off the past weeks. When The Moon is reversed, it brings gifts of insight into the imagery of the psyche. Acceptance of that then allows the digestion and clarification of the alternative experiences you may have been having.
I, myself, am having a "return to the real world" day as I come off the psychic open-ness of this past weekend...coming back to ground after being in the clouds, so to speak.
April 6, 2018: Card O' the Day: King of Pentacles, reversed. While this spiritual talk and mental restructuring is all well and good, when it comes down to walking what you talk, the materialism within all of us starts to balk. You're probably pretty comfortable in your surroundings...perhaps you'd like a bigger TV or a newer mattress, but it's YOUR nest and you've become used to it. But as your mind and spirit move towards making changes in your life, you begin to wonder whether you're capable of letting go of some stuff while still maintaining this level of physical comfort.
Just because you're turning over new leaves spiritually and emotionally doesn't mean you have to go live in a cave, wear only a loincloth, and subsist on dirt and roots. You can be spiritual, kind, compassionate, and helpful to all creatures right from the security of your old sofa! I'm not coming to take away your iPad, heated slippers, or electric wok. You're allowed to have nice things and be physically content as you reconsider what's truly valuable in your life.
On a side note, the King of Pentacles can indicate overeating and digestive issues. I don't know why, but I've been craving sugar lately. Could be the late season snow and cold weather we've been having...I'm eating out of frustration. Just be mindful.
April 5, 2018: Card O' the Day: Four of Swords, reversed. We are finally coming out of the thoughtfulness that's been consuming us as we learn more about ourselves and who we want to be when we grow up. During our deep introspection, some issues were resolved, but as we resurface, we find a bit of a dilemma. We're not quite the same as we were weeks or months ago, and what worked then doesn't fit anymore.
Fortunately, this awakening from our contemplative slumber comes with clarity and new perspectives. I'm willing to bet you have a pretty good idea of what you need to do; now it's about getting the courage to do it.
The other day The Fool came to us. Full of beginnings, daring, and standing on the edge of a cliff, he's raring to go--scared stiff, true, but still wanting to leap. I think you've had enough time to think about things so any leaps you take won't be uneducated or in the dark. Trust yourself. Be a little audacious. Live fully.
April 3, 2018: Card O' the Day: The Fool. And here we have it, the card of all beginnings.
Dare!
April 2, 2018: Card O' the Day: Five of Pentacles. Just as we all fail, we are all flawed. Remember back in high school when you'd get a zit? You knew, just KNEW everybody was staring at that zit and laughing behind your back! You wanted to die.... Except, nobody was looking at your zit because they all had their own zits, or high-water jeans, or dorky haircut to worry about.
Self-consciousness about your perceived flaws only reinforces the notion that you're somehow not "enough." You're being urged to find the roots of this idea that you're lacking, and let go of that old hurt. This may be very difficult to do, and you may need help in the form of therapy or counseling. To complete this phase of the spiritual quest you're on, you need to drop some psychic weight in order to move forward.
But you can do this. Our card also speaks of endurance, strength, and determination! As you drop old baggage, you're going to discover new interests that help you bloom...and maybe then you'll come to realize you've always be enough.
April 1, 2018: Card O' the Day: The Hanged Man. In some ways The Hanged Man reminds of The Fool who has been upended by Universe...which makes sense because it's said that the entire Tarot journey is Man (The Fool) making his way through life's challenges. So, today on April Fool's Day, we have The Fool hung upside down, trapped by circumstances, and forced to think.
Our Journey, that we've been on for weeks, continues as we willingly sacrifice old values and attitudes that allow us to have spiritual breakthrough. Giving up past certainties does indeed turn your world on its head, but what a fresh view! Keep up this good work of positive mental changes, and I guarantee you'll find new joy in your life.
Something else this card brings is redemption on a spiritual or emotional level. Let go of self-blame and guilt for past mistakes and cringe-inducing actions. We. All. Fail. And embarrass ourselves. And stick our foot in our mouth. And do stupid stuff. Forgive yourself for being an idiot, and try not to f*ck up TODAY. Then try again tomorrow. When you do inevitably f*ck up, make it right, learn your lesson, and forgive yourself.
March 31, 2018: Card O' the Day: Death, reversed. Death and The Tower are the two "big changes coming" cards of the Tarot deck. When they're reversed, like yesterday and today, the energy is softened to a certain extent but it's by no means less serious of a wake up call. I interpret The Tower as a big change in your head (get it? lightening hitting the top of the "tower", or your noggin), whereas Death indicates physical changes to your body or your physical world.
Getting these cards back-to-back tells me that changes in your head will lead to changes in your physical world. As in you'll decide to make changes that then manifest in better fitness, weight loss, recycling, continued education, etc., etc. Those manifestations then create their own manifestations such as greater health, more energy, a happier environment, and a better job, which then leads to....
Everything is connected and interconnected. One small change in your mind can lead to change in your routine that snowballs into fulfilled dreams and a better world around you. That may seem a little intimidating, but you don't have to do it all today. Just take the first step.
P.S. Like I said yesterday, changes are coming and resistance is futile. Therefore, just go with it, and make your life easier.
March 30, 2018: Card O' the Day: The Tower, reversed. I feel like we're still in Mind Changing/Epiphany Mode (in fact, I had my own "aha!" moment just this morning). When The Tower is reversed, however, it either lessens the degree of the Big Change, or it shows resistance to that change.
Even small changes to your thinking is useful in the long run. Simply choosing to switch to reusable shopping bags will have an impact on Mother Earth and possibly change others' minds on the topic as well. Therefore, no positive change can be too small or "less than mind blowing." Negative changes can also be good for you eventually. (A negative change in my life that comes to mind is my 2nd husband leaving me. It hurt at the time, but it also freed me up to be available for the husband of my dreams!!)
If you're resisting a positive or negative change, don't. You're only making life more difficult for yourself. With all changes, there will be some backsliding into the old patterns. When that happens, cut yourself some slack and correct your course. It takes time to ingrain new habits and get used to changes. Try to look at your average performance over the week or month rather than your daily actions. If you MOSTLY kept to your new track, you're still getting ahead.
March 28, 2018: Card O' the Day: Four of Pentacles, reversed. As you consider alternative ways of living to what you're used to, shields come down. You're able to reconsider what, exactly, you need to feel secure in your world. Can you feel secure with only $X in the bank rather than $YY? Do you need to upgrade your phone again to feel cool? This is a time of releasing your grip on material energies in order to pay more attention to creative, emotional, and intellectual energies.
This does not mean you can't still pursue your goals and dreams. It only means you'll do so in a more relaxed and less frenetic manner. You'll "desire" instead of "NEEDING DESPERATELY!" And, by following your dreams intellectually and emotionally, you'll remain grounded and practical with your resources. As in, instead of spending money and free time attending useless seminars, you'll go to the park for a picnic with friends and brain-storm with each other. A free and fun networking experience!
March 27, 2018: Card O' the Day: Princess of Pentacles. This Princess came to us, reversed, a little over a week ago with hints of a shift from the material plane to things deeper and more spiritual. Today, upright, she's validating that you're on the right track to living life more fully and being present to all possibilities.
Fascinated by your recent studies or contemplation of your inner workings, you're entering into a phase of maturation that impels you towards a positive and affirming search for Self and how you fit into Universe. Your truth, and Universal Truth, become a radical personal realization that allows you to move into the unknown with wonder and trust, so that even small things can seem like grand adventures!
Like all of the Princesses/Pages, the Princess of Pentacles also indicates messages. Hers are of the restoration of the understanding of your individual perfection and magic.
March 26, 2018: Card O' the Day: Five of Wands, reversed. We're making progress on our inner journeys to a higher level of understanding who we are! This card is indicating many of you are getting to a good place within, and things are starting to make sense. No longer do you need to be so RIGHT all the time and to convince others that your personal beliefs, values, position, actions, etc. are the only way to go. Because you're good with yourself, this allows you to see that the beliefs, values, positions, actions etc. of others are good, too, if only a little different.
We all know the old saying that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger blah, blah, blah. But handling difficulties, major and minor, also make you more practiced at sorting out snags and snafus. When you know what to do or can come up with a plan B on the fly, then road blocks don't seem so awful. What used to be a major setback becomes a mere petty annoyance.
Y'all are doing good work! Transformation is imminent....
March 23, 2018: Card O' the Day: The Hanged Man. Now we're getting somewhere people!! The Hanged Man indicates the willingness to trust but also the fear of change. The mind wants stability and security, yet the soul is yearning for growth and expansion.
As you dig deeper into more profound thinking, you can expect a new vision and reverses in your values and attitudes. We've had a couple reversed Pentacles recently that also indicated leaving long-held traditions and values behind. The trend continues with today's card. Now, I don't believe you'll chuck your entire lives and turn your back on everything you've ever believed. I feel these cards are indicating a more refined discernment of what you believe...sort of what you'll keep and what you'll shift.
Relinquish control and allow something new and greater to emerge. This will require you to shift from ego-centric thinking and behavior to that of your True Self. A Self who is innately more compassionate, forgiving, and understanding of the Big Picture of life. I mean, is it really worth popping a neck vein if the barista made your latte with whole milk instead of skim?
March 22, 2018: Card O' the Day: Three of Cups, reversed. Just as we go through phases in our interests (you were once avid for skiing or SCUBA diving and now, not so much) and fashions (goth, emo, acid washed denim), we also go through phases in our relationships. During this current growth period, know that you might outgrow some friends.
This card indicates the process has already begun as you find less time to socialize or attend events with the usual crowd. You may find you feel bored by them or drained rather than energized and supported. It's becoming preferable to just to stay home instead of playing the game.
It's time to look at some hard realities. The reversed Three indicates a completion. This group of friends and associated activities may well be a chapter of your life that's finished. If that's the case, file it away under "good times" and move forward.
March 21, 2018: Card O' the Day: Queen of Pentacles, reversed.
As you continue your personal journey, ordinary "traditional roles" may fall by the wayside as your attention lies elsewhere. You may lack interest in cooking and cleaning (where it wasn't a problem before), or those chores seem even more onerous that usual. The adventure of "finding" yourself is more interesting and consuming right now.
As you seek, you may find like minded people with whom to discuss deep thoughts, esoteric studies, and methods of enhancing your spiritual experiences. However, be careful of jumping on any bandwagons or falling for schemes and snake oil. Just because someone calls themselves a shaman and others swear by his/her talents, it doesn't mean they have all the answers. Know that in this phase of seeking, you're more vulnerable to self-doubt. You may find yourself hiding behind false fronts of "getting it" and being "awakened" just to be like the others in the group. The others may appear to be so enlightened that you begin to covet their serenity and wisdom.
All I can say is don't...don't covet, don't hide, don't fake it, don't join because everyone else does. Be authentic in yourself. If it doesn't resonate with you, ask questions. If those questions can't be readily answered to your satisfaction, find out for yourself. And for heaven's sake, don't spend thousands on "magic" crystals, dusts, wands, herbs, candles, lessons, retreats, etc.! Your own enlightenment and awakening is completely in your control and available to you in your own back yard.
March 20, 2018: Card O' the Day: Ten of Pentacles, reversed. As you begin to think and feel more deeply and attempt to connect more with the Spiritual world, you may find yourself rethinking long-held beliefs and traditions. You probably learned those beliefs and practiced those traditions as a child, and you've continued them as "the way it's always been." However, they're no longer as satisfying and are becoming superficial as you grow.
It's going to be a bit scary moving out of your comfort zone of the "known" and trying new things.... Not to mention the discomfort your family/tribe may dump on you as you decline invitations to celebrations or habitual get togethers. You may circle back around after a while and re-engage in those traditional activities, but I suspect you'll participate more on on a social level (to keep the peace or to just have a chance to visit with the other members of the clan) rather than through any great religious or deeply held belief in the rituals involved.
This is all part of YOUR personal journey back to Source and coming into alignment with YOUR True Self. Even though we walk and engage with others, ultimately our path is our own....
March 18, 2018: Card O' the Day: Princess of Pentacles, reversed. Normally the Princess of Pentacles is very practical and materially oriented. True, she has youthful energy and isn't quite as sedate and practiced in her business affairs as the Queen of Pentacles, but her feet are usually firmly grounded and her thoughts tend towards the physical world. When reversed, her clarity of thinking and practicality suffers as she echoes the messages of yesterday's Queen of Cups.
The reversed Princess pulls away from trivial fixations (gaming, shopping, texting, parties, etc.) to seek a new world of perceptions. To help enhance the those deeper feelings and understanding, she may develop new interests in crystals, scrying, or any one of a thousand topics of esoteric study. (Not that she would admit this new-found interest in the woo-woo world to any of her friends, mind you!)
What's truly important here, though, is the shift of focus from the material plane to your spiritual plane. The Queen of Cups and the reversed Princess are telling you that your inner sight has been on the back burner for too long, and it's time to pay attention to the deeper meaning of your purpose here.
March 17, 2018: Card O' the Day: Queen of Cups. As Mother Nature wakens from her winter's sleep (and based upon the current weather in Ohio, Mom is having a hard time getting out of bed...), the natural rhythms of the world will change. As creatures of that world, our rhythms are changing, too. You're being reminded to pay attention to those undercurrents to help you with the connection between self and soul. Seek a deeper development of your inner life.
The Queen of Cups is the sort to base all her actions upon her feelings. Sometimes that's a "bad thing" when making tough choices. However, at this time, she's telling us to pay attentions to our feelings and go with our hearts. The Queen is also the "holder of visions", and that makes sense if you consider that our hopes, dreams, and visions for better things come from the heart. So, in the process of getting dreams out of your head and on to the material plane, your heart will be a key player. When we want something badly enough, we can make it so.
Finally, feel gratitude for whatever life brings you without expectation or demand. Yes, strive for more, but concentrate on what you DO have rather than what you don't, and then express your joy for it...out loud.
March 14, 2018: Card O' the Day: Nine of Pentacles. You're living your ideals on a safe and secure material plane...almost idyllic! Of course, it's not perfect and you'd love to have a new A, B, or C, but the lights are on, there's food on the table, and the car's running. You can be content and satisfied with what you've accomplished and earned thus far through good management and some good luck.
And yet, Universe is asking you to not just squat here and maintain. The creature comforts of the material plane are what allow you to seek inner purpose from a stable place. After all, you can't be effectively communing with your higher self when you're hungry or in danger. So, while things are materially easy right now, take that time to step out of your comfort zone and try something new. Perhaps now is the time to take a college course and begin that dream of higher education. For true expansion and growth, you need to keep moving, stay curious, and dare little.
March 13, 2018: Card O' the Day: The Emperor. The Emperor stands for structure, order, and reason. He's sort of the foundation of your life: your inner father figure to yourself, your inner boss, your inner law maker.
Right now I feel like he's in "protection mode" and setting up boundaries to ward off attacks of disturbing emotions that you don't want to deal with. This messiness doesn't fit in your ordered (read: rigid and inflexible) way of thinking. But guess what? Life is messy and emotional! Modern architects have learned ways of designing buildings that can withstand earthquakes by making them flexible. Rigid stone structures collapse upon themselves when shaken.
Therefore, you're going to have to make exceptions to your rules. I'm not saying you have to completely scrap all your values and belief systems, but if there isn't some leeway, you'll end up in a tiny tribe that believes exactly the way you do. And that won't be a very fertile ground in which to expand and grow yourself.
Forgive minor transgressions against you, or find a way to make the big ones right again. In rigidity, you will stand alone; in flexibility, you will find companionship and manifestation.
March 8, 2018: Card O' the Day: The Hierophant, reversed. The reversed Hierophant is representative of rigid rules and dogma that stifles you from following your dreams. And frankly, you've had enough of that as your own creativity and inspiration well up inside of you like maple sap rising in the trees. You're feeling rather daring and are ignoring that sniffy "What will the neighbors say?" voice...good for you!! As long as your bright ideas are legal and don't hurt anyone, go for it!!! When you do, you'll be surprised how much fun you'll have and how successful you'll be.
Just be a little careful and listen to your gut. If a "shaman" type guru-ish person tries to sell you the latest "snake oil", do your research. The reversed Hierophant can indicate tricksy people in the guise of spiritual leaders. Also, don't commit to anything major right now. You're still exploring all your options and you don't want to get locked in at the first shiny possibility.
March 7, 2018: Card O' the Day: Six of Swords, reversed. Just when I announce Spring Fever is here, it SNOWS! I always think spring (in Ohio, at least) is a schizophrenic season--it doesn't know if it's coming or going, up or down, warm or cold. The day can start with the need of a parka and end in a T-shirt. If the weather is this disoriented, I can only imagine your psyche. I know I only want to nap in front of the fire. I can't seem to stick to any one activity or chore, and my resolve to go for a brisk walk is in serious jeopardy.
There's something going on with water, too. Personally, I've had enough of the rain that's caused ankle deep mud in my area. Others of you may also experience excessive rain, late season snow, washed out bridges, or flooded roads (or basements). Travel across water could be problematic, so double check all details and pack a few items in your hand-carried bags just in case your big suitcase is delayed. Once arriving at your destination, take a day to adjust to your surroundings to mitigate any culture shock.
This, too, shall pass....
March 6, 2018: Card O' the Day: Princess of Pentacles, reversed. I think Spring Fever is beginning.... A friend of mine posted fully blooming crocuses on his FB page, and I could feel his excitement. My own daffodils are well up, and the buds are fat. Others are posting countdowns to the day we reset our clocks.
This would explain feeling distracted and confused right now. If you are tasked with learning anything new, it'll be a struggle (alas for the poor students who must push through and continue with their studies). Even things you normally find interesting or plans you were looking forward to will seem less fascinating as Mother Nature begins to stir from her winter's slumber.
This ancient, annual transformation is felt by all living creatures, including us! Therefore, don't be surprised if you're drawn to spiritual and "Nature-al" pursuits more than usual. Don't fight the feelings; indulge in them. Go outside and take a walk around the block; if you can, take a hike in a park. Give thanks to Mother Earth for supporting you and doing Her thing. Once you've indulged a bit, you might find it easier to get back to reality. You may have to indulge a little each day to balance the "fever" with practicality.
March 1, 2018: Card O' the Day: Five of Swords. It's truly hard work to walk a spiritual path and strive to make changes. This card represents the inner conflicts and frustrations you encounter on that journey. In order for the new, better, higher spiritual practices to stick, old patterns of behavior and belief have to be broken down so they can fall away.
These words are effortless to write, but VERY hard to implement every day. It's so very easy to look for short term gains and make excuses for ourselves if those small gains come at the expense of others. Truly those small (see also: petty) gains are merely hollow and meaningless. Kind of like binging on a box of Twinkies...the short term gain is a sugar rush as those cream cakes dance on your tongue. Half an hour later you feel vaguely nauseous, bloated, crashed, and guilty for having indulged in such self-destructive eating habits.
It's time to move past the "win/lose", "what's in it for me" mentality. I believe all of us are born inherently decent. In most, the Highest Self really won't let us be assholes! It's harder to eat your veggies, take a daily walk, and be kind to others, but the long term rewards are innumerable! Put down the Twinkies, and walk away.
February: 28, 2018: Card O' the Day: Two of Pentacles, reversed. Still not at our best.... So do be careful with your money (gambling, stock market, etc.) because you're NOT financially savvy right now. A lack of focus and general distractions get in the way of wise decisions and the necessary research into any new ventures. This card indicates there's no lack of desire, though. You're certainly hot to trot about finishing something, but scattered energies and annoying roadblocks are preventing you from getting it done. The reason is that it's not time. Try to be patient.
One good thing about being prevented and scattered is that you're going to be forced to, or will intentionally, drop stuff that doesn't serve you anymore. You think you can still handle it or that it's useful, but it's not. Start your spring cleaning early and reduce your clutter physically, emotionally, duty-wise, obligation-wise, etc. What can you let go?
Paperwork is also indicated here. Part of the annoying interference may be red tape, applications (that then take WEEKS to be approved!), appointments that are weeks/months away (but you can't do other things until that's taken care of), and so forth. I know I'm dreading getting my tax receipts in order for my accountant; you, too?
February 27, 2018: Card O' the Day: Five of Pentacles. Did you ever go on a road trip with your family and several hours into the drive whine "Are we there yet?" That's this card here: we're in the middle of a transitory period and you're beginning to wonder if you're "there yet", or if you'll ever get "there." You're doing good work, but this kind of work is always in progress, and we're in an especially transitory period.
This card indicates many of you may be feeling less than "enough" and rather self-conscious about your perceived flaws at the moment. This can lead to only looking at the empty part of your glass and missing the richness of the full part. Even if you think your glass has mere drops at the bottom, concentrate on those drops you DO have, and don't dwell upon what's been lost, or spend time worrying about what more may be lost before it's all done.
Keep your chin up, persevere, and keep your little brain cells alert for new ways of making things better. You never know what will happen next and just changing your perspective may allow you to see something you've missed.
February 22, 2018: Card O' the Day: Six of Pentacles. Fecundity and manifestation are the results of the fertile energies at work. There's potential for material power, which results in the practical application of resources so that your dreams are easily achieved. Solutions to any problems immediately become apparent and can be implemented with ease.
The shadow side of this card is that all this ease with money and power can quickly go to your head. The easiest choice to solve a cash-flow problem may be to lay-off employees, give away pets, allow life insurance to lapse, stop the allowance you give your grandmother (that she relies heavily upon), or any other way to reduce your spending that hurts others. When you hold the purse strings, you have great responsibility--not only to the purse, but to those who rely on that purse for their well-being, too.
This card has huge potential for good...and bad. The positive/negative energies are precariously balanced and you must do all you can to maintain the balance, if not actively push towards the "good." To do so, make your keywords compassion and reciprocity. If you cannot give actual cash to maintain the balance, look to where you can give other resources like time, a casserole, baked goods, your own sweat and labor, etc. Don't Scrooge up on me, people! Ebenezer was not a happy camper.
February 21, 2018: Card O' the Day: King of Cups, reversed. The reversed King of Cups has his heart and intentions in the right place, but tends to go about it clumsily. The good news is that he's going deep to explore his inner workings and trying to find new ways to express that. This exploration may include seeking unconventional "healing modalities" that can bring greater peace than traditional western medicine.
The bad news is that the yang energy causes him go in hook, line, and sinker to the detriment of his real world and relationships. While seeking, he may seem very closed off to others. As others try to reach him and maintain normal connection, he will tend to turn his back and put out a "do not disturb" sign. When his tribe gets frustrated with him, his ego will protect him by complaining that no one "understands" him or doesn't appreciate the Spiritual Work he's doing. The unconventional healing modalities become crutches that he almost worships them with his fervent practice. At his worst, the reversed King will chuck his entire life to follow the guru du jour.
As tempting as it is to really immerse yourself in personal spiritual work, you have to keep one foot on the ground and remain connected to the real world. Take time for your tribal relationships. Maintain necessary responsibilities. Research alternative healing techniques to be sure they're valid and not dangerous! View all people who offer spiritual advice (even me!) with a grain of salt. No guru, no matter how lofty and famous, is without flaw. Trying to find your spiritual path is laudable; just don't disassociate from the real world hoping the "woo-woo world" is better and the answer to all your problems.
February 19, 2018: Card O' the Day: Nine of Swords. It looks like the work of the High Priestess has begun. No more denying necessary changes as you awaken to the unpleasant truth you've been avoiding. This card represents the need to face, and accept, an ending. It's not fun, and while you still have a hard time receiving this, you're starting to "get there."
You know the old saying "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"? The reason we live by this rule is that discomfort or pain is the only thing that moves us to make changes! Otherwise, we just waft along in our rocking chairs maintaining the status quo. Why? Most of us are LAZY (me included) and can't be stirred to grow...because it's werrrrk! Ugh, whine, whimper.
Now is a time that habits and ways of life can no longer stay the same. You're giving too much of yourself to a situation and you're hating it. The mental anguish you're experiencing is a reflection of your feelings about the situation, not the actual situation per se. Fortunately, these miserable feelings are getting loud and uncomfortable enough that you're going to make changes. Finally! Trust me, you'll be glad you did.
February 18, 2018: Card O' the Day: The High Priestess. The High Priestess is indicative of your unconscious self--the potential for meaningful "knowing" from your gut, but it's sort of "immature" in that you haven't really tapped into it. It's potentially an excellent source of insight and guidance, but you either don't know it's there or you don't trust it. In my mind the High Priestess is the younger version of The Star--they live in the same place just below your solar plexus and nudge you in the right direction (if you're open to listening).
Because the High Priestess is hidden in your unconscious, she also represents the resistance to change reflected in the reversed Tower and Death we recently had appear. Having slammed the door on the big changes needed, the High Priestess is slithering under the door to draw you into her/YOUR wisdom about the situation. She's there and you can trust her. She's inviting you to do the soul-searching you must to make the necessary choices for a better life.
February 17, 2018: Card O' the Day: Death, reversed. Well, I gave it a couple days for the dust to settle after The Tower, reversed. Seems I didn't wait long enough, or else we've got some serious work to do and Universe isn't done kicking our asses.
When Death comes along, it's time to let something tangible go--like relationships, jobs, possessions. On the other hand, The Tower urges us to change our mindsets and beliefs. When these cards fall back to back like this (even separated by a couple days), I feel like some major life changes are required to get you onto a path towards your happiest and highest Self. So, not only do you have to change your circumstances, but you've also got work to do in your head.
I understand you're afraid to move into the unknown, but staying put will keep you trapped in your "unfortunate circumstances" and cause unnecessary waste of your resources and failure to achieve your dreams. You can't cling to the past and what you've come to know hoping it'll get better by itself. It won't; you must act. You're going to have to let go of a lot, but it doesn't mean you have to chuck it all. See what you can salvage and then walk away from the rest.
February 13, 2018: Card O' the Day: The Tower, reversed. I consider The Tower, reversed or upright, to be a lightening bolt to your head--or keister, depending upon whether you're hiding your "crown chakra" up in your "root chakra." Something is ending or changing shape. This change of shape is not a comfortable thing because you're emotionally and intellectually invested. Which means even though you see the ship is sinking, you keep bailing hoping you can salvage the situation.
Hiding under the covers and denying the discovery isn't going to help--it'll only get worse the more you run from it. This thing will not stop happening, so turn around and deal. By actively handling the situation, the more in control of it you are. Being in control will help you feel less like you're being swept helplessly by a tidal wave.
Now, it occurs to me that even "good" things can feel like a tornado has blown through your life. New jobs, starting school, or even falling in love can twist your guts into a knot. Be in control. It's the only way to handle what's going down right now.
February 9, 2018: Card O' the Day: Ten of Pentacles. This card validates you're on the right path to creating material comfort and ease for your old age and for your family. It's also a 10, which means it has beginning/ending type energies attached to it. You're in the process of completing a cycle, so tie up the loose ends and look to see what's next.
More importantly, however, are the spiritual lessons of the Ten of Pentacles. This is a reminder that not all that glitters is "gold." In many respects, this card is about mere accumulation. Now, you may think you'd certainly like to "accumulate" enough wealth for a fancy new car, but at what cost to your soul? It brings to mind one of my favorite sarcastic snarks, "How nice for you that you own/wear/drink/drive X, Y, or Z."
Spiritually, this card is a reminder to go beyond the material world to bring abundance of a different sort to all corners of your life. Compassion, empathy, charity, and authenticity, when practiced daily, will bring more wealth to you than you could ever imagine. The kind of wealth that lets you sleep well at night knowing you're making this world a better place.
February 6, 2018: Card O' the Day: The Hermit, reversed. This card is adding to yesterday's reversed King who was heaping harsh words and criticism upon you. The impossible standard of perfection to which you hold yourself is isolating you from others and keeping you in your head--a very cold and lonely place. Your ego tries to save face for you by putting up a front and keeping those who can help, or love, you at arms length.
The first question to ask is "What am I so afraid is true about me?"The second is "Why is that so awful?" You are no more flawed or terrible than the next person (and nor are you more perfect, just so you know).
Life will be a lot more joyful, fun, successful, and EASY if you can get good with who you are. Once you're able to accept your cons, you can get on with the work of fixing them, or at least working with them, so you can enjoy your pros!
February 5, 2018: Card O' the Day: King of Swords, reversed. Are you the type of person who looks for strings attached to good things? Do you have trouble saying a simple thank you when someone gives you a compliment?
When the King of Swords is reversed like this, I feel like many of you are overwhelmed by the possibilities and gifts offered in yesterday's card. You're tempted to bluster and bluff your way through the fear and puff your chest with power. But that's just hot air hiding your insecurities and perceived weaknesses. Secretly you berate yourself for not deserving your fortunes. You'll just ruin it like you ruin everything....
Tell yourself you've got this and get control of your fear. This will let you drop the defensiveness and be more receptive to others and their good ideas. Ask questions and listen to the answers. You'll look magnanimous while gaining valuable information on the sly.
February 4, 2018: Card O' the Day: The World. Being the last of the Major Arcana, The World represents endings--but endings always herald new beginnings since life is cyclic. First we'll address the ending. This can be the ending of a job, relationship, or anything tangible; it can also be the ending of belief systems, feelings, negative thought patterns, habits, or anything intangible. Whatever it is that's ending, it's important and needs to be handled with attention. Be sure to tie up any loose ends so nothing remains undone that will be a source of regret or temptation to back-slide later.
The "beginnings" half of this card indicate a slow but consistent and determined evolution towards your personal success and serenity. Changing how you view reality comes from the inner perception of your spiritual awakening. And when I say "spiritual awakening", I don't necessarily mean seeing complicated visions and suddenly being hit with unusual psychic gifts. I'm talking about being okay in your own skin and accepting where you are in this moment as being a good thing.
As you begin to feel differently about your life and yourself, you'll see forward and recognize what could be if you set your mind to it. Face this time of ending/beginning with joy and celebration because the possibilities are endless!
January 31, 2018: Card O' the Day: Justice. Earlier The Chariot and The Magician talked about mastering your own life force and getting good with who your are. Justice takes you further to find balance between your ego and your Higher Self. It's no coincidence that the body aspect of Justice is the heart...your center, the core of your being. This is the place from which you temper the fire in your belly with the serenity of your Crown. Your Highest Self seeks to raise you to the perfect levels of love, forgiveness, and charity. Whereas the instincts in your belly/ego are fighting for survival. Neither Highest Self or Ego are good or bad--we are not wholly saints or sinners. The trick is to find balance between the two and to allow the Saint and Sinner to peacefully coexist within.
By this I mean to strive for self-acceptance and complete honesty with yourself. I don't believe any one of us can be really happy as an utter asshole; I don't believe anyone's Highest Self will allow them to be peaceful and contented as an Asshole of the First Water. (Consider Scrooge. He was an asshole, but not a happy asshole.) Therefore, when I ask you to accept your faults without guilt or shame, I have a feeling your Highest Self will chime in that that particular "failing" is not something you have to continue doing. Once the guilt and shame are removed, you can drily assess whether continuing such behavior is really working for you.
The Magician and the Chariot were telling you it's getting to be time to move. So is Justice; she represents decisions and actions born of understanding, clarity, and balance. She will help you make the adjustments you need to become responsible for your own maturity of character, truth of Self, and judgment about what to keep and what to change.
January 29, 2018: Card O' the Day: Seven of Wands, reversed. Upright, the energy of the Seven of Wands is already a bit volatile. When reversed, it goes even more wonky. This is good news because it adds an element of changeability and impermanence--which means we'll pass through this moment of discomfort and unease that much faster.
As with The Magician, the shadows of this card include self-doubt and self-consciousness. You're still not too sure about yourself with other people or in certain situations. Therefore, you're apt to keep others at a distance while you sort through things in your own time and in peace. While you're there, sorting in peace, discover the inner resources you have in abundance to bolster your confidence and not feel so intimidated by life.
January 28, 2018: Card O' the Day: The Magician. Sap is beginning to rise within your psyche and physical body. You're beginning to anticipate spring, and therefore there's a desire for action. Your intellect is being energized as the wheels in your head are turning. There's a new focus to your purpose and will. In order to use your resources to their fullest and most unlimited possibility, you may have to learn new skills. But you'll find that entertaining and enjoyable as your brain eats up the new information with rabid interest.
These new ideas and skills may be overt on your physical plane, but the whole thing stems from making connections with your personal life force and realizing the magic of your truest self. As you begin to explore the question of "Who am I?", you'll begin to feel more at home in your own skin. Your new endeavors will probably start out as solo ventures. This is more about finding yourself than inventing a better mousetrap.
The shadow side to all this is some very natural hesitation as you wonder about measuring up and being "good enough." You're being asked to face those fears. Also, because not one of us on this planet is perfect, understand mistakes will be made. Allow yourself the occasional goof, cut yourself slack, and move on wiser for having learned a lesson.
January 26, 2018: Card O' the Day: Eight of Pentacles. With the harmonious energy flow of this card, work becomes almost a sacred ritual. You're enthusiastic about current projects, and they will bring you deep satisfaction. It may sound strange, but you're being asked to see the beauty of work. Even ordinary and rather mundane tasks have inherent beauty in them--open your eyes to that and find new appreciation in the action of that work. This card is about the work, not the results--the journey rather than the goal.
However, all that attention to detail and focus on the actual craftsmanship can make you a little hypnotized by the itty-bitty specifics. Look up occasionally from your work and take a gander at the big picture to stay in touch with reality. This is foundation building time, but you have to take in
January 24, 2018: Card O' the Day: The Chariot. The Chariot is a big "personal development" card. The fact that it's a moving vehicle represents the progress and movement forward that you're making. Attitudes and thought processes are moving out of past ruts and shifting to make room for the new, better way of perceiving and reacting to your life.
The attitude changes come from the growth and development of your ego. You're not getting upset by petty little stuff; your urge to snark and snap is dropping to the floor because you realize that reaction serves no one and simply makes life harder. You no longer need validation and kudos from everyone you care about because that validation comes from within yourself. When you're whole and happy, you don't need others to pat you on the back.
Having this kind of control over your emotions, thoughts, and --by extension--actions will make life feel easier. I'm not saying that suddenly all your problems will go poof! I'm saying that you'll be able to weather storms without falling apart; you'll celebrate small happinesses with the joy they deserve; minor annoyances will be seen as just that: minor. You've found your Big Kid pants; wear them well!!
January 18, 2018: Card O' the Day: Two of Cups, reversed. Still not playing well with others...and now I know why. Social or workplace interactions are not balance, and your personal power is feeling threatened. There may be a bit of jealousy lurking around, too, causing the disharmony. The big culprit is going to be miscommunication and conflicting messages--meaning, you're not speaking your truth.
Because of the interpersonal friction, this will want you to cut off cooperation on your end and just do things alone. But that only leads to wastefulness and silly actions in order to maintain that distance.
We must use our voices! It may be a little embarrassing to admit to someone that your feelings were hurt when you were left out of an event or meeting. However, by speaking up, you may learn that others assumed you didn't want to, or were too busy to, attend. Never assume what others are thinking or feeling, AND don't let others assume something about you by not communicating clearly!
January 17, 2018: Card O' the Day: Eight of Wands, reversed. When reversed, the Eight of Wands indicates a lot of little things going wrong at once. Maybe it's just today, or maybe it's been that way all week. The good news is that it's only temporary, but the lesson here is an important one: how do you face adversity? Consider this time of petty annoyances as practice for big catastrophes. Do you let it ruin your day or do you just shrug and say "sh*t happens"?
By example, this morning I tripped coming up the two small steps into my mudroom. I took a header into a corner of the walls, spilled four cups of birdseed, and whacked my fingers on both hands trying to save the birdseed and myself. I can either (A) let loose a river of foul language, compound the physical pain with emotional and inner agitation, and heap upon myself doubt and uncertainty as to the worthiness of me breathing the air that I do. OR, (B) I can take a deep breath, scoop another four cups of birdseed, feed the flippin' birds, and then clean up my mess.
A concrete result of going with Option A will mean you'll have difficulty working well with others for the remainder of the day and maybe into tomorrow. Your 1/2 hour of pissy mood will rain on everyone else's day. They, in turn, may rain on a third person. This means valuable time and resources is wasted due to negative energy and bad juju. Not to mention, there's a very real chemical reaction in your brain that washes your entire body in stress-induced hormones.
Might I suggest going with Option B?
January 16, 2018: Card O' the Day: The Devil. The Devil is representative of all we hate and are ashamed of about ourselves. It's the card that points out how you hold yourself back by believing the negative things others say about you. You buy all those limits imposed upon you by society, and thus say you can't. Bullshit. Embrace your "shadows" and liberate your life from the fear of being laughed at for your attempts at greatness. (Those who stand by laughing, you'll notice, are not trying anything themselves.)
In addition to pointing out the negative, The Devil offers you the decision to awaken to the responsibility to YOURSELF to master your life force. Through extraordinary effort and introspection, you can set free the light within you that you've put under wraps because of believing what has been told to you rather than believing what you know to be true about yourself. When you believe in your True Self, you'll throw off the chains of The Devil and find the work-arounds you need to employ to get done whatever you dream. (Using a very simplistic example: short people have to use ladders or step-stools to reach things. So what?)
The stone associated with The Devil is snowflake obsidian. It's said to help show you your true inner Self, warts and all, and identifies emotions that hide our reality. It also helps you admit where you're being tempted away from your True and Best Self by the desire for power, personal gain, addictions, bad habits, cravings, etc. (Now, it's not a "bad thing" to strive for personal gain and power in your field. Personal gain and power become "bad things" in the way you use them.) You may find having a piece of snowflake obsidian nearby will give you the tangible talisman you need to start believing your own gut instead of what the neighbors say.
January 13, 2018: Card O' the Day: Five of Cups, reversed. I'm so glad to see you're all working that flexibility and adaptability that yesterday's reversed Three offered! Today's reversed Five is only adding to the largesse with emotional stability and further coping skills. This allows you to transform "unpleasantness" and inconvenience into something better that works for you instead of against. By that I mean you're capable of making the hard decisions and creating change and to make space for those changes to stick.
Expect to feel renewed as you move past any losses or disappointments towards recovery of balance, mood, and joy. This card also bodes well to healing rifts between loved ones, friends, or colleagues. When you're emotionally balanced and firmly on your feet, you're in a good place to offer/accept apologies, take responsibility for your part in the conflict, and see ways forward to kinder, gentler relationships without becoming a doormat.
January 12, 2018: Card O' the Day: Three of Wands, reversed. I often bring my own life experiences in to help illustrate my readings. This card resonates particularly well with me today because of a project I'm birthing at the moment.
I found myself getting really anxious and nauseated during the "creativity time" of my project, but I couldn't figure out why. Was I being over-ambitious? Did I have unrealistic expectations of success, fame, or wealth? Was I being careless with details? While I have engaged another person to help me, was I piling the lion's share of the project upon her shoulders and taking advantage of her help?
On the way to my barn one morning the phrase "fear of failure" popped into my head. A-HA!!! That's why I feel overwhelmed and scared to death by the big picture of my dream! What to do? Besides breathing deeply, I'm trusting that these feelings are temporary (they are indeed because since I've figured out the whole fear of failure thing, my stomach has settled). I'm also reducing the project into bite-sized pieces and prioritizing each piece. There's no sense in sweating detail C when A and B have to be accomplished before C even becomes important. Therefore Detail C has been moved to the "that's for tomorrow" file.
Also, what is the importance level of my project in my life? Will my car get repossessed if I fail? Will the utilities to my house be cut off? Will I starve? No. Therefore, I can relax and let the project unfold naturally. If the answer is "yes" for any of you, then you have your work cut out for you. Prioritize tasks, create and stick to a time line, remain flexible, ask for help, and most important of all, have a Plan B.
January 10, 2018: Card O' the Day: Two of Pentacles, reversed. On Monday we talked about obligations and responsibilities and the need to review what you can release and what you still want to do (or must do). The reversed Two is reiterating the demand to do so. The upright Two of Pentacles of last Thursday was representative of finding balance in your life. Reversed, it's saying your out of balance due to the many obligations you pile upon yourself.
Being out of balance will affect your focus and scatter it to the winds. You won't be able to make solid financial decisions, efficient routines will become impossible as you flit from thing to thing, and you'll end up forgetting important stuff while you tend to trivia.
Reorder the whole mess. Sit down and write out a schedule of all you do. Do you have time for yourself built in? Is there time for proper meals? 8 hours of sleep? relationship nurturing time with loved ones or partners? When you see how chaotic your life is on paper, in black and white, you can start making concrete changes to bring back balance. The trick is sticking to your new schedule....
January 8, 2018: Card O' the Day: Six of Cups, reversed. You're ready to take a more honest look at your past and assess it truthfully. No more rose-colored glasses about the good ol' days! There was a reason you ended the relationship, quit the job, moved away, or whatever it was you put an end to. When tempted to linger in the past, remind yourself of that reason; recall everything negative about that situation or person to prevent yourself from back-sliding.
Not only are you cosmically ready for this work, you're consciously, emotionally, psychically ready as you release old emotional ties and destructive life patterns. This is also a good time to review obligations and responsibilities. Schedules and financial resources change. You may no longer have be able to keep volunteering, chauffeuring, cleaning, etc. that you started doing back when you had more time, money, and energy.
I feel a new trust in the future and renewal for us all coming in these next weeks. Take advantage of this impulse to look forward. Cut the ropes to anchors holding you back.
January 7, 2018: Card O' the Day: Ten of Pentacles, reversed. Has anyone else noticed the cards for the past week are all about energy and material manifestation? I should not be surprised, I guess, since many people make New Year's resolutions regarding their material plane. The most common resolutions are to lose weight, quit smoking, reduce or stop alcohol consumption, adopt a healthy diet, start a business, ask for a raise, and other similar stuff to improve their physical world.
Today is no exception with the ten of Pentacles. However, the reversal tells me we're trying too hard with the material world. By focusing a great part of your energies on the physical plane, other things suffer. You may be required to clear the decks to make space (see yesterday's Two) but you're too afraid of letting the "known" go and stepping into the fresh new unknown. By staying put, you'll simply stagnate; any wealth gained will be a hollow victory.
This card has potential for returning back to Source and lifting your attention to more spiritual endeavors. Remember, "so as it is above, it is below; so as it is below, it is above." Everything in the physical world reflects aspects of your Self and has a correspondence in the Cosmos. Therefore, as you pursue your earthly improvements, look for the matching energy/improvement in Universe. How will losing weight/quitting smoking/getting a raise improve the matching vibration above?
January 6, 2018: Card O' the Day: Two of Pentacles. There are three cards in the Tarot deck that have an infinity symbol embedded in them--The Magician, Strength, and the Two of Pentacles. They're linked by this commonality, and therefore, we have echoes of The Magician and Strength in our reading today along with the main event of the Two.
An animal associated with this card is the fox. He represents adaptability, cleverness, determination, and agility. Animals tend to live in the here and now, and the fox and the Two are asking you to be really present to what's happening today. Pull your planning back from a 1-year or 6-months term to one week at best. The reason you need to be living short-sighted is this card is about stable changes that lead to more perfect balance. Some letting go of unnecessary crap is required and is part of the change scenario.
Trust that these changes are for the better and adjust your thinking, attitude, and actions to accommodate the changes without freaking out. That's why living in the short-term is important right now--it keeps you from thinking how these changes will affect the "XYZ" six months from now. Think of it this way: if you keep your feet under you and take short steps, you're more likely to keep your balance and not slip on the icy sidewalk. And if you do slip slightly, you'll be able to regain your balance without going down on your ass.
January 5, 2018: Card O' the Day: Seven of Cups. Receiving this card today makes so much sense when taken in context with the cards of the past few days.
The first steps to making serious changes involve IMAGINING something different. How would your life be better if you stopped doing "X"? How could you free up more of your resources (time, energy, money) if you cut "Y" out of your life? The Seven of Cups brings the freedom and ability to imagine a "better different" with all the inherent imagination, fantasy, daydreams, and bright ideas contained in it.
We have plenty of Wands energy burning under our butts right now, so unleash your fantasy to explore the possibilities. This card also represents "all things possible"; so, just saying', you've got a Chinese menu in front of you right now! Don't worry if you can't seem to pin anything down just yet and feel overwhelmed by too many choices; you'll begin to comprehend it all soon enough. This is the anticipatory time before actually moving into action and creating new stuff or making concrete changes.
January 4, 2018: Card O' the Day: The World, reversed. Recently, we had the Three of Wands, followed by the Three of Pentacles; then another Wands, and now another card with the emphasis on the earth element (when The World is reversed, the usual Fire element is overwhelmed by the Earth sub-element). This tells me there's creative energy there to move, but we're still a little stuck about making things happen on the material plane.
This card offers stability, security, and permanence but also inertia and stagnation. There's a tendency to cling to material, tangible things and refusal to recognize an "ending" of some kind. This could be just the remnants of the holiday season. We spend months preparing for the "big days", and when it's over, there's a let down as we crawl back to normalcy. On the other hand, the holiday season may have been hiding an inevitable ending, and now it's time to face it.
Allow wisdom and compassion to guide you as you let things go. Some sacrifice will be necessary as with all endings. The more you fear and/or resist the changes, the longer it'll take and delay the manifestations waiting for you. Bite the bullet; pack up the Christmas decorations; move on.
January 3, 2018: Card O' the Day: King of Wands. As I mentioned yesterday, the suit of Wands is about acting; the key concept with the King is initiating new projects. The King portends good news and opportunities and is pushing you to aim high in your endeavors. Get the hell out of your own way and have at it! (However, the practical Taurus in me is advising at least SOME prudence. Let's not go overboard.)
Back to the toddler present in the Threes of the last couple days...this card is also representative of wanting to do it all yourself in your eagerness to express yourself and ideas. The good King is known for being impatient with details and intolerant of limits.
So, yes, think big and use this lovely Wands energy to get you off the couch. However, be mindful of reality. What is practically possible TODAY? Make a 1-week, 1-month, 1-year, and 5-year plan for your goals. The plans must be flexible, however, because you KNOW nothing works the way you originally envisioned. Though we're parked in front of the fireplace trying to stay warm, this means our imaginations can fly!
January 2, 2018: Card O' the Day: Three of Pentacles, reversed. Yesterday, we had the Three of Wands, reversed. Wands represent creative force and the impulse "to do"; Pentacles are about experiencing life through the physical/material world. Three's represent the first results of creativity and commencing action upon the stability of the Two. Therefore, taking the two 3's together, we have creativity and beginning results in the material world.
However, as with yesterday, this card is reversed indicating there are troubles. As with yesterday, today's card has implications of ego because of the "working alone" element. If you are able to or are working with someone right now, your energies are opposed and there's conflict where you should be working in harmony. Also, haste or "immature management" is present. Meaning, you're rushing the project, trying to cut corners, and/or believing you're more advanced than you are (recall that toddler trying to pour the milk).
If you continue on this path of "I can do this all on my own in my own way", expect to crash and burn. You'll be humiliated by your failure and will have to eat crow as all your supporters (from whom you refused support) say "I told you so." Again, don't squash your impulses but use them wisely, play well with others, and for heaven's sake, ask for help when you START to get in over your head and before you're drowning.
January 1, 2018: Card O' the Day: Three of Wands, reversed. Firstly, I was hoping to choose a truly profound major arcana that would set the tone for the year. However, this card reminds me this is "the card o' the day" for a reason. We take each day as it comes, do the best we can, and then move on to the next. So, today....
(GADS! I love my cards! I wrote the above paragraph before I allowed my Big Book to speak to me...and then came to about the same stuff I already wrote. LOL!)
The reversed Three of Wands indicates the over-ambitiousness, pride, and "I can do it, I don't need help" attitude of a three year-old trying to pour milk on their cereal from a freshly opened GALLON of milk. Y'all can relate to this scenario, right? And y'all can feel the disaster coming!
Set aside your ego and your obstinacy (I CAN SO DO IT!!!) and break tasks into smaller jobs. Concentrate on each step as it comes and delegate where you can (cooperation is present in this card). I'm not saying you must water down your dreams, just put things into perspective of what you can do today or this week. Not only will your journey towards your goals be more tranquil, but you'll find the labor and burdens of this trek to be lighter and more manageable.
December 31, 2017: Card O' the Day: The Sun, reversed. It's interesting we get this huge "thumbs up" for the final card of 2017. As wonky as this year has been, there have been as many highs as there were lows. Don't lose sight of the highs, people. However, the reversal of this card indicates a caveat, or two, as well.
When The Sun is reversed, it can mean you're being too hard on yourself and not allowing yourself to feel proud, accomplished, joyful, and all those other pat-myself-on-the-back emotions after doing a job well. It's not a crime to give yourself kudos! It's not tacky to reward yourself after achieving something for which you've worked. So go ahead and appreciate all you have; you deserve it, and you're worthy of it.
Just don't take the self-congratulations too far. The reversed Sun can represent arrogance and vanity. Also, some interpretations of this card indicate health problems; schedule your annual physical, mammogram, colonoscopy, PAP smear, dental cleaning, etc. sooner rather than later. I get that you're busy and don't really like having your very personal space invaded, but a quick check now could save A LOT of inconvenience and expense later. (P.S. This goes for your beloved pets, too.)
December 30, 2017: Card O' the Day: The Fool. How very appropriate to receive The Fool on the next-to-last day of this year! Off all the decks I have (save for my gem deck which depicts rocks), and 99% of all the decks I've seen, the character that depicts The Fool is always looking forward, in the direction his feet are carrying him. That's our goal today and on most days: to look forward and leave the past behind. Certainly the past has valuable lessons, insight, and wisdom, and therefore it should not be ignored. However, neither should it be glorified as the only days which were worth living.
Recently, I've been studying the mystery school of Santa Muerta. Our most Holy Death interprets this card as one of beginnings AND/OR endings, which I find interesting since all other interpretations I've read are of beginnings only. However, Death is nothing if not balanced. Either way, this card indicates a great flood of energy that will begin something new or end something that requires it. Also, we can see this beginning/ending as escape/liberation. If you think about that, it makes perfect sense--many endings are "liberations" for us, and a new beginning could easily be an "escape" from stagnation.
You're being asked to "travel light", and by that I get the feeling it has nothing to do with how many pairs of clean skivvies you bring with you. Traveling "light" in this case means listening to your highly tuned intuition right now. You have the support of Universe to make a leap of faith and dive into the unknown. Changes must be made to allow for this; but by accepting drastic change, you gain freedom.
Yesterday's Prince of Cups invited you to journey to the center of your True Self. The Fool is reiterating this invitation today as 2017 draws to a close.
December 29, 2017: Card O' the Day: Prince of Cups. As we come to the end of the year, I feel like many of you have "tried everything" to get past some stuff that had your emotions riding high and plunging low from--what felt like--moment to moment. The tangible solutions didn't work, so now you're turning to intangible, spiritual healing that comes from your heart. The active yang energy of the Prince pushes you to take a big risk, trust absolutely, and then just ... jump.
The thrill of the free-fall into your emotional center will take you on a difficult but profoundly rewarding quest of personal revelation and subsequent growth. The Prince indicates an emotional state of repression and rationalization. However, the fact that Princes/Knights are depicted riding horses indicates movement. This tells me you're done biting your tongue and justifying your situation.
I wish you a good journey on your personal voyage to becoming closer to your true and authentic Self. Remember, few of us ever "get there"; the process is where you learn all the valuable lessons that enable you to live better. Bon chance!
December 24, 2017: Card O' the Day: Four of Cups, reversed. The passing of the solstice means the days are starting to get longer, believe it or not. It's true the weather will get colder for the next couple months, and yet, this is a time of anticipation of "what's next?" The boredom and apathy of the upright Four morphs into restlessness when reversed, and I think that's tied directly to the solstice and the change of season.
This card also indicates a heightened sensitivity to messages, premonitions, and foreboding. (This can also add to your restlessness.) Therefore, pay attention to your guts and the hairs on the back of your neck for hints and guidance. However, don't go overboard and start imagining omens of doom in the lint trap of your dryer!
With the new season comes new opportunity, new lessons and teaching moments, and new light into your inner being. Take advantage of it all and seize opportunities as they come to you. The rut you've been stuck in has been turned over and you're being dumped out!
December 21, 2017: Card O' the Day: Three of Swords, reversed. Any time you get a bunch of people in a room, you're going to have conflicts. Even the most like-minded, on the same path, in the same boat, from the same family group is going to have a few differences of opinions, food choices, politics, etc., etc. about which you may argue in a playful--or not--manner. This card indicates difficulty in accepting the truths about these differences. Not accepting these truths leads to drama, side-taking, finger-pointing, and not supporting others as you should or could.
Get honest with yourself, and those in your group, and accept responsibility for your part in the drama. Where did you get defensive or snarky about a difference of opinion, beliefs, what-have-you and cause or add to the drama? Where were you not supportive? Even sitting passively, when you should have spoken up or done something, needs to be addressed.
By raising your hand and saying "that was me, my bad!", the healing will begin. It will advance further when you ask what you could have done differently and then LISTEN with an open heart to the answer.
P.S. Singing. The Thoth Companion by Michael Osiris Snuffin interprets the reversed Three of Swords to represent singing. So, a little group singing might help lighten the mood. But no comments about who's off-key!
December 20, 2017: Card O' the Day: Ten of Cups. This is one of the more "super Happy" and "fairy-dust and unicorns" cards of the Tarot deck--if I chose to read along those lines. However, I don't, so we're going to go deeper into what I feel is the more honest interpretation of this card.
The reversed Queen of yesterday was feeling pushed to be social when she actually wanted to be alone to work on herself. Therefore, the reiterated concept of "detachment" makes sense through this card today. What the Queen is looking for is to connect with her heart and move through her world from there, that place of love, peacefulness, and contentment.
Allow yourself to be softer and receptive to the incredible joy that's actually living inside of your heart, right now, ready to be discovered. Welcome yourself home to who you really are today and every day forward. Have the courage to love and be loved. You'll find the things you thought were sooooo important will cease to be so, which will give you space to be absolutely happy... today. When tomorrow comes, figure out how to be happy then. But that's for tomorrow.
December 19, 2017: Card O' the Day: Queen of Wands, reversed. The Wands court carts tend to be not quite loners, but more independent. They prefer to do things on their own terms and won't wait for the crowd--they'll go to a movie by themselves because they want to see it now rather than wait for the convenience of a friend to join them.
When the Queen of Wands is reversed, she's being pushed to do things with others. Big surprise, it's the season of family get togethers and parties. (Eye-roll. I mean, you have to work with these people every day, do you HAVE to party with them, too?)
Whatever personal growth path you're on right now is being disrupted by the hubbub of holidays and PEOPLE! Oy! You'd really like to keep it simple, but at the same time you don't want to be a Scrooge. Try to find a balance between your peopling duties and self-care and reflection. The good news is there's only about two more weeks of this stuff, and then you get to hibernate all through January and February!
December 17, 2017: Card O' the Day: Eight of Cups. Yesterday we had the Eight of Wands; today it's the Eight of Cups. Eights represent manifestation of goals, but also the end of a cycle and the changes that go with endings. Travel is also inherent in Eights. That "travel" could be actually leaving a place, a physical or temporal separation, or just stepping back mentally and emotionally.
Endings and/or separations are hard sometimes--our old situations are comfy and recognizable--but this provides space for the "new" to expand and grow. The reason these endings/separations are necessary is because they lack something vital; something's incomplete; some piece is missing that you need. You know in your gut it's time to move on, and you're actually ready for it, but it doesn't make it easier to do. Do the best you can....
December 16, 2017: Card O' the Day: Eight of Wands, reversed. Yep, the last week before Christmas is upon us. We're waisting lots of energy on last minute rushing around, which only adds to our inner agitation and frustration. Little things will go wrong, you'll be held up in long lines, and your already high emotions will boil over. To top it off, no one at work or home is cooperating, and everyone seems to be running in opposite directions.
Breathe deeply. Again. Once more. In through the nose and out the mouth. Let your body, mind, and spirit relax.... Do your very best to cope with all the inconveniences (small or large) with equanimity. Find ways around obstacles, adopt a "well, darn it" attitude if something simply cannot be solved, and make that thing that you JUST. HAVE. to have or do, but now can't have or do, go. Nothing is worth your sanity or the stomach ache.
This card can indicate travels may be disrupted. Therefore, double check all preparations, depart for that road trip an hour early, and allow THREE hours at the airport before your flight. If you're driving, be sure your spare tire is in good condition, and bring gloves and boots.
December 15, 2017: Card O' the Day: Prince of Wands. As the year draws to a close, restlessness begins to stir in our midsections. Is next year going to be just same ol'-same ol', or is it time to make changes? I think it is, and the Prince coming to us like this indicates you probably agree.
This Prince isn't exactly the most practical of the lot; he seeks movement and new adventures because of his driving animal energy. Being a passionate young man, he's pretty much up for anything if it promises excitement. This type of energy can be highly useful to get you to take risks, motivate you to change directions, and grab life by the horns. The trick is to harness it effectively so you don't make some idiot mistake in the heat of the moment.
Start by examining your dreams and seeing what's actually feasible. You might be required to move houses or change jobs; don't be afraid of that. I don't feel like you can do major stuff right now, meaning don't pack just yet. You've got to get through the holidays and the year's end. However, begin making plans, and then you can hit January with all jets firing.
December 14, 2017: Card O' the Day: Five of Cups, reversed. The hard choices that have been hanging over our heads have been made or else you're very close to a solution. This will allow the difficulties and family squabbles to settle. It may even get to the point that hatchets get buried and "long-lost" relatives will actually come to Christmas dinner or will finally be invited again. This card indicates recovery, renewal, and moving forward from hard feelings and loss.
If any family disappointments continue, don't put on a smiley face and pretend it doesn't matter and your feelings aren't hurt. Seek support and admit your pain, so you can move through it and not stay stuck festering in your own bile. Try to be done with it THIS year, and don't let it hang around for another year.
December 13, 2017: Card O' the Day: The Magician. The Magician has very strong significance regarding all forms of communication. It's also speaking of empowerment, first steps, and using resources and knowledge to your best advantage. I feel like we're learning to really open that throat chakra and speak our truth! (see the #metoo, #resist, and other movements) New beginnings are afoot, but we're in the process of laying the foundation upon which to build this new "world."
While you may not be an activist in the public sense of marching, campaigning, making speeches, etc., I feel this card can be taken in this particular interpretation on a personal level as well. Meaning, you're finding your voice at home, at work, in school, within your social circle, within your family, and in your own mind...you're not keeping your mouth shut any longer about what you want, need, and what's best for YOU. Good! It's time to make your own "magic"!
December 12, 2017: Card O' the Day: Three of Swords, reversed. Where I'm sitting right now (Southeastern Ohio), the wind is BLOWING, which seems in total alignment with this card. A "group" problem (family, work department, community, club...) is escalating and will cause ruin if the core issue is not addressed, and soon. Quarrels will become nasty, words will be tossed out in anger that can never be taken back, and relationships will be forever broken.
If you're a part of this group, then you do have responsibility for at least SOME of the drama. Accept your responsibility for whatever small or large part you've been playing, and stop blaming others for your problems. (You may honestly think you've done nothing wrong. Your part may be as small as simply being in the same room and biting your tongue. The correct action would have been to speak up or remove yourself completely.) It's difficult to really own up to the truth about participation in group dramas.
As with all Swords-related turmoil, high emotions don't help the dust to settle. Leave your emotions and ego at the door, get analytical, and use your intellect to solve this problem. Swords often indicate "cutting" something; in this case it could mean cutting a toxic person or group out of your life.
December 11, 2017: Card O' the Day: Seven of Wands. I'm sensing a theme in these last days. Is it just me or are preparations for the holidays getting a little scary and overloaded? Do you get the feeling if you don't do it yourself, it won't get done "right"? Pretentious much? Seriously, like you're the ONLY person who can decorate a tree/wrap/cook/bake!
The best lessons are learned through struggle, so take notice of what makes you struggle, and don't do it anymore! Remain clam and resourceful as you look for ways to do things differently. For example, I'll be having family staying with me for several days, and that means a lotta meals I gotta prepare. I'm starting, now, to make freezable casseroles and soups that I can heat-n-eat after a day of activities.
"Yeah, but..." you whimper defensively, "It's tradition!" Fine, you want to end up cranky and exhausted 5 days BEFORE Christmas, be my guest. But resisting help and/or delegation and/or simply dropping some stuff altogether will accomplish nothing in the end.
December 10, 2017: Card O' the Day: Queen of Swords, reversed. When reversed, the normally cool-headed, intellectual Queen of Swords becomes ill-tempered when her ambitions for the "perfect" holiday season are frustrated by real life. In an effort to force this hoped for perfection, she micromanages every breath, thought, and potty break of those around her. And if you think she's being harsh to you, then you have no idea what torture she's putting herself through. You would never know it, though, because she's got an iron grip on her emotions.
We have become brain-washed by Better Homes and Gardens, Oprah Winfrey, and Martha Stewart that if your house isn't worthy of a "Beautiful Home" centerfold this Christmas, then you're a crashing failure. Remember, Martha, Oprah, and those magazine photo-shoots have minions...LOTS of minions to make every detail perfect. You don't have that many minions, if any, so just do what you can, toss the magazine in the recycle bin, and flipping' chill on yourself. (Remember what I said yesterday about reversed cards auguring illness.)
December 9, 2017: Card O' the Day: Ace of Wands, reversed. Still grinding and slipping gears with this card. The reversed Ace represents energy that has no direction. You feel the vibrations and excitement, so you're apt to grasp at shiny things thinking THIS is the answer to your restlessness. Actually, not so much. If you leap before looking, you'll make mistakes. Try to rein in your impulsiveness; when the Ace of Wands is reversed, inaction and reconsideration is advised.
All reversed cards can indicate illness--and we've had several lately--but I'm not feeling the danger of chronic, serious illness or disease. The "illness" whispered to here is more along the lines of fatigue, upset tummies, anxiety, etc. caused by over-stress and over-activity. Absolutely do NOT skip the gym or your yoga practice right now, refuse that third beer or glass of wine, and be the wimp that goes home at 11:00 on a Friday or Saturday night. Sleep, exercise, moderate partying, and self-care will get you through the next month without losing your mind or wrecking your health for the rest of the winter.
December 8, 2017: Card O' the Day: Two of Wands, reversed. This card is somewhat similar to the The Wheel, reversed, in that energies aren't moving smoothly, and it feels like you're slipping in and out of gear. Another Two reminds us of the decision necessary and also the conflict that pushes you to this decision. Unexpected events might prove to be "useful" in solving your problem. For example, car trouble may prevent an unpleasant meeting or an un-wanted social event from being attended; a temporary illness may get you out of baking cupcakes for the class; and little "boons" like that.
At this time, your energy and resources are stretched very thin so use them wisely. Keep your eyes open for resources and help where you didn't think to look before. Take advantage of time or step-saving services. If you pay a couple bucks more for pick-up or delivery, it'll actually save you more energy in the long run. Right now, be cheap with your time and attention, not your money.
December 7, 2017: Card O' the Day: Two of Swords. A tough decision must be made. That/those decision(s) are fraught with emotion, and EVERYbody has an opinion about what you should do. This is your road, and therefore YOUR decision to make. This is a serious "go with your gut" type of situation. Your heart and/or your mind won't like it, but you have to TRUST this resolution is best for all parties.
You will doubt yourself and your choice(s), but step out of judgment and all instinctive or reactionary responses to the situation. Go to a deep, reflective place and really listen to the truth that you already know. There you'll find the point of balance leading to self-acceptance of your choice(s) and inner peace with what you must do.
December 5, 2017: Card O' the Day: The Wheel, reversed. The Wheel of Fortune is generally an omen of energies turning upwards and for the better. That's still true of the reversed Wheel; only those energies are a bit chaotic. Think accelerating in a car with a hinky clutch rather than an electric vehicle that just sort of goes "whoosh."
Look for bad patterns of behavior or thought that you're allowing yourself to wallow in and complain about. You don't like something? Change it! When the Wheel is reversed, it's indicative of negative attitudes that only you can fix.
This card also signifies hectic social obligations becoming too much. Big surprise, since we're gearing up for the holidays and all the parties and celebrations (whether you like them or not) that we're supposed to attend. When you recognize you just can't do this next event, go ahead and beg off with "the flu" or "some stomach bug." Then curl up on the sofa with Netflix and just get your chill back. I'll write you a note....
December 1, 2017: Card O' the Day: Three of Cups, reversed. The holiday season, in my mind, actually starts with Halloween. Parties, decorations, big choices to be made about costumes, etc., etc. Then comes Thanksgiving, Kwanza, Hanukkah, Christmas, and all the other religious or secular holiday celebrations of which I'm not acquainted. These fall/early winter months are all about closing another year and celebrating the accomplishments in tried and true fashion.
But that's not to say it's all roses and sunshine. There's a certain bittersweetness to realizing that costumes no longer fit, your kids would rather do something with their friends this year than what has been done since they were really little, and precious decorations have gotten damaged in storage or don't seem that pretty anymore. This is the hard part of time passing and of outgrowing traditions.
Another aspect of this card is that all the partying becomes wearying. You're obligated to make appearances at so many different parties--do you REALLY want to hang out with your co-workers, at the office, after a long work week? Yeah, the punch is spiked and tawdry glitter garlands are hung everywhere, but it's still your workplace, and it's still the same people you see EVERY day. Then there are the family parties with the obnoxious relatives with whom you have nothing in common!
I don't mean to sound all "bah, humbug", I'm just pointing out how we force ourselves to do things we don't want to do. This holiday season, be sure to say no to the more tedious events and save your energies for those you really want to attend. Better yet, invite your nearest and dearest over for a super-casual pot-luck, BYOB and just decompress from the holiday hubbub.
November 30, 2017: Card O' the Day: The Hermit, reversed. Still not wanting to be quiet and introspective...as if somehow that's a bad thing to just sit and be with yourself. I recently read that being "lonely" is the negative state of being the only one in the room and not liking it. Being "alone" is the positive state of being in your own presence and still having a good time! The Hermit teaches the art of being guided by your own inner light.
The Hermit, upright, also helps you discern which people in your life are worthy of your time and energy. Because the Hermit is so well-tuned to his/her needs, rhythms, or likes/dislikes, he/she knows who to keep, who to let go, and when to just be alone. When this card gets turned on it's head, all energies are skewed. You don't want to be alone, but can't stand most of the people you run into or must interact with. Damned if you do and damned if you don't.
Start with the easiest thing: learn to be alone and like it. Like yourself even when you dance like an idiot and eat crazy-weird stuff. Then practice doing that in public and NOT CARING what others think of you. Finally, have the self-love to remove people from your life who just drag you down.
Yesterday, The Star was reversed, which indicated we'd lost our external guidance. Today, the reversed Hermit tells us it goes deeper than that: we've lost our INNER guidance.
November 29, 2017: Card O' the Day: The Star, reversed. The Star represents your inner silence, your communion with Universe, your understanding of your place in the Cosmos. When this card is reversed, you've lost touch with that Source and feel as though you're not "enough" in some way.
In order to feel more "enough" and worthy of your place in the world, you try to fill the inner void with stuff, friends, parties, fads, academic degrees, climbing the corporate ladder...anything to make you feel bigger than you do. You distract yourself from this uncomfortable feeling of lack in any way you can.
Here's a thought simply "be" rather than "do" for a few days. Just go through the motions of your life, and be happy with just that much. Be happy that you managed to get a load of laundry done and your bed made. Be "enough" to yourself in the smallest of ways. Universe already thinks you're enough. Realizing that little nugget of truth will be tremendously healing.
November 28, 2017: Card O' the Day: The Devil, reversed. The Devil is about bondage to the "shoulds" of life, and many of those "shoulds" center on material things. (I should send Christmas cards, I should get my 2nd cousin a gift, I should go to my co-worker's wedding, etc.) When the card is reversed, you can no longer see how many pointless, whacked "shoulds" you're adhering to! It's time to weed a bunch of "shoulds" from your life before they get completely out of control.
Leave the self-recriminations at the door. You haven't done anything wrong, you've just allowed your boundaries to get a little limp. Shore those boundaries back up, and see where you can say "no." Trust me, releasing yourself from a few "shoulds" will feel awfully good and give you some much-needed breathing room!
November 27, 2017: Card O' the Day: Princess of Cups. The Princess of Cups is an idealist who tends to romanticize relationships of all kinds. She's very compassionate towards others and that makes her an excellent negotiator and people manager. She works with such diplomacy that everyone feels like they come out of a conflict the clear winner. Look to where you can use your own diplomacy and compassion to its best advantage.
Something else the Princess represents is self-development. She's in the process of recognizing her own value and worthiness of being loved. Once you begin to comprehend and believe this concept, you'll see the door to your "cage" has always been wide open. Step through that door and embrace the adventure that's calling you!
November 26, 2017: Card O' the Day: Six of Cups, reversed. Be careful during the coming holiday celebrations not to get caught up in family traditions. Try to introduce something new this year rather than sticking to the same tired stuff you've done since you were six. Just because you've "always" done it this way, doesn't mean it's that much fun. Maybe you're remembering it being HUGE fun, but you've just gotten too old to do keg stands on Christmas Eve.
Memories are like that: you remember it way more fondly that it actually was. On the other hand, it may have been way less awful than you remember when you were caught up in teen angst and EVERYthing was life and death.
Let the past go with a wave and a smile. Make new memories. Make it a "tradition" to shake things up each year. Maybe start having ethnic foods for Christmas dinner. Last year was Ethiopian, this year it's Russian! Make a rule about personal electronics; explore the new board games and make it a "thing" to play stupid games or build jigsaw puzzles Christmas morning.
November 25, 2017: Card O' the Day: Nine of Cups. No one else, any thing, goal, milestone, or event can "make" you happy. It's a conscious choice and mind-set to be happy in your life. The Nine of Cups represents taking responsibility for your own happiness and being in control of it. This state of purposeful happiness brings fulfillment like nothing else. Your wishes will come true at every turn when you choose to be happy with your life, and others will appreciate and recognize your radiance.
This is not to say you have to settle for what life brings you. Certainly dream big dreams and do your best to make them come true. However, with conscious and purposeful happiness in your heart and mind, the small successes on your way to the big dream will be satisfying and bring joy. It's like a budding actor being tickled to death with a walk-on part and taking great pride in that moment. The next thing might be a local commercial. Then comes a role where they're in the same shot as the star and hand that star an object. Each following role is a stepping stone towards the big dream, and each small success is worth celebrating and being happy about.
Savor the feelings of happiness and pay attention so you can practice those feelings purposefully and with ease. The next time you hit a snag, small or large, you'll be able to move through it with equanimity and not lose touch with your basic happiness.
November 24, 2017: Card O' the Day: Temperance, reversed. Temperance, reversed, is much like Black Friday at Walmart! Energy is totally out of balance due to excess or lack (too much stuff you want to buy and not enough money, too much stuff you want to eat and not enough stomach capacity, etc.). This kind of imbalance creates stress, which leads to high emotions, quarrels, and upset tummies.
Furthermore, EVERYone you meet seems determined to be as uncooperative or uncompromising as they possibly can be! This makes you frustrated and impatient, which leads to distraction and inefficiency thus preventing you from getting chores done, completing projects, or handling problems. Or is it REALLY everyone else? Has your own imbalance turned you into a snarky shrew and people are reacting to you rather than you to them?
Now that we've passed the cooking and eating frenzy of actual Thanksgiving Day, what say you back the hell off materialism and go for a hike in your nearest state park? Even if you go for just a couple hours on Saturday or Sunday, it will be beneficial. You won't miss all the big sales because Cyber Monday is still ahead. You have time to chill and rebalance your psyche. And once rebalanced you'll solve problems, shop wisely, and be able to wait patiently in the long line at Starbucks.
November 21, 2017: Card O' the Day: Four of Swords. The four of Swords recognizes the need for rest, circumspection, and solitude. Sorrow, pain, and fatigue have brought you down, and it's time to withdraw to find and renew your power. Resistance to or denial of the psycho-emotional wounds only makes the hurt last longer by preventing the pain from moving on. You have to acknowledge it, allow painful feelings to rise, bloom, and then ebb away.
Remember the value of meditation or other spiritual practices that help you quiet your mind and bring calm. In the stillness, you'll be able to find the solutions and heal. Remove the negative energies of others through the cleansing rituals of your choice. Contemplate the advisability of distancing yourself or disconnecting altogether to protect yourself from further hurt.
November 20, 2018: Card O' the Day: The Lovers. This card is an important reminder to ourselves as we come into the holiday season. It often appears when we're in a place of giving too much of ourselves away in order to feel acceptance and love. Draining yourself dry can lead to frustration, fatigue, and grumpiness about the entire celebration process.
The deeper meaning of this card indicates it's time to make one of the hardest choices of your life. You must consider the implications of the choice very carefully. It will bring wisdom, and the right choice will improve your entire outlook for your future. It will be the first choice in a string of decisions that will bring peace and healing to your life.
This choice will probably involve cutting repressive ties. Trust your inner judgment to make the best decisions for your highest good and then stand by those decisions. When weighing the pros and cons, look for the option that has the fewest disadvantages rather than the option that has the most advantages. Those "advantages" may simply be "shiny objects" with no true substance or lasting effect.
November 17, 2018: Card O' the Day: Six of Cups, reversed. Yesterday we had the Ace of Swords to herald the chance for a new way of thinking. Today, we have the reversed Six of Cups to move us in new emotional directions. Good stuff!
This card encourages letting go of past emotional baggage and actively working to release it. It take conscious, mindful work to end destructive behavior or mind loops, emotional ties that are slowly destroying you, and old obligations out of which you're getting nothing. If you need help moving this stuff out of your psyche, mind, and heart, I urge you to seek help from your spiritual advisor or a mental health professional.
This card is telling you to clean out your mental and emotional closets and face forward to future regeneration and renewal to become your best Self.
November 16, 2017: Card O' the Day: Ace of Swords. YESSSSSSS! You're getting it! The Ace of Swords offers you a new way of thinking and new mental force and power in the old grey matter.
Much-needed clarity brings understanding and new solutions to your old problems that just don't seem to want to go away. "Aha" moments are going to reveal the truth about a lot of stuff. It's not going to be comfortable (real, useful truth rarely is), but it'll give you freedom from baggage and a new direction. This card gives you strength in spite of the adversity, so know that you can do this!
Learn your lessons well during this time of mental overhauling and CHOOSE to win. Make a conscious choice to be happy and successful. And then do the work necessary to make it all happen.
November 15, 2017: Card O' the Day: Nine of Swords. The Nine of Swords is a heavy mental anguish card, and it's no surprise it follows the King of Swords, reversed. (The King was saying there was a meanie about and the Nine is validating that it's you who's being mean.) The thing we get out knickers in the tightest twists about is a relationship. Any kind of relationship we're invested in that goes south will upset us. The deeper the investment, the deeper the anguish.
Because we generally doubt ourselves first, we view the crash as "what did I do" and not "what did the other guy do"? If you're able to point the finger, you might be sorely tempted to turn it back on yourself by saying "well, I made him do that." This knee-jerk self-doubt reaction means you can't be truly objective in the situation and means you're going to become trapped by your own negative thinking and beat yourself to a bloody pulp.
What to do? Get seriously analytical and dry. If you need to, ask a neutral party to help you sort through the situation. Ask yourself the tough questions, like where did you give too much of yourself away? where were you too self-deprecating that paved the way for your downfall? This is hard to do, but the reward is a transformation to higher self-esteem and acceptance of your whole self just as you are.
November 14, 2016: Card O' the Day: King of Swords, reversed. Ooo. Who's being mean to you? Somebody's acting the tyrant. Harsh words, excessive "discipline" directed at you to try to make you behave the way they want you to...just NOT nice! It may not be just one person; you may be feeling the whole world is out to get you and that you simply cannot catch a break. Check closer to home, too. Are YOU being mean and nasty to yourself? Constantly harassing yourself to work harder, eat less, exercise more, volunteer your time more, bake better brownies for the bake sale (NO box-mix for you!), etc?
If you're the culprit, stop it! Lighten up on yourself already! Be as nice to yourself as you are to others. Would you be allowed out in public if you were that mean to everyone else? If it's someone else to whom you can say "stop being mean to me!", then do so. You don't have to stand for that kind of abuse. If it's someone who has authority over you (your boss, for example), protect yourself any way you can.
The bottom line is all you can control is your own behavior. Whether that behavior pattern is coming from within yourself or comes from outside sources, you can only control how you react to that harshness. Do you do so with an erect spine and diplomacy that commands the respect you deserve, or do you lie down and take it like a beaten dog?
November 10, 2017: Card O' the Day: Ten of Swords. This card is ordinarily interpreted as pretty gloomy stuff, but I'm not getting that today. My Big Book reveals the deeper nuances of this card.
Constructive force and imagination are present. That brain power is backed by determination and fortitude. Eloquence in presenting your ideas to others is marred by impertinence and self-inflation (see November 7th and the 9 of Cups). This puffery is trying to hide your insecurity (see Princess of Swords on the 8th). If you can quiet your fears, admit to others you're a little nervous, and heed their advice or ideas, you'll do well. Also, one of those advisors may become a collaborator in your endeavors. If that's the case, go with it because this card bodes well for compatible and profitable partnerships.
Like the Ten of Pentacles, this Ten of Swords is indicating an ending that makes way for new beginnings. Growth and transition is coming for you. The shadows inherent in this card indicate said growth and transition will be arduous, but worth it all in the end. Attitude is the key here: how you react to and view your challenges will make all the difference between crashing and burning or coming out the other side victorious.
November 9, 2017: Card O' the Day: The High Priestess. Being a "2", I was instantly smacked with the usual "2" stuff, as in doorway/crossroads. Digging into my Big Book O' Tarot, I see The High Priestess is representative of the gateway to the collective consciousness through your own unconscious Self. The body aspect of The High Priestess is the right brain (arts, dreams, language), and this card has foundations in knowledge and vision.
I find this a perfect follow up, or companion card, to yesterday's Page of Swords. The braininess and intellect are validated and reiterated, but intuition and your "gut wisdom" are brought forward today. Both types of knowledge are equally important when working on manifesting visions and goals...but you know that because you simply can't miss the powerful feelings that something's afoot!
Yesterday I asked you to not be shy about asking for help. Today, The High Priestess gives us the ability to receive advice and good ideas with grace. This is fortunate because none of us has ALL the answers, and we can certainly use help in reaching our goals.
November 8, 2017: Card O' the Day: Princess/Page of Swords. Excellent...the little grey cells are activating! The Page of Swords is the brainy sort and her appearance indicates mental activity and intellectual development. She also represents single-mindedness, discrimination, and daring. Unfortunately, her objectivity and determination make her a bit "forceful" and forgetful of her tact and finesse. Therefore, her bluntness can be seen by some as thoughtlessness and uncaring as she steams forward to get to her goal. And yet the Pushy Bitch is actually a cover for hidden vulnerability and a lack of full confidence.
By all means, let that bee in your bonnet out and manifest it to the physical plane--now IS the time what with the Ten of Pentacles and Nine of Cups in our pockets. Just don't be shy about asking for opinions, help, or other input. Be polite and gracious in your negotiations (catching flies with honey and all that), but allow Ms. Pushy Bitch to keep you from getting run over by well-meaning assistants.
November 7, 2017: Card O' the Day: Nine of Cups. We got the Nine of Cups on October 19th, too; it had followed the Ace of Swords. At that time I felt like the Nine was reassuring you that your ideas stemming from the Ace were good, and you'd have wishes coming true. This time, we have it following the Ten of Pentacles. The Ten is already a very fortuitous card that validates our current path to lasting security. Pile on the Nine of Cups, and I feel like we're getting a little too much of a good thing.
Yes, health, wellbeing, and success are indicated here, but I'm feeling some "aren't I special" energy. We're tempted to show off our latest new toys we've recently been able to afford. I know you worked hard for those treats, but the flashy display smacks of arrogance and materialism. Having "arrived", one is tempted to rest upon laurels, being sure to display those laurels to all, of course.
Wishes for good fortunes are tricky, and you have be precise. You would do well to dine on a slice of Humble Pie for dinner tonight as you pass your steak to someone less fortunate. Check in with your integrity and have an honest conversation with your gratitude because just as it's your turn to be on the rise at this moment, it will become your turn to sink soon enough.
November 5, 2017: Card O' the Day: Ten of Pentacles. This is a lovely card of warmth, happiness, and hearth and home. It indicates you're on the right track to creating lasting joy for your future and that of your family/posse/tribe (I want to include those you choose as your "family" rather than limiting this to only those with whom you share DNA). This is prosperity of your own making and therefore much more valuable to you in terms of lessons and gratitude than if your abundance had plopped in your lap by chance.
There are shadows lurking around the edges of this card, however. It's because it's a 10, and ten's herald endings...all things end, even the good stuff. But without endings that force us to move forward we become lazy, indifferent, and dull. As Temperance advised yesterday, enjoy your good times while they last. Keep your sights set to the "right now." You can always fret and worry later.
November 4, 2017: Card O' the Day: Temperance. I continue to read for myself.... I rarely interpret the Tarot for myself, but cards I'm drawing this week seem to resonate deeply with me. Today is another....
For the last year, or perhaps longer--I've lost track--I've been practicing being very much in the moment; living my life timelessly and only today without a great deal of thought about tomorrow. (Certainly I've been booking expos for next year, and I pay attention to the next dental appointment I have; life does require some planning ahead.) Temperance wants us to relish THIS moment and to understand the right things will happen for us in due time. Just like babies can't be rushed or delayed, once a germ is hatched, it must be allowed to go at it's own pace. Yes, we must nurture that germ, prune off unnecessary parts, add fertilizer, etc., but ultimately it'll be what it will be on it's own time.
Temperance also represents creativity and fluency in that creativity--your ideas and goals are valid and are worthy of your time and attention. Work economically. This takes us back to "all things in due time"; don't over work or waste resources trying to make things happen sooner than they're ready. Success will come based upon your accurate calculations as you sharpen your capacity to discern, and face, reality. Think "surgical precision" rather than blasting at it with everything you've got hoping to hit SOMEthing.
Live from your center and find your inner harmony if only for THIS moment.
November 2, 2017: Card O' the Day: Seven of Wands. ANOTHER seven!?!?! Sevens indicate change and inner work. (Just changing your socks isn't going to eliminate your foot odor; gotta wash yer feet, too.) But Sevens also represent creativity and exciting thoughts. Therefore, this inner work isn't going to be drudgery. The passionate energy of the Wands is pointing you in a new direction of experimentation--whether you like it or not. You'll need this "wind at your back" because the coming changes and ideas aren't going to be a total cake walk.
I say this because the "tried and true" methods of before don't fit this time around. You'll need to get inventive and defend those odd-ball methods agains the nay-sayers. Trust yourself that it'll work. Personal conviction are your keywords for today.
November 1, 2017: Card O' the Day: Seven of Cups, reversed. Sorry, I seem to be pulling cards for myself again today. But this works for me because I was getting awfully tired of sitting on the sofa in front of the fire! After giving a lecture last night at a local library, I feel like my barnacles have fallen off.
This card stresses clear and logical thought when it comes to setting priorities and making realistic plans for the near future. It represents designs or outlines and supplies the intention and determination to push forward. Not that everything will miraculously fall into place by itself, though. We have to use some resoluteness to break through our personal fogs of inertia and put our minds on a goal or purpose. Fortunately, this card bodes well for that happening and for achieving results.
So, get off the couch, get dressed (ahem, Annette), and get moving!!
October 31, 2017: Card O' the Day: Seven of Pentacles, reversed. Um.... I'm thinking this card is for me.... Notice I haven't posted a Card O' the Day in a few, and this is exactly how I'm feeling. My butt is parked in front of my fireplace, and I'm only doing what I must to fulfill obligations I've committed to or to prevent personal discomfort. Complications with your work may disappoint you to the point of inertia and then you procrastinate getting back to it to fix the problems. (Oy! this is so ME these past few days!)
Since there's nothing really wrong with you (or me), we have to persevere despite our laziness. And yet let's be gentle with ourselves because self flagellation, recriminations, or guilt only make us feel worse and want to burrow further into our holes. Therefore, do only what you must to not get fired or lose your reputation if you're an independent contractor or own your small business. The rest of it, let it slide. The dust bunnies under the couch will still be there next week; order take-out; bide your time and rest while you can. Your internal flames will fire up again soon enough.
October 25, 2017: Card O' the Day: Princess of Wands, reversed. Yesterday I let you know you were on the cusp of exciting changes as you end one chapter and begin another on your grand adventure of Life. I've been saying for the past few months that winter time is when you'll really see shifts and that autumn is our time of preparation. So today, the Princess of Wands flips on her head and screams HOLY SHEEEEEYIT! I"m not ready for this!!!! Seriously. Panic Much?
It's just your fear making you feel scattered or tantrum-y. It's just your fear that makes up the most inane excuses not to go forward with good ideas and plans you've been anticipating and wanting for months. That's okay. We're all scared of taking risks at one time or another. What not to do? Cover it up with an "I'm too cool for school" or blasé "I can handle this" attitude. Admit to yourself and your tribe you're scared you're going to fail. Allow your support network to (here's a radical thought!) support you!
October 24, 2017: Card O' the Day: Judgment. I don't know that we ever get to the place that Judgment represents. It's more of a goal to aspire to, and we should strive to get there, but I suspect our "judginess" will always prevent us from fully "arriving."
The "place" I'm talking about is that of awakening to the inescapable truth that we all have a True Self within us; it's an actual real "thing" not just an esoteric idea. This True Self is the very best of each of us. It's the divine-ness that animates the block of flesh that walks around with your name on it. Once you recognize your True Self exists, your next task is to clearly perceive the extent to which you've been true to that Self, or not. I think most of us will have way more "or not" than what's good for us, so now we have to fix that part and develop a caring and merciful attitude to our True Selves.
This card also represents the final reckoning at the end of a life chapter. No, your physical death is not imminent, just this chapter of your story. The finishing of this chapter means you're ready for new directions and changes that lead to growth and rejuvenation! Best of all, putting this chapter to rest means you can forgive yourself for all that you think you did "wrong" and move on to the endless possibilities of which your True Self is capable.
October 20, 2017: The Card 'O the Day: The Wheel of Fortune, reversed. Getting The Wheel in a spread speaks of changing fortunes and generally for the better. When it's reversed, I would still call it a good omen, just not a smoothly delivered one. The energies get a little herky-jerky--kind of like when you learn to drive a stick shift. That stop-start annoyance is actually based in your attitude about the coming changes. You're ready for new adventures on a deep level, but you're comfortable where you are and really aren't in the mood to make the effort it takes to launch new ideas, relationships, etc.
The "bad" news is the changes are as inevitable as the changing seasons. How to deal with them? Remain flexible, have courage and faith in your abilities to handle things, and don't get too attached to stuff/people lest it's taken away or you realize it's time to release it. I want to reiterate that you're ready for the changes. You're just scared you'll botch things. However, look how nice you managed to make your current situation--so nice you don't want to move on! You can make the next phase just as successful; I promise.
October 19, 2017: Card O' the Day: Nine of Cups. What a fantastic following card for the Ace of Swords! I just love when the cards spell out a message as clear as sky writing....
The current energies of your world and mind are kind of jazzy and volatile--think energetic steed. This energy can take you places you've always dreamed of, but it takes a firm hand and discipline to get the most out of it. Harnessed well and used wisely, this horse can take you to achievement, help you surmount difficulty, and provide wish fulfillment in the coming months.
As with all forward motion and building of your personal "empire", you must do so with integrity. Trust your instincts and don't over-think things beyond the standard investigations and research. You're in the position of taking full control of and responsibility for your happiness. Go get 'em!
October 18, 2017: Card O' the Day: Ace of Swords. This is a GREAT card to follow The Tower! In my interpretation, the big scary changes The Tower indicates are often of the mind (the lightening hits the tower, a/k/a your noggin). The Ace of Swords is announcing a surge in mental force and power with an opportunity for a new way of thinking about current problems. Real truths will become apparent which will lead to "aha" moments as new and more viable answers emerge. Think "enlightenment"!
The appearance of the Ace also indicates new beginnings and a sense that it's time to tackle problems. Your thinking has cleared and you can see the way forward, so get busy. Because Swords can represent legal issues, some of you may be experiencing problems that have legal attachments.
October 12, 2017: Card O' the Day: The Tower, reversed. Wasn't I JUST talking about stagnation? When upright, The Tower is about tearing down structures, or having them torn down whether you like it or not. Reversed, it indicates "imprisonment." No, I don't feel anyone is going to jail, but staying immobile (even if it's in a reeeeaaaalllly nice place) and clinging to old ways means you're held captive by your comfort. Sitting still and deceiving yourself into believing you don't need or want anything else means the end of growth. And the day you stop growing is the day you start dying.
Of course, leaving your comfort zone feels chaotic and scary; that's why we stay put where it's "safe." But it's okay to come out and explore the Big World. You may get hurt, but also excel more than you could ever have imagined! Consider this card a divine kick in the butt and jump out of the nest. Just remember to flap like hell on the way down!
October 11, 2017: Card O' the Day: Ten of Cups. The Ten of Cups represents the kind of perfection that makes one fear for when the rug gets yanked out from under you. Please don't look this gift horse in the mouth and enjoy this hard-won joy, emotional well-being, repose of the heart, and blessings you've earned. Universe bestows this kind of largesse, when needed, for the kind of spiritual development you can only achieve if the nuts and bolts of daily living are in order.
From this secure emotional foundation, you'll be able to handle the next challenges--because of course there will be more obstacles to overcome! Without continued growth, you'll simply stagnate in this puddle of overabundance. In my book, stagnation is equivalent to constipation. Therefore, count your blessings, consciously recognize the emotional contentment that currently fills your life with meaning and purpose, but keep your eyes open for coming potholes in your road.
October 3, 2017: Card O' the Day: The Sun, reversed. The sunny part of the sky is that you'll find new objectivity as you make plans for the future. It'll be easier to clean closets, garages, and your mind of useless clutter. This objectivity grounds your forward motion in the reality of your available resources. The clouds are that ever-lurking "I'm not enough _______." (Fill in the blank.) Fear of vulnerability makes you less daring than you could be. Lack of confidence makes you do things on a smaller scale. If you do earn success, it's too good to be true, and you don't deserve it.
The sunny part of the sky is that you'll find new objectivity as you make plans for the future. It'll be easier to clean closets, garages, and your mind of useless clutter. This objectivity grounds your forward motion in the reality of your available resources. The clouds are that ever-lurking "I'm not enough _______." (Fill in the blank.) Fear of vulnerability makes you less daring than you could be. Lack of confidence makes you do things on a smaller scale. If you do earn success, it's too good to be true and you don't deserve it.
Therefore, your homework for the day is to chase those clouds away and DARE. Think big thoughts! Know that you deserve every blessing you get! Build up your own confidence in your mind and heart! Then temper your plans with earthly practicality--it's no accident that practicality and realism go with the Earth element. However, do NOT temper the fire in your belly, the desire in your heart, or the dreams in your head.
October 2, 2017: Card O' the Day: Prince of Wands. The Prince delivers more energy to push us forward, and the daring and fierceness we need to ride that wave. You're ready to change directions and have the improvisation skills and impulses to make that happen. This directional change will mean leaving old patterns of behavior or thought behind.
Foundations are being built here. From these foundations you'll be able to see clearly what needs to be cleared off, pruned, dumped, etc. to implement improvements that lead you to success and happiness.
A few days ago, the cards have been urging us to make a decision, and now they're bringing us the energy we need to push the chosen option forward. This choice may mean some travel over land is involved, changing jobs, or moving houses. At any rate, it's good for you to be fired up again!
October 1, 2017: Card O' the Day: The Empress. Today The Empress is in her most creative incarnation representing a person full of ideas and boundless creative potential. This potential may take form in business or leadership roles--either way, there's lots of room for success and abundance. Also, there's the natural energy behind you required to make the most of the germs of inspiration.
However, as with all new things springing from our psyches, there's doubt and confusion about what you're trying to get off the ground. We ALL wonder if what we're doing is going to turn out okay or be a big flop. Take time for self-care, nurturing, and love. You encourage others in their endeavors and prop them up don't you? Now's the time to do it for yourself.
September 30, 2017: Card O' the Day: Nine of Wands. It looks like those of you who needed to make a decision have come to one. Take comfort in those plans because you can expect health and good recovery after all the apprehension and fear. Homework: how did you get to this point? Perhaps some changes in your lifestyle are in order so you don't have to repeat this little exercise....
For anyone else who hasn't yet made the choice or doesn't feel the need for a Big Decision in their lives, this card brings courage, commitment, stamina, and tremendous power. Who doesn't need that kind of fire in their belly? Whatever you're up to, know that you'll come out the other side both internally and externally accomplished--albeit pooped!
September 29, 2017: Card O' the Day: The Lovers. We still need to make a decision.... You understand the responsibility of the choice, and you're ready. The Lovers represent the necessity of carefully considering the implications of your choice and that you should go with the option that has the fewest DISadvantages rather than going for the option with the most advantages.
Your personal values will be put to the test, so allow your superconscious to enter into the process. It's free from ego, desire, and attachment and will suggest a path of moral integrity and common sense from where you make choices at your highest spiritual level.
Also present in this card is frustration. Let go, find trust, achieve balance, and overcome.
September 28, 2017: Card O' the Day: Two of Wands. One of the toughest decisions in your life is before you, so it's very natural to have doubts, hesitation, and sadness as you ponder your options. (Doing nothing is NOT an option, however.) This card includes elements of physical suffering or disease and necessary destruction before creation can occur. Therefore, coupled with yesterday's Two of Swords, I feel like some of you may be facing decisions relating to surgery.
You're being called to an action that requires courage to step through the doorway before you. Trust your instincts to take the risk and choose what YOU really want. On the other side, you'll find balance and recognition of your fullest potential.
September 27, 2017: Card O' the Day: Two of Swords. There's a need to make a choice for YOUR greatest good, but many will complain because they'll be inconvenienced, put out, annoyed, hurt, or let go. It's hard to do what you must when you know others won't like it, but this is a time to leave your emotions out of it and do what's best for your highest self and potential growth. Trust it's the right thing to do.
September 26, 2017: Card O' the Day: Ten of Swords. Belief systems, along with other stuff, are indeed shifting (see yesterday's card). The Ten indicates an ending/beginning phase. I encourage you to take a moment to look back along your path and see what's happened in the last months to get you here. Observe without blame, or self-recrimination so you can simply learn from the experiences. This is not meant to be a self-imposed guilt trip and 50 lashes with a wet noodle.
It can be tempting, when looking back at all your "mistakes" and "failures", to become overdramatic about it and shout at the winds of fortune, gnash your teeth, and tear your hair. However, a better approach would be to accept the inevitable changes and/or repercussions and surrender to your highest self. Your highest self, which IS truly there, I promise, will lead you forward with constructive force and determination.
Find--and hold on to--positive thoughts and viable plans. You CAN control your thoughts and behaviors as your previous world view comes crashing down. Let the changes come. The Universe will be the better for them, trust me.
September 25, 2017: Card O' the Day: Four of Cups, reversed. Upright, the Four of Cups can indicate a settled rut, which is not necessarily a "bad thing", but it doesn't bode well for growth. However, reversed, the water element of the Cups is moving--pouring out of the vessel, so to speak. This translates to a certain restlessness in your heart and in the sacral Chakra, which governs this card. Your sacral chakra is down low in your belly; excitement is brewing there and you may find that your bowels may become a bit looser than usual.
This excitement is an indication you're ready to break out of a fallow period, and you're thirsting for new experiences or relationships. However, this rush of energy will cloud your usual prudence, and you may be apt to leap into a relationship based only upon a pretty face, the promise of easy money, or something else too good to be true. Fortunately, your psychic awareness is on high, so you have extra help with your discernment. Make use of it! That means you'll have to slow yourself down and listen to your gut.
Value and/or belief systems may shift along with your energy patterns. Meeting new people and having new experiences will do that. And if that happens, it means it was time to transform certain things in your heart and mind.
September 22, 2017: Card O' the Day: Princess of Wands, reversed. I so hate to harp upon "coming changes"; I'm beginning to feel like a broken record....
When the Princess of Wands gets reversed, her fresh, curious energy gets sent sideways. Unstable, indecisive, superficial, and lack of concentration are all indications of energies that are scattered and volatile. Good judgment is out the window, and you may be doing unwise things for the mere thrill of it or to find something "louder" than your flip-flopping stomach.
Are you tempted to throw yourself on the floor and kick and scream like a toddler? That's the Princess of Wands in you who's been upset and desperately needs things to go back to "normal."
All the psychic disturbance you've been feeling of late boils down to a fear of the changes coming. Your intuition, soul, higher self, the hairs on your arms, etc. know there's something big in the atmosphere. Will those changes take something valuable from you? It depends where you place your highest value.
September 21, 2017: Card O' the Day: Eight of Pentacles, reversed. I feel jittery and anxious today.... What with the fires, floods, earthquakes, and typhoons of late--and all the physical damage that goes with it--it's small wonder. I'm an earth sign, of the Earth, a Turtle animal totem...sometimes I feel like I don't walk upon the Earth's surface but through it up to my ankles. Therefore, when the physical plane is whacked, I feel out of sorts, too.
The Eight of Pentacles reflects this upset in energy of the physical plane. This card is particularly attached to jobs and careers, so, when reversed, it indicates dissatisfaction in that department. However, I don't feel it's time to change jobs or careers per se, it's more like that area of our lives becomes the scapegoat for the overall "twist in our knickers" some of you may be feeling.
What to do? I'm not really certain. I'm going to try cleaning my dining room. It's productive and yet doesn't require any intelligence or problem solving skills. Some of you may try physical exercise to get the blood moving. As tempting as a tub of ice cream and a stack of movies sounds, I'd advise against it. The physical energies aren't moving smoothly and stagnating further will only add to the stuck-ness. Get moving whether you like it or not.
September 20, 2017: Card O' the Day: Five of Pentacles, reversed. Karma is coming back around, and you're going to have to face some "unfortunate" truths about yourself, your beliefs, and/or your tribe. Spiritual changes are needed, and your soul is demanding to be heard. The party times are catching up, and it's time to go deep. It still not may be quite the right time (obstinacy and impatience are present), but know that you're getting close to the inevitable reckoning.
The way to do this deep work as painlessly as possible, is to check your ego at the door along with your emotions. Calmly and drily observe the facts. What are the mistakes that got you here? Did you buy into a belief system? Is it working for you or did it ever? Are you trusting a certain thing/person/institution to your detriment? What is your gut telling you about this situation?
To get out of a hole, you first have to recognize you're in a hole and then PUT DOWN THE SHOVEL! Indulging in self-pity, blame, mortification, flagellation, etc., etc., etc. doesn't get you out of the hole any faster, so stop it. What will get you out of the hole is intellectual reasoning, changing what doesn't work, and removing toxic people, habits, and beliefs from your life. Make it happen.
September 19, 2017: Card O' the Day: The Hanged man, reversed. The appearance of The Hanged Man indicates deep thoughts, going within to ponder the next level of enlightenment, or to face fears, etc. With the card reversed, I feel like it's a faux attempt at depth. Either the timing is not quite right, you're not ready, or your heart isn't truly in it. It's not that you're being insincere, it's just not real at this time.
It could be that petty real life annoyances are keeping you from going deep. It happens; noise and laundry get in the way of your deep thoughts. It could also be you have your head up your ass and think being "deep" makes you look good.
In any case, don't waste your time on something when you can't do it well. Take a break from your higher path and be frivolous for a little longer. You'll know when you're really ready.
September 15, 2017: Card O' the Day: Five of Pentacles. This card validates my feeling of yesterday that changes on the material plane are afoot. Physical need, troubles concerning material things, and hard times are indicated with this card so be cautious with your money. However, don't "Scrooge up." Invite friends over for homemade lattes, go the the library and borrow movies, or have a Netflix party--socialize cheaply rather than not at all.
Another physical change that Death indicated was moving houses; this card represents having just moved and not having quite yet gotten your balance in your new environment. All the better reason to go to the library or community center and see what clubs or volunteer opportunities are available in your area. Also, the library or community center may have information regarding social assistance for which you may qualify. Don't be shy about asking for help.
The worst connotations of this card aren't the money troubles, but the worry and anxiety that go with it. Fear paralyzes as one gets stuck on the "worry wheel" cringing from the necessary changes. The best connotations of this card are oodles of strength and determination! So, let go of the psychic weight of fear and embrace the rich environment right outside your door. Maybe get a piece of citrine to take with you as a lucky talisman. It's supposed to bring protection and feelings of trust and security.
September 14, 2017: Card O' the Day: Death. In general, I view Death as indicative of physical changes like moving houses, changing jobs losing/gaining a substantial amount of weight, having surgery, etc. The Tower is my big "mental change" card i.e. changing political views or your beliefs of societal norms, converting to another religion, or that kind of thing. However, the opposite can also be true--The Tower appears when a friend dies or Death pops up at a time you're completely rethinking how you approach your life.
Either way you see this card, know that an ending is coming that will allow for a new beginning. It's in effect making space in your life so that space can be filled with something better for you. This death may be sudden or a long time coming. I don't feel it's unexpected; maybe you were hoping it didn't have to happen, but it's going to. Accept. It'll be easier if you do.
In the history of The Card O' the Day, I've drawn The Tower several times, but this is only the second time for Death. If you haven't been directly touched by the recent hurricanes, earthquakes, or wildfires, it may be your turn soon. Don't cringe and shrink from the sweeping clean; view it as the blessing it is.
Namaste all and peace be with you!
September 13, 2017: Card O' the Day: The Hierophant, reversed. Just a week ago we had this same card, and I felt the "off the beaten path" vibe of what can be represented with the reversed Hierophant. Some diversity and "wild ideas" improve the whole of a group. However, coupled with yesterday's volatile energy of the Five of Wands, I'm seeing red flags starting to pop up.
Believe it or not, excessive individuality and getting all full of yourself in your "uniqueness" can be just as limiting and restrictive as clinging to herd mentality and just going along to get along. Uncontrolled, such "doing whatever you want" is disruptive to the order of life. For example, it's become a "thing" in my area to not bathe. Seriously, people are bragging about not having showered in more than a week. In August. How does that limit them? Well, for one thing, their personal stench can make them unsuitable for certain job opportunities or social events.
Flaunting your individuality in everyone else's face is just as manipulative and dominating as being policed by the notion of "what will the neighbors say?" As humans, we are a societal species--we like to live in groups just like dogs, zebras, and primates. And as with all group living, there are rules to live by that make group living easier. You certainly have the choice to live how you want, just know that your choices will have repercussions and costs. Are you willing to pay them?
September 12, 2017: Card O' the Day: Five of Wands. There's a feeling of competition and struggling to be heard above the noise of the crowd with this card. Certainly there's enough assertiveness, boldness, and determination to overcome any negative self-images (for once!). Ideas for endeavors are wonderfully original, but these creative visions are being brought to earth by cold hard reality. That's okay because you're on the right track--dream big and then adjust to make it happen.
The volatile fire energy of this card is interesting...we're in a process of learning and developing qualities of behaviors and ways of dealing with others that can be applied in any situation. It's about lessons, not "final results" today.
September 8, 2017: Card O' the Day: Four of Swords, reversed. Upright, the stability of the Four combined with the mental energy of the mind and thoughts leads you to a very contemplative, almost meditative place. When the card appears reversed, it means it's time to start waking up. It's kind of like coming home from vacation and getting back to real life.
While you were "gone" you actually had a lot going on upstairs, and when returning from the clouds, you bring new perspectives and clarity of thought with you. Suddenly you can clearly see what must be done to advance yourself or to solve sticky problems that have been giving you fits. This clarity might also show it's time to make changes because the status quo is not longer serving you. Because we had The Wheel yesterday, which is all about inevitable change, I'm thinking you're ready to quit a dead-end job, go back to school, return to a paused career, etc.
I'm still feeling "winter", so I don't have any sense of urgency or need to grab at the "brass ring." I feel like we have time, and will need time, to make the epic changes to transform.
September 7, 2017: Card O' the Day: The Wheel of Fortune. We are being ask to embrace the coming, inevitable changes and being at peace with them. This card is more than a mere indicator of changes in your fortunes, but it also indicates entering into a period of profound inner journey during which you come to terms with your destiny and higher purpose. This includes opening your mind to new ways of being, perceiving life, and experiencing the world around you.
The animal totem for this card is the hawk. Hawk represents empowerment, fearlessness, and life force. The herb associated with The Wheel is basil, which helps deflect negativity. Therefore, I suggest making a big batch of pesto sauce. (You can freeze it into serving-sized portions, so don't worry about eating pesto on everything 36 days running.)
There is opportunity to receive more than you have ever dared to think is possible....
September 6, 2017: Card O' the Day: The Hierophant, reversed. A week or so ago (August 30th), we received the Ten of Pentacles, reversed, and I made note of how it was time to ditch certain family, clan, or community oriented traditions or beliefs. Today the reversed Hierophant is indicating the shedding goes even further to religious training, personal belief systems, and self-imposed "rules" by which you've been living. Also, people or circumstances to whom or which you've given "authority" are to be reviewed and questioned.
This is a moment to examine where you're limiting yourself by adhering to "shoulds" and "oughts." (Disclaimer: I'm in no way advising you do anything illegal!) Where do you hold yourself back from going to art school/becoming a librarian/learning to yodel because it's "not done" and "what would the neighbors think"? Other ways to limit yourself are by staying in tried and true ruts. Tuesday night is meatloaf night. Horse Feathers!!! Make it "new recipe night" instead, and flex your culinary muscles, tickle your tastebuds, and shake up your diet.
Another place to let loose is your creativity. Let it off the chain and be avant garde! As my grandmother once told me, "it is good to be controversial." She said this when I told her I was modeling in art school figure study classes (read: nude). This is a time to experiment and discover what works and what doesn't.
September 5, 2017: Card O' the Day: Prince of Swords, reversed. One little piece of good fortune comes your way, and all you can do is think "I'm not worthy"! Oh, the mind is so cruel as we use cold logic to tear ourselves down and oppress our dreams and ideas. Under this card we allow the doubts to convince us that what seemed like a brilliant idea in our dream is mere nonsense in the light of day. You, after all, are much too stupid to ever be anything remotely special. (Sound familiar?)
I feel this card presented itself to me so I can reassure you that you ARE, indeed, clever and brilliant and smart! I'm here to tell you you're perfect just the way you are, and you have every right to be happy and are completely worthy of good fortune. Remember, the Ace of Pentacles is looking to move you this winter. Allow the reversed Prince to remind you to have patience, stay thoughtful for now, and wait for the solutions to blockages to come to you. We're not in a rush...just "be" in your perfection.
September 4, 2017: Card O' the Day: Ace of Pentacles. With all the changes at hand, you may be wondering what's going to happen in the long run. According to the Ace of pentacles, GOOD stuff! It's considered by some to be the most fortuitous card of the deck and indicates your efforts are going to be rewarded. Ideas are good, well thought out, and grounded on solid foundations. As with all aces, new oomph and desire to improve and expand is present. This card governs the winter month, so I feel you still have time for more prep work and clearing of decks.
In addition to the material good omens, there's a lot of good spiritual ju-ju inherent in this card. You're being cautioned not to just focus on tangible rewards but to also take the harder road of seeking higher spiritual or intangible rewards. The goal is not to have the biggest house and fastest car but to find absolute wholeness through spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical balance. You do realize you can't take the tangible blessings with you, right? So you would do well to have your intangible blessings squared away. And since you could kick off at any time, why wait to get good with yourself and Universe?
September 3, 2017: Card O' the Day: Three of Pentacles, reversed. When upright, this card indicates working together in groups. But reversed, it can indicate difficulty in that area. I'm thinking it's reversed because it's not time yet to work on a team. The ideas blooming in your head and heart are good, but they need work before coming off the drawing board. Don't get ahead of yourself and start decorating the room before you even have the walls up.
Also, consider the intangible value and aspects of what you're doing. Does this project or career light your hair on fire and make you leap out of bed to get started each morning? Do you feel ridiculously lucky to be doing what you're doing? (Okay, even the most perfect job will have its off days or boring parts. I fully admit that.) You may be making oceans of money but are slowly dying inside. Consider what makes you happy and then adjust your lifestyle accordingly.
September 2, 2017: Card O' the Day: Four of Cups. This card is often interpreted as emotional stagnation, ennui, and self-indulgence. However, I don't feel that today. When I drew this card, I thought "Oh, thank goodness...a moment to rest before all the changes coming." Upon study, I further gathered a feeling of safety and optimism within this still contemplation.
As with our previous cards, opportunity is present--lots of opportunity! The trick will be to discern which option is best for you. That's what the quiet is for, to allow you to hear yourself think. Creativity and new ideas are born and heard when there's not a lot of background noise drowning it out. If it's raining where you are, sit by the window and watch it for 15 minutes. Simply watch it rain. If it's not raining, then go outside and stroll gently in nature and just "be" for 15 minutes.
Unplug today and be still.
September 1, 2017: Card O' the Day: Six of Cups, reversed. The King of Pentacles, reversed, from the other day is echoed here in the reversed Six of Cups. We're finding ourselves moving away from once firmly held beliefs, traditions, and stuff, so it's not surprising that you'll be feeling pangs of nostalgia. Past memories, childhood pleasures/pain, and family dramas come back to haunt as you sift through the physical remnants of those "good ol' days."
Even better! (NOT!) We're finally learning some awkward or painful truths about Uncle Joe or your older sister. What you thought was true, and could live with, turns out to be wholly different from what you remembered or had been told. Now you have to reconcile your memories and feelings about them with the actual facts. On the one hand, this could be truly gross, but it could also be enlightening and healing as forgiveness or understanding finally put those issues to rest.
Yesterday's Prince gave us some lively energy to get the decks cleared. This card also bodes well for future endeavors.
August 31, 2017: Card O' the Day: Prince of Pentacles. The Prince rides to the rescue! I see we all got yesterday's memo that it's time to make some changes in our physical worlds, and the Prince is just the one to help you do that. He's got youthful male energy and the cajones to go with it, but he's the steadiest of all the Princes and oozes perseverance, patience, and a methodical approach to all he does. Harness the energy of your mind and put it to practical use by paying attention to the finer details. Don't do things half-assed; your word and reputation ride on your work ethic.
The down sides of this Prince is he can be stodgy and a stuffed shirt. Once he's found a way to go, he doesn't deviate from the road or the method. (He probably still has a rotary phone attached to his kitchen wall with a 40' curly cord on it.) So, this is a reminder to stay flexible, and be open to the good ideas of others.
Inherent in the Prince of Pentacles is kindness. He's also a healer, and you're being directed to "heal thyself." Taking care of and making improvements to your material world includes your physical body. Good nutrition, proper rest, and exercise are vital to your complete wellbeing!
August 30, 2017: Card O' the Day: Ten of Pentacles, reversed. This card represents all that's good about family/tribe/community and your position in it. Because this card came up reversed, you may be feeling like you no longer fit into that once-comfortable group. The rules and restrictions feel too confining and oppressive where they once felt reassuring and safe. Loyalties are becoming conflicted as you look "over the fence" at the horizon and what might be out there for you.
Material resources have also soured. Either you're too obsessed or feel trapped. It feels like you want to clean house and drop a lot of crap, but everything you come across has some meaning, and you can't make the break with it.
Our familiar places and people can be "forever" things that are good for you. However, since this card has come reversed, I'm wondering if you're getting itchy feet, and it's time for some changes. I'll bet if you examine what makes you most restless (house, neighborhood, social groups, place of worship, career, job, lover, spouse, etc.), you'll find you've simply outgrown this situation and that it's time to move on. Certainly I'm not advising to divorce your spouse, chuck your job, and/or permanently alienate your entire community. However, destiny and happiness are calling, and it's time to make changes to your physical world.
August 23, 2017: Card O' the Day: Nine of Wands. As a stand-alone card, it packs a punch because there's nothing to mitigate its fire. This driven, dynamic energy comes from raw emotion, and you'll have to be careful you don't flame out with it. This summer, a friend has been adding on, rebuilding, and rehabilitating a lake cottage to make it over to a permanent residence. Her social media posts have been full of hell-bent-for-leather work from dawn to dusk, weather be damned. This is a project she's extremely passionate about, and it's a perfect example of the energy behind the Nine of Wands.
There is immediacy and urgency present. The bus is leaving shortly, and if you're not on it, you lose. The project you're trying to manifest will require perseverance, stamina, and preparation against all the challenges that WILL stand in your way.
This is not an easy road, but it'll be HUGELY rewarding in the end. Not only are the promised rewards tangible but intangible as well, as you learn many lessons and come out stronger for all of them. When, not if, you hit walls, examine them for the reasons they appear. Take responsibility for your part in the block--ego must step aside--so you can quickly go about removing that block and resuming forward motion. Get comfortable with the phrase "My bad!"
August 22, 2017: Card O' the Day: Six of Cups, reversed. This card has a lot of nostalgic connotations, and it's about fondly looking back on your life as you move forward. However, when reversed, this nostalgic pre-occupation is working against you. There's something left over from childhood or young adulthood that needs to be dealt with once and for all. Clean that closet and come to grips with it! It happened, you can't change what's done, but you CAN change how you react to those events.
By releasing old baggage, you'll release the old emotional patterns you've been caught in for so long. Change the way you FEEL about past hurtful events or behaviors. Change how you VIEW those past events or behaviors. Perhaps you were a bit nerdy in school, and the jocks would bully you. Continuing to duck your head and contracting yourself into a tiny ball that no one will notice only limits you. That old jock/bully is probably fat and bald by now! Who have YOU become over the years?
If you need help talking about those old fears, insecurities, or wounds, I urge you to seek assistance with a licensed counselor--whether psychologist, sociologist, or your clergy person. I, myself, have had great success in therapy sorting what stays and what goes from my mental closet. It's blissful liberation to be free of that CRAP!!
August 17, 2017: Card O' the Day: Seven of Swords, reversed. This isn't a friendly card. Dishonesty, deception, (and worse!) manipulation is revealed. And all this stems from a lack of confidence and belief in yourself. So you secretly envy those who seem "more" than you and allow yourself to be victimized.
What!?!? Why would you allow yourself to be victimized!?!?! You do it so you can deceive yourself and continue this illusion that you're the underdog, you never catch a break, nobody truly loves you, and you're "destined" to be a loser. Wah, wah, wah, woe is me! Behaving in this way is a passive-aggressive manipulation technique meant to make people feel sorry for you so you don't have to take responsibility for your problems and fix them.
Cut. It. Out. Shake yourself like a wet dog and climb out of the cesspool you're languishing in! Nobody can fix your life except you, but you can seek help in doing so. Be honest with your tribe and ask for constructive criticism, see a therapist for a couple months, go to a health and well-being retreat--do what it takes to take back control. Once you do, you'll be less anxious about "what the neighbors think" because you'll come to understand what you think about yourself is all that really matters.
August 15, 2017: Card O' the Day: The Hierophant. The Hierophant is representative of all belief systems, moral codes, values personal and societal, and all the "rules" by which we live. He also represents that which stimulates your inner awakening to the truth of life and your personal growth in finding it.
For the last week or so, we've been stuck in our heads and struggling as we try to make sense of our thoughts and feelings. This has been a disorienting search for inner meaning and greater understanding of our spiritual purpose for being here. The good news is this upside down, "who am I" state is also one of pure potential. You can decide to be anything! But first, forgive yourself for all past perceived failures or mistakes so you can start with a clean slate.
As you come to your understanding of the laws of nature and social community, you'll find your place and begin to live in accordance with the divine. Notice there's a small "D" on the "divine" here. I'm talking about your earthly life and getting sorted in your head space so you can be happy in your own skin, in your own community, and in your own career as you make your way through this lifetime. Find the truth within yourself. Don't just blindly follow some doctrine and mouth the scripted words you've been taught to say. Find YOUR truth and follow it.
August 12, 2017: Card O' the Day: Six of Swords, reversed. Still all up in our heads we are, and we're getting a bit stuck. This card indicates a refusal of, or residence to, new perspectives. When we're stuck in our own heads, outside ideas or plans seem foreign, and we're likely to see obstacles where there are none. (Actually, the obstacles you see are the ones you're making because you'd have to change your approach to someone else's method, and you don't want to do that.) Being this close minded and stubborn means misunderstandings will crop up right an left.
There's an element of fear in this card, and that's why you're hesitant to try an alternative route. Listen to those around you who have ideas. Discuss the pros and cons without personal digs; criticize/evaluate the IDEA rather than the person. You'll have to tell your over protective ego to butt out so you can hear what's being said--that's where the fear is coming from.
Finally, the Six of Swords can indicate travel literally or figuratively. Being reversed means you can expect delays or snags if you're actually going somewhere, or, if you're not physically moving around, head games with yourself will prevent you from being productive.
August 10, 2017: Card O' the Day: Princess of Swords. ...And now I know why the past couple days have been so cranky! Yesterday a gave a hint; today confirms it. The brainy intellectuals among us suffer the most when energies become turbulent. Instead of just going with it, they try to overthink it and understand WHY they feel unsettled. When they can figure out precisely why, they become frustrated and all stuck in their heads about right v. wrong, true v. false, bad v. good, etc.
Fortunately, we have some insight today for those governed by the air element. The Princess of Swords is ready for new intellectual pursuits, which usually involve systems or communications, and yet she's on the fence about what, precisely she wants. These endeavors will test skill and power, and she's not sure if she's up for it. Self-confidence is a little lacking and this holds her back. Might I suggest a piece of garnet? It's said to promote self trust.
Secondly, to balance all that intelligence and analysis, try to connect with your heart and spirit more often. Go sit under a tree, walk in the rain (yes, you're allowed an umbrella), stroll on the beach, or whatever floats your boat in nature. Sorry, going for a drive doesn't count; I want contact with earth, water, and/or sky under your own steam so you can really feel Mother Nature. Being in her presence for just a few minutes each day will help you get out of your head and into your heart/soul. When you're connected to Mother, she helps you go with the flow without overthinking.
August 9, 2017: Card O' the Day: Ace of Swords, reversed. Yesterday's "PMS'ing" continues, and now it's moving from your heart/gut into your mind as you try to intellectually analyze your pissy mood. Sometimes we're in a cranky mood, and you just have to give in to it and ride it out. Trying to get all logical and coldly brainy about it is like trying to be reasonable with a toddler in full melt-down mode.
Your thoughts are not clear, and therefore trying to be something you're not right now is an exercise in futility. The more you pound the floor and scream, figuratively I'm sure, the more you'll condemn yourself for being such a cry-baby, whiny brat!
Trying to stick to a rigid plan of diet, exercise, creative production--all the things you think you "should" do--just isn't going to happen. Give yourself another 24-48hrs to indulge in your every whim (within legal limits, of course). I promise this snit fit will pass! More than likely, the reason you're so pissy is that you've held yourself to a tight schedule and control for too long. It's time for a recess from adult-ing.
August 8, 2017: Card O' the Day: The Empress, reversed. Ooo! Cranky much? These are the feelings I would have when I was PMS'ing; I would have this insane desire to kick kittens, throttle anyone, cry, and eat gallons of ice cream. Fortunately, I have grown past those disturbing phases of the moon. But I digress....
The reversed Empress is, in effect, rejecting the "feminine" aspects of Self. Smothering, stifling demands to "be" or "do" in a certain way can feel like a nagging mother. The oppression just makes you want to cry "Mawwwwmmmmm!" and roll your eyes up to the ceiling in frustration. These feelings can be destructive and absolutely block you from moving forward on your path.
Such psychic temper tantrums may tempt you to retreat in humiliation (I mean, really? Are we still two?), but this is the perfect time to lean on a bestie and purge up this negativity and crap. Bring a bottle of wine to share and just barf it all up to someone you trust. We ALL go through these periods of tempest and the fastest way to get over it is to release it! Guys, if wine, rom-com movies, and chocolate don't work for you, then a rowdy game of rugby might be what you need to get your knickers out of a twist. My point is you must force yourself to move out of this awful place.
August 3, 2017: Card O' the Day: The Star. The Star is a really heavy "inner work" card, but other, more outward looking connotations are attached to it as well. Look for revelations of a positive future (no, there's no "X" marking the spot, unfortunately), and be aware of the hairs on the back of your neck telling you a dawn is breaking. Something is brewing.
In preparation for this nebulous "new dawn", begin sorting the wheat from the chaff in your life and balance your physical, mental, and emotional energies. Your spirit will need a bit of housecleaning as well as you navigate a difficult transition from chasing your ideal life to being fully present and living your real life. A question to ask yourself during this time: am I willing to do the work and stop depending upon others for clarity and answers? Certainly my little Card O' the Day or your daily horoscope in the paper can offer food for thought, but no one can give you the answers; you have to find them from within, and that takes hard work and tough choices.
The strongest message The Star has for us today is to trust yourself that you will overcome all obstacles in your path. TRUST that you can do anything you put your mind and heart to. The total embrace and integration of this concept is probably the hardest thing you'll ever have to do. But once you have it firmly and inextricably blended into your DNA, you'll always manage to land on your feet, no matter what.
August 2, 2017: Card O' the Day: Two of Wands. Did I tell you it wasn't time to bag it all? Yazzoo! this card gives us a needed boost. You did show up early today because you're ready to take responsibility as potential starts to crystallize. Have courage in your undertakings and prepare well. Conflicting internal energies, thoughts, or messages are making things difficult and cause you to hesitate over something.
Before you is a doorway that leads to golden opportunities. The tricky part is making the right decisions--and what with your head in a whirl, it's hard to know what to do. The bus is getting ready to leave the station, so you need to make a move soon. (However, that's not to say you can't transfer busses a little down the road if the bus you pick at this moment isn't quite right.)
With what seems to be a lot at risk, I can well imagine some of you may feel a bit wonky, faint, or anxious. That's okay; it shows you're engaged and passionate about the future plans. You can expect a good outlook, so try to relax as you move forward.
July 31, 2017: Card O' the Day: Seven of Pentacles, reversed. Yesterday I said a failing partnership of any type could be indicated with the reversed Five of Cups, but since we got Pentacles today, I'm now leaning towards a business partnership/merger that isn't going well. However, just because it's a business arrangement, rather than a lover, it doesn't mean your feelings aren't getting hurt and the situation doesn't call for chocolate and wine.
Two weeks ago this card appeared to show some slow and steady progress. Looks like imprudent choice and actions, as well as good old fashioned laziness has made the project go off the rails. (It's summer! Nobody wants to work, right?) Because you're not seeing a leap in your bank account, money worries add to your desperation and mental/emotional depletion. To top this little sundae, there's suspicion slinking around your ankles. Did your partner sabotage things? Is someone gossiping about you?
Oy! You've got the power to halt the downhill slide. Show up to work early, analyze what precisely needs to be fixed, begin formulating plans to do so, and make nice with your partner. It's not yet time to throw in the towel!
July 30, 2017: Card O' the Day: Five of Hearts. Well crap; THAT didn't work as well as hoped. A partnership, union of some kind (could be a business merger), or friendship--anything "joining" like--has fallen through or proved to be less than what was anticipated. That truth bomb has dropped, and you're seeing things for what they really are. As if to rub salt in the wound, you're realizing your expectations were unrealistic to begin with, too.
This situation sort of blows a hole through your plans, and now you've got difficulty and troubles disconnecting from this cluster f**k. Of course you'll feel disappointment and regret, but don't let it morph into bashing yourself to a bloody pulp.
Take a little time to fully "mourn the loss" of your plans, feel and accept the crappy emotions, and indulge in a good cry or a gallon of ice cream, whatever you need. Then release the self-judgment and move back to self-acceptance (it's not as if you're the very first person to botch something). Once you've gotten your balance back, analyze what went wrong and find the hidden lesson. Look to see if there are any unrecognized opportunities that may come from this failure of initial plans. Does a Plan B emerge from the ashes?
July 29, 2017: Card O' the Day: The Magician. How appropriate that we get The Magician today after yesterday's Fool! The Fool assures us of the infinite possibilities within and The Magician is here to help you manifest that potential. This card is the principle "action" card of the deck that indicates using all your skills, resources, and knowledge to create magic and do the "impossible." Unity of thought and emotions means the intellect is energized, cleverness is bright, and it's all under the control of your powerful will. Because this card also represents all forms of communication, the appearance means effective communication will be important right now and in the near future.
A few words of caution: all that power and control of your immediate universe can be heady stuff. The Magician can be tricksy and misuse his power because it's so easy to do and the rewards up front are many. However, remember that Karma is a bitch, and she will come back to bite you in the ass if you behave badly. Integrity, honesty, and kindness are essential as you make your mark on the world.
July 28, 2017: Card O' the Day: The Fool. The Fool represents the essence of life and the divine light within all of us. Optimism, passion, and enthusiasm buoy the energies innate in this card. Today, The Fool is offering freedom from the "shoulds" and "oughts" of life, possessions that you don't really need, narrow belief systems that set others apart from you, views of yourself that hold you back, and all the other self-imposed limits that don't serve you best.
To step onto a new path, embrace a different set of tenets, or set an idea in motion may seem like folly, but trust, and believe in, your inner knowing, instincts, or guts that you're doing the right thing for YOU. And by doing the right thing for you, you also do the right thing for your tribe and community. I firmly believe if you're doing what's best for your highest self, you will not be an asshole. What is right for you is ultimately right for everyone. Approach your world by reacting and behaving according to what "is" not according to what "the rules" or "they" say it should be. Simple analogy: the weatherman says sunny skies, you observe it's raining. Carry a flipping umbrella!
The herb for this card is ginseng. It's good for all that ails you and makes a lovely tea; you can get a box of it at the market. Make a ceremony of your tea by putting down your phone, logging off the computer, putting down the paper, etc. For just 15 minutes, simply "be" with your tea and yourself.
July 27, 2017: Card O' the Day: Four of Pentacles. I recently read a new book on the subject of Tarot and the rich symbolism represented on each card. It was pointed out on the Rider-Waite-Smith deck that not only does the seated figure depicted on the Four of Pentacles seem to hoard the Pentacles, but he also uses one as a shield. The Pentacles can be interpreted as wealth AND power--not just physical abundance. In the numerous depictions of this card I've seen, no motion is indicated and the central figure usually has a physical pose of stillness and self-protection.
Today, this comes as a warning that safety and solidity can be stagnating and strangling to you. The more you get, the more comfortable you are, which leads to wanting more stuff that seems more comfortable. Once you have, then you develop fear of losing. So, take a look at your security and abundance and examine the intangible price you pay for it.
This card has underlying generosity and liberality to it, as well. Meaning, if you have more than enough, then you can afford to give (providing you can get over your fear of losing and not having). As they say, you can't take it with you, so perhaps you'd do well to respect the bounty in your soul more than the bounty in your wallet. Just sayin'....
July 25, 2016: Card O' the Day: The Chariot, reversed. The Chariot is a psychic vehicle to take you from point A to B on your personal path of growth. When it's reversed, it means "car trouble." Self-doubt and hesitation is making you wonder if you're on the right road. Or perhaps you're stuck in a situation from which you find it difficult to extract yourself. Maybe you're feeling inexperienced in something, and it's so daunting you wonder if you'll ever get it like those around you seem to do so easily.
Another interpretation of this card goes deeper and isn't quite so easy to navigate. Of late, it's becoming very fashionable to embrace the metaphysical world. More people are going to yoga classes, buying crystals, trying their hands at divination, and trying to be spiritually "woke."
All that is very laudable, and I congratulate the people who are exploring themselves and the more intangible gifts life brings. But ask yourself this: are you doing it because you're genuinely curious about the "more" life has to offer, or are you following a trend and practicing false spiritualism? What is the true purpose of your journey? (Hint: if you veer away from, or simply deny ugliness about yourself, you're on an ego trip and not a journey of discovery.) If you can put down the sage, box up your crystals, and snarf on some junk food and STILL feel in tune with Spirit and your higher self, then keep on keeping' on.
July 24, 2017: Card O' the Day: Nine of Hearts. When we become responsible for, and in control of, our own personal happiness, we can achieve material, emotional, and physical wellbeing. Dreams seem to be realized by magic and all wishes come true without effort. Positive expansive feelings burst forth from your soul. This blooming fortune makes you seem like a Golden Child or celebrity to others as they come closer to bask in your reflected light and jump on your creative bandwagon.
However, we poor, flawed creatures are much like water and find the path of least resistance. When enjoying a high place of a personal cycle, it's very easy to forget how hard you worked to get here. Basking in the admiration of others and the relative ease of life quickly can slide into complacency and self-indulgence. Slowly we become assholes, those admirers drift away from our toxicity, and we're back where we began.
The hardest part about success and personal satisfaction is maintaining your integrity. Inner happiness can be extremely intoxicating, so be sure to keep your head by being fair and gentle to others and brutally honest with yourself. I'm not talking self-flagellation for every tiny misstep. Just remember you're every bit as human as the rest of us...in your good times and in your less than stellar moments.
July 21, 2017: Card O' the Day: Ten of Swords. Movement and change has begun through constructive forces and your own imagination. Now you've got to wrap your mind around the inevitable changes and get okay with them. Denial will only block your way at best or destroy you at worst. You must accept change and release the past so that you can experience the liberation and expansion of the new stuff coming. Resistance is futile, as they say, and will only worsen your situation.
Determination and fortitude are present with this card, which will be most helpful as you navigate the the new beginnings. Believe it or not, a very complementary and compatible partnership would be most beneficial. Is there anyone around that you think might make a good business partner or someone with whom you could do a project? Explore those options, thar's gold in them thar hills.
And, P.S., dramatic wailing, rending of clothes, and tearing at your hair only makes you look foolish. Just hush and trust the mysteries of life.
July 20, 2017: Card O' the Day: Ace of Pentacles. The Pentacle is merely a five-pointed star that has been a symbol of magic and celebration of all that's sacred since the dawn of mankind. It's a benevolent figure--often reflected in nature--much like the swastika. Unfortunately, some wag of the late 19th century decided to turn the star on its head and call it evil. This is purely a societal construct just as the Nazi party appropriated the lovely swirling winds symbol of the swastika and turned it ugly. Alas.
The magic of the pentacle is that it pulls the energy of Wands, the vision of Cups, and the thoughts of Swords on to the material plane so our ideas and prophesies may be fulfilled in the physical world. Within this suit, there is physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional balance, which leads to absolute wholeness. Practical and realistic applications are used to manifest visionary ideas.
The first card of this suit, the Ace, hints at the beginnings and foundations of stability you're building. While it may be tempting to stay with what you know works, you'll miss some wonderful new stuff if you don't take a few risks. Not to mention missing the chance to grow. This card is associated with the winter months, so it could well mean that what you're starting now will mature and bear fruit this winter.
July 19, 2017: Card O' the Day: Seven of Wands. Sevens are cards of magic. They encourage inner work and the processes that end in changes for the better. This kind of internal dialog requires personal study and analysis of your tenets and beliefs. Pondering why you do the things you do will help you see the patterns in your life. Carefully view what worked and what didn't. Pay special attention to the "what didn't" because these are the learning moments! Such work can be scary, but only you are in on it, so you don't have to fear losing respect or credibility in anyone else's eyes. This stuff is between you and your higher power as you become your most authentic self.
For this particular Seven, energies threaten to peter out, and you need to plan a few well-placed rests to recharge your batteries. Get some extra sleep and hang with friends to rest your brain. Also, during times of rest, you're in a better position to review your path to goals. Make adjustments and small changes to ensure you use your resources most efficiently.
July 18, 2017: Card O' the Day: Seven of Pentacles. Finally we're coming to a place of being willing to buckle down and do the hard work that's necessary to achieve anything of value. Determination is welling up inside you and pushing you to end the dawdling and waiting. The good news is that you won't have to wait long for rewards or results as the seeds of magic you planted begin to take root and grow.
This growth and manifestation will cause you to become impatient, but stuff like this just can't be rushed! No shortcuts! Assess your methods and practices and make adjustments where you need to. Steering a ship, car, or project requires constant changes and tweaks to keep it on course. You cannot afford to coast right now.
The herb associated with this card is rhubarb, which happens to be a laxative and digestive aid. Since the herbs associated with each card either mitigate or enhance the qualities of the cards, I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess your guts are in knots because now that things are starting to happen for you, you're scared to death of failing and looking like an idiot. Have a nice cup of rhubarb tea and contemplate why it is you're so "doomed to fail." Who said so? Who said you're not (fill in the blank) enough to make your dreams come true?
July 15, 2017: Card O' the Day: Three of Cups, reversed. As we grow, we change (thank goodness!). Our tastes change in clothing, hairstyles, hobbies, movie and book genres, etc. Our values change as well, and we may embrace or dump a religion, change our minds regarding societal norms and rules, review our political leanings, etc. This same sort of cycling through friends also happens. Some friends may be made on the job, and after you leave that job the friendship fades because outside of work, you didn't really have that much in common. Other friends you've known since the sixth grade and you thought you'd be besties forever, but they've taken a political view that just doesn't sit well with you.
This card is highlighting the feelings we experience when friendships fade, and we get nostalgic about what was. It's sometimes hard to toss out a favorite pair of jeans, so it's triply hard to "toss out" an old friendship. And yet, when the friendship no longer brings you happiness and fulfillment, when it's a chore to maintain it, then it's time to let it go into your past. This card may have appeared today to remind you it's okay to let things and people go as you realize your current circle isn't quite a fit for you emotionally, spiritually, and/or psychologically anymore.
When we feel crappy, we tend to do things to comfort ourselves...like ice cream or a good bottle of wine (or both). Sometimes "retail therapy" is called for. You may be picking up the lunch tab a little too often in an effort to appear as a more engaged friend and to make up for the fact you haven't seen this person in months. This card indicates you may be overspending on yourself or others to soothe your guilt. Check your bank statement to see.
July 12, 2017: Card O' the Day: The Chariot, reversed. A Facebook friend once posted an article called something like 10 Ways to Tell if You're Faux Spiritual. Just as with devoutly religious people, "Spiritual" people can get awfully obnoxious with their crystals, odd diets, rituals, incense, etc., etc., ad nauseam. All those trappings and loud proclamations of being "free" of anger, jealousy, or other "bad" emotions is merely ego trying to one-up the next guy. As we work towards our personal enlightenment and discover our most authentic selves, it's a very humbling path with no room for inflated ego and jockeying for position.
Keep your goals realistic! If you want to take off excess weight, start with a goal of 5-10 pounds. If you swear you'll going to lose 50 pounds by Labor Day, you're only setting yourself up for failure. Again, being overconfident and overestimating your abilities is ego leading you to say and do things to show off to others and not just for your own sake and goodness.
A hyped up ego will also lower your threshold for anger, agitation, and frustration. When things don't immediately work as they are pictured in your head, ego will flounce and puff that SOMEbody, obviously, sabotaged you! Guess what? You sabotaged yourself by getting bigger than your britches.
Know your limits and work within them.
July 10, 2017: Card O' the Day: The Star. The mythological figure associated with The Star is Pandora--she of the infamous box of all the woes in the universe. As you open your own Pandora's box and see all that is dark within you, know that the light of your spirit is also in that box. The dark stuff is ego demanding to be recognized, praised, and rewarded. Accept that crap as merely part of you and swim past it to get to your truest Self. That part of you that simply can't be an asshole. That perfect part of you that got buried in the material world.
Trust yourself to get it "right." Give up the need for control and security as you loosen your grip on the physical plane. Unless you can release your desperate need for earthly stuff and trappings, you'll have a much harder time finding your enlightenment, heaven, nirvana, being Whole and Authentic, or whatever it is you're hoping to become or reach through this physical lifetime.
Finding YOU, and being happy in that person, will bring more joy than winning the lotto ever could.
July 9, 2017: Card O' the Day: The Hierophant, reversed. When the Hierophant--representative of higher learning, organization, culture, society, and order in life--is reversed, order and society are being challenged. While it's good to occasionally buck the system, excessive individuality driven by ego, arrogance, and hubris becomes disruptive and dangerous.
The reason emotions and true Self are being hidden is that ego is trying to run the show to cover perceived frailties and vulnerability. Dogmatically clinging to ideas and values and screaming to all that you're "right" only spotlights your fear that you might be wrong. When you're in a hole, stop digging! Continuing down the road to ruin because you're too embarrassed to admit you're lost means a small mistake will only get bigger.
Specifically speaking, you may find a creative commitment you've made is not turning out as you'd hoped. Don't try to fix the situation by getting in deeper with inappropriate, unethical, or even downright illegal behaviors and actions. You'll only hate yourself more in the end.
July 8, 2017: Card O' the Day Princess of Cups, reversed. Court cards are the personality cards of the Tarot deck. They can indicate personality traits of people surrounding you, someone significant in your life, or personality traits you are leaning towards at the present time. Since we got two Cups Courts in a row, reversed, this tells me emotions are skewed for some of us or for someone in our lives.
When the Princess is reversed, she is fearful of, or resistant to, love and is in protection mode. There's also a tendency to mask true feelings, like yesterday's King, with overt behaviors that aren't generally "you" or false modesty or brightness. Further avoidance of "sticky emotions" may be achieved by running away from a person or situation. That running can be literal or merely wishful thinking--either way emotional distance is achieved.
Another way of not dealing with emotions is to indulge in romantic fantasies or pornography. (You get the same thrills, but you don't have to deal with actual people and THEIR wants and needs.) Princesses indicate messages and are seeking guidance more than the other court cards. Put the two together, and one may seek guidance from the "woo-woo" world and dive into spiritualism with all the smoke and mirrors that some practitioners use to impress others. There's nothing wrong with seeking guidance and answers from esoteric sources, just be sure to stay real with it and not let it become just another avoidance mechanism.
July 7, 2017: Card O' the Day: King of Cups, reversed. Many of us, especially boys/men, have been instructed to quash emotions because they weren't "seemly." Man up, big boys don't cry, suck it up buttercup, etc., etc. are phrases we hear often. Certainly it's not constructive to just wallow in self-pity or complain at every little snag, but honest emotions are something that should be felt, acknowledged, and allowed to have space in your world as they pass through like the weather. It's okay to get angry! You're allowed to feel fear! Your emotions don't have to stay sunny and tidy for everyone else's comfort and approval.
The King of Cups, when reversed, indicates emotional dishonesty. You're closing yourself off from your own authentic emotions because you've been taught they aren't "good." This causes you to close yourself off from other people's emotions because they're "messy" or also "not good" (and if you're not allowed to be a mess, then they aren't either!). To appear "normal" you fake congeniality, caring, machismo, and other "acceptable" emotions so no one realizes how out of control your own emotions feel.
Here's what NOT to do: fake it any longer. Of course, I'm not suggesting you pour your heart out to the person sitting on the seat next to you on the bus, but it IS healthy to dump your mess occasionally. Find a sympathetic ear in your truest friend who you can trust to handle your melt down. Not willing to "burden" others? Then find a professional listener: clergy person, therapist, social worker. Find a way to handle your feelings constructively. They're not bad or good. They are, and they're part of the whole that makes you perfect.
July 6, 2017: Card O' the Day: The Hermit. Yesterday's card mentioned building foundations on the material plane. Today, The Hermit is inviting us to start building foundations on our spiritual plane. This card CAN represent going deep for enlightenment and wisdom, but I'm feeling going deep for humility and facing the Final Truth of who you are. This requires some serious honesty and telling your ego to stand back while you get dirty in your own shit. Communing with your highest and most authentic self means facing all your uglies, petties, meanies, bitchies, whinies--all the qualities that make you want to throat-punch someone else and scream at them to pull up their Big Kid pants.
You're being asked to shift your perspective on yourself and recognize, take responsibility for, and accept your shortcomings and faults. This is NOT a call for self-flagellation! Downing yourself and harping that you're not "enough" in some way is another form of egoism and self-absorption. Face your faults/inner darkness. If you can do something about them, then get busy. If not, then accept them and move on. That's taking responsibility.
Reflect upon the phrase "there but for the grace of God go I." Come to truly understand that some blessings are conferred upon some but not others, and that is Fate. (Consider our current president. He was born wealthy. What is he doing with that blessing Fate plopped in his lap?) The converse is also true: disasters are visited upon some but not others. How you rise above or assist those afflicted is the test being given YOU. Can you find compassion WITHOUT judgment? You will find if you can truly accept your own imperfections, you'll be a lot less harsh with others, and loving thy neighbor will get a whole lot easier.
July 5, 2017: Card O' the Day: Three of Pentacles. The Eight of Pentacles indicates "apprenticeship" and learning new skills for the more mature worker. Maybe a second or third career doing what you really love. The Three, on the other hand, indicates a more primary career path. This doesn't mean it's meant for younger people just starting out; for an older person it could indicate finally graduating night school so you can begin that career you'd always dreamed of. There's still learning involved, and it'll be from those more experienced than you. Part of that "learning" may be to deal with authority figures (bosses, team leaders, etc.) and to take correction more gracefully.
In the process of manifesting your dreams, teamwork and playing well with others is required. Literally and figuratively, actually, because you do want to take time to socialize and relax between bouts of hard work. With careful planning and maintaining realistic goals, you can expect satisfaction in your enterprises. Foundations are being laid for lasting success.
July 4, 2017: Card O' the Day: Five of Pentacles, reversed. The same ol', same ol' simply doesn't work anymore. You've got to approach life differently and make changes in order to get what you want. This includes examining your spiritual practices, beliefs, and any emotional crap you've been carrying for too long. Your ego has to step aside for you to be able to really take stock of what hasn't been working. No guilt, no blame, just emotionless logic: this works, this doesn't.
The good news is that by doing this hard work, you'll begin to see results on every plane. Relationships will improve, you'll feel more at peace, and material energy will start to flow more freely. This card indicates troubling times are on the wane as difficulties are overcome.
It will take some guts to allow yourself to reconcile with those who have hurt you or leap at a promising opportunity. If you've been living with the hatches battened and in protection mode, you'll need courage to throw off those restraints. Know that unexpected opportunities may arise at any time, and it's okay to go for them. Do your homework, of course, but dare to take the chance.
July 1, 2017: Card O' the Day: Eight of Swords. This card reiterates unsound thinking and mind loops first addressed in yesterday's Moon card. The Moon was asking you to trust your intuition and let go of the "rational" and "practical" thoughts you were holding to be true. The Eight of swords is representative of emotions that are interfering with truly constructive thought. Put those two cards together, and I see emotional self-doubt putting nasty voices in your head telling you you're not "enough" in some way. Meanwhile, your True Self, your intuition, is whispering that you're perfect the way you are. I will say it again: your head will lie to you but your gut will not.
The obstacles you face are mostly of your own making. If the challenge is truly out of the blue, then how you view it and approach it is the problem. There is potential for liberation from these ties that bind you, but your belief that you can't stops you. A good friend went to a yoga training in which fellow classmates asked the teacher about modifying poses for any limits a client may have. The teacher stated he didn't recognize limits; clients say they're limited. There are thousands of ways to do any task before you. Find the way that works for you.
A helpful little crystal is called celestite or coelstine. It's a lovely baby blue and can help you change your defeatist thinking by encouraging you to accept new perspectives about that which blocks you or that which you allow to block you.
June 30, 2017: Card O' the Day: The Moon Reversed. The definition of madness or insanity is doing the same things over and over hoping/wishing/believing it'll be "different" next time and some how turn out okay. We do like to have things neatly categorized, labeled, and running smoothly! Some don't deal with change well (ahem, me!), so we stay with what we know, what seems practical to us, and generally hide from all things "challenging."
But to do all of the above, we must ignore intuition and cling to rationality and reason. However, sticking our fingers in our ears and shouting "lalalalala" means no new inventions, no wonderful experiences, no learning, and worst of all, no growth.
The good news about the reversed Moon is that it has a way of bringing small, hidden things to light so they may be dealt with and resolved. Secondly, a calm acceptance is there--if you allow it--to help you navigate and relish exciting adventures and endeavors.
June 29, 2017: Card O' the Day: Two of Cups Reversed. A minor glitch is coming or has manifested. Yesterday the Ace of Wands warned of hubris and getting too cocky, today we have more "ego" surfacing. The reversed Two of Cups is suggesting miscommunications or misunderstandings. Willfulness will cause you to jump to conclusions and get annoyed first without waiting for clarification. One may be feeling jealousy or envy when it seems your partner/friend/colleague is getting ahead of you thanks to an "advantage" that should have been "yours."
This stuff is petty and small right now but could get blown out of proportion if you don't nip it in the bud. Get clear on what's happening or was said, and tell yourself to smooth your tail feathers!
June 28, 2018: Card O' the Day: Ace of Wands. The Ace of Wands denotes originating energy that starts the bigger fire to activate your expectations for bold, new ventures. Right now the environment is perfect for these new beginnings and such will continue through the summer months. Your enthusiasm for your budding endeavors is the kind that will keep you engaged as you take responsibility for your ideas and put them into practice. Certainly challenges will arise, but they will be met with patience, care, and (most importantly) adaptability. Plans B, C, and D are waiting in the wings for the moment they're needed; no sweat!
Just be careful you don't get too pleased with yourself. The energy behind this card can easily morph into hubris as things go well, you easily succeed, and make money. There's still, work, planning, and management to be done to keep this energy working for you and not allowing it to be wasted and flame out too soon.
The primordial fire energy of the Ace arouses the root chakra for healing and awakening on the spiritual level. Listen carefully to your inner voices, and allow this fantastic energy to ground and center you. Well-harnessed and used, the Ace will leave you forever changed as you move on to bigger, badder, and better things of your own making!
June 27, 2017: Card O' the Day: Queen of Hearts. The Queen of Hearts is gifted with the perfect sympathetic ear and acts as a catalyst for bringing forth deep emotions so they can be expressed. That expression may be to cleanse the soul of grudges or deeply held sorrow or to finally admit to love and devotion you've been hiding. Either way, the Queen will get you to say what's in your heart. And that's a good thing because it's through our emotions that we truly live and are most fully alive.
If you don't have a Queen of Cups type person near you pulling your emotions forth, then ask yourself whether you're being the Queen. If it is indeed you, then be aware that being so in tune with your own emotions and those of others is no easy path. Such compassion can often be mistaken for weakness and some may try to take advantage of your softness and kindness. Make, and maintain, good personal boundaries and learn how to say "no." It's for your protection and the growth of others that you stand back and let others do for themselves on occasion.
June 22, 2017: Card O' the Day: Strength. Strength is continuing the message of The Emperor from two days ago: claim your authority, develop firmness of character, and use your power with awareness. The way to do this is through becoming conscious of who you are through self-examination and paying attention to intuitive insights that come, which then lead you to self-mastery. Discipline is necessary to keep on the right path towards inner permanence and balance. By that I mean even the most tragic turn of events won't destroy your rock-solid foundation.
Strength is also about controlling your passion and whims as you contain your fiery energy but yet preserve the bright creativity. Make order out of chaos--while remaining centered in the middle of the mess--by learning to express yourself constructively and using your time and resources wisely and correctly.
June 20, 2017: Card O' the Day: The Emperor. The Emperor is the archetypal Father figure of the Tarot deck, but I'm not talking "daddy issues" today. It's more about "fathering" yourself. There's an emerging mastery of Self as you develop appropriate personal boundaries and learn to take responsibility for actions and future plans and goals. Indicated here is the creation of a strong foundation, stability, and order on your material plane as you thoughtfully administer your resources. Forward movement is supported as you claim your personal power and real truth of who you are.
One of the main keywords associated with The Emperor is "intellect." The chakra governing is the 5th, or throat chakra. Put them together, and you're "speaking your mind" and using your head rather than your heart to make decisions, interact with others, and come to your next steps. You're being asked to use your voice to convey thoughts, ideas, and personal truth.
The Hermetic symbol of The Emperor is the window. Ponder that for a moment..."window of opportunity" come to mind? To me it does; step through that window and accept the coming challenges that will force--ahem, "encourage"--you to grow. Develop, and hold firm, your values, ideals, and intellectual property that will form the bedrock of your True Self.
June 15, 2017: Card O' the Day: Eight of Pentacles. At last we're ready to get to work as the tides slowly change. The qualities attributed to this card are of change and inspiration. Intelligence is applied to material things as resources are used carefully and/or preserved to guard against future adversity.
It is said that work is love in action, and that's what we want to do: find our passion and make that our job. If your passion is not something at which you can make a living, then be sure it's part of each day so you feel that joy and passion daily. Set goals and apply yourself fully to them, because your rewards are directly proportional to your efforts.
New or more advanced skills might be necessary to move forward; think continued education or an apprenticeship with someone who is already very adept. The Eight of Pentacles' apprentice is not a complete newbie, it denotes a second or third career path.
June 14, 2017: Card O' the Day: Six of Pentacles, reversed. Upright, this card represents the essence of "reciprocity." Reversed, not so much. This card has a strong philanthropic vein in it, and when reversed, one isn't feeling so generous, is too lazy to actually write a check to your favorite charity, or hopes someone else will step up and donate so you don't have to. I get it; I see lots of pleas for help with a sick animal on all the animal welfare Facebook pages I follow. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred, I hit "like" and move on hoping someone will help that poor beast.
I cannot stress enough that continuing in your trench of lack, grousing against the current disparity of wealth (and the widening gap), and allowing feelings of greed, envy, and jealousy of the "haves" to dwell in your heart only makes matters worse. That poison will keep you from the joys of giving. Reciprocity is a TWO WAY street. You must give to receive, and the more you grasp your wallet, the fewer financial expectations will materialize--or if they do, they'll be less than you'd hoped.
Today, I will send some money to a worthy recipient. I challenge you all to do the same. A small amount helps them and starts breaking down the dam you've built against loss and lack.
June 13, 2017: Card O' the Day: Six of Wands reversed. Attitudes and fear of lack haven't changed from the other day, and I can appreciate it takes time to change one's perception about life.
What's slowing you down is vanity and ego. You're trying to stay isolated from others, and I don't mean just never leaving the house. You know you can be isolated even when going to work daily, going to the store, sitting on a volunteer committee, etc., right? The isolation I'm talking about is keeping your heart closed and not truly engaging with others intellectually, emotionally, or spiritually. You're trying to be an island and thereby keep all your stuff (literal and figurative) for yourself lest anyone "take" from you.
However, isolating yourself is not only lonely but inefficient. You true success REQUIRES you to interact with others for maximum use of resources such as your time. If you try to do everything yourself, you'll become exhausted. You must delegate some tasks. Secondly, you could be doing things badly and wastefully. Your refusal to listen to anyone else means you'll continue to do things badly and wastefully making it that much harder for you to reach your goals.
So, tell your ego to step aside, ask for help and/or suggestions and trust Universe to take care of you.
June 11, 2017: Card O' the Day: Seven of Pentacles, reversed. There's a lot of lack showing up in my cards of late, and it may be due to the current political climate. Certainly there are some worrisome things happening, so I'm not sticking my head in the sand and inviting you to do the same. However, wallowing in that lack will only make you feel worse. I'm reminded of a Winston Churchill remark when British Parliament was looking to cut funding to arts, public services, etc. to pinch pennies during WWII. He is reported to have said something along the lines of "Then what are we fighting for?"
The point is, giving in to a shit storm and letting it rule your life is no way to live! This card represents an unwillingness to work towards goals, thus things don't go well and returns are smaller than hoped for (imagine that!). Then, because you didn't get a big cash reward for your minimal efforts, you sink into anxiety about money. This worry, suspicion, and fear has you resembling Gollum as you fret about your "preciousssss."
Let's just start over.... Assess what you DO have and say a little thanks for it. What's stale, worn out, or no longer useful to you? Chuck it. Prioritize your life into "must do's" and "want to do's." Make sure there's a balance between the musts and wants, and make time to do the wants. As long as you have breath in your body, LIVE TO BE HAPPY!
June 10, 2017: Card O' the Day: Ten of Cups, reversed. Along with everything else, expect emotional upheavals! Swell. Actually, this card isn't so surprising because when our material world isn't going so great, we're going to get emotionally "involved." I'm not feeling heavy emotional loss (divorce, break-up, death, etc.), but more along the lines of hopes and dreams being given a reality check. Imagine investing a lot of time and energy into a dream or career path and then finally coming to the realization that it just ain't gonna happen. That can be heart-breaking! With such heart-break comes depression and perhaps a little (or a lot of) humiliation for having worked so hard and still failed.
The good news is this card also can denote a joining of harmonious elements within ourselves. Psychic wholeness comes when we can see what no longer serves us (or never did) and move past that value system, idea, plan, or whatever that didn't go as hoped. It's as though some part of us knew all along that our "thing" wasn't for our greatest good, and now that we've failed, our psyche has more space to move freely without the clutter of a bad idea getting in our way.
By all means, mourn the losses you may be feeling, but know it's for your best interests in the along run.
June 9, 2017: Card O' the Day: Eight of Pentacles, reversed. I'm sensing a theme here...quite a few reversed Pentacles lately. The energy on our material planes is being a bit balky.
A current career path that used to be satisfying is starting to feel like a stultifying J.O.B. A perfectly nice job seems deadening and going nowhere. What used to be adequate compensation now feels skimpy and insulting. (You've got bills to pay and things to do! You're worth more than that, dammit!) Lethargy and distraction keeps you from doing your best work, and as you look around, you feel that everyone else is getting ahead of you.
Actually, it's not that you're not getting a fair shake, it's your 'tude about what you DO have. We all get a little bored from time to time, and boredom is best escaped through mental stimulation. You may be lacking skills or knowledge that would make you a bigger asset to your employer or more competitive in your field. Continued education in the form of a weekend seminar, training for a new or more advanced technique, or another college degree will keep your noodle entertained as well as make you more marketable (read: eligible for a higher salary).
In addition to challenging your brain, relax your body. Get out of the house and do something unusual and fun. Haven't played Putt Putt golf since you were ten? It's just as fun and silly as it was back then. Get out of your rut both physically and intellectually. If you have trouble doing that, a conversation or two with a career counselor or other type of advisor/life coach/clergy person might be able to help you begin to enjoy your particular life once again.
June 8, 2017: Card O' the Day: The Empress. Generally speaking, The Empress is a very "fertile" card indicating material abundance. However, this is a "partly-cloudy" reading today...it's not all sunshine because of the reversed 5 and Ace of Pentacles we've had in the last two days. I can't get past the nagging feeling that all has not miraculously improved to "sure-sure, fine-fine!"
Some hard work and planning will be required to get to the productivity and prolific creativity inherent in The Empress. Patience and the gentleness to wait for the right time is necessary. Timing is everything and the actual birthing process may be premature or delayed (more likely delayed because we had the reversed Ace yesterday). You're being asked to base your decisions upon sound reason and nurture budding ideas and concepts as if they're newly sown crops that must have time to develop before the harvest of fall.
June 7, 2017: Card O' the Day: Ace of Pentacles, reversed. The Ace of Pentacles is usually an indication of a new way to make money, a new business, or something else new on the material plane. However, when reversed, the material energy inherent in this card gets skewed. Either you're too into building wealth and are getting greedy, or opportunities aren't being fully realized because of inattention to details or laziness. There may be delays in getting paid for work completed, or you'll have trouble meeting financial obligations.
What to do? Allow physical energy to keep moving. Donate to a charity your time, money, or articles that you no longer need. Move your body so energy doesn't stagnate in your guts or your stiff joints. Try not to get too attached to stuff and hoard resources out of fear or greed. If there's a delay in receiving physical energy, find out why and take rational steps to hurry things along and/or be patient. We want to avoid getting nasty about it right off the bat.
June 6, 2017: Card O' the Day: Five of Pentacles, reversed. The winds are changing, and your Karma is about to get in your face. Being obstinate and trying to avoid your lessons won't help. It's time for big kid pants and lesson learning. You've gotten sloppy with your resources, and they're not being used wisely. Your standard operating procedures are also worn out, so get ready to make changes in how you approach life.
Sounds awful, right? It may be uncomfortable at first but in the long run, the changes, Karmic lessons, and greater efficiency with life's gifts will be good for you. Bad fortunes are reversing, but it's going to take some work. Are you up for it?
June 1, 2017: Card O' the Day: Ten of Wands. The Ten of Wands signifies a tremendous burst of explosive energy and creativity. The constructive force that can lead to success requires a great deal of responsibility and strong will to control this fire lest it consume you. If you can ride this wave, expect a transformation that you're entirely conscious of and actively participating in.
The bad news is this is a wild mustang of a card. It can easily become abundance that morphs into "too much." Check to see if you bit off such a large bite just to prove yourself, because that speaks of self-esteem problems that you're trying to cover with hubris. The more you do, the more you'll need to do to keep your head above water, which will lead to exhaustion, irritability, and resentment. Remind yourself you brought this on your own head to look like the Big Man on Campus.
To help keep your equilibrium, add a little fresh or dried dill to your morning eggs, chicken salad, broiled fish, etc. If you have any dill oil, put it in your diffuser today. It'll help dispel the stress and give you a feeling of security as you fiercely manifest your dreams.
May 31, 2017: Card O' the Day: Two Of Cups. As we learn to accept ourselves, shadows and all, we come to an inner truce and feel like all our different pieces parts can unite into a perfect whole. It's very healing to develop this harmony within and allows for harmony with others. After all, if you can accept your own imperfections, you're much more likely to accept and forgive imperfections in others.
I've mentioned past crap coming out of the woodwork in connection with other cards, and today we continue to deal with buried clutter that concerns feelings and personal ideals. This time it's rigid beliefs and painful emotions that are surfacing for you to recognize, acknowledge, and release. Explore all corners of your inner self to find things that don't serve you and see what can be dumped. I don't pretend that you'll sweep everything clean and be suddenly ZEN and ENLIGHTENED, but I encourage you to begin the work. Each journey begins with just one step.
May 30, 2017: Card O' the Day: Five of Cups, reversed. So, did The Tower from the other day give you a bit of a shake-up? Today's card indicates that it did, and you're doing the hard work of recovering and moving away from losses and disappointments. If you haven't completed the difficult decisions necessary during this change of mindset, you're getting there. These tough choices may hurt now, but ultimately they'll solve some of your current problems, which will lead to a hopeful outlook.
Upright, the Five of Cups indicates stuff coming out of the woodwork and our past to vex us now. Reversed represents settling that stuff. You may experience reunions of some nature with friends or family with whom you had strife. Hatchets will be buried, and you'll be able to move forward with less drama.
The "reunion" could also be with your authentic self, who you've been ignoring of late (or always). The "hatchets" buried here will be that you can finally accept and embrace some of your shadow elements. We ALL have less-than-noble qualities, and the sooner you recognize those parts and learn to love them, the sooner you can learn to love your most authentic self. And, no, that doesn't give you the license to say "I'm an asshole, and therefore, I embrace my true asshole-ness and will live fully and fiercely as an asshole!" I believe being an asshole is a cover for deeper insecurities. Those deeper shadows and insecurities are what you need to accept and work to change about yourself.
May 28, 2017: Card O' the Day: The Tower. Yesterday we were at sea about what to do next, and today we are given our answer: change your mind. Not about the kind of wallpaper you're going to hang in your bathroom, but about how you view life. To me Tarot's Death card is about big changes in your physical world: new job, house, major losses or gains to your body, etc. The Tower is a big change in your mind.
Most of the Tower cards are depicted with some sort of tall structure being hit, at the top, by a bolt of lightening. Think about the symbolism of that for a moment. Could it also mean you receiving a bolt of enlightenment in your head? It may not be a sudden change in one second; this change may have been coming for quite some time. But the enlightenment will be completed shortly and suddenly, and you'll see what's before you.
What is before you may be the answers to your current sticking point, how you'll finance your latest brilliant idea, or merely what to plant in this year's garden. But along with the "aha" moment will come a greater understanding of your authentic self and where that self best fits in Universe. Open your eyes and allow the light to come in. See, fully, yourself and your world. Then take the steps forward that lead you to greatness.
May 27, 2017: Card O' the Day: The Hanged Man, reversed. Rather than giving into the suspension of The Hanged Man and taking the time for self-reflection and looking at things with a different perspective, the feeling is of wanting to go forward but can't. Circumstances and the nuts and the bolts of life have you tied down; you're afraid to make changes or mistakes, but don't want to miss the boat; or you're impatient to get going but don't know where to start or which direction to take.
Instead of revving your engine and wasting gas, slow down for a moment and first determine what you want. Break down the "getting there" into smaller chunks and do what you can do right now. It's okay to be a little nervous about stumbling a bit, but if you're moving with deliberation, you'll be able to catch yourself before you fall flat.
May 26, 2017: Card O' the Day: Ace of Pentacles, reversed. Upright, the Ace of Pentacles can mean new starts in the material world--business ventures, sources of income, home environments--that pan out well. However, when reversed, all that good fortune gets twisted, and the flowing material energy gets stopped up. Resources, income, stuff becomes extremely important, and the Midas Touch becomes a curse. This card represents the evil side of wealth and abundance, and as such, indicates misused funds or other types of resources, hoarding and fear of loss, and prosperity without happiness.
Therefore, it's important to keep channels open and the energy moving. Give as you receive. (It still counts to give a resource different than what you've received, meaning you can donate your time rather than writing a check to a charity.) Make "stuff" less important in your life so you won't be disappointed if you don't quite manage to attain that new car or boat, the big bonus at work isn't as big as you'd hoped, or you drop your fancy phone in the toilet. Be present to what you DO have.
May 24, 2017: Card O' the Day: Ten of Wands, reversed. Having come to a point of achievement with yesterday's 6 of Wands, it's no wonder that we have a laying down of burdens and relief from pressure with the reversed 10. With eagerness, you look forward to a clear path to the next thing. That "next thing" may include a new location (i.e. moving houses or emigrating).
There are some sneaky shadows inherent in this card, so be careful your shift of responsibilities is conscientiously done and that you're not simply passing the buck. There's a difference between conscientiously delegating tasks and passing the buck. Delegating means you assign tasks to others who are well-qualified, if not more qualified than you, to do those tasks, and everyone completes the big project at once to celebrate together. Passing the buck means you assign some shit job to somebody with less authority that you, and you get to go out drinking with your posse. That's a misuse of your skills and power, and that's not nice.
May 23, 2017: Card O' the Day: Six of Wands. After facing the latest challenge of life, making our way forward, and navigating sticky situations, we finally achieve our goal. It's a moment to feel self-satisfaction, to pat oneself on the back a little, and rest from the energy and industry it took to get here. Recognize your achievement and celebrate it. You don't have to rent out the ballroom at the Ritz; a simple pot-luck with friends will serve the purpose of recharging your batteries for the next hill to climb.
There are also elements of spiritual growth and expansion as you realize you're pretty good at handling challenges, and it's actually kind of fun to find your way out of a problem or to make plans come to fruition. This dawning that you're quite capable is a step closer to being your most authentic self.
However, be careful that your current victory (or subsequent victories) don't go to your head. When you stick your nose in the air with pride, you're not paying attention to your path. And when you're not paying attention to your path, you will fall flat on your face. Embarrassing much?
May 21, 2017: Card O' the Day: Strength, reversed. Our emotional turmoil continues today as we try to slither away from taking responsibility for our mistakes. (I don't feel like these mistakes are recent based upon the Five of Cups of the other day.) Weakness, cowardliness, and humiliation are being covered by a bold and flashy facade in order to save face.
It's very common to try to deflect or ignore bad moves hoping no one notices. However, by taking immediate responsibility and fixing the error quickly, molehills cannot grow to mountains. And we all know fixing a small problem now is easier than trying to clean up a major sh*tstorm later.
If Ghosts of Failures Past are in your face, check to see what you can do. Is there still time to claim the mistake and clean it up? If so, then do all you can. You may lose the trust others have placed in you, or worse, but you'll clear your own conscience and know that you stood up to take your lumps like your most authentic self. If the error is long gone, accept your karmic lesson with humility, promise yourself never to do THAT* again, and move on. Torturing yourself is pointless, masochistic, and rather egotistic (i.e. I'm the most horrible person on the planet! Are you Hitler? Attila the Hun? Yeah, didn't think so, so get over yourself).
*We ALL have a few "THATs" in our closets. Including me.
May 20. 2017: Card O' the Day: Ace of Wands, reversed. Yesterday we had some disappointment going on, and this may be why. The reversed Ace of Wands indicates a delay in growth or creativity that can be frustrating or demoralizing-- especially if we believe we had a hand in the false start.
Despite being reversed, this Ace still indicates new beginnings. However, timing is off either because you're not quite ready or the opportunity hasn't presented itself yet. If the opportunity does seem to be staring you in the face, know that it's premature to move right now. If you get too excited, you'll rush ahead before all things are ripe for maximum reward. Take an extra moment to recheck plans for viability, wisdom, and/or legality (!).
May 19, 2017: Card O' the Day: Five of Cups. At the beginning of the month we had a number of Wands cards come up. Lots of Fire energy there to push us into some sort of movement. Yesterday's reversed Seven of Cups and today's Five indicates to me that our emotions are catching up with us. This emotionalism is conflicting with the common sense and forward energy we've been using for the past two weeks.
Something has become clear or has come back from the past to haunt. Disappointment is the main theme, and that makes it more difficult to keep going. The negatives seem to outweigh the positives, and that's all that can be seen at the moment. Whether the fly landed in your soup three weeks ago or just this morning, don't dwell. Let it go and accept your soup is tainted. Use perceived failure, loss, or misfortune as learning moments. Release any negative self-judgment that you might have because we all make mistakes and false steps.
May 18, 2017: Card O' the Day: Seven of Cups, reversed. Well, SOMEbody's taking the Princess of Wands seriously (May 11 and 17)! Combining the new fire of the Princess with the clear and logical thinking of the reversed Seven of Cups makes for a powerful combination.
This card is all about making, and premeditating upon, realistic plans from "crazy" ideas and setting the priorities and intentions to make it all happen. By finding well-conceived solutions--that may seem a bit dull--to any problems, you can count this as a good omen for achieving your aspirations. Another benefit right now is your patience, determination, and ability to pass over the quick fixes and/or temporary pleasures to save resources for a greater and longer-term reward.
May 17, 2017: Card O' the Day: Princess of Wands (again, see May 11th). The Princess of Wands represents imagination at its most creative moment but also its most fragile. Your most brilliant thoughts may seem foolish at first and is vulnerable to nay-sayers and overly practical plodders. However, some of the most brilliant inventions were based upon a crazy idea! Therefore, see this card as a dare to start something new, to engage in life more robustly, and to do something concrete with the restlessness in your soul.
A tendency to be outgoing and demanding attention or doing things that one knows will garner attention can sometimes be a cover for a lack of confidence. This brashness can also be a cover for or a method of manipulation. Like, with enough smoke and mirrors nobody will notice the coercive tactics. Therefore, ground this fire energy in consistency and take an authentic, unstudied approach to your search for self-growth and knowledge.
May 12, 2017: Card O' the Day: The Emperor. Today the Emperor brings to mind the creation of order and stability. Organizing one's world is high on the priority list, and one is actively seeking power and control. This mature, masculine energy, when used well and correctly, can lead to greatness and importance.
However, underlying this macho display of fine feathers lurks egotism, and the driving ambition seeks power just for the sake of having power. The Emperor protects his "own", but I feel his appearance today is more about protecting material stuff than about protecting the people central in his life. This speaks of insecurity, marking boundaries, and armoring oneself for protection from outside attacks or disturbing emotions one would rather not acknowledge.
Instead of misusing this wonderfully dynamic gift, take responsibility for yourself and do the hard work of facing fears, easing up on the need for stuff or status, and share the spotlight with your people. If your personal ideologies interfere with your life and happy living, then maybe it's time to reevaluate them and make some changes, because nothing is written in stone except the epitaph on your grave marker.
May 11, 2017: Card O' the Day: Princess of Wands. The Princess of Wands represents youthful energy that's willing to try new things but is tempered with common sense and experience of the past. More than any of the other Princesses, this card signifies news that can be somewhat strange or is delivered by a stranger. This information or communication will be about a new endeavor, unusual ideas, or original perspectives. Be prepared for an "I never thought of it that way" moment and see how you can use it to your benefit.
The shadow side of this card reiterates the shadows of the Three of Wands from yesterday. The ego is yearning for power and is not above using manipulation to get it. Be very careful that you don't use "mean girl" tactics to advance yourself. Resist the urge to back-stab, gossip, or poach from others. There's absolutely room for everyone and being an asshole now will come back to haunt you later.
May 10, 2017: Card O' the Day: Three of Wands. Threes indicate the initial success of the promise and potential of aces combined with the decisions and unions of twos. The energy of the Wands carries ideas, business acumen, and leadership qualities. This card indicates teamwork and group efforts. Necessary resources and tools are available to get your ideas off the ground. Your intellectual focus is providing excellent balance to the energy and material provisions. Opportunities abound, so remain flexible enough to change direction quickly or improvise along the way.
All cards contain some shadow elements, and today, I'm feeling those shadows for this Three of Wands. All the "success energy" feels clouded...yes, there's blue sky peeking between the clouds...but.... This is not "silver platter" stuff, you're going to work for every inch you gain. All the glittering opportunities will lead to the temptation to grab as much as you can right now. However, it's much like herding fleas: most will slip through your fingers, and unless you concentrate on vital details, you'll end up with nothing. Plan well and concentrate on the one thing that holds the most promise. This is a long, slow road to success that will take months or years to pay off.
As I said above, teamwork and group efforts will be needed. Pride is one of the shadowy undercurrents of this card, so don't let yours get in the way of the final goal. You WILL need help; it's not a matter of "if" but "when." Therefore, recognize when you're getting in over your head and accept the assistance that will be there for you.
May 2, 2017: Card O' the Day: King of Wands. The self-possessed, mature fire energy of this king is ideal for carrying you through your endeavors. There's enough oomph to get you off the couch and the wisdom to guide the flame. He represents/indicates creative opportunities for which one may have to compete with boldness. The King's generous nature makes him confident and decisive in his leadership of others or of you as you stride forward. Such security in personal power allows for a great capacity for giving and a sharing of all spotlights.
Cinnamon is the herb associated with the King of Wands. It's said to assist you in claiming your personal power and truth. An excellent excuse to have that yummy cinnamon roll this morning!
Just because the King indicates "mature energy" it doesn't mean he's immune from being an old fool by being too pushy and volatile like a man half his age (see the Prince of Wands). Therefore, review all agreements carefully; sleep on them if you can to give you temporal space and fresh eyes for the re-read. Also, recognize each success as it comes and celebrate it. Being driven by such intense fire energy can make one too goal oriented and lose sight of the real reasons for life.
May 1, 2017: Card O' the Day: Six of Wands, reversed. It's interesting that earlier this morning I found a salamander in my driveway as I was walking out to the barn to feed my horses. The salamander is associated with the 2 of Wands, which can indicate the appreciation of one’s own powers and capacity for originality and creativity. "Appreciation" can mean approval or gratitude but also the sensitive awareness of something. Being aware of your specialness is the first step in doing something constructive with it. There's nothing wrong with recognizing and using your unique talents.
Now the reversed 6 of Wands: However, if you allow your ego to run away with the show or you overestimate your abilities and talents, then the victory you seek may stay just out of reach or seem to slip through your fingers. A healthy ego recognizes your worth AS WELL AS your lacks. When one admits to lacking certain skills, one is much more open to the input, comments, ideas, etc. from others. Running around like the Big Man on Campus is only going to push others away when they figure out there's no room for anyone else in the room but for your big head.
So, the lesson for the day is to recognize your fabulousness AND where you still need work. Being able to do this will make you enormously successful in that you'll have the confidence to step forward where you're sure of yourself and the awareness and intelligence to allow another to take the lead where you're not as adept or talented.
April 30, 2017: Card O' the Day: Temperance. Temperance echoes the Magician's fluidity and fluency between the concrete world and all that's unseen and only felt. She also taps into and reminds you of the creativity bursting from him. What's different about those attributes now is that this fluency and connection to the unconscious can bring great peace and healing as you find the compatibility of your True Self with that of your "public self."
So who is this True Self of whom I speak, and where do you find him/her? You find this Self on your journey as you struggle through life. You come to accept this Self as being flawed, fabulous, real, and magical. This Self is the part of you that, when awake, notices the color of the sky, the sound of the insects, the way the leaves dance on the trees--the Self is the part of you that sees the utter magnificence of our world and realizes how magnificent you are, too.
As you move throughout your day, be present to all of it: the traffic jam, the long line at the checkout, the smiling toddler, and finding a nickel in the parking lot. Don't just sleep walk through your life because these are the little markers that guide your path. Accept what "is" today. Try not to fight with circumstances or your perceived limits. Be in them. Observe what makes you less than delighted without emotional or intellectual judgment and move to change those things to be more delightful.
Greater personal effectiveness comes from greater self-acceptance.
April 28, 2017: Card O' the Day: Eight of Swords. Often this card is depicted with the central figure loosely blindfolded with hands carelessly bound. The feet, however are fee. And yet the figure stands frozen by defeat and immobilized by the perceived restrictions. That's what we allow our minds to do to us--tie us up in self-criticism that we're not enough in some way, that we lack skills, flexibility, cleverness, beauty, money, etc., etc., ad nauseam.
With this card, we have the potential for liberation and the freedom from all limits. Shrug off the domination and imprisonment of your mind. Once you slip off that blindfold of "I can't", you'll easily see the way out of any problem. Your quick mind has you vacillating between options and solutions, but you struggle to make a choice because of the internal voice second-guessing every step you take.
If there is a true, concrete problem in your way, that you didn't inflate out of a minor annoyance, then your real issue is how you view the problem. The defeatist attitude that you "can't do this" holds you back. To that I say HORSEFEATHERS! Get on the Internet and research the hell out of the issue, ask the experts, tap friends for their humble opinions, take a class, check to see if there's a YouTube video of how to do that--there ARE solutions! Knowledge is power, and you may have to gather more to get unstuck.
Finally, and this is most important: the voice in your mind lies, the voice in your gut does not. Your deepest, truest self knows you're worthy of everything glorious in life. Listen to THAT voice not the bully in your head.
April 27, 2017: Card O' the Day: 10 of Cups, reversed. Here is an excellent cautionary card that illustrates how the Magician and your ego can go too far. When the 10 of Cups is upright, we have all the love and abundance in the world; when reversed, the good stuff pours out and is wasted leaving you feeling exhausted and cranky. You may try to blame others and create rivalries where there are none (remember, there's room for everyone...).
This interrupted peace will be felt more in your interpersonal relationships rather than in business partnerships. And the reason for that is you may be so focussed on your goals and ambitions that you ignore your foundation of family and friends. Furthermore, with the promise of the Magician coursing through your veins, you may have gotten a little extravagant in your dreams--be sure to keep them grounded in reality. By the way, those peeps of yours will help you stay grounded if you'd only let them.
Do not keep on this track! Change direction and turn this card right side up to contain all the largesse rather than dumping it out. Take a friend to lunch you've been ignoring lately. No, it may NOT be a power lunch, it's got to be purely fun. While the fire and creativity of the Magician is really powerful stuff, balance that energy with proper care to your relationships. All up cycles will have downward trends eventually, therefore you must keep your posse well tended and nurtured so they come running when you need them.
April 26, 2017: Card O' the Day: The Magician. The restlessness of Spring Fever is birthing new energy and unlimited possibility in us! Feel and trust these forces; get to know them thoroughly through self-knowledge and some indulgence in ego-centricity. Willpower has returned to keep you on your path of discovery and invention.
The Magician symbolizes the unity of thought and emotion, science and art, and fluidity between the planes of your conscious thoughts, gut intuition, and physical world. Having these aspects of yourself all on one page and going in the same direction doesn't happen often, so take advantage of this surge of fire in your belly and creativity in your soul.
Because these ideas are originating so deeply within you, you may be very tempted to be all "Me, Myself, and I" about your endeavors. Sometimes you don't need or want input from the peanut gallery, and that's okay. Just be aware that eventually you WILL need help to keep your dreams moving forward. If you isolate yourself and alienate all others, that help won't be available to you when you do want it. Also, someone else may see a flaw in your plan or an aspect that you'd do well to develop more fully, but you're not aware of it because you're too close to see the bigger picture.
April 25, 2017: Card O' the Day: Strength, reversed. Considering the cards of the past few days, receiving this one doesn't surprise me. The overwhelming feelings of the Queen of Cups, reversed, may contribute to a sense of being divided as you struggle with instincts and feelings as your normally powerful intellect weakly toddles behind. The Hanged man is urging us to take a moment and reflect to help us sort things out. However, that requires the intellect to step up and become useful again!
Strength's energy, when reversed, becomes dissipated as we lack enthusiasm for much of anything more than being a blob between naps. It may seem that all forces are outside one's control, like, say, gravity.
I encourage you take back your strength to get out of the funk we all seem to be in. Instead of blobbing it on the couch with a book or the boob-tube, hit your yoga mat or a blanket in the grass. Make yourself comfy in a nice restorative pose and contemplate your navel without distractions. Allow your mind free reign to wander and suppose and "what if?" These preliminary imaginings are actually the first step in returning to mental productivity.
April 24, 2017: Card O' the Day: Queen of Hearts, reversed. According to the Thoth interpretation of this card, the key concept is of emotions controlling the intellect. I agree with this definition and feel that when the card is reversed, our emotions are going even further than mere "control" and are well into the "overwhelm" area. I find that reversed cards tend to show the extremes on the bell-curve of representation--meaning the really good and really bad of each card.
The really good news about a reversed Queen of Cups is that you're in touch with your heart, and you're able to envelope yourself in emotions that take you to the highest peaks of joy or the lowest depths of despair. Most would like to go without the despair part, but we need the despair to compare to the joy. Without dark, there can be no light. Therefore, if you protect yourself from the dark, you inadvertently protect yourself from the light and prevent yourself from truly enjoying the highs of life because you're always on the lookout for the lows.
The really bad news about this card is the departure of your intellect when you're so controlled by emotions. You're easily tempted by every physical pleasure of the moment, you're more likely to be fooled by those looking to take advantage of you, and you're more likely to blame others for any sadness in your life. Wise choices are simply out the window when our emotions rule the roost.
What to do during this trend (notice we had the reversed queen Friday, too)? Make like the Hanged Man and suspend all actions while you get a grip on your emotions. Figure out why you're being such an emotional flake (Spring Fever is a good reason), and do what you need to get back in your head and body. And, seriously, don't make any important decisions right now....
April 22, 2017: Card O' the Day: The Hanged Man. The Hanged man often indicates a self-imposed predicament--like painting yourself into a corner. So there you sit, watching the paint dry and checking your watch every 2 minutes. Uncertain of what to do, you start blaming yourself for being an idiot. How could you be so stupid? Where was your head as you just blindly painted away?
Maybe your poor planning and inattention did get you here, but getting frustrated and pounding yourself doesn't help the situation. There are two choices and both require sacrifice: walk across the wet paint and sacrifice your work, which you'll then have to do over, or sit down and wait for the paint to dry thereby sacrificing your time. Which is the lesser of the two sacrifices?
If you choose the lesser sacrifice and sit to watch the paint dry, take the time to contemplate how you got here. Allow yourself to wipe your slate clean and find your way out of self-castigation to peace and inner harmony. There is potential for transition and deepening of the experience of simply being who you are. Personal growth and development will come from nonjudgmental, careful thought. Regenerative forces follow to fill the vacuum created by what has been let go.
April 21, 2017: Card O' the Day: Queen of Cups, reversed. Ooo. Spring Fever is upon us. Ladies who are still in the Mother phase of life, expect to be rather "flirtatious" right now. Take precautions if you don't want to catch pregnant, and turn all that excess sexual energy towards your partner lest you be tempted to stray. If you don't have a steady, then play carefully.
The extreme fecundity and lushness of this spring energy will also affect your moods and emotions. You can expect to be flakey, inconsistent, and given to daydreaming. Try your best to pay attention to important deadlines, and get your obligations done before darting off to frolic in the nearest daisy field.
Psychic energy is also peaking, and you may feel exceptionally tapped in to Universe. For those of us who don't consider ourselves to be "gifted", this might be overwhelming to just "know." The thing is, we're all "gifted" in one way or another. Take advantage of this time of deep connection to your inner knowing and remember the feeling. With practice, you can evoke this connection any time you need it. Don't be frightened by this power of your psyche!
April 20, 2019: Card O' the Day: The Hierophant, reversed. The reversed Hierophant echoes the 10 of Wands' qualities of over kindness or generosity and taking on too much. What the reversed Hierophant adds to that is the feeling that you "should" take on more than is good for you and to give too freely of yourself to be a good citizen.
Rigid or dogmatic ideals and principles have become weights around your neck that are holding you back and tying you down. Your current path/job/relationships have become limiting and restrictive. And yet you keep with them because you've invested so much time, money, and emotional energy in them you think you HAVE to stay in this box you've built for yourself. Pulling out now would be admitting to mistakes, right? Wrong. Nothing works or serves forever.
To chuck it all, or any portion of it, feels wrong because what would the neighbors say? Certain societal rules and/or personal rules have become obsolete for you. Guess what? That's called growth and that's a good thing. The fact that you're feeling unsettled, resentful, boxed in, etc. indicates you've outgrown your current circumstances and are expanding into your True Self. Hooray for you!! Keep dumping, shedding, clearing, and saying no, and STOP feeling guilty about it!
April 19, 2017: Card O' the Day: 10 of Wands. Your strong will, dependability, and generosity makes for personal gain and success. Others within your sphere will also find abundance that overflows from your cup. But be careful that you don't find yourself taking on too much and allowing yourself to become overburdened because of that wonderful generosity and dependability. Often those of us who have hidden self-confidence problems will over compensate by being Super Friends or Super Employees so that people "like" us. We make ourselves "indispensable" to feel worthy of any accolades or warmth received.
If you are starting to feel resentful, or already do but don't know what to do about it, sit with yourself and ask why you have become the "go-to guy/gal." Are you afraid your friendships depend upon you taking people to the airport, answering the phone at 2:00am, picking up the tab, etc., etc.? Are you afraid you'll be passed over for promotion, will get a poor review, or a limited annual raise because you don't take on every single project or cover for less productive co-workers?
Being true to your highest Self means you'll be generous without throwing yourself under the bus. You'll delegate tasks to those able (or better qualified). You'll have the backbone and self respect to say no to friends who are taking advantage of you. This doesn't make you're a "bad" or "selfish" person! It makes you someone who will be respected and loved for who you are, not for what you can do to make others' lives easier. By receiving this card today, we're being told it's time to release current burdens that are not our own and change the patterns of behavior that put us flat on our backs with a Welcome mat on our faces.
April 12, 2017: Card O' the Day: Nine of Cups. Well now, isn't this a lovely card! You've earned it, too, by digging in deep to find your True Self--that Self that's connected to Universe and all that's really important. Through connection to Universe you'll find contentment and won't be satisfied with small and limited ideas. Under the guidance of this card, you can make your wishes come true and take full responsibility for your own happiness. Too often we expect others, money, or stuff to "make" us happy and that's impossible. Happiness comes from your own soul and actions.
Material, emotional, and physical wellbeing is indicated with this card. Not because it lands in your lap, but because it dwells in your heart. The Nine of Cups is reminding you of the happiness, contentment, and fortunes you already have, and you're being asked to make the most of it.
Just as every cloud has a silver lining, sunshine also casts shadows. Our shadow today is what's been swept under the rug. Take a deep breath and lift the corner to see what must be dealt with. You're strong enough right now to make long overdue amends, properly grieve losses, or diplomatically address a problem with another person. It might be icky, uncomfortable, painful, or squirm-inducing, but you'll be soooooo glad to have that over and out from under your rug!
April 11, 2017: Card O' the Day: Strength. We could all use some strength after yesterday's fear and sadness due to losses or deprivation. Strength gives us the calm control, patience, and poise to face all adversity. Assert your strong character and will to embrace the divine intervention that is coming. The dynamic balance inherent in this card will help you sustain and perpetuate your inner equilibrium as you recognize and nurture all things that make you feel safe and neutral. If you're holding any heavy belief systems that aren't working for you or aren't serving you as they should, dump them. You don't need that psychic weight in times of stress--or ever, really.
Strength is the quiet fortitude required to face all internal and external darkness and challenges. It also feeds your passion for life and encourages your true self to do the spiritual work that will elevate you to tranquility and joy.
Our herbs for the day include cayenne pepper to stimulate blood circulation and energies and raise vitality. Angelica is also good for power and strength.
April 10, 2017: Card O' the Day: Ten of Swords. Many people fear the Death or Devil cards in Tarot readings; I fear the 9 and 10 of Swords. The loss, heartbreak, and self-doubt indicated in these cards is truly devastating. However, the chakra governing the Swords is the heart, which means that love for oneself and others will get you through your worst nightmares. As with Death or the Tower, the sweeping changes and/or losses provide space for expansion, growth, and new beginnings. Take your time and grieve the way you must, but trust that transition is very near and Universe will get you to the other side of Hell.
You may be tempted to hide your wounds like an animal for fear of appearing weak or being taken advantage of during your most delicate state. There's a temptation to cling to what was and to try to keep the lost things near after the deprivation or departing. By using sassiness, black humor, and passive/aggressive words, you keep people at arms length. That's a mistake; you need your tribe right now, so let them see your sadness and/or grief and help you.
Fortunately, determination and acceptance is also present in this card. You CAN do this.
April 7, 2017: Card O' the Day: Six of Swords, reversed. When upright, this card acknowledges recent difficulties and indicates moving away from them to calmer waters. However, when reversed, this card signifies a resistance to moving on and a stubborn will to stay and fight what is more than likely a lost cause. Because it's the "devil that you do know" you're clinging to this old fight hoping more effort and energy will win the day. It won't. You've got to open your eyes to new perspectives and redirect around the obstacle.
While this is a "mental" card, the stuck-ness manifests on the physical plane as well in that you may be unwilling to leave an actual physical place or situation that's not working for you. This card is really delivering the same messages that we've been getting for the past few days, only louder. Beating on a brick wall isn't going to make it move. Think of something new!
The good news is this card also indicates you're getting the idea, are BEGINNING to recognize the difficulties, and are BEGINNING to admit your part in them. That little voice that's whispering to you about how it ain't working out so good is correct. Listen to it before the poor thing has to bust a gut screaming.
April 6, 2017: Card O' the Day: The Empress, reversed. Don't be discouraged by the hard work and lack of instant success! The reversed Empress is indicative of losing concentration, vacillating over choices and actions, and allowing oneself to stall just because things aren't going as planned. Money also may be an issue as lack of funding feels like an insurmountable obstacle.
One may also feel as if one is bucking the system by going against gender/sexual orientation stereotypes. By that I mean a powerful, male CEO is attempting to open a florist shop or a woman is coming off the Mommy-Track to become a business owner in a traditionally male dominated field. When the Empress is reversed typical feminine attributes, roles, or customs are being challenged or denied by oneself or society. Conversely, one may go overboard with the "mother" thing and give too much away in a desperate attempt to be "popular."
What to do? Turn the card right side up and embrace the power of Woman. Guys, you can do this, too. Childbirth is probably the most difficult thing we humans have to do, and only half of us actually do it. Ladies, tap into that birthing energy and PUSH through the lethargy, insecurity, and doubts. Gentlemen, make like the ladies. If we can do it, so can you.
April 5, 2017: Card O' the Day: Seven of Pentacles. This card continues the thoughts from yesterday's Three of Pentacles. Spiritually realign with your true center as you seek your life's work. The seven can indicate independence taken too far into lone-wolf behavior. Circle back to work WITH others and be open to compromise. After all, compromise takes into account the ideas and methods of others, which may be better than yours.
You may feel like you're striving in vain, but you're still laying the foundations and this requires perseverance. Don't allow yourself to sabotage your efforts due to emotional insecurity. Just because you don't see success instantly or you achieve only partial success, it doesn't mean you're a waste of oxygen and should go back to bed. Some risk is necessary in all endeavors, and you'll need to gather your courage to take a leap.
This card is actually a "no" card, but I'm going to encourage you to forge ahead anyway. Your plans may fail, but those small failures will help you see where improvements, new plans, and strategy is required. This will lead to more successful alternate routes or new directions. Be open to unusual ideas and divine sparks of insight as you adjust your course of action.
April 4, 2017: Card O' the Day: Three of Pentacles. Today we're finding, or getting closer to finding, our true metier or life's work--what it is that you're truly meant to be or do. This involves the cultivation of deep concentration and the understanding of yourself that forms the foundation for your developing talents. Desire, focus, and courage facilitate the practical and pragmatic application of your skills and innovation, which leads to a new level of manifestation on the physical plane.
Some learning of a new skill or increasing your knowledge base may be required and is always a good idea. Therefore, if you have a chance to take a course related to your work or a continued education type of program, do it. Otherwise, study on your own.
Three's also represent "middle ways." Your work might involve some sort of group project or cooperation. Synthesizing the work and negotiation between those involved is part of harmonizing all factors in the creation process. Brush off your diplomacy and look to where you can compromise without losing the end goal.
March 30, 2017: Card O' the Day: The Fool. Oh, where to begin.... The possibilities are endless if you can just dare to find your heart's desire and then work your ass off to get it. Do you have the drive, dreams, and stamina to reach for your brass ring? Yesterday, the Wheel of Fortune told us the energies are changing and to be ready for "doing" instead of waiting and planning. The Fool asks you to have faith in Universe to provide what you need to be happy and to achieve your goals.
This card says you can make anything happen if you just believe in yourself. Reach for the stars, people!
March 29, 2017: Card O' the Day: Wheel of Fortune. The Wheel of Fortune represents the inevitability of cycles and changes in life. The turning wheel indicates movement and therefore progress forward. Even if that progress seems sideways or backwards at times, it's still change and movement which is indeed progress. The only time you don't progress is when you're staying stuck. Since this kind of movement is unstoppable; the best you can do is accept the changes, relinquish that which is obsolete or no longer serves, and receive the new orientation.
This is a "yes" card, so the the luck associated with this card can be good if you make good choices during this time of flux. Influences of all aspects of your life will come together in synchronicity to create this transformation. The body aspect of this card is the hands--that with which we "do." Thus, it's a time of doing rather than pausing to consider or waiting for the right time.
Just because things are moving and changing, whether you like it or not, doesn't mean you're going over Niagara Falls in a barrel. You're still captain of your ship and can make choices to steer your vessel. As with yesterday's Devil, there's more recognition and acceptance of responsibilities in your life. YOUR actions determine your destiny, so don't try to blame "fate" for any bad stuff that may come your way. By taking responsibility for your actions, you'll better come to know your authentic self and thereby find inner harmony.
March 28, 2017: Card O' the Day: The Devil. The Devil card represents all that is wrong with the ego. Ego warps personal power into manipulation of others to the gain of oneself. It allows us to be enslaved by our physical cravings, addictions, and bad habits to the detriment of our spirit. It's no surprise that the body aspect of the Devil is the sexual organs. How often have we made bad choices with our "little heads" rather than with our actual brains?
However, if you can harness the Devil's energy to make extraordinary effort towards awakening to your responsibilities, there is enormous potential for abundance and liberation. Know that ambition and proactive intent are not the same as greed and avarice. It's okay to build your own wealth and power; just be sure to do so with integrity, and be careful of doing anything at anyone else's expense.
Keep your heart pure and your intentions honest. Have the character to examine your motives and psyche for unattractive, less-than-admirable qualities, and then go about making amends where you must and vowing to do better next time. Nurture your imperfections to see if you can change them into something better. Love yourself along the way until you do.
March 23, 2018: Card O' the Day: Ten of Wands. This card can indicate oppressive burdens, overwork, and being heavily weighed down. Meaning, it's often a shadow card; but today I don't feel the negative energy. I feel power; I feel the final push to the end; I visualize a giant newspaper's editor coordinating all the stories from all his writers, seeing that the headline typeface is the right size, and following 1,000 threads to details that must be right before the paper goes to print! Perhaps your own project isn't quite on that scale, and yet the constructive, creative force is the same.
While striving to meet or maintain goals, the responsibilities that go with them are weighing particularly heavily right now. However, your strong will and self-sacrifice will make it all happen. (You might need a vacation after, but it'll happen.) The environment is malleable and the energy is flowing, but it's stable and all going in one direction like the waters of a big river.
Lead your minions from the front and delegate tasks where you can, whether that's asking your ten-year-old to empty the dishwasher or having the team leader run the meeting while you take conference calls. See any problems or challenges as rallying points--not "disasters"--and immediately start looking for solutions or how to redirect around the obstacle. Negative reactions like screaming in frustration, blaming underlings, or slamming doors is wasted energy. There's no time for a meltdown, you've got shit to do!
March 22, 2017: Card O' the Day: The High Priestess. The High Priestess is the part in all of us that just "knows." She controls your sound judgment, objectivity, and awareness. She directs our first steps towards understanding reality as changes, fluctuations, and alterations come our way in the next few months. In this understanding, we learn to cope and find serenity. Access the place in your heart where your unconditional love resides to expand trust in your own process and growth.
However, because this energy comes from such a deep place within, the High Priestess can cause us to keep secrets, conceal feelings, and become overly introspective. Difficulty with outward expression is a downward spiral. The more you conceal, the harder it is to reveal, so you conceal more. Eventually, you reveal nothing, and others cannot help you when you need their support.
Peony is associated with the High Priestess. Among other things, it helps alleviate the tension, nervousness, and worry that hold back self-expression. A nice cup of tea may be in order....
March 21, 2017: Card O' the Day: Five of Cups. This isn't a particularly sunny card because it represents heartache, bitterness, and sorrow. There is, or has been recently, an incomplete partnership or a faux friendship within your tribe, and it's brought you disappointment and regret. The disappointment is something I'll allow but not the regret. Extending yourself into a relationship of any nature should never be regretted. You'll always learn valuable life lessons by interacting with and investing in others. Maybe the experience isn't all that precious right this minute, but later, when you're less emotional about it, you'll see the worth of it.
Part of the reason this relationship that has failed was because of unrealistic expectations from one or both parties. That put too heavy a load on the union, and it simply couldn't hold up under the weight. Admit your part in the matter and see clearly what went south. Make notes of what NOT to do next time. Now, let it go as water under the bridge, and turn your attention to the present and what you need to do to return to happiness and stability. The silver lining to this card is your personal power in times of trouble. Tap into it and sail forth.
One other facet of this card is traditional legacies, inheritances, or dowries. In this case, such windfalls are delayed or tied up in court as other family members contest the distributions. See the "personal power" mentioned above. My paralegal side tells me the best thing to do in such messy situations is to participate only when absolutely necessary and ignore the rest. Getting emotionally wrought over court cases that can last YEARS means you're upset for YEARS. Seriously, put it on a very back burner of your life and go about your business.
March 20, 2017: Card O' the Day: Eight of Pentacles, Reversed. Upright, this card is all about working, and adding to your career by learning something new. Reversed, this card takes on the qualities of hating your J.O.B. The work is no longer interesting, you're working too long hours, and you're just darned tired of the whole thing. This lack of passion leads to lapses in concentration, which leads to crappy work practices and product.
You're also working for the wrong reason: money. (Ummmmm, isn't that the whole point, you ask?) No. (Well, yes, we do have expenses to meet to keep the lights on and the car running.) The highest reason to work is to contribute something valuable to your fellow tribe members that they, themselves, cannot make. The tacos you make at Taco Bell are prized by some, and that special flavor can only be gotten at Taco Bell from you. Other professionals such as lawyers, doctors, tailors, chefs, etc. provide different, valuable services and things that only they can produce. Working is a way of contributing something special to your world; making money is only the by-product.
If you're hating what you're doing, then change. Find training programs or schools that will give you the knowledge you need to pump up your career. Find your passion for work again so that going to your job--whether at Taco Bell or a corner office--becomes a pleasure again. You'll be happier for it, and your excellent work product will reflect that personal joy you feel.
March 17, 2017: Card O' the Day: Seven of Cups. There's a real mixed bag of prophecy with the Seven of Cups today. Through daydreaming and fantasizing, we imagine what could be and explore avenues of how to make it all happen. This is a good way to get started on manifesting brilliant ideas. However, the energy of this card can cause one to stay stuck in this dream phase where one deceives oneself into thinking one is actually making progress by examining every dazzling opportunity that walks by. This is merely an illusion, and you're not getting anything done.
Doing and acting are what create tangible things that can reap worldly rewards. This will require you to pass through tests and trials. Merely sitting at the window wishfully thinking about winning the lottery just allows your energy to dissipate. You may try to soothe your guilt of being wasteful with your time by indulging in unhealthy decadence as you pretend you're weighing options and trying to decide about what to do next.
What you really need to do is put down the bag of chips and do something constructive. Even simply taking a walk will shift your focus out of the clouds and into your feet. You must stifle your emotional self for a short time and start making solid, productive choices to blast loose from this sucking ennui.
March 16, 2017: Card O' the Day: The Queen of Pentacles. This is a good card to follow yesterday's reversed Temperance. Digestive or nutritional issues (those tummy troubles) are still in evidence, and one is urged to care for one's physical body. See yesterday's post regarding that.
Despite the apparent confidence, resourcefulness, and self-reliance of the Queen of Pentacles, there are deep-seated and well-hidden insecurities within her. She keeps up a good facade, but that limits her emotional interactions--her nurturing, caring, and trustworthiness is a one-way street FROM her. She doesn't accept it from others, which is to her detriment. The good news is she doesn't get too attached to stuff and is a consummate "garden weeder" and "closet cleaner." Use those qualities to remove excess baggage from your life, whether emotional (insecurity) or physical.
The even better news is the Queen of Pentacles has "fairy godmother" energy like all the queens. Being of the material plane, that means her realistic views, common sense, and ambition will aid in manifesting your ideas. What you get off the drawing board and all the way to fruition with bring you satisfaction and happiness. What better way to kick insecurity in the butt than to be successful?
March 14, 2017: Card O' the Day: Temperance, reversed. When such an important card is reversed, moderation and balance suffer. We tend to view things as either/or and with no compromising middle ground. This will cause frustration and impatience with others as you try to ram your thoughts and methods through ("my way or the highway") even when those thoughts and methods are flawed. Furthermore, you'll stubbornly cling--when all evidence tells you to jettison such a bad idea-- because your ego can't let go of what no longer serves you. Such impaired judgment leads to wasted efforts and resources, which further sours your mood.
All this conflict will go straight to your tummy--that perfect weathervane of stress. You may try to ease your emotional discomfort by binging on sweets, alcohol, or other unhealthy habits. Unfortunately, you'll just cause physical ill health to go with your whacked mood.
My advice? Put your ego in time-out and take a long walk, jog, or swim. Then drink a large glass of water followed by a light meal with a SMALL glass of wine. Go to bed early. All this physical self-care prepares you to listen, and heed, what others have to say and puts you in a better frame of mind to maybe eat a little crow as you return to the table of compromise. Find what's best for the entire organism (your body, tribe, business, community, etc...) rather than what your ego whaaaaaaa-nts.
March 13: 2017: Card O' the Day: Three of Cups. This is a card of block parties, cookouts, and parades for no damned reason...exuberance, fellowship, and sharing the happiness with your community, tribe, or posse. Play and let your cup runneth over so that others can also be joyful. This kind of energy is easily contagious, and we ALL benefit from your smile and kind words as the ripple-effect spreads the abundance of love.
Three's indicate an initial accomplishment after the idea of the Ace is brought to life through the Two. There's still lots of hard work ahead, but problems are easily solved, and the giddiness of having done something constructive, that indeed worked out as you'd hoped, impels you and your team forward.
Finally, find the brightness in this moment, in this day. Give yourself permission to be happy and fulfilled right now. Don't wait to put out the good china for when you get your PhD; use it for lunch after you get the laundry done. My point is that happiness isn't an end goal but a choice of a state of mind. You can choose to be happy regardless of the size of your bank account, the age of your car, or the trendiness of your wardrobe. If you choose to be happy RIGHT NOW, then you can make it through times of stress and sorrow and come back to being happy that much sooner because you'll be well-practiced at the art of happiness.
March 12, 2017: Card O' the Day: Queen of Cups. Actually allowing yourself to feel and be in tune with your emotions, rather than stuffing them down your gullet, is a good thing. It's not weak or being a schmuck to be moved by sympathy and compassion to help someone. While it is true that being open to feeling love and joy means you'll probably get slapped with the occasional hurt, feeling that, too, is good for you. How can feeling hurt be good for you? It builds your emotional repertoire and maturity. As we all know, there cannot be light without dark; so if you want to feel the joy, you'll have to feel the pain, too. The alternative is being completely cut off from all feeling.
Back to our card.... This queen personifies intense feelings and allowing them into your consciousness. She can go a little too far and get overwhelmed, therefore you're cautioned to keep one foot on the floor at all times. Her intuition, creativity, and artistry allow her to manifest dreams and visions with love--that most powerful of energies. She represents emotional maturity gained through experience that deepens the development of one's inner life and connection to Self.
She's also practical and honest. The Queen of Cups brings that into her business world to create success. (Whether one's business is that of running a household or a large corporation, the basic organization and management skills are the same.) Because the Queen is so emotionally tuned in, she does well as a counselor or healer. Yesterday's Prince of Pentacles is also a healer...are we receiving hints? Worth exploring to see where you may act as a counselor or healer in your life.
March 11, 2017: Card O' the Day: Prince of Pentacles. Another young and male energy card.... The Princes signify the boundless zest for life that most young men have. They're willing to take risks and are very action oriented. Princesses signify ideas and the decision to make a move in a different direction, while Princes represent those first steps and the daring to take them. However, this level and type of energy can be a little headstrong and pushy and needs to be carefully harnessed and directed.
The Prince of Pentacles is of the earth and so he's the most stable, loyal, reliable, and determined of the four princes. He's most concerned with business, finances, and the material world. He's very practical and patient, which is extremely helpful when embarking on long-term investments, business plans, and the like. He knows foundations have to be laid before the main building can take shape. These same qualities that make the Prince so valuable in the financial sector also make him a bit stodgy and inflexible. Therefore, don't carve everything in stone and be open-minded to changes of plans.
This Prince is the least esoteric of the court cards. He's skeptical of spiritualism and wants to touch and feels things to gather the proof his intellect requires. And yet he's a natural born healer who goes about fixing the physical body with any tools available--including alternative methods--because he knows they simply work and isn't going to question what he can see, definitively, makes himself, or others, whole again. Therefore, his appearance today is a reminder to keep your body in the best condition you can.
March 10, 2016: Card O' the Day: Prince of Cups. The Prince of Cups is a romantic (not in the sense of lovers sending roses), idealistic person with the energy of a young man setting out to make HIS own way on a quest for selfhood. By contemplating your motivations and being truly curious about yourself, you'll understand why you do things the way you do and what it is that makes you angry/happy/sad. Allow meditation to become a part of each day to be more receptive to the messages from your unconscious.
You don't need a specific setting or ritual to practice meditation and self awareness. Just turn off the noise and be with yourself. You can do that on your daily commute to work, any time you're in the car, while gardening, during a jog or swim, etc. Just tune into you and ask.
An important question to ask during your meditation is what sorts of justifications--to yourself or others--are you making for your actions? If you have to justify your actions, they're probably not organic, meaning they don't come from the authentic YOU. If you justify staying in a job you hate because it pays the bills, there are plenty of ways to make money to pay your bills. If you justify staying in a toxic relationship because you're afraid to be alone, you have kids together, etc., all of you suffer. It's time to figure some things out.
March 9, 2017: Card O' the Day: Ten of Wands (again). The trouble with being really creative and driven is that we often overload ourselves when too many good ideas seem to come up at once. This piles a lot of responsibility upon our heads as we strive to meet or maintain the goals we've set or taken on. (Go back and reread my lecture on delegating I posted two days ago). Delegation of smaller tasks allows you to keep pursuing new ideas and putting your attention where it's needed most.
This is actually a time of transition in that your environment is stable yet malleable. Like clay, it holds the form you make with your constructive and creative forces. This plasticity allows you to make conscious transformations--rather than being forced whether you like it or not--that will soon resolve current problems. Therefore, keep working reasonably, be creative in your management of tasks, and plan well to prevent pile-ups later.
March 8, 2017: Card O' the Day: The Devil. Unfortunately, we live in a material-obsessed world. The "haves" keep a tight grip on what they've amassed and the "have nots" are desperate to gain what they don't have.* We're in bondage to that materialism and allow ourselves to become enslaved by and subservient to the necessary means--whether we like those means or not--to acquire stuff.
Certainly we're dependent upon a money system to buy what we cannot make for ourselves, and it is nice to have the lights on. But practicing fear of lack and desire to "keep up with the Joneses" only keeps you chained to a choice, situation, or actions that are against your best interests and highest self. This leads to discontent, frustration, and the lie that you're "happy" on the gerbil's wheel.
However, this card also points to potential for spiritual abundance, liberation from the "shoulds", and freedom from the rat race. How? You're going to have to shift your priorities away from materialism to mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health and wellbeing. Down-size your lavish house that you can barely afford. Skip upgrading your phone/car/computer this year. Make do with the wardrobe in your closet. Ditch the trendy gym and take a hike outside. Choosing freedom from material stuff will help you gain mastery of your life force so you have the courage to do what you REALLY want, not just what pays so you can buy more stuff.
*(I'm not talking about basic human needs such as food, water, shelter, and clothing. That's for another discussion.)
March 7, 2017: Card O' the Day: Ten of Wands. Burdens, responsibilities, and burnout are inherent in this card. I wonder if it came to my hand because I have a mile-long "to do" list next to my mouse pad? Do you, too, feel like crawling back in bed so you don't have to face the "to do" list?
Firstly, don't be shy about making an actual list. There's a wonderful little jolt of accomplishment every time you cross something off. Go ahead and put "trivial" things on the list so you get to cross things off frequently. Twenty little jolts of accomplishment add up. You don't have to save your list for big things like getting your PhD and solving the problem of world peace. Organizing the little things into a list helps you see there isn't more to do than you can handle and it helps to prioritize the tasks or fit short tasks into longer ones. By example, I'm writing the Card O' the Day while the laundry is washing. The laundry will be ready for the dryer by the time I publish this post.
Secondly, prioritizing and organizing your duties and burdens allow you to handle them more efficiently. When you're feeling efficient, it reduces the overwhelm of your very extensive list of everyday burdens and added extras like organizing taxes. The burnout comes from daily overwhelm so do the best you can to reduce that overwhelm by any means.
Which brings me to number three: delegate anything you, personally, do NOT have to do. Perhaps your ten-year-old won't fold the laundry as expertly as you, but the child will learn and YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO DO IT! Ditto at work. Your way of doing things isn't the only way and if it gets off YOUR list and onto someone else's, that's the big win for you.
March 3, 2017: Card O' the Day: The Empress, reversed. The Empress is Martha Stewart on steroids--the quintessential mother figure of society and culture. Reversed, all that is negated or resisted. This tells me yesterday's Tower, with it's tearing down of values and thought patterns, is continuing into expected gender roles. No longer do you want to be the chief nurturer, caretaker, or housekeeper of your home or workplace. Traditionally "feminine" roles no longer appeal to you or are becoming stifling.
This card and orientation also indicates illumination and clarification. Bucking the gender norms and "expected" behaviors is scary, but it feels right for you as your mind lights up with new ideas and "what if's." The whole point of life is to be happy and live to your highest Self. If going against your culture or tribal norms speaks to your spirit, then do it.* Do what you need to do to become happy, fulfilled, and joyful. Do what your spirit calls you to do and know that Universe has got your back.
*Warning: becoming a selfish asshole won't make you happy. Power grabbing, hoarding, or stepping on whomever gets in your way will ultimately make you miserable since you'll be rejected from your tribe and cast adrift with all your stuff. (Certain powerful governmental figures come to mind at this moment.) And, of course, let us not forget Karma! If society doesn't punish you for being an asshole, Karma will.
March 2, 2017: Card O' the Day: The Tower. Time for some house cleaning...well, it IS almost spring. The Tower is one of those BIG changes cards. The Death card, in my humble opinion, signifies physical changes--meaning changes to your physical world, if not your actual body. The Tower indicates radical mental changes like changing religions or political parties. We're looking at some pretty big shifts in thought patterns and ways of viewing the world.
Right now the world is in upheaval. The grabs for power and stuff has intensified to the point of wars of "mere" words to actual bombs being dropped. People are dying literally and figuratively. For those who literally transition, their time on this plane is finished and they have something else to do now. For those of us left behind, we must "die" figuratively by witnessing the carnage and becoming so unsettled by it that we must do something to change what's going on. And that's how social unrest is once again rested: enough people get outraged by what they see to band together to force societal rule changes.
Whether your social unrest stops at your front door or extends into your community, you're going to be driven to make changes. It could be that you give up gossiping, vow to be kinder to people with a different complexion than your own, or try a new church. It could be that you're driven to run for public office or join a local protest. Just know that even the smallest changes in your attitude and way of viewing the world will make ripples into your community. Your ripples will join others and make waves. And waves, when big enough, destroy the old to force us to rebuild something new.
February 28, 2017: Card O' the Day: Justice, reversed. Some part of your life is being upset...a part that usually runs smoothly without a lot of thought to it. This unvarying, ordered, and stable facet is being disrupted and thrown off balance. Old rules of thumb are no longer valid as this disturbance jogs the status quo. Therefore, you're going to have to rethink priorities and make some changes in the order of your life. Unexpected or involuntary changes are never comfortable, and you may be experiencing indecision and inaction. Try your best to go with what has been forced upon you.
Intolerance and/or bigotry is lurking around the edges here. Look to where that may be true in your heart/mind or if it's being directed at you. Are you pooh-poohing certain options because they involve people of another tribe*? Are you being dismissed based upon your tribal affiliations? This intolerance probably has to do more with resistance to the changes than any actual prejudice being displayed, but it's coming up so I urge you to examine your motivations and feelings just in case.
(To me "tribe" means gender identification, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, or any other way you identify yourself within your social environment.)
February 23, 2017: Card O' the Day: King of Pentacles, reversed. After a great deal of study and contemplation of the Tarot this past winter, I've decided to included the nuances of reversed cards in my readings. I hope this deeper interpretation aids you on your journeys.
The King of Pentacles is represented in mythology by King Midas--all he touches turns to gold, including his food and daughter. A classic example of the need to careful of one's wishes. When reversed, such "wealthy" energy goes a bit sour. The Earth King's feet turn to clay as he becomes plodding and dispirited. Old hurts rise up to cause one to be possessive and insensitive. One feels dull of mind and emotions.
It's also coming up on tax time, and I know I'm dreading the collection and organization of receipts and expenses for my CPA. All I can think is "UGH", don't make me do even the simplest mat; but I know full well my CPA will charge me more to wade through my receipts--it's cheaper to give him stuff gift-wrapped. But UGH!!! This is our good king reversed: cranky, sluggish, normally sharp business acumen off, and feeling stupid about finances.
The good news is this too shall pass. Cuddle into your easy chair with a warm drink and take time to contemplate your navel. Really, things aren't so bad, and if you do an inventory of the wealth in your life, you can find contentment with what you already have. Put thoughts of finances and money out of your mind for the day and be gentle with yourself. Fighting this type of muddy, sticky energy only makes you sink deeper in it. Relax and flow out of it naturally.
February 21, 2017: Card O' the Day: The Magician. The Magician stands at a crossroads and must make some important decisions. However, there's hesitancy and difficulty getting started down the road. "Mr. Self-Reliance" has all the tools he needs to make a go of it, and yet there he stands, stuck in his own self-doubts and fears of not being good enough.
To get past this self-imposed block, you'll have to acknowledge your fears and weaknesses and ask for help. Once you've gritted your teeth and asked, accepting the help offered and working well with others will be the next hurdle. A big part of the problem is communication--it ain't happening. Poor communication of wants and needs prevents you from getting what you want and need. This leads to a feeling of cynicism that the World is against you, and you'll always lose in the end.
Get out of your ego and get honest with yourself. This will require a bit of soul-searching, so get quiet and listen. Once you've decided upon what you want, make a list of who you need to help you get there. Need money? Talk to a banker. Need space? Talk to a real estate agent. Sitting at home in a sulk because you "never" catch any breaks will mean you'll be sitting at home not catching breaks for quite a while. ASK and you shall receive.
February 20, 2017: Card O' the Day: Five of Swords. Fives are volatile, indicate conflict and challenge, and generally upset any balance you may have created. Swords means it's all happening in your head, which isn't good because that's where we do the most damage to ourselves. In your efforts to move ahead and "be somebody", your bright ideas are driven by personal avarice to "get more" and the jealousy of perceiving your neighbor "has more." This envy and greed is rooted in your fear of failure and of not measuring up. Therefore, any victories or gains will be tinged with defeat and regret as you step on others to get somewhere.
The questions are: "failure" according to whom? "Measuring up" to what, precisely? If you can ditch the win/lose mentality and look at each experience as just that--an experience--then you can also get out from under the self-oppression that keeps you in the rat race.
Yes, you may have to swallow your pride a bit...but if you can stop caring what your neighbors think, then there's no pride to swallow! Without pride, and fear of losing esteem, you're free to be you. You're free to make mistakes, learn from them, try again, and succeed. Without pride you'll find that your motivations to do anything change from the need to impress the outside world to the need to impress the "inside world"... namely your true self.
February 19, 2017: Card O' the Day: The World (Universe). The World or Universe card describes the perfection we all seek. It's a moment in time when we are perfectly balanced in our bodies, we know EXACTLY who we are, and can see the way forward with utter clarity. It's dreamlike in it's eerie weightlessness as all is understood, there are no more questions, and everything makes sense. Effortless union and integration of the inner and outer life has us floating in utter homeostasis.... No fear...no "what next"...just being flawless as all earthly concerns and need for security falls away.
Sounds like heaven, doesn't it? That's what our Creator wants for us: the peace and weightlessness of heaven. Can we have it while still in our corporeal bodies? Yes, I believe we can for brief moments. I used to feel it when I hit the perfect balance point during a pirouette. Gymnasts and high divers probably feel it at that split second when they've hit the peak of a move, when effort has ceased, but before gravity reclaims them. I'm sure all of you have felt that special moment when you were simply present from one heartbeat to the next.
Today, find that moment. Fix that feeling in your mind, your flesh, and your spirit so you can remind yourself THAT is why we exist, to feel THAT. If you can make that feeling happen in your own life, can you bring that feeling to another? I beg you to try.
February 18, 2017: Card O' the Day: Prince of Cups. The Prince of Cups is idealistic, emotional, and driven by his passion. We've been getting lots of Swords lately, and I was afraid we would get too cold and intellectual. Then the King of Cups came along to remind us to keep emotions in the loop because all head with no heart doesn't work. Now I think the Prince has appeared to prevent us from swinging too far into the heart. Idealism and passion are what make you get off the couch and join the protests, but going too far will have you fire bombing stuff in the name of righteousness and the baby seals.
Balance the heart and mind so you're able to present your side of the issue without sounding like a nut job. Honestly listening to the other viewpoints will give you more information (factual ammunition?) that you didn't have before. Being informed will make compromise and union that much more possible. Righteous causes and protests must be kept grounded in reality and practicality. The Love Canal was not cleaned up in a day, Los Angeles didn't suddenly have clean air, and it took years for civil rights to be won. Whether you're on a social crusade or making changes closer to home, balance the head and heart to be effective.
Peridot (a/k/a Olivine) helps to soften the emotional turmoils and promotes mental capacities and clarity. Perhaps keep a chunk in your pocket or wear a piece for your next big meeting during which you'll present your plans for sweeping changes.
February 17, 2017: Card O' the Day: Two of Pentacles. I hope you go off the cruise ship (Six of Swords) ready to roar! Challenges are coming and you'll need to reorganize your thoughts and priorities to keep up. However, the true keyword here is "flexibility"; it's be crucial for you to be flexible in your mind and with your time in order to balance all that's coming. However, you can handle the complexity of it all--Universe believes in you and has given you all you need to keep going.
New skills and/or training may be in order for greatest efficiency. Maybe a crash course in QuickBooks, a free lecture on designing your own web site...something small and quickly completed but nonetheless useful and important down the road. It'll be something you'll be glad you did and will help you better use your personal resources in the wisest manner. Fortunately, this card gives the gifts of optimism and innovation so that you can manifest your ingenious ideas and expand your world.
Some aroma therapy might help if you can stand the scent of patchouli (some can't). Patchouli aids in balancing finances and the accompanying growth. Even if the scent is barely noticeable (a little oil on the bottom of your feet, incense in another room), you'll benefit from the chemicals and electrical impulses released in your brain in response to the patchouli.
February 16, 2017: Card O' the Day: King of Cups. The other day I commented that we'd had three Swords in a row, and I was afraid of us getting too much into our heads and not paying enough attention to our feelings. We truly need balance between intellect and emotions so we're not too ruthless or too much of a doormat. Fortunately, Universe agrees, and we're being reminded to keep the heart in the loop by having the King of Cups appear to us today.
This king, as with all kings, denotes business dealings and professional stuff. He's competent, perceptive, and makes great connections with his tact, compassion, and diplomacy. Because of that, he's also indicative of abundance (we like that!). Other useful tools are intuition, creativity, wisdom, and calmness in his emotions. The King is well connected to his feelings, but also in control of them. (Sometimes his emotions may seem a little overwhelming to him, but no one else would notice his discomfort because he keeps those things under wraps. Which, in a business deal, is not necessarily a bad thing.)
If you're business or profession doesn't seem of prime importance right now, this king represents connecting more deeply with your emotions in a mature way. You're getting to the bottom of some old hurt and bringing it forward for healing once and for all. Dealing with this stuff will help you embrace your true self so you can live more comfortably in your own skin. I don't pretend this will be easy--and the King would much rather heal others than do the work and heal himself--but it's necessary. (And if business IS really on your mind right now, this part is still for you, too.)
February 15, 2017: Card O' the Day: Eight of Wands. Our cruise ship is coming to port and our time of forced inactivity is coming to a close. Not that we were just sitting on our asses getting a tan--there was plenty of mental activity keeping us entertained. That intellectual and creative activity is about to pay off as tensions have resolved, and your decisiveness about what to do next is coupled with courage and confidence.
Once you disembark, a lot of stuff and plans are going to come together rather quickly. You'll always be "in" for those important phone calls, the people you want to have power lunches with will be available when you are, and you'll have your own energies streamlined and efficient. Enjoy this time of synchronicity and good news!
However, (there's always a "but", isn't there? *sigh*) wait until the ship is properly docked, tied, and for the gangway to be secured. There is such a thing as too rapid advancement--such as building the house before the concrete foundation has fully set and cured. If you use too much force to shove yourself along your road, you'll ruin the whole thing. Guard against shiny objects and quick fixes if you want long-term success. Of course it's fine to have "one night stands", but if you're looking for lasting results, you're going to have to be patient and work for it.
February 14, 2017: Card O' the Day: King of Swords. The good news:
This is a king, which means we've got some formidable energy coming our way in the brains department. Yesterday I asked you to let your imaginations run and allow for brilliant ideas to flourish. Asked and answered in the form of the King of Swords! He's a brilliant intellect, intelligent, and analytical with a strong commanding presence. He's enthusiastically driven by all things regarding ideas, systems, and communications.
The bad news:
He's also critical of others and dispassionate about anyone else's ideas. He can be aggressive with his own views and bulldoze over others in his necessity to be heard and validated. This is also the third Swords card in a row. Be careful you don't get stuck in your head; stay connected with your feelings because Heart and Gut have a lot of wisdom to contribute, too.
What to do? Exercise your judgment fairly (this king is good at that) when it comes to the ideas flowing fast and free. Champion the best new ideas EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT YOUR OWN! Expand your small-minded viewpoints beyond the nose on your face. If you can temper your need to be right, and take good advice or suggestions, you will lead the pack forward and get the credit for the inevitable success.
February 13, 2017: Card O' the Day: Four of Swords. Remember yesterday's little boat trip? You're still on the boat; and if you try to jump out and do something now, you're just going to get soaked, swallow half the sea, and have to drag yourself back on board like a half-drowned rat. Save yourself the embarrassment and sit tight for a little while longer.
Therefore, since you're being forced to take a break, use the time wisely and allow your imagination to wander about to see what it hatches. Contemplate each idea for feasibility. If it seems like it'll work, quietly begin the initial preparations. However, don't marry that very first plausible idea! OptionZZZZZZZ are what we want here and what we have time for. We're stuck on a boat! Come up with three brilliant, doable ideas, and about three more crazy ideas--that might just actually work, you never know!
Another thing you can do on your mandatory cruise is reeeee-LAX. Spend a little nurturing energy on yourself to heal the latest battle wounds and rest up for when it IS time to move and manifest those brilliant ideas you're thinking up. During this calmness, keep an eye out for hidden "treachery." I'm talking about sneaky tricks you play on yourself to avoid the crap you've swept under the carpet. You're stuck on a boat, with no getting off it until you get to port, so it's a perfect time to get real with yourself.
February 12, 2017: Card O' the Day: Six of Swords. Very often, this card is illustrated with a boat moving away from the viewer. Near waters may appear turbulent, but the distant waters are calm. Sometimes there are people in the boat who look weary from their troubles. That's precisely where we're headed today: to calmer waters. We are actively moving away from unpleasant situations, taking help where it's needed, and remembering our true selves.
Until recently, we've been avoiding certain truths, but with the acceptance of our limits, we can release the tension of the fight against those blocks. With this realization comes reorientation to reality and recovery of balance and harmony. This puts you in the right mindset for being receptive to new perspectives. Look forward with optimism!
Vervain is the herb associated with this card, and it promotes optimum liver function and overall health. Since anger is "stored" in the liver, I can see why we get this liver-cleansing herb. There's no room in the boat for old anger. Taking it on your journey to calmer waters is counter-productive; therefore, leave it on the shore because it's behind you now.
February 11, 2016: Card O' the Day: Seven of Swords. Swords are generally pretty gloomy because the mind is where we usually beat ourselves down most of the time. However, today we're seeing the upsides of this card: the clever intellect and all it can do. More foundational work is being done through research, allowing the creative imagination room to wander, and the discernment to decide what can work and what can't. Strategic new plans will challenge old assumptions. Be sure to examine past mistakes (without self recrimination) to see what caused them so you don't go there again. Other good advice is at hand--take it, too.
The animal watching over this card is the skunk! That confident, determined, independent, resourceful little stinker is urging you to use your willpower to make your goals real.
Just be aware this card does have some heavy shadows associated with it. Not so bad today, but I do want you to be tuned into any deception--your own (this WILL work!) or from somebody else (I've got a bridge to sell you...). Some things are not as they seem, so keep your eyes open and your mind sharp. Keep your ideas grounded and aligned with your center. This is where that "strategy" comes in....
February 10, 2017: Card O' the Day: Three of Pentacle. You're in the process of finding a new pattern of work--your life's work? I don't know. Being on my own 4th career, I'm a big fan of changing gears every so often to keep it fresh and interesting. However, what you're working on right now has the potential to be more than adequate, and I think it'll be vastly engaging for a while. Your inner guidance systems are helping you get organized and get constructive with your energies. While 3's indicate an initial completion of something--Stage 1--there's still lots more work to be done to reach the current goal. However, take yourself out to dinner because this good start is worth a small celebration.
The deeper meaning of this card is that you're developing the concentration and understanding of the foundation work that's required to achieve this new level of manifestation on the material plane. You need to practically and pragmatically apply all your innovative talents to your dreams to produce the tangible results you desire. Remember this is a road that must be walked, not run, and that flexibility in methods and end goals are necessary. Rigidly clinging to one plan doesn't allow for changes and accidentally fortuitous growth.
February 8, 2017: Card O' the Day: Five of Pentacles. The prevailing energy of this card is of worry about finances and material resources. We're acutely aware of stuff and money right now. You may be experiencing actual hard times or just think you are. Do an inventory: are you homeless? hungry? If not, then realize things could be worse. If you're unemployed or under-employed, seek assistance to make ends meet until you can fix the employment issue. That's what I pay my taxes for--to help those who need it.
This card also indicates business acumen, endurance, and active industry. Therefore, your less-than-best employment situation is going to improve if you put the effort in to make that happen. Newly-weds are also tied to this card--according to some interpretations--but I don't see that as being literal. It's more of a figurative energy representing new business opportunities, new employment, or a newly started enterprise.
It's normal to feel uncertain or worried about paying all your bills, but allowing that worry to run your life isn't constructive. Making changes to improve your financial situation is scary, and a lot of us feel inadequate and inept. Those perceived "flaws" of yours are holding you back. There are plenty of people with physical and mental "imperfections" who nevertheless start their own businesses or make a space for themselves in an established business by finding a need and filling it.
None of us is perfect, so start hustling. You may learn something surprising about yourself along the way.
February 6, 2017: Card O' the Day: Two of Cups. ...acceptance of oneself is the essence of the moral problem and the acid test of one's whole outlook on life. That I feed the beggar, that I forgive an insult, that I love my enemy...all these are undoubtedly great virtues. What I do unto the least of my brethren, that I do unto Christ. But what if I should discover that the least amongst them all, the poorest of all beggars, the most impudent of all offenders, yea the very fiend himself--that these are within me, and that I myself stand in need of the alms of my own kindness, that I myself am the enemy who must be loved--what then?...(Jung, CW 11, paragraph 520, as quoted in Dr. Irene Gad, Tarot and Individuation: A Jungian Study of Correspondences with Cabala, Alchemy, and the Chakras, pp 276-277.)
Self acceptance is the key to self love. And if we cannot love ourselves, than I believe we cannot fully love another. When we cannot forgive our own flaws and love ourselves anyway, how can we forgive the flaws of others and love them fully? The Two of cups is the sign that you're getting there; it represents unconditional love, a controlled energy flow, and happiness within. When you feel the union of all the opposing forces in your soul and can open your heart, important relationships will transform.
In anticipation of all the disagreement with the above, let me clarify. I do not mean you should embrace to your bosom all those who have truly hurt you and forget all wrongs. What I mean is that you love those enemies from a distance. It's perfectly okay, and advised, to maintain personal boundaries and have "deal breakers." If another person's behaviors and actions hurt you, the relationship between you changes to accommodate the necessary distance. But the love doesn't have to stop.
February 5, 2017: Card O' the Day: Princess/Page of Cups. The Princess indicates dreams and visions about self-development and a readiness to try something new in relationships. I don't see those relationships being romantic, but more professional or business-like because today we're seeing the career opportunities that are connected with this card. Life's experiences have led you to a threshold of emotional maturation and transformation that will be well-suited to what lies ahead.
This Court member is tuned into the unconscious side of the brain and listens to intuition and gut feelings. You should do the same because the idealism indicated here can morph those dreams and visions into "pie in the sky." By no means ignore your personal values and belief systems, just know that we live in an imperfect world where compromise is necessary.
February 4, 2017: Card O' the Day: The Hierophant. I have a T-shirt with a photo of two children hugging. The color of their skins is not the same. The caption reads "Nobody is Born a Bigot." I believe this is true; hate and "otherness" is taught to infants by their parents and social environments. We are born clean slates that are inherently leaning towards "doing good."
The Hierophant represents our innate, inborn Universal Law of "I'm okay, you're okay." Along the way of life, that idea gets muddled in the race to survive and accumulate the most and best "stuff." This card has appeared today to remind us of our real purpose in life; the true meaning of our INDIVIDUAL lives. Each of us has The Hierophant within us who teaches and guides us along our paths.
Our intuition, that little whisper in the back of our minds, that tells us what's a good idea, what's not nice, or what we should do for the betterment of our community (and thereby the betterment of ourselves)--is our individual Hierophants. It is the wisdom and respect that keeps us on the straight path and calls forth our best selves. It's the part of ourselves where we formulate and express our own personal philosophies and the individual vision that guides us to greatness.
It's time to shut up and listen to what you already know.
February 3, 2017: Card O' the Day: 10 of Wands. Okay then! The Princess of Wands and Ace of Pentacles got us all fired up and ready to take on the world! You haven't eaten in a week and you've hit the cruise ship endless buffet.... Now we're getting into the "eyes are bigger than our stomachs" territory.
This is all so exciting because you've been in a rut for a while and have been yearning for fresh energy. After a while, the normal routine will crush your creative imagination, and you'll stagnate in a perfectly lovely life. But remember, you do have a daily life and responsibilities to attend to as well as all the new, flashy ideas you're cooking up. This means you're going to have to choose between new possibilities and current burdens.
Look to what can be let go of and/or delegate certain chores. Book club getting a bit tedious? Ditch it. Put together a carpool so you don't have to drive quite as much. Any kid older than 8? Teach him/her to do laundry FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY, empty the dishwasher, care for the pets (including poop duty), etc. The little darlings will NOT be scarred for life if they have to help around the house.
I know you've always been the one to run the household, and hold an outside job, and, and, and.... And, frankly, your spirit is getting awfully burned out under that load. You, as in "me, myself, and I" want more, to be more. Doing what YOU want will bring freshness to your entire life--your marriage, relationships, business, family--and EVERYbody benefits.
February 2, 2017: Card O' the Day: Ace of Pentacles. As with all the Aces, we have great potential, resources, ingenuity, and the necessary raw energy to start a new venture. You're standing on a firm base from which to launch this new beginning for a material achievement. However, it's not going to land in your lap. Hard work, practicality, persistence, and wise use of assets is necessary. Be realistic in your goals. It's good to have a dream, but you'll need to take things one step at a time to ensure success. Otherwise you'll just waste your energy and capital.
Because of the potential for material accomplishments, there's the accompanying potential for power, satisfaction, happiness, and abundance. That's IF you can fight the urge to hoard your initial gains. All energies must be kept fluid. Reinvest in your business, pay it forward where you can with small acts of charity or donations, and then set aside something for a rainy day. Voids in your life are really just illusions and living with a "lacking" mindset will encourage miserliness or spending pennies you could be saving.
Living in lack also means you're living in insecurity and self-sabotage. Know that ALL beings merit respect, are sacred, and have value. Even you. Begin showing that respect and care to the "man in the mirror" and the next person you meet today.
February 1, 2017: Card O' the Day: Princess/Page Wands. The Ace of Wands is a flare up of rushing energy; with the Princess it comes as more of a restlessness, unease, or dissatisfaction that creeps up on you. It's like the sap rising in the trees in late winter; the bears are starting to stir in their sleep. It's a delicate and fragile energy that must be carefully nurtured like the kindling in your camp fire.
But this shifting is the messenger of the new dawn coming. The growing wonder is balanced with wisdom, and there's plenty of resourcefulness and cleverness to support you in your goals. The trick is to corral that bee in your bonnet because the Princess can have some pretty impractical fantasies. Don't dismiss her ideas completely but rather see which parts ARE realistic and/or fun. It's rare that brilliant ideas come right out of the box viable and possible. Everything needs to be tweaked.
So get tweaking because adventure is waiting....
January 31: 2017: Card O' the Day: 16 The Tower. Some powerful energy blowing through right now...this marks the sixth Major Arcana in a row. Death: demands change. The Magician: gives you the energetic kick in the pants to do it. The Hermit: lights your way to change. Temperance: balances pros and cons of those changes. Justice: cuts the ties that bind and prevent you from doing it. Now The Tower....
You know those Christmas letters that people send every year? "My daughter made Honor Roll uh-GAIN!!" (She's also 16 and pregnant and is now being home-schooled. Don't expect prom pix.) "My son is the captain of his lacrosse team!!!" (...and just got suspended for hazing new teammates and dropping below required academics.) "I'm happy to say, through the XYZ diet, and light exercise, I dropped 40 pounds!" (...and had $50K of liposuction on my ass.) People do the same on Facebook every day. Brag, brag, brag, my life is perfect! This stuff constitutes building The Tower--the facade of socially accepted constructs to present one's "best self" to the public.
And yet you know damned well it's a mask, and the more you wear it and embellish it, the heavier and more confining it becomes. But you keep wearing it because you're ashamed of your True Self, your cellulite, nose hairs, uni-brow, and grey roots. Without the mask you feel not good enough compared to everyone else--WHO ARE ALL WEARING MASKS, TOO!!!! These "towering" facades are all built on quicksand, and ready or not, they're coming down. You're going to be outed as a fallible human being, just like every other person on this planet.
The good news is that, after the initial shock, you're going to feel so free, released, and liberated. You'll finally be able to BREATHE because that mask has been blocking your nose and preventing authentic breath for years. All the false illusions you've been holding up to your community and yourself will drop away so you can finally become authentically connected to your real life. Your ego won't have to scramble to hide your shit anymore because everyone will know--and you'll know all their shit, too, so you don't have to be ashamed of your particular brand of shit. Oh, what a relief!
P.S. I'm not saying you get to stop being compassionate or polite. What I'm saying is you get to be real, not nasty. You can authentically reveal that you really hate LGBTQ, blacks, women, immigrants, etc. That's who you are. But you don't get to snarl it in the faces of those people and do everything you can to oppress them. EVERYone has a right to be here and live as they see fit AS LONG AS IT DOES NO HARM TO ANYONE ELSE.
January 30, 2017: Card O' the Day: Eight of Cups and 8 Justice (in the deck I used this morning, Justice is the eighth Major Arcana). Yesterday I spoke of blowing smoke up your own skirt to convince yourself your choices and paths were good for you. Today, we're being told certain choices and paths aren't. Both cards are about facing both internal and external truths. Justice is completely objective and dry with her assessment of the situation--it's neither good nor bad, just wrong. You're not stupid, bad, or naive for having gone down that road.
The Eight of Cups is encouraging you to stop beating the dead horse and move on to look for something better. Staying put, trying to put lipstick on that pig, will only drain you further. If the thing/situation/person once served you well, you've now outgrown it and it's time to say good-bye. The feelings in Cups is going to make that hard and painful to do, but the Sword of Justice preserves us from the continued difficulties by quickly cutting away the crap you don't need. Severe, yes; but ultimately merciful because then you can move forward.
This combination of cards reminds me of getting divorced. Hurt like hell at the time, but I ended up so much better off, and so did my ex's. That's something to think about, too. How will your movement away from the person/situation impact the other? Your absence will require them to make changes, which will impel them forward as well. Win-win all around.
January 29, 2017: Card O' the Day: 14 Temperance. Temperance is your personal guardian angel, dwelling within you, who's ready to offer whatever guidance you need. She represents the wisdom and understanding that temper our reactions with discrimination and analysis. We've grown up and no longer just react with a squawk and fit to get what we waaaant noooooow! She's basically our life paths personified, and Hermit's lantern lights the way. (The big secret behind these two cards is you already know your path and it's well lit. Think Dorothy: her "over the rainbow" was right in her own backyard. She just had to have some help--from her Hermit and Temperance--to realize it.)
This card also indicates finding the balance and a livable compromise between the extremes in your life. Always remember there's more than one solution to every problem--Temperance is the one to show you the many ways possible; you just have to ask her. She's your inner composure and the unity of your mind and intuition that stands back to assess a situation without anger, fear, or ego getting in the way.
As the Card of Sagittarius, she's about tempering, refining, improving, and sharpening your personal attributes for better use and performance when you take those creative chances that make life so exciting and fulfilling. Be observant of even the smallest validations along your road to keep you excited and moving forward. But don't blow smoke up your own skirt and continue down a path that's not right for you. It's okay to make mistakes and choose something that seemed great at first. Temperance, if you stay in close touch with her, will tell you the ugly truth if it just ain't working' so you can change tack.
January 28, 2017: Card O' the Day: 9 The Hermit. I've been reading a lot about the Major Arcana of the Tarot and the Cabala and how they intermingle and support each other. (Some historians believe the Tarot is based upon the Cabala.) The "holy grail" of the Cabala is to really know thyself and be good with that. We're SUPPOSED to be happy and enjoy life! But the only way to do that is to be completely comfy in your own skin and never mind the love handles, your short temper, or your perceived lack in money, education, beauty, etc.
The Hermit is representative of this True Self with whom you're supposed to identify and love. His lantern is actually your inner guiding light. That light is also the one you hide "under a basket" most of the time because you're fretting about not being good enough. His appearance today is yet another invitation to go deep and sit with your light. Sit with yourself and all your limits and warts, and be good with them. Be your own damned light and never mind whether EVERYbody approves of you and your light. Most won't, but some will. Those people are your tribe.
Because you're supposed to be happy and like what you do, you're going to have to figure that out, too. How? Start doing stuff. If it doesn't quite fill your sails all the way, tweak your route. You didn't expect it to suck that much, then drop it and try something else. I'm working on my FOURTH career choice, my family mostly thinks I'm nuts, but my tribe thinks I'm fabulous! Will I change routes again in a few years? Maybe. But at this moment, I'm allowing my light to guide and shine.
January 27, 2017: Card O' the Day: 1 The Magician. The Magician indicates strong forward motion and changes in fortune. Meaning, your spirit is willing to move, thus the appearance of this card. Consciously, though, you're not quite sure what's happening, so it's a toss up whether those changes will be good.
The Magician is in control of all the elements, which signifies he's the "talent man." Sometimes even we have no idea of what we're capable, but this guy does. He also has the means to reconcile opposites, so if you think your new idea wouldn't be compatible or possible in your current life, think again. Figure out how you can have it all by listening with every one of your senses--heart and mind, economic circumstances, and what you're willing to put in energetically. Sometimes avenues are hiding in plain sight, so look around...even at the crazy stuff.
The Magician is a tricky bastard who decides what's important, not you. You may think "this over here" needs your attention, but in actuality, it doesn't. Paying attention to "that" will allow for waaaay more progress. Allow this inner guide to direct your choices because he's more aware than your conscious, day-to-day persona is. The Inner Guide can be dark, too. Incorporate that darkness to be completely whole so you can use ALL your tools for the greatest good of yourself and your tribe.
January 22, 2017: Card O' the Day: 13 Death. Numerologically, 13 reduces to a 4, which is a very stable number. It offers structure, stability, and a solid foundation. However, it's also indicative of the limitations that require one to break free of a self-imposed prison. The counterpart of Death is The Emperor, who is the one asking--urging--you to accept the challenges if life that will afford you the most growth.
I've always felt Death represented physical changes like ending a lousy relationship, moving out of a living space that isn't good for you, or quitting a dead-end job. Whereas The Tower indicates radical mental changes such as reversing or abandoning religious, political, or social belief systems or judgments about your world.
Up to now, you've been expending an enormous amount of energy maintaining an illusion of who you are. Keeping up appearances, keeping up with the Joneses, and generally running on a gerbil wheel not of your choosing. It's time to quit kidding yourself that this is working for you and that you're be authentic to your truest self. It's time for ending some stuff to make room for your transformation.
A metamorphosis of this magnitude doesn't happen overnight. It may take years, but now is the time to start. Begin planning to quit your dead-end job by saving a nest egg to keep you afloat between the time of quitting and finding a new, better job. Start taking a class every semester towards a new or higher degree that will enable you to advance in your career. Something a small as re-arranging your furniture can be the onset of bigger changes for your greatest good.
January 21, 2017: Card O' the Day: Four of Pentacles. The recent Cups cards have emphasized the need for emotions in our lives. But emotions get messy--we get hurt when things don't go right, and the uncertainty of whether it'll go right is really scary. Therefore, we get the Four of Pentacles to lock us down in stability and structure for the purpose of self-protection. With this card, needing to be in charge and setting limits and boundaries gets a little skewed towards "too much" in order to maintain control and possession of your emotional well-being.
Unfortunately, this Scrooge-like behavior to dam up the flow of energy OUT also dams up the flow of energy IN. Like Scrooge, you can hoard resources but you'll have locked the doors to creativity, self-expression, and love. Clinging to the old and/or things by which you measure your self-worth means you'll get nothing new--and the new is what you need to grow.
You must learn to trust that Universe will take care of you. Even if you hit rock bottom, there will be someone there to help; you only need to reach out your hand. Focus on the wise utilization of your resources, not grasping on to them. Remember, Scrooge was emotionally and spiritually bereft even though he had money to burn. His fear of loss and immobility was so great that he gained nothing and stagnated in his musty old mansion.
January 20, 2017: Card O' the Day: Seven of Cups. There are several options before you and it's making you feel emotionally charged because of the uncertainty about which road to take (those options may be literally emotional choices). You know, of course, you can only pick one, so some very attractive offers may have to be passed up for your greatest good. Don't be surprised if you feel a sense of loss or mourning for a time.
When faced with too many important decisions, we often become overwhelmed. Past choices may make perfectly viable options seem more scary or impossible than they really are. While sifting through the pros and cons, beware that you don't slip from active and constructive exploration into mere daydreaming. Putting it off or avoiding it altogether won't make the need to decide go away. Just know that some of your best choices may be time-sensitive and will expire before you make up your mind.
In all the squirming you do, twisting between this and that, be careful not to indulge in histrionic emotions or unrealistic attitudes of "no one has it as hard as me!" With this dramatic mindset, not everything will be as it appears--not sooooo awful, and not soooo great either. The astrological conflict for this card is between the urge to create (spirit, soul) and the lazy desire for ease and pleasure (heart and body).
What to do? Lock your wimpy, whiny self in a closet, get sharply analytical and logical, and decide already!
January 19, 2017: Card O' the Day: Three of Cups. Yesterday we talked about the material security and stability of a family unit or a cohesive tribe. Today, the Three of Cups is here to remind us of the emotional benefits. "Home" is the center of our strength and well being. Trust in the essential goodness of others to find your perfect community where you can experience all the positives that can come from relationships and engagement in society. You need this group setting for your emotional health and fulfillment.
This card also indicates a lot of joy running through this group, and parties and play will spring up as the good feelings overflow. Don't be afraid to actually embrace and FEEL these emotions. Often we don't allow ourselves to really immerse ourselves in joy. It's too sort-lived, we feel it's undeserved...so what's the point of letting your hair down when it's all going to end?
The point is to live in the moment and relish the good feelings if only for the duration of the party or the weekend. Yeah, you have to go back to school or work on Monday, but if you relaxed and experienced the joy fully, you'll be refreshed and that joy will continue to linger in your heart. The angel of (emotional) Abundance offers her love to this card and all of us today--open your heart to receive it.
January 18, 2017: Card O' the Day: Ten of Pentacles. When I drew this card, I thought we had finally achieved a bit of stability and respite from all the hard work. Alas, the whispers of intuition are more correct: this is what we have to look forward to if we keep on plugging away and learning to love wholeheartedly without strings attached.
The Ten is reassuring us we're on the right path for building material wealth, stability, and security for our twilight years. In addition, if we're careful, our work will live past our physical bodies in the forms of legacies or works of art. We'll also be given the chance to enjoy the fruits of our labors with loved ones surrounding us and helping us to perpetuate the cycle we begat. We can have a life fully lived with not only ample material energy but also abundant spiritual wealth.
Astrologically, there's a conflict between the mind and heart with this card. The quick assessments of the mind tend to race ahead of the slower considerations of the heart. One is cautioned not to judge the book by the cover--take the time to allow emotions to weigh in. A stone to help you do this is Tiger's Eye. It promotes the tolerance of different points of view and helps one see the unity in the world rather than the division.
January 17, 2017: Card O' the Day: Two of Wands. A little Fire energy to get you going.... This card signifies a crossroads and choices that have to be made. Your vision is beginning to coalesce as your mind is given free rein to imagine the possibilities. The astrological conflict inherent here is between the urge to action but the desire for inner equilibrium and peace...in your favorite chair...by the fire...with a cup of tea.
However, the reality is the urge to move always wins because eventually you have to use the bathroom, feed the cat, and go to work. While you're up, listen to that creative inspiration coming from the Wands. The Ace signifies raw potential, but the Two is polarized to present options. Be mindful of your resources as you ponder those opportunities before making your move, and know that those "resources" include individual courage and greatness!
January 16, 2017: Card O' the Day: Eight of Swords. No, no, no! Feets don't fail me now!!!
You can't do it all alone; you're going to have to accept help, collaborate, and form relationships. And once more than one cook is in the kitchen, things can get awkward. Hiding from or ignoring the sticky situation won't make it go away. Balls up and make a move. And no, you can't take your ball and go home in a huff! You have to stay on the playground and solve this problem. Use your intellect to view things from a higher or different perspective.
The trapped feeling you're suffering is actually being bound by a rigid social convention placing you between what seems to be a rock and a hard place. You may face criticism or censure for your decision, but it's got to be done. It's going to hurt to make the right decision. You may even be the one to take the hardest hit--especially since you had a hand in all this.
In the end, however, you'll have learned a valuable lesson and will be able to look yourself in the eye again while brushing your teeth. And that'll be waaaaay better than slinking around your own house like a shadow.
January 15, 2017: Card O' the Day: Ace of Hearts. Interesting that we haven't had any Cups this year until now. And then what we do get is the Ace....
Aces, as you know, are beginnings; Cups are emotions; combine the two and we get the beginnings of feelings that are pure, objectless, and not yet differentiated. A raw upsurge of feelings is making you rethink how you've been responding towards others, and there's a potential for any kind of love (a romantic lover, a new friend, a good working relationship, etc.). As we all know, love is tremendously healing, and we're encouraged to take advantage of and nurture this opportunity for emotional experience and growth.
Open yourself to the abundance relationships can bring to your life. Yes, they can be scary and sticky, but a life with little emotional risk is awfully drab and unfulfilling. Rewards do not come without risks. And speaking of risks, check in with your heart when making decisions. If all choices are made with only dry analytical logic, a key component will be left out. How you FEEL about a decision is as important as the pros and cons.
January 14, 2017: Card O' the Day: Three of Pentacles. After all the personal work of the last two weeks, it's time to start including your fellow beings. The Three of Pentacles signifies group efforts, the vital role each of us plays in the big and smaller pictures, and the realization that often we need help. It's becoming time to reach out to others for input, validation, cooperation, and an exchange of resources and abilities. An example of that would be to hire someone to build your website for you--a really dynamic one that'll catch everyone's eye--rather than settling for the DYI yawn-job that you're capable of.
Three's also indicate an initial completion or realization of step 1 of a multi-step goal. Yes, go ahead and have party to celebrate this early success, but just remember, you're only getting started and lots of hard work is to come. Therefore, having solid plans--including a couple backups--in place will be helpful as you motor along your road.
Something else helpful: cultivate the talent of deep concentration and understanding. Use those tools as a foundation of your work to manifest your dreams. The astrological energies governing this card conflict between your emotional desires and practical common sense. You're going to have to combine both useful qualities to balance your motivations.
January 13, 2017: Card O' the Day: 4 The Emperor. The Emperor embodies the ambition which drives us to move our ideas out of our heads and onto the planning board. He uses his authority, discipline, and keen foresight to make his goals come to fruition. He owns the self-respect and sense of his potency and capacity to create that The Hermit and Nine of Pentacles sent you deep inside to find. His appearance today shows you what that self-assurance and confidence looks like.
Furthermore, having this card come up means we're being challenged to DO something with that creativity and drive. Learn to confront the big bad world with your inner resources of strength and experience. By now you've developed a set of morals and values that work for you and allow you to sleep at night; they will guide you if you have questions about your actions.
The Emperor is a very just, if somewhat rigid, entity. He very much understands that using personal power must be done so with responsibility. If negative consequences arise after administration of that power, one shall stand and accept repercussions and make things good. This is one time rigidity is a good thing: when adhering to what's right.
January 12, 2017: Card O' the Day: Nine of Pentacles. OH FER CRYING' OUT LOUD! I need a new deck....
But perhaps not....
Yesterday The Hermit sent us deep into our own psyches to find our truest Selves, and here's what you've found: you're worthy, enough, clever, and talented. (And darn it, people like you!) Really, this card is about finding the permanent sense of self-value that cannot be taken away even if you lose everything you've worked for. That strong, solid identity doesn't depend on anyone else for agreement or validation and can only be found deep inside.
You should absolutely be proud of yourself for having the wits and endurance to survive all challenges, build wealth, and achieve all you have. You've earned all rewards, and because you recognize it with your own eyes, there's permanence and indestructibility of that satisfaction.
Is this reading not resonating with you? Are you moping and saying, "yeah, well, what have I ever done?...I'm just a loser..."? Guess what? You're alive and have access to the Internet to read this. This means you've been doing something right to be here today. If I can't convince you with this reading that you're not a loser, then think about this: you have unique abilities and worth that No. One. Else has. Ponder it, and tell me I'm a liar. I challenge you to not find ONE thing you're good at. Be proud of that One Thing because THAT'S why you're here on this Earth. And that's what the Nine of Pentacles is telling you.
January 11, 2017: Card O' the Day: 9 The Hermit. At the beginning of the new year, it's common for people to make resolutions to quit smoking, lose weight, change their diets to be more healthy, save money, volunteer, etc., etc. Do you notice the common theme of this list? Self-improvement. We are urged towards self-improvement when our inner wisdom starts to say "ahem! A, B, or C isn't in our best interests; we ought to do something about that." Our truest Selves really want us to be the best we can be, to be happy, and to succeed in life.
The appearance of The Hermit is calling us to continue our soul-searching journey begun at the beginning of this month. He suggests you slow down, retreat to a quiet place, and focus your awareness to find that catalyst for real change. The only way you'll stick to any of your resolutions is to find the deep, burning light (represented by The Hermit's lantern) of desire for change for your greatest good. As you sit quietly with your highest Self, you'll find you actually like him/her and want the only the best. Such a discovery is deeply healing and peaceful.
Digging deep like this is hard to do in our noisy, busy world. Lapis lazuli is a stone of wisdom that can calm the mind to allow clarity of the perception of your tasks. If you can stand the taste of it (I can't), licorice also helps calm the mind and aids one in feeling at ease with oneself. The number nine is a powerful number of spiritual development and meaningful self-discovery.
January 10, 2017: Card O' the Day: King of Swords. While you're hanging around contemplating your navel, let the King of Swords stimulate your spiritual development and self realization. He's really good at recognizing the true from the false because he often puts his mind over his heart. This can be a "bad" thing, being too dispassionate and all mind and no heart, but in this moment I think we need some cold hard truth. Self-reflection is the time to get really honest with yourself--blowing smoke up your own skirt is a TOTAL waste of your time!
The King is also good at observing the finer points of things and using his inner resources wisely. Representative of legal or financial advice, this card may indicate a need to ask a professional to help with your ideas. Expressing your creative power needs to be done in an organized and well-planned manner. Otherwise, those sparks just fly off in different directions and nothing comes of it. Prudence and discipline were mentioned a couple days ago; the wisdom-with-age inherent in all the kings also speaks of prudence and discipline.
January 9, 2017: Card O' the Day: The Hanged Man*. The appearance of this card today indicates the potential for a profound transformation, wisdom gained through release, rebirth, and awakening. Being suspended like this means you're subjected to a forced break that makes you slow down. This moment of quiet allows you to consider your situation and provides for an opportunity for new awareness.
You actually have all the answers you need in your own subconscious. Look within, and while you're there, notice how easily your mind causes you suffering. Now go deeper to examine your fears of change. Those same fears of change keep you trapped in an unhealthy rut. To blast out of that rut, you need to disrupt and reorganize certain patterns in your life (i.e. diet, relationships, work habits, etc.).
Continue to study your world dispassionatel, and look at many viewpoints--some of which might be rather ludicrous at first blush. But even the craziest ideas have a little wisdom in them. Flip the coin over and look at the tails side...what do you see?
*In all honesty, the first card I pulled was the Nine of Pentacles AGAIN! I simply couldn't squeeze anything more out of it that hadn't already been addressed. But in hindsight, I can see The Hanged Man has a few of the same qualities as the Nine of Pentacles: self-examination and reliance and reflection on what to do next. You're asked to face your mental fears (Eight of Swords). The recent Wands, when you're ready, will give you the energy needed to make the changes to get out of your rut.
January 8, 2017: Card O' the Day: Five of Wands (again!) (I swear I'm shuffling the cards, people). All this fire energy coming our way indicates we're hatching plans, coming out of our cocoons, and ready for adventure. Notice the "fear card" of the 8 of Swords that gave us pause a couple days ago. Certainly this creative and original energy welling up inside us is scary, no doubt about it, but you can do this.
Leo and Saturn govern this card. Saturn is staid, ordered, and disciplined (very good qualities for getting things done timely and well). Leo, on the other hand, has got a head of steam and wants to charge ahead. Thus the conflict inherent in this card. This is the tricky part: harness them both. Have the balls to step out of your comfort zone, but do it wisely and with planning, because Leo's impulsiveness and rashness can cause problems.
Know that you're on the right path; the Five of Wands is validating that for you. The conflicts you're running into are actually meant to slow you down a little and make you think and question whether you're doing things right or need to adjust. View these as speed bumps to prevent you from revving out of control. Saturn is helping you to move forward under control, he's not trying to thwart you.
January 7, 2017: Card O' the Day: Queen of Wand. I sense a theme here: having faith in the power, judgement, and abilities of self. It's repeated again in the Queen of Wands as she's ambitious and assertive with a strong sense of what she wants and how to get it. Having a good head for business means she'll do well in leadership roles in a corporation or in running her own business. Some group effort is indicated here, so the Queen's energies may be urging you to join, or start, a group which reflects your interests and beliefs.
However, her fire energy can get a little too hot. This queen can get jealous if she perceives a rival keeping up with or surpassing her. Her sense of righteousness can make her create tempests in teacups just to prove her way is best or her ideas are the brightest. Yes, be assertive in your self-discovery and promotion, but beware of others' toes. A true Queen is never a bull in a china shop.
The energy of this card is rather like the creative "fire in the belly", and her governing chakra is the solar plexus; however, the pelvic region is also important here. Should your guts get too tied up in your passions, have a cup of raspberry leaf tea. It's a diuretic and aids in pelvic circulation. Physically, this is a good thing to have freely functioning kidneys, removal of excess water, and good circulation. Metaphysically, the movement of blood/water equals the movement of love (love and feelings being of the water element). So, if your love is freely moving, you can't get so far up your own butt that you become a bee-yotch. Just saying'.
January 6, 2017: Card O' the Day: Nine of Pentacles (again). A-HA! So, you're ready to get back on the horse, untuck your tail (see 8 of Swords), use the energy of the 5 of Wands, and manifest your future. Good. Bravo! Go back and re-read the 9 of Pentacles from January 2nd because that stuff is still relevant. The cards got you all revved up, and then you choked a bit. However, I feel you're ready and wanting your success, it just scares you to be so bold as to make it happen.
Discipline, dedication, and circumspection will get you where you want to be. Life ain't easy; it doesn't get handed to you, so prepare yourself for the battle it is. Have some dark grapes--they're high in iron, act as a blood tonic, and are a diuretic. With healthy blood comes energy and a clear mind. Grab some turquoise to remind you of the success and joy you currently have so that you can grow and dwell in it.
With an optimistic outlook and being happy in your own garden, right this minute, you can achieve anything you want. And, by learning to be happy in the present moment (however slightly), you'll have the strength to climb out of any hole you fall into, because even while in a hole you still have a little happiness to light your way and ease your heart.
January 5, 2017: Card O' the Day: Five of Wands. Whether you're working with others right now or are in a "me, myself, and I" sort of mode, there's interpersonal "stuff" happening. The collaboration or team effort is getting lost in a fight for top dog position. Disagreements, conflict, and competition are making you defensive as you, too, are looking to be "right."
The volatility of 5's, combined with Saturn's intensity, and the dynamic energy of fire, make for a pretty fierce card. The trick is to use this fierceness well rather than letting it consume you. How to do that you ask? Step back. Step out of the fray, set down your own needs and wants, and just observe the situation. Look for the commonalities rather than focussing on the differences or trying to shout the loudest.
Now what do you see? Transformative solutions should begin to take shape with cool observation. Once you see the road before you, harness this fierce energy for your greatest good and rock on!
January 4, 2017: Card O' the Day: Eight of Swords. So, I made you look within to take stock of and line up your personal power and resources with the previous cards. This implied that you would then USE this power and resources to take charge of your life, stride forward, and CONQUER THE WORLD! But your mind, when faced with such big challenges and the confidence of your soul, went yipping back to its cave with tail tucked.
That's the trouble with our minds. That fabulous intellect that can sort good ideas from bad, discern truth from falsity, and weigh the pros and cons can also analyze you right into a deep dark hole. When one wisely views a challenge from all angles, one sees not only what can go right, but also all that can go wrong, wronger, and wrongest! This card indicates you're over analyzing yourself into a corner. All the constriction, confusion, and limits are self-imposed through fear of failing.
You may be unconsciously choosing to stay in a dead-end situation because you feel you can't be "happy" until X, Y, and Z have been accomplished. Nonsense! I say you can be happy right now, even though you're only one semester into your degree, your car still has twenty-two payments to go, and you haven't been promoted to management yet. It's all in how you look at life and react to it.
While you can't control certain life events, you can control how you face them. Use your unemotional intellect to find your way out of the corner--it might smart a little, but it's for the best. This card is an omen of luck. You choose whether it's good luck or bad luck.
January 3, 2017: Card O' the Day: 4 The Emperor. The Emperor is the self-made man type, so it follows well the Nine of Pentacles. Even though this energy is every masculine, it asks you to recognize the power and support of Mother Earth. This card is supporting your movement and gives you the energy to claim your personal power and truth and to hold true to your values and beliefs.
Oder, stability, and structure are on your mind as you create a firm foundation on which to stand and from where you can put your life in order to better realize your goals. This includes taking mature responsibility for past and current mistakes so you can assimilate the valuable lessons always inherent in failures and goofs. Therefore, you can be confident in the ways you handle challenges--you have the experience and knowledge that will get you past rough spots.
January 2, 2017: (Thank you to all my fans for being patient during my short medical leave!) Card O' the Day: Nine of Pentacles. Being of the Pentacles, we're looking at physical plane manifestations and successes. However, nines are associated with The Hermit who is about making his own way, finding resources from within, and being true to self.
From the Pentacles angle, we have stability, abundance, and growth found through prudence, discipline, safety, and discretion. These inner resources, used well, lead to the outer resources multiplying for you. But don't go running off and spending your earnings all in one place; re-invest your rewards into your business and yourself to keep the cycle of energetic flow alive. You can't eat all the corn without saving some aside to be seeds for next year's garden.
The freely flowing material energies will help you travel paths that you previously thought were impossible. Go ahead and dream because the resources are available. You'll find that using these hard-won, SELF-earned resources will make you feel rather pleased with yourself. And that's a good thing! Nothing feels better than saying, "yeah, I did that!"
Here comes The Hermit's part: finding your strengths, going with them, and being good with that. Find out how to face your nagging fears of not being _________ enough (fill in the blank), release that self-judgment and come home to yourself. You ARE ________ enough! True success is not about $$$ in the bank or a flashy new car but traveling your path with integrity, honor, and compassion towards all.
December 14, 2016: Card O' the Day: Nine of Wands. Beneath the stability of the four lies resistance and anger left over from some unresolved issues. The changes are coming from deep below and thus disturb everything above it. From the inside out, raw emotions bubble up.
However, along with the unpleasantness comes courage, and you'll see through lies and deceptions--especially your own. This will bring the first recognition of what actions are needed to go forth with strength and conviction.
Don't forget to maintain healthy personal boundaries. We tend to over commit during this time of year, and that will certainly add to the anger and unresolved issues. And maybe those are exactly the "unresolved issues": bearing too much of the "holiday traditions" for your tribe. Think about it....
December 13, 2016: Card O' the Day: Four of Cups. Along with yesterday's prosperity, joy, and friends, we continue with the safety of a Four. It's pleasant here in our protective home, and we want it to stay that way, or even wish it could go back to the "good old days." A familiar routine and adequate financial means lulls us into a warm cocoon. Holding onto this safety and nostalgia is self-protection from the fear of changes.
Nevertheless, the soul is murmuring that change is necessary and coming. Uncertain about what to do next, we're sort of on stand-by--actively waiting for a signal about the "next thing." Instead of passively circling in our holding pattern, constructively use this comfortable and secure environment to contemplate your dreams and ideas and prepare for the best time to launch yourself forward. Just outside your front door await new perceptions, relationships, and invigorating challenges.
The element associated with this card is water; the Four indicates stagnation. Therefore the herb that goes with this card is burdock--a diuretic. So, if one does not have handy access to burdock, drink more water, avoid salt and alcohol, and have caffeine. We need to get our "water" moving.
December 12, 2016: Card O' the Day: Three of Cups. Threes indicate the results of collaborative efforts, and with the emotional suit of Cups, we find that collaboration is among friends and family. This is a moment of authentic joy. You can see that joy for the precious gift that it is because of the previous hard times you've endured. We can't see how good we have it until we live in lack for a little while. The conflict inherent in this card is between the cool judgement of the mind and the warmth of the heart and emotions. Allow your mind to relax and just feel the joy for a bit.
Right now all essential needs are being met, friendships are tight, and rifts have the possibility of healing. It's a "cup runneth over" kind of time. Our environment feels secure and warm and comfy.... Just be careful you don't grow roots and stay here forever. As nice as it is here by the fire, we do have to go out to the barn and feed the livestock. Meaning, we still have to take care of the day-to-day chores and can't just lounge, become stagnant, and get stuck. Truly happy feet are those that keep moving and dancing and learning new steps.
December 11, 2016: Card O' the Day: Princess/Page of Pentacles. The theme of new view points continues with the Princess of Pentacles--this time about material abundance. She represents a willingness to explore new options in business, untapped resources, or different financial rewards. She also represent good news about prosperity and benefits, so keep an eye out for "signs", newspaper articles and ads, or a tidbit from the grapevine. This is about checking ALL sources, networking, and actively drumming up opportunity. Don't just check MonsterJobs or LinkedIn and call it good.
The Princess likes clear definitions when it comes to stuff, so she's one to "take a class on that." You might need to brush up on certain skills or further develop those that you already have. Study and apprenticeship are options that must also be considered.
And again, I'm going to harp on the journey being the real point to life, not just the mansion and fancy car at the end. As your ambition leads you to work hard and creatively, do enjoy what you have right now. See a penny in the parking lot? Pick it up and enjoy that tiny moment of good luck! Someone holds the door for you at the grocery? Smile, say thank you, and nourish that little glow of warmth the entire time you shop. Remember that even the humblest potato soup provides nourishment and warms your belly.
December 10, 2016: Card O' the Day: Five of Cups. The astrological properties of this card are double "activity" and "flexibility." This means forward ho! with a dash of thinking on your feet. This forward motion requires you to let go of what was and accept what is today. Release judgment and unrealistic expectations. Cut ties to stuff and people and make some big changes. This is the emotional part of the "change your world view" of yesterday's card.
These big changes are going to be hard, and it's perfectly okay to mourn those losses. Some of that stuff (or people) has been around awhile, and you're attached to it for one reason or another. However, none of the stuff you're taking to the curb really resonated with you. Admit that some of it was actually quite disappointing and you've been disillusioned by the promises made--either to yourself or by others--that didn't come to fruition.
Don't be afraid of your raw emotions; feel them and wallow a little. Have a good cry, eat a pint of Ben & Jerry's, and watch a stupid movie in your rattiest sweats. Then drop those emotional crutches and old mindsets and evolve. You've got 21 more days to take out the trash accumulated so you can start a new year fresh and free.
December 9, 2016: Card O' the Day: 21 The World. There are infinite opportunities for success and abundance for all of us. The question is whether you choose to make the most of them. Will you deny yourself short-term pleasure for long-term gains? Will you accept a job that's "beneath" you, but work hard and do your best at it in furtherance of your long-term goals? Will you work with people who are not of your ethnicity, religion, or social circle? Don't rule anything out simply because it's not in your usual scope or routine. You're being challenged to think beyond the end of your nose and see the big picture.
We are called to understand the world, as each of us see and understand it, is only ONE aspect of it. Join your fellows, unite together, and take responsibility for each other and our world--the seas, the skies, the flora and fauna, and ALL creatures. No single one of us is worthy more or less. Create homeostasis where you sit and allow that calm and balanced clarity to spread to every place and space, real and imagined.
December 7, 2016: Card O' the Day: Eight of Pentacles. I'm in the process of incorporating a new deck into my collection and dovetailing the author's ideas and interpretations of each card into my own database of Tarot knowledge. Today I was reading about the pip cards of the Pentacles suit. The Seven of Pentacles was equated to a mid-life crisis where one had to decide between staying with the route created in youth and traveled for many years--safe, profitable, socially accepted, comfortable--or taking a risk and trying something new.
The Eight of Pentacles is where you've made the choice to risk it all and do something YOU want to do, what you love--or at least what you think you'll love. This is coming at a time when you, and your tribe, believed you'd settled into a career. It might be something a little "out there" and you might begin laying the foundation for it on the sly because you're afraid of being laughed at for doing something others may call foolish or a pipe dream (i.e. reading tarot cards, becoming an actor, or going back to school for a new profession.)
You'll have to learn new skills to manage this new endeavor, so that's why this card is often called the "apprentice" card. One will be incorporating artistry with function, and that will create happiness and satisfaction within your soul, spirit, and heart. Yours. Not your parents' (You should be a doctor or lawyer!). Not your partner's (You need to make us more money so we can afford XYZ!). Yours.
December 6, 2016: Card O' the Day: Princess of Cups. Can I NOT pick an original card for once!?!?! *Sigh* Okay, what did I miss on Friday...
On Friday the Princess was urging you to dream and dare, and now she's offering the opportunity to manifest your ideas through a friendly offer. She's really good with people, so you're being called to take other people's feelings into consideration as you manage them and guide them forward towards the goal. Office politics, especially this time of year, are generally a challenge, but with the Princess in your pocket, you'll navigate them with ease.
Ambitious but with a practical sense, the Princess can be a workaholic to the point of ignoring her family. Again, this holiday season is not the best time to let enterprise overtake the feelings of those around you, so attend parties, schmooze, and spread good cheer. It'll be remembered when the new year begins and it's time to buckle down to work again.
December 2, 2016: Card O' the Day: Princess of Cups. The Princess of Cups is a passionate dreamer who embraces adventure. Her youthful energy and idealism drives her to want things to be better and to create ways to make them so. She's very willing to help and adapts beautifully to her circumstances.
These qualities are amazing and generate the drive necessary to move mountains. However, one must live in reality and move those mountains in a practical and grounded manner. Yes, dream big and tall! But follow through and dare to actually manifest those dreams. Integrate your visions with common sense to make them happen on this plane and not just in your mind's eye.
December 1, 2016: Card O' the Day: Nine of Wands. No, this is not a repeat of yesterday's card. I drew the Nine of Wands again.
The inner tension I spoke of yesterday is more demanding to be named for what it is: anger. The temptation to add another layer of armor is less defensive than offensive--as though you're spoiling for a fight or looking for hidden enemies or an explosive scandal. This dangerous, unstable energy can erupt at any time and without warning unless you come to understand it. However, unreasonable obstinacy may prevent you from doing so.
It's your call whether to bring this strong energy into your life. You don't have to be afraid or ashamed of your anger, but you would do well to look deeply into what's troubling or blocking you to see where you may have contributed to the problem and/or attracted this energy. (I almost wrote "negative" energy, but I'm not going to label it. It just is, and it's your job to harness it to good use rather than waste it.) By coming to grips with, and accepting, your darkness, anger, defensiveness, and all that you may view as "bad", you'll find inner peace and healing.
November 30, 2016: Card O' the Day: 9 of Wands. Nines are powerful numbers, and this is the 2nd nine we've received in just four days. They represent creative expression, culmination, and transition as well as the resolution between one's idealism and the realities of life. The Nine of Wands in particular is indicative of great strength, driven dynamic energy, courage, and endurance.
Times are tough, and one is fighting bravely to get through them. There will be battle wounds that result in permanent scars. Unresolved inner tension may explode in fits of temper and hostility during your personal wars. But know that you will come out okay in the end, and you'll be stronger for having persevered.
For future thought: once you have come out to sunnier skies, you'll be tempted to add another layer of armor to protect yourself from similar injuries that you'll suffer during these rough times. However, be proud of your scars and of the lessons and wisdom you learned getting them. The REAL strength is not in adding more protection, but dropping it to open yourself to healing energy and wholeness. You can't receive the warmth of the sun if you're locked away in a dungeon.
November 29, 2016: Card O' the Day: 16 The Tower. The warning of a coming change of mindset and belief systems was whispered in the 9 of Pentacles; now it's being shouted by The Tower. We cannot and must not build our "stairway to heaven" out of gold, fine things, or even simple stone. This tower to enlightenment must be built in one's soul and serve as an inner temple, because it's only there you'll find your best answers to the mysteries of your life--not in a physical, stone place.
Prepare yourself for a profound change in your beliefs and sudden insight in your psyche. You may experience crisis, clarity, or revelation that leads to the re-evaluation of self and spirit. This card signals it's time for the destruction of inflexibility and the rigid, calcified forms that can no longer your accommodate growth. The Death card often represents the "death" of something tangible that allows something else tangible to fill the new space. Meaning, getting fired from or quitting a job to pursue a new job/career/dream, or ending a relationship to be available for someone better. The Tower is the "death" of intangible beliefs, mindsets, or concepts to make room for new insight or perception and the resulting spiritual growth and learning.
Welcome these new thoughts! Elevate, illuminate, and evolve your higher consciousness through loving, healing, and the end of static beliefs and thoughts. Climb your personal "tower" by actively choosing compassion, integrity, and joy.
November 26, 2016: Card O' the Day: 9 of Pentacles. This card indicates growth, refinement, abundance, and success. Also the discipline and self-reliance of the wolf is present. But be aware that such love and pursuit of gathering wealth and comforts can morph into shallowness. The plant associated with the 9 of Pentacles is Dark Grapes, a diuretic that will help you flush excess water from your body. Symbolically, it's meant to flush the desire for excess resources--keep only what you need. More will only make you bloated and adversely affect your heart and circulatory system.
Scientifically it's been proven that the act of giving enhances dopamine and serotonin output in the brain. Those are the "feel good" chemicals that make us feel happiness. Therefore, for your mental and physical health, develop the positive energy of generosity. Certainly it's morally allowed to keep what you need, but look carefully at your wants v. your needs.
Use this opportunity to move beyond conformity to the "shoulds", limiting belief systems, and self-judgment. Look at growth, refinement, abundance, and success not as how much material wealth you can amass but as traveling your path with integrity, compassion, and honor.
November 25, 2016: Card O' the Day: 15 The Devil. If we remain in bondage to a set of false and tricksy beliefs, ideas, and interpretations that lead to mistaken actions, we risk making choices or entering into situations that are against our greatest good and that of our tribes. It can lead to the fall of man into separateness, hatred, and finiteness as we view others as "other." However, the apparent "evil" is merely the flip side of the coin. Who is to say heads is "better" than tails, or vice versa?
This obsession with the "other" is an enslavement to our darkest fears surrounding survival. Our primal life-force to live at all costs used to be necessary to ensure the continuation of our species. We no longer need to base every action and reaction on mere survival. We have evolved to a place of having the luxury of being able to find, and encourage, our inner light.
The perpetuation of man no longer requires us to kill or be killed; it now relies upon our ability to awaken to our responsibilities to each other. By finding our innate kindness and acceptance, there is potential for abundance and liberation of all of us. Immortality lies in our deeds and the legacies that we leave behind. Ask yourself how you wish to be remembered--and via those memories remain immortal. Do you wish to be remembered as Ghandi* or Hitler*?
(*I fully realize both men were in fact human and thus not wholly good or evil. None of us are. However, we can lean more to one direction than the other.)
November 24, 2016: Card O' the Day: 21 The World. On this day of giving thanks, we see the world as it is--no rose-colored glasses or glossing over the facts. Some parts of the world, and our own lives, are in flux and chaos. We are coming to an ending; not only another year is ending, but behavioral patterns and beliefs are ending. These endings make room for changes in thoughts and actions, and it's high time. The status quo has become stagnant and stale. Some things must die so that others can be born to flower.
To facilitate the endings, let go of certain cultural conditioning that causes you to judge others as different in a "bad way." Different is good stuff! Can you imagine if you ate vanilla pudding every meal, every day!?!?! Differences mean we all can dance within our limits and still be a benefit to the whole of society. We all have a place and a gift to give.
Align with Spirit and discover that you always seem to get what you need the most. It may not always be what you thought you wanted! Step into a state of calm awareness and balanced clarity (hard to do when you're trying to get the turkey out of the oven at the same time the guests arrive, I know) to see the world as it truly is today. Ask yourself what is still unresolved and who you need to forgive. Then endeavor to work on that--after the dishes are done and the leftovers are packed, of course.
November 21, 2016: Card O' the Day: 3 The Empress. Symbolic of the Earth Mother, The Empress is the loving Mother of all. She patiently allows all things to grow naturally and in their own time. Certainly she will nurture and assist, but she understands the cycles of life and that she cannot rush the process to please herself. The appearance of this card indicates creative growth is right on track, so sit back and tend your garden without hovering too closely.
The Empress also represents the love of mother figures. She is accepting, forgiving, trusts life as it flows, and shares all that she has. She doesn't judge harshly or with rose-colored glasses. She sees things for what they are and reacts accordingly based upon the facts she has learned.
As with all nurturers, she often gives too much of herself and forgets to turn that loving kindness inwards. By turning up today, we are reminded to engage in some necessary self-care. If you over give, your own cup drains dry and there's nothing left to give to others or to have for yourself. Then everyone loses, and you become cranky and feel overrun. Since your garden is humming along nicely by itself and the stew is in the crockpot, take this time for yourself. Refill your cup, self-nurture, indulge a bit--everything you need to refresh and renew so you can continue being the rock everyone needs in their lives.
November 18, 2016: Card O' the Day 3 of Cups. This card is urging you to give yourself permission to feel joy even during tougher times. Our souls understand life's trials are cyclic and that it will get better. We can celebrate the warmth of friendship and family ties even during our darkest hours, so go ahead and have a party to remind yourself, and those you love, that you're all still alive. The sun is still coming up each day. Appreciate the precious gift of that sunrise together.
This card is significant and representative of community, sharing, friendship, compromises that ease strain, solace, and the beginnings of healing and regeneration. All your essential needs are being met at this time. Find strength with your people and persevere. Take this chance to go beyond your previous limits and boundaries of love to welcome even more into your clan--even those you may have considered enemies before.
There's an inherent conflict in this card between the cool judgment of the mind and the warmth of natural emotions. Err on the side of love. The world needs more love right now, more than ever.
November 17, 2016: Card O' the Day: 4 of Cups. The structure of this Four is providing a still, stable, safe place from which to observe the world and contemplate the "what next?" Use this moment of pause to explore new ways of feeling, perceptions, and relationships. During these quiet times, we can really allow our imaginations free rein to go "out there" and explore the "impossible." Don't be afraid to think crazy thoughts! You never know what could actually be feasible until you examine it.
Change and transformation are coming; trust that you'll be okay even if you feel vulnerable during this time. Don't allow yourself to miss the boat on any fantastic opportunities due to fear. There's conflict between the desire for security and the need for change and the expansion it'll bring. You're still able to stay in bed for now, but don't hit the snooze button and roll over. Get your noodle working and be prepared to get up and get to the bus station in time to catch the bus to abundance and joy. Soon.....
November 16, 2016: Card O' the Day: King of Wands. The King of Wands is a powerful entity embodying wisdom, honesty, and strength. He also stands for social responsibility and calls you to take action and follow your convictions. Take charge of yourself and initiate new patterns to manifest your own visions and to inspire and motivate others to set out on their own paths or to join you on yours. Today's King believes in himself and urges you to do the same. Step up to the coming challenges and pioneer the way for others!
During times of confusion, unsettled emotions, and seeking, The King's stone, hematite, can provide emotional, mental, and spiritual cleansing.
November 15, 2016: Card O' the Day: Queen of Swords. The Queen's keen discernment allows her to see the truth. And that truth isn't so dandy, but it must be faced. Times are painful, and emotions are raw. We may be suffering feelings of loss, suffering, scarcity, absence of support, and overwhelming change. A period of mourning is natural and necessary as one assimilates and comes to fully understand all the repercussions.
Allow your mind to be flexible and trust your intuition to more easily allow a shift to let go of previously held ideals, conventions, and beliefs. The Queen of Swords has a great ability to focus her energies and put her emotions to the side to deal with unpleasantness. She's astute, speaks her truth, conveys honesty, and easily sees hidden motives.
Fortunately, the Queen also represents song after strife. Expect spiritual deepening and inner harmony as you navigate the current murky waters. We will get through current difficulties and emerge changed--endeavor to be changed for the better.
November 11, 2016: Card O' the Day: Princess of Wands. The Princess of Wands is more than ready to jump on The Magician's bandwagon. She's willing to try new things, is resourceful, and her youthful, eager, creative energies are well grounded. You're being encouraged to follow your spirit! However, the Princess's practicality is a message to you to be realistic in your goals, remain authentic to your beliefs, and maintain your integrity as you strive for those achievements.
As with all of the Princesses, we're being told of an emissary bringing news. Perhaps a stranger with good intentions will have or enable communications that will facilitate your endeavors. Thus, keep channels open, keep your phone charged, and check your emails frequently. Such a message from "left field" might prove to be vastly helpful.
Finally, in such tumultuous and emotionally charged times, latch onto a piece of jade. It can impart peace and refresh and renew our emotions, which will then allow us to serenely sail forth into all challenges.
November 10, 2016: Card O' the Day: 1 The Magician. Empowerment and unlimited possibility come with the use of knowledge, resources, and will to make changes in the world. The Magician indicates strong forward motion that inspires and compels transformation. There is abundant potential for all things and to reconcile opposites. I see a great unification where there was once a vast chasm.
Feel, trust, and use the force within to take the first steps as the desire for action wells up. All the tools needed are available and the willingness is here to make something happen, create new beginnings, and embark in a new direction.
Effective communication with your fellows will be vital to stir others to action towards the common goals. Combined with the "leadership" card of yesterday's Six of Wands, I don't feel The Magician is speaking to just one, but to all of us. Let us combine our powers.
November 9, 2016 Card O' the Day: 6 of Wands. The energies of this card are balanced and bring personal triumph. Your desires will be, or have been, realized. It's a time of victory and acknowledgement of overcoming challenge. This is the "leadership" card and you may be called to lead others or take the lead in your own life to claim your power and control your personal world.
You're also being asked to remember what guides you and to align with Nature, Earth, and Spirit in order to remain fully present. In moments of being "on top", be mindful of those who have yet to "arrive", and be sure you're not climbing up on the backs of others. Each of your victories must be tempered with humility and gratitude for these gifts, as well as respect and honor for those still struggling to lift themselves as high as you. There is potential in everyone--not just you.
Yes, celebrate your achievements! You've earned your moment in the sun. Just be careful of arrogance, conceit, or out-of-control pride. The bright sunlight bathing you in its glory is intoxicating stuff.
November 8, 2016 Card O' the Day: Kind of Swords (again). In the past five days, three of the cards were Swords and three were Kings. When I see a prevalence of a suit or court card, I'm given pause.
A Sword-heavy reading, or in this case a Sword-heavy week, leads me to believe we're over analyzing and thinking too much. It is possible to over-think things. This interpretation is supported by the appearance of the 8 of Swords yesterday where we were mentally keeping ourselves prisoners and too afraid to take any action. Kings represent decision making and authority figures. Also, they're hard to influence or steer and can indicate the areas of our lives which we can't control--like death and taxes. Or perhaps a boss or a demanding elder in your family.
The King of Swords in particular is a bit of an avoider. He doesn't like to look back and own his mistakes, but by refusing to do so he misses the valuable lessons to be learned. Are you making a smoke screen of busy work so you don't have to work on the real problem? This is something else the King does: he fluffs the pillows a lot to avoid vacuuming under the bed where he might find where the cat threw up.
Bottom line: a decision needs to be made about a large rock stuck in the front lawn; it needs to get dug up and removed, but you keep the mowing lawn around it instead; and though you may have tried moving rocks before, it never worked, so you think it's not going to work this time either, so why try? And yet you're stewing about it non-stop. The silver lining to this cloud is unexpected advantages--like the excellent leverage one would get from a backhoe....
November 7, 2016: Card O' the Day: 8 of Swords. I see the encouraging, "I dare you" cards of the past few days have scared some of us. The 8 of Swords indicates an "I can't" mentalit, and that you've shortened your forces and imposed limits on yourself out of fear and insecurity. By adhering to locked down, rigid thinking, you perceive yourself to be trapped by life and circumstances. That self-made prison of "I'm 'fated' to have bad luck" is an artificial construct that you can tear down.
Open your eyes and explore all opportunities and options--if only on paper and via daydreams. I'm not saying to chuck your life and change EVERYthing right this minute. I'm suggesting to let yourself out of a mental prison and let your mind wander among the realistic AND impossible dreams and ideas. Something may emerge as being not so dumb or impossible after all.
Our stone du jour is coelstine. It may help you to find your way out of a situation you perceive has stalled or become stuck in a rut by changing the way you think and helping you to accept a new perspective. While the fiery energies of the kings and the daring "go for it" urges of The Fool are meant to stimulate you to action, you can take baby steps. Those baby steps begin by changing your way of thinking from "I can't" to "I'm gonna give it a whack!"
November 6, 2016: Card O' the Day: King of Swords. We have more strong, masculine energy with today's king. This time, we're being asked to bring our creativity into the mix and put on our thinking caps as we move forward with endeavors. The Sword King also is here to direct you to take responsibility for any transgressions and mistakes of the past and make good use of them by heeding the accompanying lessons well. Bring those "I'm not gonna do THAT" again moments froward to assist you now.
The king has many sterling qualities including integrity in all his worldly pursuits, a strong character, and a sense of ethics that can't be bought. Swords often indicate "truth" and with the appearance of the king, we need to face a truth in life. It's neither bad nor good, simply there, and it must be dealt with. You may have to cut some small losses now for the greater good later.
The mineral associated with this card is gold. Gold represents courage, success, and wealth--which means your ideas and plans have great potential (remember yesterday's Fool is full of potential) for material reward. Even though Swords are of the Air element and represent the mind and our cognitive thinking, the heart chakra governs this card. Therefore, we're reminded to keep our heart in all decisions. If you separate the head and heart of any being, it dies. The same goes for projects, plans, goals, and endeavors.
November 5, 2016: Card O' the Day: 0 The Fool. The Fool embodies the youthful aspect of your spirit and all your potential. With the appearance of this card, we're receiving a signal from our inner being that it's time, and essential, to begin making changes. This urge to change may seem sudden or spontaneous, but actually something's been percolating and incubating under the surface for a while now, and it needs to be recognized and manifested.
Free yourself from the prison of "I can't" thinking and take a risk. Nothing new will happen if you don't dare a little. By equating the unknown or not certain with "scary", we keep ourselves in a very limited box.
You're being asked to release some of your outer security and rely on your inner security. That's the smart part that will guide you through what seems to be a foolish leap in the dark. Your knowledge and experience learned through the lessons of life will help you do the necessary research, find assistance, anticipate problems, and budget resources. You may feel like you're jumping off a cliff, and I encourage you to do so! But do it wisely: wear a parachute, take lessons on skydiving, and have a back-up plan.
Your spirit is calling...put down your phone and answer the wildness.
November 4, 2016: Card O' the Day: King of Pentacles. The King of Pentacles is rooted in the Earth, but as a king, is fueled by masculine fire energy. He's determined, faithful, strong, and reliable. His spirited temperament is coupled with a firm resolve which makes him steady in business enterprises. His considerable integrity keeps him on the straight and narrow, and he's the type to practice what he preaches.
However, this king can also be so much of the physical plane that he gets caught up in all things material and gets lost in amassing more and more money and stuff. This acquisition treadmill will make him demanding of others, as well as of himself, and rigid in his mind set and outlook on life.
Therefore, while you're encouraged to take the good qualities of the king to heart, be cautioned about his lesser qualities. It's fine to make a living and save for your retirement, but don't devote your life to material things. Dream deeply and live boldly, and appreciate the intangible blessings you have more than the tangible.
October 28, 2016: Card O' the Day: Prince of Wands. The youthful masculine energy of this card indicates movement--either actual physical movement like travel or moving houses, or movement within as one takes leave of old ways and ideas that no longer serve. Perhaps it's a little less drastic and merely a change of direction because the current course isn't working as hoped. This card can also indicate flight from challenges, so check your motivation behind your urge to move. Are you running away when the going gets a little rough?
There's a lot of force here as well as self-assurance, daring, and some cockiness. This fiery lad can be a bit unpredictable and his energy can make one feel restless, jittery, and uncertain. The drive for success and gain may be so strong that one steamrolls over everything in the road and ends up losing more than gaining.
By all means enjoy this wave of energy, but surf it well and skillfully. You'll need your stamina and would do well to keep as much stability in your life as possible during the coming challenges, changes, and creative innovations bubbling up.
October 24, 2016: Card O' the Day: Two of Pentacles. Oops! Looks like some of my own busy energy leaked into this card draw....
Being a card of the Pentacles, we're exploring changes, options, and decisions regarding our physical worlds. Two's imply choices, finding balance, or, in this case, juggling more than one opportunity and trying to get the most out of all of them. Remain flexible in your thinking and attitude as you consider the what's, when's, and how's of this period in time.
There's a strong relationship between actual available resources (time, money, etc.) and what you perceive your resources to be. You may have more time or money than you think you do, thus giving you more freedom. The converse is also true, and you may have to tighten your belt where you thought you could ease out a notch or two.
With the above mentioned choices and resource management, you'll find excess baggage that's no longer needed. It's a very good time to restructure and reorganize thoughts, desks drawers, business models, etc. Even the very best operational processes need to be up-dated to keep current with new technology, laws, and social trends. To continue to expand and grow in business and as a person, periodic changes have to be made. Now is a good time. What NOT to change: your ethical belief systems. If your gut says it's wrong, then it is, and you'll never feel good about the extra cash you made through a transaction that goes against your grain.
October 10, 2016: Card O' the Day: 10 of Swords. I have stuff going on in my life right now, and those dear to me, so I'm afraid my card today is very skewed towards a personal message to a particular young lady.
There has been misfortune and trouble causing tears and the perception of complete devastation in one's life. In desperation, one is caving into victim mentality and wailing that "this happened to me" rather than taking responsibility for one's part in it all.
This card is not so much about the actual troubles, but more about how one is reacting to the situation: is one behaving as an adult, standing up to say "I did this", and finding out what one has to do to make things right? or is one shrinking from honor and duty, trying to hide from consequences, and hoping someone else will make it all go away? Through acceptance of events, responsibility for one's actions, and atonement, one will find liberation from the pain and humiliation and expansion into new points of view of what is right and wrong.
This is a learning experience, if one chooses to take it. One has a golden opportunity to gain wisdom from this colossal fuck-up and to teach others how to handle adversity gracefully and with honor, even in the face of extreme anger or apparent hatred.
October 9, 2016: Card O' the Day: King of Cups. Interesting that the last "Card O' the Day" was the Ace of Cups. Now we get the King...first and last card in a suit.... Cups imbue the cards with feeling, emotional depth, satisfaction, and fulfillment. When we're open to our feelings we learn to love and accept others, thereby learning to love and accept ourselves. If Cups are prevalent in a reading, we're being called to feel our way through current challenges and the development of ideas. How would the events of "X" or the manifestation of "Y" make you feel? Happy? Contented? Energized? If so, then pursue that with the diplomacy and open mind of a "kingly", benevolently authoritative figure.
Kings represent the people who affect the outcomes of events or projects. They also like to keep the status quo and are hard to influence. To me this means the King of Cups has appeared today to really stress the importance of how you feel about things you can't control, the things that won't allow the status quo to remain in a box. Kings can be stuffy in their steadiness, and we're reminded to be flexible. And because we're talking about emotions here, we must be flexible in our emotions. What does that mean? It doesn't mean to be fickle and change your emotions with your socks. No, it's more like accepting that we can be annoyed with a lover and still love them deeply, that we can not be in the mood for talking on the phone with our best friend, or even be angry with someone you hold in high regard. By allowing our emotions to bend with the current conditions, they will bounce back to where they were before circumstances poked a stick in your spokes.
October 5, 2016: Card O' the Day: Ace of Cups. It's a good thing The Hermit showed up yesterday to indicate we need to do some serious heart-searching. This Ace indicates a wealth of feelings that might seem overwhelming. That's because you're finally opening your heart to see what's really inside right now and admitting all the good, bad, and ugly. It's a new way of feeling honestly and frankly.
By fine-tuning your awareness to what feels right for YOU, there may be some emotional upheavals, reversals of values, and changes to the way you've previously thought and felt about life. By expressing your truest feelings, you'll be able to achieve a real and raw intimacy with those you love. It'll all be on the table. THIS is what I NEED to continue to grow and thrive. Without "this", I'll slowly whither and merely exist.
Attune to Spirit or your highest power to pursue your heart-based meaning and purpose in life. Now is the time--this ace is offering a fleeting chance to get honest with yourself and those around you. Yesterday The Hermit sent us inside to find this gem, this nugget of truth that must be heard.
October 4, 2016: Card O' the Day: 9 The Hermit. Of late, emotional and physical energies have been pretty stable. This means you've got the time and foundation from which to do some serious soul-searching. Find out what it is you really want from this life and what it is you do well. What are you willing to take and what's a deal breaker? What is the purpose of your existence? What will it take for you to be happy and content in your own skin?
The body aspect of this card is of the pelvis--that bone which allows you to stand erect and walk. It also houses your guts. From this physical location comes a lot of power. The guts nourish you and eliminate what no longer serves. They also tell you when something's right on, or not in your best interests. Your pelvis allows you to stand up, have your head at eye-level with your enemies, and it allows you to walk away from what causes you damage.
The chakra for this card is the 3rd eye, our center of "higher-knowledge" that seeks the truth and our true selves. Take some time to get your mental and "dream" ducks in a row. You're in a good place to travel inward so take advantage. While on your inner journey, allow important decisions (not day-to-day stuff) to wait and don't go flirting with a new partner intending to start a new affair. This time is about get your inner self sorted, and you shouldn't allow yourself to be distracted by shiny objects.
September 30, 2016: Card O' the Day: Three of Cups. The Three of Cups represents a secure emotional environment in family and among friends. All our emotional needs are being met at this time. It's a precious moment of feeling authentic joy without fear of what tomorrow may bring. Often we cannot trust happiness because we're waiting for the "other shoe to drop." Meaning, we worry so much about the joy ending that we never really bask in it.
Three's can also indicate group efforts, and those will bring satisfactory results as everyone is able to compromise to the greatest good of the project. Emotions are balanced and in harmony as they expand to welcome all comers. There's room for everyone, and we can included them to our benefit without worry something will be "taken away" from us.
This card urges us to trust in the inherent good found in others. Don't be so quick to set up fences and lock your doors until you've determined someone is really untrustworthy. There's a conflict between the cool judgment of the mind and the warmth of an emotional nature governing this card. Try to keep the channels of communication open between your heart and head so that decisions, values, and perceived truths are balanced with intellect and love.
September 28, 2016: Card O' the Day: Four of Wands. This card indicates we're on the right path for our creative endeavors. We can trust the balanced and bright energy of the fiery number 4. It gives us a stable place from which to work or launch new ideas. It also indicates a strong support system you can rely on and look to for encouragement and assistance.
Your sincerity and honesty are recognized and will be your best assets. Your intelligence, confidence, and self-assurance will help you find and recognize the important contacts needed for success and which are available to you. Develop them well so they remain solid in your Rolodex for future use as well.
September 27, 2016: Card O' the Day: Eight of Cups. A few days ago we had the Ten of Cups, which indicated a happy ending and celebration of the accomplishments and goals achieved. Even though we're still in "basking mode", it's never too soon to start looking for what's next. The Eight of Cups is signaling a search for deeper meaning and a higher purpose. Yes, it's wonderful to be successful in business and have all the material comforts that go with monetary success, but the heart is asking to be heard, too.
Our spiritual chakras (heart and up) are whispering to us to reach higher. There's a need for adventure and stepping into uncharted territory. If we're going to journey, then it would be advisable to travel light. Dump some unnecessary stuff to make room for what you really NEED. There may be some separation from people, things, situations, or places that will give you the physical and temporal space to explore. Leaving something behind right now isn't giving up on anything, just making room for the situation to settle down, work out its own kinks, or it's truly time to move on.
You may find that previously held goals no longer interest you. That "next thing" you thought you'd get to isn't as shiny as it was before. This is why you need to ponder about it. Reflect on past experiences and mistakes to guide you towards new ideas and objectives that will match your higher purpose as you strive for greater wisdom, integrity, and graciousness.
September 23, 2016: Card O' the Day: Ten of Cups. Cups are of the Water element and depict emotions in the Tarot world. The picture on the card is of 10 cups running over--as in "my cup runneth over." I don't see this as wealth and abundance of material blessings, but of feeling really good in your own skin right now. You've hit a place where you're satisfied with life, feeling fulfilled, and enjoying blessings and a happy home. With all this "warm and fuzzy" going on, you can well afford to share this joy with others and you're urged to do so. After all, a joy shared is doubled.
You're also getting what you need for your spiritual growth and development. Keep doing what you're doing because you're on the right path for long-term success. Trust your abilities, experienced-based wisdom, and the knowledge you've accumulated thus far and use it to make your dreams come true. Hard times and lessons are meant for figuring out how to do it right next time, not to make us miserable.
That said, this is a time of completion, too. Be sure to enjoy your moment, celebrate it, treat yourself, have a party, and share the bliss. Universe won't let you get too comfy and has new challenges in store for you as this cycle comes to an end. We're never really "done"; we're always works in progress. But we'll get what we need to grow into the best selves we can be and learn life's valuable lessons. Have fun in the sun for as long as it lasts; don't hold your breath for the rain.
September 21, 2016: Card O' the Day: Ace of Pentacles. The Ace of Pentacles, being an earth element card, is the foundation of life. There's a lot of material force present and indicates both material AND spiritual prosperity. Happiness and satisfaction are possible, so start practicing gratitude now.
Are you manifesting an idea for a new business venture or enterprise? This ace indicates a new way of receiving money. It's a very auspicious card regarding financial rewards and/or career success. Your efforts will be handsomely rewarded if you don't self-sabotage! And that's a big "if" because we often get in our own way and ruin things out of insecurity and hovering too close. Build your foundation with care, but don't worry too much. At the end of the work day, rest and enjoy your progress thus far.
September 20, 2016: Card O' the Day: 4 The Emperor. The Emperor denotes structure, organization, and control. His appearance today tells me we're getting our ducks lined up as we create order and stability in our professional lives. Proper boundaries have been created and are being observed by oneself (saying no when appropriate) and others (they recognize those boundaries and respectfully don't try to cross them).
As one is realizing goals, any challenges are handled confidently, positively, and timely. The Emperor is not one to procrastinate or fly off the handle at a slight snag. In fact, as an insightful strategist, he rather likes to find ways to get unsnagged! With realistic plans and the right use of power, there's not much you can't do right now. You're encouraged to learn from mistakes and gain wisdom from your experiences.
Four's are very stable and the energy can get rather constipated, so be sure to keep moving. No putting things off, resting on laurels, or not following up on tasks or phone calls. The Emperor's counterpart is Death. Thus I smell changes coming--changes that you'll make yourself, not changes that will happen to you (like a tornado blowing down your house). Small adjustments need to be made often, but Death denotes a bigger change. Perhaps a change of heart or mind about something rather important. It'll leave you better off in the long run.
September 15, 2016: Card O' the Day: Ten of Pentacles. This is a very happy, stable card indicating prosperity, play, love, success, and security. You're not only on the right path for your current endeavor, but on the right path for long-term success and security. Working so hard towards your goals is laudable, but there comes a time when you must relax--know that you're safe right now. You'll have the realization of your dreams and plans. That will come more easily when you clearly communicate your own needs and wants to others.
This is an excellent time for new investments in general and in your business. Your business is one where you nurture others by sharing your knowledge and experience. This is the type of business that has the most potential for success--a business plan that only looks out for number one and relies on "taking" from society has less chance of thriving under this "family oriented" card. Therefore, care-giving and service oriented businesses are the route to take to best match with your own vibration and the needs of your community.
Tiger's eye is our stone du jour. It helps one see the similarities among fellows and teaches tolerance of different points of view. It also will attract the people and things that will be most important for development and growth.
September 14, 2016: Card O' the Day: Five of Wands. A dear friend of mine understands numbers far better than I, so I'll paraphrase a bit of her 5's wisdom. Fives are relatively rare and indicate magic (this is according to her unique interpretations of numbers). This meshes with my own "numbers according to Tarot" understanding: fours are stable, fives get a bit volatile. Add the energy of Wands, and it can get a wee chaotic.
You're on the right path, but obstacles are coming, and you're called to have courage and determination as you follow through with your commitments. Disaster isn't looming, it's more along the lines of working out the kinks to a relatively new endeavor. It's natural to have a few anxious moments when manifesting a new and important project; don't let that anxiety suck your energy, though.
With any kind of project, we must work with others--from just using the postal system to a formal partnership. Be careful that your strong personality doesn't attempt to overtake others or your collaborative partner as you vie for "power." Posturing and arguing over who's right simply wastes energy and scatters your purpose. Use the fire of Wands to carry the project, not consume it. Open your mind to suggestions, share your own opinions without judgment of other's, and truly listen. Doing so will allow you to see the common ground-- rather than concentrating on the differences--and find a path to mutual agreement.
September 13, 2016: Card O' the Day: Ace of Wands. How funny. Yesterday, during my shuffling, a card flipped. I dismissed it and chose something else. Later I checked what it was...Ace of Wands. Apparently there's a message here, again. We just had this ace four days ago.
Along with the potential for fortune and happiness the energy of this card brings, there's some deeper stuff coming, too. If you have the courage, you have an opportunity to express your own will and change your responses to the world. This mission, should you accept it, is not for the faint-hearted because it's probably going to be overwhelming and revolutionary in scope. Think of surfing: catching the biggest wave of your life, sliding down that wall of water at insane speeds, pissing yourself in exhilaration and fear, and then losing it in the foam and "washing machine" at the bottom of the wave. In the end you pop up gagging and choking, devastated and yet transformed.
This is the energy that surges with the Ace of Wands. It swells in the breast of us all if we let it. The kundalini, or root chakra, is firing up like the belly of a volcano to belch forth incredibly creative and prosperous endeavors. Two questions to ask yourself: Am I afraid to let myself out? Why do I believe it's okay for everyone else to have power but not me?
So, will you stay on the beach or paddle out to the waves?
September 11, 2016: Card O' the Day: Four of Wands. As I was shuffling my cards and preparing to draw a card for today, I was thinking of those who died in the 9/11 terrorist attack here in the U.S. I was concentrating on what we should know or remember on this day. And then I realized we're not alone or special. Terrorists have continued to attack in other cities and countries since 9/11, and so my question got broader to include all of mankind.
This card represents a balancing of opposing wills and love brought to conflict. When love is introduced in any sort of discord, healing begins. The energy in the Four of Wands is of peace, freedom, prosperity, and society. Embrace all that's represented here and receive a renewed appreciation for this magic called "life."
September 10, 2016: Card O' the Day: Queen of Swords. Swords represent our thinking, mental energies as emotions are set aside to get to the point. This queen has very fair and objective qualities and seeks and speaks the truth. She has excellent interpersonal and diplomatic skills. Some may find her aloof, but she just saves her innermost feelings for those few closest to her. She has the strength to change the world, and her inner harmony allows for intense focus and faithfulness to her goals.
The card is also indicative of loss, change, absence, and scarcity and the suffering all that can cause. These shadows are not of the material world--I don't mean loved ones are about to pass or one's finances will collapse. This is more along the lines of realizing certain ideals aren't grounded in reality. The rose-colored glasses are coming off, and that's rather sad. However, once the honest truth is known, you can really move forward in an authentic way.
This is a time for giving form to your dreams and to develop plans. Set clear boundaries and ground rules to avoid future misunderstandings. The Queen of Swords is here to help us tap into our emotions without drama, align with the real truth, and be absolutely clear with ourselves and others.
September 9, 2016: Card O' the Day: Ace of Wands. This power card is urging you to be bold and daring! Let your inner light shine as this creative force comes blasting through you! Being an Ace, it signifies the start of an undertaking with all of the inherent enthusiasm that accompanies new ideas and endeavors. Other keywords and concepts to keep in mind: initiative, clear intention, dynamic energy, vitality, and courage.
Intuition is also enhanced by this card, so you'll know how to direct this transformational spark--for it needs firm guidance. This powerful push is like a rocket without a GPS; control it to make the most of it and not have it blow up in your face. Because of that, there will be some pretty intense struggles as you embark on this project, but you'll gain significant advancement and some much needed self-realization through these coming trials.
Whatever you're working on right now could go either way: spectacular success or crash and burn. Hang on tight and pay attention as you ride these rapids. You have the power to make this turn out well.
September 8, 2016: Life keeps getting in the way of my... Card O' the Day: King of Pentacles. I've recently acquired a new puppy, who helped choose today's card. My little guy embodies all the finer qualities of this king: loyal, steadfast, determined, faithful, devoted, and bursting with robust health. His quick instincts and spirited temperament make him confident in all things. There is no stuffed bear he cannot conquer!!
The King of Pentacles embodies the "family man" who's good with kids and provides well for his family. His appearance today reminds us of the importance of family and keeping loved one's close to cheer your every success--of which there are many to come, particularly in business. A lover of the finer things and sports, like the king, my pup can appreciate a good game of "ball" and a cushy nest.
Having great innate healing abilities, puppies and this king can tap into inner wisdom during quiet times, but stand tall and take on the world during the wild moments. (Sounds like every puppy on the planet, does it not?) There's a strong connectedness to Mother Earth through this card, and a bluntness that can serve you well when applied judiciously. You don't have to be rude, just say what you mean and do what you say.
August 28, 2016: Card O' the Day: King of Cups. The King of Cups has all the usual kingly qualities of integrity, honor, strength of character, yada, yada, yada. He's also an emotionally driven idealist, which makes it hard for him to accept his perceptions of short-comings in those he loves. And all that emotion can make him a little dramatic at times until he can understand, accept, and move on.
However, emotions coupled with the kingly characteristics and drive make a useful combination for launching new dreams. When we get really passionate about an idea or item on our bucket list, that's when we're best motivated to make it happen. So, pay attention to what gets you excited and energized because it's a hint to what will work for you.
The King also is interested in knowing what makes him tick. He's not afraid to explore the dark corners of his own psyche to further his self-knowledge. If you know who you are, warts and all, you'll be better equipped to know what you want.
Concretely speaking, the appearance of this card indicates you may have to work in a group or rely upon others to facilitate your work or project. The suit of Cups tells me to pay attention to emotions (yours and other people's) in this group setting.
August 27, 2016: Card O' the Day: Ten of Pentacles. Ten's are paradoxes--they're endings and beginnings at the same time. One has achieved a pinnacle that is to be congratulated and celebrated. While it may not be a very high pinnacle, it's one of those "joys along the way" that is worthy of a pizza and movie with your tribe.
This moment of wealth, affluence, abundance, blessings, and realization of plans is to be celebrated. There's opportunity for more happiness and success where this all came from, so you can afford to share. Stability, security, and structure comes with financial gain. This "yes" card promises valuable lessons to be learned, which will provide the wisdom and responsibility needed to steward this material wealth.
Life is flowing with spontaneity on the surface, but there's a solid underlying structure that let's us feel safe. The Ten of Pentacles is governed by persistence, sagacity, and practical sense, which sounds terribly stuffy. But sagacity and practical sense tell us when we must let our hair down and ease up on the persistence. There lies the solid foundation that allows for frivolity on top.
August 25, 2016: Card O' the Day: Eight of Wands. The train is moving, and you're on it. Lots is happening, lots of decisions have to be made in a short time, multitasking...it's a bit overwhelming and perhaps you're feeling a bit unfocused in the blur. Here's where you have to trust in the energy and Spirit guiding the train. Hang on and make the most of the ride, because it's going to happen whether you like it or not.
You're not completely without control, however. This card also is about receiving messages, instincts, and intuition. Meaning, the "messages" may not be entirely of the earthly plane. Where you have time, read the fine print and weight the pros and cons. Then trust your gut and make the choices necessary to keep moving forward with all that's going on.
Trains are notoriously hard to stop, and I used them as an example of inevitability. If this train is headed for a crash, then crash it will. What can you do? Cut your losses and take a small hit now rather than riding the train all the way to the final derailment. If the train is headed for success, then success you shall have, but don't think you can just sit in the club car sipping a martini. Monitor your train's progress carefully and steer it where you can with your savvy decisions.
August 20, 2016: Card O' the Day: King of Pentacles. We've gotten three court cards from the Pentacles in the last four days. We have the mature energy of the king and queen coupled with the ready-for-new princess. The volatile, dashing-ahead-without-looking prince has not shown up...yet? Anyway, these cards just scream "manifesting!"
The solid, strong king has considerable integrity and approaches his business with honesty and sincerity. Assertive, determined, authoritative, and confident, he inspires those around him to jump on his coattails, because it's so obvious he's going places.
The king's presence indicates a steady progress in enterprises leading to business success and triumph. His consistency brings tranquility to his environment. Just be careful that consistency doesn't turn into rigidity. The King of Pentacles is governed by fixed Earth energy, and that can get a little stuffy. Stay open to outside ideas.
August 19, 2016: Card O' the Day: Princess of Pentacles. The "2:00am what if's" are always scary, and I'd be concerned if we didn't have them on occasion. Fortunately, we have cleverness and enterprise bubbling forth again today. Being a Pentacle, we're seeing lots of practicality, prosperity, and grounded energy of the physical world, and the princess indicates we're ready to try something new with our resources or finances.
Opportunities are out there--even ones you didn't create for yourself. Stay present to see those, too. If you tunnel in on what you "always" grow in your garden, you'll miss out on some pretty exotic and tasty produce. Be willing to try new solutions; better yet, get inventive. Be sure to define personal boundaries, and the boundaries of your endeavors, to stay on a well-defined, productive track.
Because princesses indicate "trying something new", often she needs to learn how to do it. Thus, programs, workshops, seminars, courses, schooling, or training of some nature may be coming or called for. As we all know, learning and studying are skills that must be developed. Perhaps the program is one that teaches you how to learn more effectively. Furthering your education in any subject is a sound investment in your future.
August 18, 2016: Card O' the Day: Five of Cups. As we're ramping up to manifest goals and dreams, we can often become afraid of failure. We anticipate all the wonderful things to come, and then in the middle of the night we wake up and think, "but what if...?" Fives are magic, and with that magic comes volatility. Cups are emotions, and thus we have a bit of ups and downs with our emotions--one minute we're riding high with confidence and then those dastardly "what if's" come to bite us in the butt.
This is the lesson of unrealistic expectations: don't go overboard with your dreams and goals. Make sure they're grounded in reality, otherwise those pie-in-the-sky schemes are going to leave you feeling lost and disappointed when they don't work out as you'd hope. This card is a bit of a wake-up slap to get you to see things honestly and for what they truly are. Skip the self-blame and obsessing over what a "loser" you are and take stock of what you do have.
The astrological energy governing this card is double activity with a dose of flexibility. Meaning, there's lots of gas to keep you going and the flexibility to make sharp turns and gear changes when necessary. Thomas Edison once said something along the lines of "I didn't fail, I just found 10,000 ways that didn't work." So tell those 2:00am "what if's" to shove off, you've got this!
August 17, 2016: Card O' the Day: Queen of Pentacles. We've been in a wait-and-see state for a little while, gathering our resources and energies for the right time to launch it all and manifest our bright ideas or move forward on our paths. The appearance of The Queen of Pentacles is like Mom chiming in with all her pearls of wisdom. (Groan and roll your eyes now as you let out a protracted "Maaaaaawmmm.....heavy sigh....")
This queen is very pragmatic, wise, and self-reliant. She represents reality, security, and a solid home life. She's also very motherly and domestic. Like all good housewives, she knows how to stretch the family dollar to its limits with penny-pinching, power-couponing, and shopping for the best deals. Be like this queen. Set boundaries for yourself, manage your resources wisely, and don't waste anything. Reuse, recycle, upcycle, make do with less than the best, or without altogether. Think "thrifty."
All that practical stuff aside, know that your truest strength comes from embracing your authentic self and being happy in your own skin. Figure out your best qualities and work those to death. Delegate the stuff you're not so good at or find a way to work around your weaknesses. Hate to make telephone calls? Communicate via email or text. Some things won't have practical work-arounds and you may have to suck it up on occasion, but generally you'll be able to make things work.
And don't forget your umbrella, it may rain today. You'll need a sweater...do your socks have holes in them?....
August 16, 2016: Card O' the Day: King of Swords...again. It occasionally happens that I get the same card two days in a row. Did I miss the true interpretation of the King yesterday? Or does he have more to add today? A little of both, I'd say.
Swords are the suit of intellect, knowledge, communication, and the mind. Kings are masculine, power energy; and energy of the mind manifests as creativity and brilliant ideas. Put that together, and you're being asked to express and communicate your creativity and bright ideas to help them get out of your head and into the real world. Take those sparks of "aha" and combine them with existing knowledge to find unusual solutions to any problems blocking your forward motion.
This particular card unites the duality of passion and the mind. Did you know this king is guided by the heart chakra? It's the first of the spiritual chakras that joins the "roots" of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd chakras with the "upper limbs" of the 5th, 6th, and 7th chakras. Though ideas start in the mind, the passion that drives them forward exists in the heart; thus the importance of keeping the heart and mind on the same page in any endeavor you hope to manifest.
The King of Swords plays a good game in society, is appropriately charming, and is fun to be around. However, he generally prefers to be alone to enjoy the harmony of his own calm company. If you're feeling a bit lone-wolfish right now, that could be why. Sometimes we need quiet to concentrate as we bring forth new and fabulous ideas.
August 15, 2016: Card O' the Day: King of Swords. Like all guys, this king has good and not-so-good qualities*. A fanatic truth-seeker, he can smell B.S. a mile away, is ethical and honest in all worldly pursuits, and is a go-getter who implements his (or other) new ideas well. On the down side, his egotism makes him reluctant to look at his past behavior or actions that weren't laudable, and he'll create avoidance mechanisms so he doesn't have to deal with the fallout.
The lessons for today? Face the atonal music of your missteps and pay close attention to what went wrong. Stand up and be responsible, and then step forward and fix it. If it's too late to fix a mistake, then try never to do THAT again because we all see how it turned out.... There may be some compromises coming up in that you'll have to cut some minor losses now for the greater good or on principle--remember the high ethical standards of this king. By seeking truth and maintaining the high road, one can expect good news or happy advantages.
The "stone" of the day is gold. It represents strength, wisdom, courage, warmth, success, power, and wealth. Special bonus: it stimulates spiritual development. Wear some today to assist you on the highest road to your greatest purpose.
*Yes, I know we ladies have our faults, too.
August 14, 2016: Card O' the Day: Eight of Wands. It's finally time to move and let loose your energy into action! Eights indicate abundance and manifestation, and Wands are the energy to make it happen. Feel the smooth, efficient flow, and get out of your own way so you don't jam things up. Spirit is pushing you along, so look for unmistakeable signs that tell you you're going in the right direction. Schooling of some kind might be in order.
Like white-water rafters and kayakers, you have to make swift decisions to remain safe. Sometimes you'll need to take a small loss to avoid a bigger dunking. Trust your instincts and go for your dreams, but keep grounded and weigh the pros and cons. Don't let yourself get carried away and make hasty moves just because you're all caught up in events. You always have time to sleep on it at least one night.
This dynamic energy is tempered with sagacity, and there's an inevitability to it all. Like those crazy white-water enthusiasts do, stay in the center of the channel, keep your eyes OPEN, and paddle like hell!
August 13, 2016: Card O' the Day: Two of Pentacles. You're being asked what it is you really want. There's a lot happening and you're trying to juggle many plates--work, exercise, family, obligatory visits, needed fun, etc. This balancing act makes it difficult to focus on one thing, do anything well, or get an important new project going. The only way to make it work is to clear space and let some stuff go. De-clutter your life, say no, and delegate. Find the harmony and smooth flow of your life--it's probably hiding under that pile of laundry....
Inner stress or less-than-delightful emotions may very well be born of your perceived need and the available resources in your life. You think you NEED "x" but you can't afford it, so you're stressing about how you can make it happen. If you're having interpersonal challenges, chances are that friction is caused by a false perception of the other person and your own insecurity. Check motivations and intentions to get to the bottom of it.
The energy inherent in this card is of initiative that's grounded by stability and practical sense. That's some good juju at your disposal! So, do you want to sit tight with the "devil" you do know and play it safe, or make some changes and pursue the abundance waiting for you?
August 12, 2016: Card O' the Day: 15 The Devil. The Devil is still causing us to cling to superficial "stuff" and indicates actual bondage to our materialism. This shallow obsession with "keeping up with the Joneses" is really quite draining. This erroneous belief that he who has the most stuff "wins" is quite literally draining our bank accounts, emotions, and time. Choosing to live on this treadmill is against your best interests and will only lead to burn-out, unhappiness, illness, divorce, etc. It truly sucks!
The Devil is also called The Guardian in some decks. If we can heed his warnings and live more authentically, we're freed of the chains that bind us, and we're open to all sorts of potential and abundance. The Dark Angel exists to remind us that every apparent "evil" is only the negative side of the corresponding good. Therefore, embrace your dark side knowing your light side is just as big and good as your dark side is big and bad.
One of my research sources writes about the positive and negative sides of the sixteen Tarot personalities. The author describes these personalities as being "right side out" or "inside out." Meaning, if you're being rather rotten, it's because you're currently inside out. No one is "rotten to the core"! Everyone is like a coin with a heads and tails or inside and outside. So, accept that all your good qualities have negative qualities on their "tails" sides, and just try to keep your "heads" sides up most of the time.
August 11, 2016: Card O' the Day: Queen of Pentacles. The Queen of Pentacles is a very Earth-Mothery type: super nurturing, resourceful, and thrifty. And yet I'm reminded of my grandmother, who lived through two world wars in Germany. She knew privation, loss, and extreme fear in her childhood and again in early adulthood. That fear was deeply rooted in her, and she saved and made do with EVERYthing ever after. She darned holes in sweaters even though she had dozens; she saved food long after it's expiration date; she home-canned for armies even when she was widowed and lived alone.
This fear of loss and privation, not only of material things but of affection and acceptance, must be addressed. Reserving feelings and love means that energy is stifled. Energy must flow out so that it can flow back in--fresh and renewed. Stagnant energy is just as unpalatable as stagnant water. We are called to trust in the abundance of this world and actually use material resources (wisely, of course) that come to us for our benefit and the benefit of others. Ditto our love! Find strength in the authentic self and let your energies flow out. Trust they will be returned ten-fold.
Agate is our stone du jour. It will help connect you to Mother Earth, the material world (in a healthy way), and reality. Grab a chunk for your pocket, under your pillow, or wear your favorite agate piece for a few days. Lastly, have fun and be happy with who you are today, for you are enough.
August 10, 2016: Card O' the Day: Seven of Pentacles. It's still not time to move (much, anyway). Maybe the wall is gone, but now we're standing in a crossroads. Look back and appraise the results of past achievements. Recognize and appreciate them. Now look forward and ponder all the creative possibilities before you. Do they scare the snot out of you because you're so afraid of failure? That fear and uncertainty is only slowing you down, you know. Don't self-sabotage future success simply because you're nervous about failing and perhaps looking a bit foolish!
A step forward is just that: A. Step. Not the whole she-bang. Therefore, you can always make minor adjustments along the way if you think things are veering off course. This is merely a phase of development, not a completion. There's lots of time--we're cooking with a crock pot, not a frying pan on an open fire. Let things stew in their own juices as you patiently allow the spices to bloom. Don't make things harder than they have to be.
August 9, 2016: Card O' the Day: Seven of Wands. While this is an energy card, it's more like a wall in front of you than anything truly helpful. Therefore, your forward progress is rather inconvenient, and being so inconvenienced is going to leave you feeling defensive and struggling. Instead of pushing at the obstacle, see how you can go around it.
Step back and do some honest self-reflecting to see what you really want right now. During this inventory, see what changes need to be made--are you being stubborn about them? The energy of this card is tricky, but not wholly obstructive. With finesse and ingenuity, you'll overcome the obstacles and accomplish some healthy clearance of waste.
August 8, 2016: Card O' the Day: Two of Swords. Okie-dokie then, there's a willingness to let go of old crap, but we ain't there yet. The Two is indicating blocked emotions, a standstill, avoidance, and procrastination. This impasse is due to a conflict between your heart and mind. In your search for truth, you've found that you hold opposing thoughts as true at the same time. How can that be? This confusion has you stuck like a turtle on a fence post--can't go forward, can't go back.
Step out of the judgment of good/bad, wrong/right and start looking for the similarities instead of cataloging the differences. Once you can see the similarities, the opposing energies will seem less black and white, thus enabling you to come to a resolution. Underlying all this are some issues that you've been skirting and pretending aren't there. Get honest and face those fears or "ugly" truths, but don't judge. Make atonements wherever you can; if they're old news and you can't do anything about them now, file them away under "lesson learned" and move on.
Cut through the false propaganda that's echoing through your mind and making it difficult to hear the truth. Again, just be with the truth. It's not nearly so awful as you think it is! And be patient with yourself. You're worth being kind to.
August 6, 2016: Card O' the Day: 8 Strength. Y'all have been doing some good work while I've been away!! This card indicates the ability and willingness to let go of old crap, hurts, belief systems, and other useless stuff that no longer serves. Truth has been accepted with strength and patience. With eyes wide open, you can perceive pitfalls and temptations and avoid falling into any traps of your own making. To skirt other "inconveniences", be sure to keep those peeps open and read any fine print before making legal or otherwise binding decisions.
The energy of this card is pretty forceful, so be sure to govern it with calm control and equity. By leading with compassion and wisdom, you will maintain your center in chaotic times. Most of all, remember that true power is never violent, tyrannical, or over controlling. The most powerful leaders guide their followers with personal responsibility for everyone and the final outcome. There's no buck passing or throwing others under the bus to save face. To do that, you've got to be clear with your intentions, motivations, and Source.
July 29, 2016: Card O' the Day: Princess of Pentacles. The stone associated with this card is sodalite. It helps to bring the mind into equilibrium and promotes logical and deep thought. It also helps one to connect our ideas with the real, material world. Perhaps we should grab a chunk and contemplate it or carry it around for a few days to assist with our current journeying.
Again, this card is of preparation and contemplation. We haven't yet come down off the tree from which we're suspended (Hanged Man). However, the careful reflection encouraged by this card, and the others of this week, will lead to new ideas and perhaps some undiscovered talents or abilities. Clever and enterprising, these deep thoughts will lead to financial gain if heeded and developed. The Princess is a scholar so learning something new or continued education in what you already know would be beneficial to you.
Look for opportunity in all things. You'll be surprised how chance encounters with salespeople, service people, or the person in the chair next to you in any waiting room could lead to something. Perfect your "elevator pitch" (a 15 second bio of what you do) so it's on the tip of your tongue to casually rattle off at any opportune moment. Carry business cards AT. ALL. TIMES. A friend who does custom embroidery comes to mind. Picture this: she sees someone buying an item, she smiles and admires it, then pipes up that she could customize it with a monogram and offers her card. A florist I know has begun his own business from his home. Any time he's in a garden shop or the grocery and sees someone buying flowers, he could casually give them his card and mention, because he's working from home, his prices are very reasonable. See what I mean?
With that said, don't work too hard! Maintain a light-hearted approach to seeking your fortune. You'll still be successful, but you'll have a life, too.
July 28, 2016: Card O' the Day: 11 Justice. Here's some food for thought while you're hanging around waiting for the paint to dry. If you're not pleased with your current situation, examine objectively and truthfully your intentions, motivations, and decisions that got you here. They were the cause that created the effect, and now you've got to live with the consequences. While you're being brutally honest with yourself, instead of beating yourself up and being all nasty and mean (I'm so STUPID, etc.), calmly take note of the lessons. We cannot change the past; what's done is done. However, you can learn from the past and change your behavior and reactions going forward.
This card is about finding your center--the true, authentic center where your integrity lives. It's neither good nor bad, it merely is. The question is whether you like your center. Have courage, and face your true self. Fine-tune your sincerity and self-control to make the changes and choices you want in order to come to a place of liking your center better than you do today. It's time to advocate for a closer alignment between ourselves and the divine cosmos
July 27, 2016: Card O' the Day: 12 The Hanged Man. My favorite analogy for this card is having painted yourself into a corner. There you are, stuck with the impatient choice of ruining your work, but getting unstuck quickly, or patiently waiting for the paint to dry as you're forced to take a break. I suggest you take the second option and just sit and ponder your current circumstances. While stuck watching the paint dry, why not use this time to see things from another angle.
If you're having an interpersonal conflict, put yourself in the other person's shoes for a few minutes and think like they do. Just for chuckles, see what it feels like to be them. Not sure about a particular decision? Look at it from the other side. Having trouble planning a trip? Plan it backwards--plan your arrival home, the last place you stay, etc. and keep going until you've come to the departure plans. How does that change your trip?
The legs of the hanged man often are depicted in the figure 4. Fours are very stable and secure, so this seemingly precarious position of the man is really quite fixed, and he's safe to just consider his thoughts and predicament. You're safe, too. Any changes coming don't need to be feared; you've got the time to get used to them and become comfortable. And here's a secret: you're actually ready to make some changes and end bad habits of thought and action that are holding you back.
July 20, 2016: Card O' the Day: Seven of Wands. The energy behind the Seven of Wands is pretty darned exciting...or volatile. It depends upon your definition of "exciting." On one hand it's about finding the courage to follow your personal beliefs and convictions and to stand up to others who may think you're odd, crazy, immoral, or just plain wrong for believing what you do. It takes guts to be alone, but check to see if you're always alone on your soapbox. I'm not saying you have to back down on beliefs that aren't mainstream or popular, just take a moment to see if you're realistic in your beliefs. Are you bucking the system merely to be obstinate? Yes, be steadfast but remain open-minded to the thoughts and ideas of others. It doesn't compromise anything to listen.
On the other hand, this energy can run you over like a flaming freight train that stirs passions to the point you don't know which way is up. You may get caught up in confrontation or be intimidated into a conflict. Resistance and struggle is pointless here. Sometimes the better part of valor is to retreat; know when to hold 'em and know when to fold 'em. Flinging yourself against a wall won't solve anything. Back off, assess the damage, clear your head, learn the lessons presented by this event, and then resume after a pause to regather scattered wits and energies.
July 19, 2016: Card O' the Day: 18 The Moon. An honestly gifted psychic friend of mine recently posted on FB observations about people who embrace esoterism and mysticism. Many become overly fervent in an effort to "prove" how spiritual and "psychic" they are. They dress in what they believe is "mystical" garb, clutch pounds of crystals, and speak senseless mumbo-jumbo that muddies their personal waters of the intuitive gifts we all have. (It's true that some people have more developed intuitions and senses than others. Just like a few of us are more gifted in the musical arts than some.)
With that preface, The Moon is calling us to be open to mystical marvels but to keep our feet on the ground and our eye on the path. The Moon card signifies experiencing the unconscious as information comes to the surface. It's about telling the difference between a real fear or danger and imagined shadows on the wall.
Learning to listen to your inner voice, gut, intuition, personal "little birdie", or outside omens, signs, or whatever, can cause confusion and bewilderment. What's real? What's imagined? What's wishful thinking? The Moon is here to help you sort out authentic beliefs and wannabe, following-a-fad behaviors. You can be authentically spiritual without all the trappings. However, if the trappings make you feel more connected, fine--I'm just saying you can be perfectly grounded, have a day job, and still follow mystical or esoteric teachings. You don't have to dye your hair green to be "cool."
July 18, 2016: Card O' the Day: Four of Pentacles. With the stability of Four combined with the element of Earth, this card can indicate stodginess and miserliness--it can be the "Scrooge" card. Fortunately, not today. Today I'm feeling all the positive aspects of the stability, safety, and security in this card. The Four provides a solid foundation upon which to build one's life and a protective haven in which to gather power. One is fully conscious, understanding, and appreciative of the resources at hand and is focused on how to best use them for the benefit of all.
One of the many lessons of Karma includes that each act of selfless protection of and mercy for those in need comes back to us and revitalizes the spiritual student with a sense of goodness and peace. Meaning, it feels good to do good! I had a reading recently during which my client asked me to see into the future for the world because he was concerned about current political and social climates. His cards indicated he was terribly worried about the world going to "hell in a hand basket." I advised him to look a little more closely at the full part of the glass rather than dwelling on the empty part and to pay it forward wherever he could. When relating this story to my husband, he pointed out the war stops within each of us.
The crystal for this card is blue tourmaline. It can balance the spirit with the mind and offers a message of peace. So, use your resources to "do good" and begin stopping war right in your little part of the world.
July 11, 2016: Card O' the Day: 2 The High Priestess. This morning, I was asked to do a phone reading as part of the interview process to be admitted as a reader into a fair. (This is common practice, and I'm happy to do it.) With that having happened just a few hours ago, I think this card is for me. However, I'm very willing to share, and we can all learn from each other's experiences.
Allow the gentle, empathetic, and reflective influence of the High Priestess to help you become silent and still as you dive deeply into your subconscious, your intuition, your gut. Go to the place where your inner knowing lives; the place where language is useless because the sort of understanding one receives through this card is felt, dreamed, absorbed. Just as it's so hard to describe dreams sometimes, I cannot quite describe the feeling behind this card--this place we search for the deepest answers. Understanding comes through experiencing and just...knowing.
Suspend judgment as to all your shoulds, oughts, and habitual reactions. Expand your perceptions, views, and realities and trust there's so much more out there to love and be. Learn to discern what is real from what is a false construct of your fears, prejudices, and preconceived notions. Listen with your heart to all that is unspoken.
July 6, 2016: Card O' the Day: 14 Temperance. And finally today we have balance.... A healing angel has come upon us and offers inner composure and harmony in this chaotic world. We're in a state of unity of the mind and intuition with an easy fluency between worlds. For the moment, the right proportions are found and this equilibrium makes work feel effortless.
Divine wisdom is connected with our knowledge gained through experiences. It's that sweet spot of being in the right place and time where everything falls into the place it was meant to be.
Take advantage of this peaceful time and just enjoy the ride. I'll remind you the journey is the important part, not the end result. Remove any blinders you may have put on and look around as you travel down your path. Yes, part of the mind must be dedicated to a goal, but most of it needs to be paying attention to the "right now" or the "5 minutes from now", not so much "next week." And certainly not very much on the "yesterdays" of life.
July 4, 2016: Card O' the Day: Prince of Swords. A couple days ago we were all in our hearts and emotions. After considering the King of Cups, we got stuck in the considering.... Now we're up in our heads! Did I not say "balance"?
The good news is the Prince is clear-sighted, direct (he heard the lesson of speaking up), dynamic, and inventive. He's a quick thinker on a good day, but I'm feeling his thoughts are a bit too quick, bordering on racing. And not in a straight line, either, but in obsessive mind loops. The Prince is one to take a risk (necessary on occasion), but impatience is making one run hell bent for leather. The energy is too scattered for efficient "travel"; the haste forward is not in a straight line, like one's thoughts.
Whenever anger and grudges come up--as they have today--I always point them out. Do a self-inventory and check if you're standing on principle and righteousness. Doing so can make one rather rigid. Being rigid, one cannot bend or change one's view when faced with something different than what's in mind. The "different" feels like confrontation or attack, and one can't cope with that and becomes angry, cranky, pissy, or runs away.
I think we all would do well with a little mental distraction. Go for a hike, a jog, immerse yourself in a book, cook up a storm, paint a room--anything to get out of your head. Now may not be a good time to be too social (says she on the biggest barbecue day ever!), but if one can stay out of one's head and just enjoy the food and mindless chatter, then have at it.
July 2, 2016: Card O' the Day: King of Cups. Of the Kings, I feel like the King of Cups has it the most together--at least today. He's a good balance of sensitivity, intuitive knowing, integrity, imagination, and professionalism. There's a regalness about him, and he controls himself and his environment with kindness and ease. Because he validates his own feelings, he understands the validity of others' feelings and takes them into consideration when he must make a decision. Like the other kings, his BS detector is pretty good (not as good as the King of Swords'...), so he can smell the truth and then integrates that truth/BS into his knowledge base.
However, the bad news is the King is wrapped a wee too tight. All that admirable self-control means he holds his cards close to his vest and doesn't let others in or allow anyone to see his true feelings. This means he'll be misunderstood a lot, which makes him feel wounded and sorry for himself. What is NOT balanced within this king is knowing how to express his feelings honestly and yet maintain suitable and healthy boundaries.
The lesson for today is to try to balance the whole package. Express yourself honestly and don't be afraid to let others know your feelings. The King is very honest about a lot of stuff, and he'd do well to include his emotions in his "honesty bag." No, you don't have to wear your heart on your sleeve, but you can limit the drama in your life (I'm sooooooo misunderstood! *sob*) by speaking up. Pay attention to subtleties when navigating your world in order to glean maximum information from any situation. As you know, knowledge is power.
June 28, 2016: Card O' the Day: 10 of Swords. This is not a happy card. Someone(s) out there is/are feeling pretty defeated by life and their own damn selves. Swords are about thinking--this is self-inflicted cruelty, negative beliefs, and surrender to the circumstances. I fully understand that life events, losses, and bad luck can be crushing. However, I must reiterate: you are in full control of your reactions to the outside world. You have the choice to lay down and die or to begin finding a way around the obstacles. Even as you grieve losses, keep moving your feet--it's your only hope for getting out of this pit you're in.
Accept the events. You'll find peace and liberation in acceptance because that's when you'll stop fighting the circumstances. Once you've come to grips with the wall in front of you, you'll start looking for a way around it, testing solutions, and thinking of alternatives. This creates the movement you so desperately need to get past this moment. I'm so sorry if you're one of those at a low point right now, but the only way is up!
Smokey quartz is our stone for this card. It helps you take responsibility for your life and replace these negative, destructive thought loops with positivity and new patterns of behavior. Wear it or put it in your pocket; it's important to keep it close to you (ladies, in your purse is not close enough). You can also put a chunk of it under your pillow at night. Namaste, all.
June 23, 2016: Card O' the Day: Seven of Wands. Okay, I just dyed my hair emerald green/teal-ish, so this wild-ass energy might be me projecting. But I'm willing to share, so come along on this ride with me. Passion, confidence, and boundless imagination will move you forward into your next ventures. Staying true to yourself may require a bit of defiance, and you may feel a little defensive with your green hair, but know this is YOU and what you want!
Wands are fire energy and sevens are associated, among other things, with change, experimentation, courage, and risk-taking. That's our message: take your power into your own hands and have the courage to stand behind your own convictions and beliefs. Now, that doesn't mean your way is the ONLY way, so stay open-minded when you stand tall.
Recall the cards of the last two days regarding revealing truths and detecting discrepancies. That includes truth and discrepancies about yourself. No lying to yourself! Keep your head on your shoulders through all this, and don't get stupid with the risks and experimentation. Have some fun, but carefully.
June 22, 2016: Card O' the Day: Two Of Cups. The Two has returned after just four days.... The stone dumortierite (no, I've never heard of it either) is helpful in stimulating our intuition, which makes it easier to recognize discrepancies and reduce them. "Discrepancies"? You know--untruths, deceptions, fibs, LIES--all that crap The Moon's interesting light reveals. It also strengthens forbearance and patience.
I am going to talk about a new relationship today, but it's with yourself, not Mr/Ms Right. As our heart becomes more trusting (this does NOT mean gullible, blind, or stupid), we can learn about the tremendous healing powers of love. Having a loving relationship with yourself is the highest, most pure relationship. By loving your whole self, you honor Universe for having created such a divine being. Finding the harmony within yourself, you'll find your harmony with Universe, and how you fit into the "big picture."
There is a slight conflict between your urge to produce or create "things" and a restless forward motion towards change and new concepts. Take the summer to explore your inner and outer world and concentrate on the intangible rather than the tangible. It's not the right time to knit a new sweater, go hiking instead. Allow experiences to capture your creativity and save the macaroni art for this winter.
June 21, 2016: Card O' the Day: 18 The Moon. (Well, ain't that appropriate considering we just had the Summer Solstice full moon! ) The Moon's light reveals hidden things...fears, subconscious levels, and shadow aspects of ourselves. These are all very important parts of our psyches that must be faced, addressed, and integrated into our whole beings. What we consider "worst" traits about ourselves can be very useful to us as we navigate life. These nitty-gritty bits keep us true to our path and ourselves.
We're on a quest to reclaim the true self we've been burying in our efforts to make our way in polite society. Yes, there are societal rules we must all follow in order to function in the physical world, but one must not submerge one's authenticity so thoroughly that this central part of our being must live in a box at the back of one's closet.
Dig out that box and see what kind of potential, information, and wisdom is in there. Are your worst fears just illusion or actual truths? Are you held captive by "what will the neighbors say?" Let that sh*t go and stop deceiving yourself that you must be "X" in order to fit in and survive. Sure, there may be some disappointment and/or betrayal as those who can't handle the real you move away. But give them the benefit of the doubt and trust your tribe to accept more of you. Trust yourself to accept more of you.
June 19, 2016: Card O' the Day: Six of Cups. This card reiterates the message of the Two of Cups received yesterday. We're willing to work on integrating the gifts and experiences earned in the past with our present consciousness. Even though it's not always going to be comfortable to do this, we know it's necessary in order to grow. This integration will help you move into a place of balanced emotions, a meeting of the heart and mind, and union with Spirit.
How to do this, you ask? Enjoy the familiarity of fond memories, but don't dwell in the past or cling to what was. Remember, memories can be over romanticized quite easily. Let go of old hurts, forgive, and the future will be brighter. Choose to be at peace with your past.
This card is also about kindness to others. Pay it forward without any expectation of reciprocation. Give with a free heart just to help or spread joy. Your reward will be greater than any tangible return could ever be. Practice good will towards others every day for a week and then do a quick mental, emotional, and spiritual inventory. In just one week, I'm willing to bet you'll see a change in yourself and how others react in your presence.
June 18, 2016: Card O' the Day: Two of Cups. The Two of Cups is a traditional "love" card, but I'm not going to get all trite about tall, dark, and handsome strangers.That would be too easy, and I'm afraid there's more than that required of us at this time. Some of the keywords for this card are connection, teamwork, union, partnership, and cooperation. There's a potential to merge as we reach out to the cosmos, and opposites are coming together.
Let's direct those concepts internally. Think of those keywords as connecting with yourself, uniting with your soul, and cooperating with your own ideas of what you need for happiness. This internal work is meant to help you find your inner harmony so that you can find the light of your true spiritual purpose. The stuff that brings you joy. Allow your loud, obnoxious ego to dissolve a little into the integration of you and your higher self. (Don't worry, enough of your ego will hang around to keep you clothed and fed. I want you to dissolve the part of your ego that's holding you in patterns that aren't best for you.)
This work is a pretty big adventure, if you dare. There will unexpected soul recognition, but it's the right time for it. Bring rigid and painful feelings and emotions to the surface so you can get rid of them! This is the part of the ego I'm talking about--the part that holds on to a grudge or anger out of principle. He/she did me wrong; therefore, I have to be angry about it for the rest of my life, or I'll look like a wuss. No you don't! Love yourself enough to drop it already. You've better things to do with your energies and life.
June 15, 2016: Card O' the Day: 5 The Hierophant. The Hierophant represents a teacher/student relationship, but I'm not feeling like we're all sitting at the knee of some guru or taking night courses at the local community college. This is deeper...we're students of life, and we're learning through our experiences. We're being asked to honor the wisdom of experiences as we continue our search for inner meaning. Know The Hierophant has shown up today to stimulate that search and wants us to continue to awaken and grow.
The stone of The Hierophant is diamond. It can shows us the importance of each individual. It also illuminates the special and unique connection to Universe that each of us has.
As you continue to walk your path, following your OWN inner guidance, try to feel your own truth. The personal truth that works for your greatest good. Don't just mouth the words of some belief system or the teachings of others because you're too lazy to find what REALLY works for you. Use discipline and discrimination on your search. It's okay to join others in a belief system, as long as that belief system truly resonates with your soul. Otherwise, keep looking.
June 14, 2016: Card O' the Day: King of Swords. The King is back...he was just here on the 3rd.... What did we miss or is relevant today?.... Well, I'm afraid this card is more about me and my little computer "glitch." So bear with me while I hammer my lessons home into my own brain.
The king is driven by ideas, systems and communications. He's an implementer, has a warrior approach to life and problems, and is an assertive fellow. He seems calm and reasonable on the outside, but he can be volatile when challenged. This all sounds painfully familiar from the last few days. I acted calm about my computer problem, but had a monumental tummy ache and was ready to flip the f*ck out at any second. Once we had all the hardware in place, I took control of the screwdrivers and did the actual removing of the hard drive from my old laptop. My husband stood by handing me tools and finding helpful YouTube videos, but I had no patience with him being all methodical and cautious.
The second part of the king's lessons are that I must learn from this event so that I don't panic, get a tummy ache, and generally make everyone around me walk on eggshells. I've been flapping my gums a lot about spiritual development and enlightenment through my Card O' the Day, but I sure wasn't walkin' what I've been talkin'! The "stone" associated with the King of Swords is gold. It helps with self-realization and stimulates spiritual development. I'll be wearing some gold today....
June 11, 2016: Card O' the Day: 10 of Swords. So much fear and self-doubt...again with the Swords.... Really, kids, things aren't that bad. This card indicates a tendency to over exaggerate negative thoughts and to sink into negative drama. I would guess those who live in an ACTUAL war zone (Syria, anyone?) would tell us to suck it up already! You've got two choices: choose to wallow in victimhood and obsess about what's not working to your satisfaction or choose to live in joy. This is about how you react to events in life, not the actual "unfortunate" situations.
As you bring your mind into balance with your soul, you'll be able to expand yourself past the fear of endings. You'll find the ability to accept what no longer serves or works and release it so you can make space for the new that DOES work and serve. Find, choose, and welcome positive thoughts. Release your judgment as to "good" or "bad." See if you can live more in the present with what "is", and make what is into something useful to you. Choose. Joy.
June 10, 2016: Card O' the Day: 14 Temperance. Making goals or thinking in terms of "my five-year plan" are necessary to keep us on task and accomplish what we want or need to happen. However, goals and end results are just a part of life. A bigger part is the actual journey--the ride from point A to B. The ride is where you learn the most about yourself and others, not just when you "get there." There's that old adage about the half-full glass v. the half-empty glass, but what about the 1/3 full, or just a few drops in the bottom of the glass? Is that worthless? So be present in that ride and find joy in your accomplishments along the way.
Temperance is about finding the right proportions between the mind and your intuition, inner composure, and appreciating other points of view. You don't have to shift your viewpoints, just appreciate that we're all different, and some of us have alternative belief systems that work for them even if those beliefs wouldn't work for you. However, be wary of extremes that leave no room for compromise or discussion.
This card urges one to pay attention to the little omens of good fortune that are around you at the moment. Sometimes the smallest things lead to a big break that you've been trying to manifest for a while. Put yourself in the right place at the right time by tapping into that subtle, fortunate energy. The body part associated with this card is inhaling lungs. Breathing deeply creates a new sense of energy and life force that brings alertness and awareness to what wasn't noticed before. Take a big breath through your nose and let it out in a big, open mouthed sigh to reset yourself and renew your view of the moment.
June 9, 2016: Card O' the Day: 10 of Wands.The cards never cease to pique my interest; just when I think I "know" the meaning of a card--like this one--I get stuff come at me from left field. This card is most often associated with overburden, carrying too much responsibility, etc. The deck that I chose today does not depict the usual figure struggling under a load of ten sticks. That should have been my first clue the less common meanings for this card would surface today.
We're undergoing a lot of inner change, soul-searching, etc., and we're being encouraged to embrace that change, and be very conscious of that transformation. The fire energy of Wands will give you the vitality you need to steadily move through the changes with a feeling of rebirth. Also, enjoy the new perspective regarding your life that you'll achieve as current problems resolve and give you more space to grow.
The sailing forth is not going to be completely smooth, but you know it must occur. Be aware of some hidden anger that might bubble up. Indications are this anger is going to be self-directed due to, or connected with, some self-oppression. Forgive the old hurt, and then take out the trash. That anger doesn't do you any good; it's only poisoning your well. Adapt to these changes and the forgiving of old hurts or mistakes by integrating the lessons learned. The stone rubellite is supposed to help one re-accept the self. Maybe get a chunk of that and put it in your pocket or totem bag for a little while as you move through this current transition.
June 8, 2016: Card O' the Day: Prince of Wands.A little over a week ago this brash young lad made an appearance, but he's back for another run at us (different deck, too...) and to remind us of our self-confidence and the divine sparks of energy, hope, and optimism that are moving inside us. Me thinks this good news freaked out a few of us, and we got all nervous about the exciting adventures coming our way--see all the negative Sword cards that immediately popped up telling us we shouldn't even try.
We're still on a quest for new passions and experiences and ready to make it happen. Innovation is something the Prince of Wands is good at, so be prepared to improvise as you start putting your ideas into action. Tried and true methods are stale; it's time for fresh approaches.
The intervening cards weren't totally "Chicken Little" ("the sky is falling!!!") cards and to be ignored. Any feelings of trepidation or fear regarding abilities are certainly valid, and it's common to be a little uncertain when embarking on a journey of self-discovery. The real question is, are those feelings warranted--meaning, are you truly unable? There are not many things we're truly unable to do. Think about that for a minute. Then discard your old "I can't" attitude and look to where you CAN.
June 7, 2016: Card O' the Day: Eight of Cups. Another card that can be gloomy on the surface, but has some wonderful underlying connotations.... The opportunities for integrating and assimilating our pieces-parts into a wonderful whole, which we were offered with the nines, continues today with this card. We've come to the realization it's time to leave behind some things that no longer serve us, materially or emotionally, and start [another] soul-searching journey to seek our higher purpose [again].
(Life is all about soul-searching and pursuing our higher purposes. Unfortunately, we have to eat, our egos are kind of competitive, and we're creatures of comfort. Thus the "journeys" get drowned out by day-to-day survival. I think when we get lost, grumpy, and agitated, that's our reminder to work on our spiritual path again and pay a little less attention to keeping up with the neighbors.)
Follow that urge to venture down the road less traveled, explore new territory to grow, expand, and evolve. You might have to reaffirm or set boundaries against the rat race so you have space and time for your spirit quest. That may be easier than you think, because stuff that seemed to matter soooo much is less shiny and attractive as it once was. Take advantage of that loss of interest and quickly let go before you over-think it and decide to "save it for later."
June 6, 2016: Card O' the Day: Nine of Swords. When I pulled this card I thought CRAP! can we not get away from the negative energy of those blasted Swords already!? But then I stepped back, slowed down, and read the fine print about this card. The obvious "dark shadows" that usually go with this card are not slapping me in the face today. The softer, more subtle messages of the Nine is whispering to me.... Many of yesterday's messages are being repeated, but additional information is coming with the greater headlines.
There is great dedication to returning to Self and we're urged to gather and integrate the aspects within that we often deny. Those aspects are probably less-than-favorite parts, but they are parts of our whole. We must integrate them to become fully whole and at peace. Face those fearsome parts and embrace all who you are. Our flaws are what make us unique and interesting--otherwise we're just shell-like Stepford Wives.
Something else to pay attention to: self-sacrifice. Or, as I prefer it: throwing yourself under the bus to please everyone else. Stand up for yourself and say no when it's not convenient, in your best interests, or against your beliefs to do something requested of you. Saying no doesn't make you a bad person, and it may be the kindest thing you do all day!
Finally, recognize how negative thought patterns drag down your' entire life. More and more empirical, scientific studies are proving what we already know: maintaining negative energy in your life is damaging to your health, psyche, and spirit, and literally makes you sick. Use today's omen of change as a reminder to do something positive each day--for yourself as well as for others.
June 5, 2016: Card O' the Day: Nine of Hearts. Thank you! Finally we're out of our heads and into our hearts again...life tends to be more manageable when we don't overthink so much. This card is sometimes the "wishes come true card." But not today; no lottery winnings, not faerie dust, no unicorn farts. Today is all about honest, hard spiritual/emotional work. Nines indicate a completion and being of hearts, the completion is of an emotional nature. You've come to understand you're responsible for your own happiness. The next step is to recognize what it is that makes you happiest--sincerely, spiritually, deep-in-the-soul happy--and then do more of that.
At this point, difficulties have been surmounted, and you're entering into a phase of material, emotional, and physical well being. Can I have a "whew"? Anyone? Beuller?
While in this happy place, reflect upon what you've created--good and bad. Pat yourself on the back for the good, and see what you need to do to atone for the bad. Integrate all these experiences into your Self, and be grateful for the lessons learned and the opportunities you had to have learned them. Remember, unpleasant experiences and difficult times help us know not to go down that particular road again. It's all about attitude and your reactions to events. Peace to all.
June 4, 2016: Card O' the Day: Eight of Swords.Very often, the Eight of Swords is depicted with a central figure being hemmed in by a circle of symbolic swords. The figure is usually bound and blindfolded. The poor soul is not the victim of some sadistic bondage vixen, but actually a victim of his/her own mind. As with all Swords, it's a mental card; it's not what's happening TO you, but what you're doing to yourself in your own mind.
Three days in a row we've had Swords in the minor keys. Maybe it's the current political climate, but this tells me there's a lot of self-criticism, negative thinking, over analysis, rigid beliefs, mental restriction, and struggle that we're piling on ourselves. We've locked ourselves into a pattern of living that is always striving towards some set definition of "I've arrived." With that in mind, we've put happiness on hold because we haven't gotten "there" yet.
You're only as trapped as you make yourself! Sure, life may "suck" at the moment, but how you react to the circumstances is the level of suckiness you must endure. Lemonade out of lemons and all that.... Stop obsessing over minutiae and look at the big picture: am I clothed, sheltered, fed? Lots of people aren't. I make a point of counting my blessings every morning. Oh, yes, it's terribly trite, and my litany of blessings is rather rote and hurried some mornings, but it gives me a lift at the start of each day and reminds me I've got it pretty darned good. One can view this card as an omen of luck--whether it's good or bad luck is your choice.
June 3, 2016: Card O' the Day: King of Swords. I see the avoidance of conflict inherent in the Prince of Swords goes deeper with the King. It's not outside conflict you're running from but internal conflict. You're not wanting to use the King's significant abilities to discern truth from lies and falseness or his penetrating vision on yourself. The intellectual and analytical King is quite fanatic about seeking truth in all things except himself.
What to do? The hard stuff: own your shit, face unpleasant facts, and cut losses for the greatest good. Ouch. I don't see this as doom and gloom "shadow" energy but as a golden opportunity to do some solid personal work.
Through critical, objective examination, some hidden truths will be revealed. However, knowledge is power--even unpleasant knowledge. Because knowing what's wrong enables you to fix it or at least take steps to mitigate the "wrong." If your health, relationship, or career are headed down the tubes, facing hard truths will enable you to halt the downward spiral and make necessary changes to move you to a happier place. The bonus? A valuable lesson that will (in theory) prevent you from ever having to be here again.
June 2, 2016: Card O' the Day: Prince of Swords. We have another impetuous prince running faster than his feet can carry him. It's necessary to take the occasional risk, but proceeding without any sort of deliberation or preparation is foolhardy and reckless. One must ground ideas and endeavors in reality and remain responsible for what one creates. Ignoring the mundane details won't make them go away; and, no, you can't turf them off to somebody else. Some grunt jobs have to be done personally.
The Prince of Swords can be disconnected from his emotions, and this can make him hold onto anger and hurts because he analyses them to death. Instead of feeling the emotions and getting over them, he'll bury them into a grudge. Most recently I think one has had a "gullible" moment and now feels foolish. One is not able to laugh at oneself, holler d'OH, and let it go. No...that discomfort is being transferred somewhere else in the form of anger.
Is that why you're charging ahead, hell bent for leather? Are you running away from the conflict or confrontation that made you feel so idiotic? If so, put the brakes on, slap your forehead, and drop the 'tude. We've all been there. Chalk the whole thing up to "life" and file it under "lesson learned."
June 1, 2016: Card O' the Day: Ace of Cups.I still feel like we're singing in a minor key...the normally hearts-and-rainbows Ace of Cups is shadowy. This is a very powerful emotion card and it represents the FULL spectrum of emotions-- not just romantic, generous, unconditional love. Expect a rather emotional time for a bit. (Fortunately, it's an ace, and aces are fleeting moments.) These emotions will change circumstances, new feelings will replace old, and one will experience a turnabout in feelings for another.
One of my sources uses the word "upheaval" and that smells right to me. While this could be construed as suddenly seeing a friend as your one true love, my thoughts are the rose-colored glasses are going to come off, and you'll be seeing someone truthfully, rather than what you'd hoped they'd be.
This unfortunate emotional turmoil will bring lessons, however. There's ample opportunity for emotional growth and "experience"--read: not gonna do THAT again! The episode will bring out a new frankness you've been afraid of using before and that will bring balance and harmony to your life as you finally tune your awareness to what feels right for YOU.
May 31, 2016: Card O' the Day: 0 The Fool. The best parts of the bright-eyed, new-beginnings Fool are taken too far and are being subverted into the likes of a really bratty, entitled teenager. There's a reluctance to listen to advice, a lack of discipline, egotism, and a lack of staying power. One is easily infatuated by shiny things and then wonders why things aren't turning out as planned. Emotional energy is running high and intensely with a lot of anger and jealousy. Lots of foot stomping, eye-rolling, and flouncing off in a huff.
The Fool, on a better day, would call you to trust your inner knowing. However, today that's not possible because you're so concerned with trivia and petty nonsense that your wise intuition is simply being drowned out by the static. It's all about the "lower consciousness" stuff right now. I told the Prince of Wands to put on a helmet, but obviously, he did not and is continuing to rock out to "Highway to Hell."
If you can, get hold of a piece of silex to calm your restless mind and balance those really intense emotions. See if you can be alone to meditate, practice yoga, or take a bike ride. Do only what's necessary to run your life right now; put all decisions on hold, cease making plans for anything, stop running after the "next thing" and just...stop. Breathe. Let the dust settle. Once you're able to think clearly, acknowledge lessons learned, and handle constructive advice again, then move forward with your endeavors.
May 29, 2016: Card O' the Day: Prince of Wands. The particular deck I used this morning depicts the Prince of Wands riding a motorcycle, wearing no helmet, and his purple scarf trailing behind him in the wind. Brash, bold, fearless, and egocentric is this particular prince. He represents the spirit, passion, and energy that sets wheels in motion and gets us off our duffs to make new ideas and schemes realities. This is "good" energy, but it's also rather unpredictable and volatile.
Try to balance and harness this wild gusto with common sense. Firstly, put on a helmet if you're riding, and tuck in that scarf. Isadora Duncan anyone (Google how she died)? Secondly, pay attention to the fine print and all details. You'll catch things as they START to go wrong rather than only noticing when things have gone so far south they can't be salvaged. Thirdly, cultivate reliability. Become known as that person who does what they say they will; the one who keeps promises and follows through on projects.
The fire energy of the Prince of Wands combines intellect with the restlessness that impels us forward to discover new things. Yes, be open to life and all it's surprises; be ready to pivot on a dime and take advantage of fleeting chances for adventure. At the same time, practice patience, maintain a steady pace where you can, and balance impulse with practicality.
May 28, 2016: Card O' the Day: King of Pentacles. Now THAT'S what I'm talking about with the "big kid pants"! The King's "stone" is amber; it increases one's mental well being, helps achieve illumination, absorbs negative energy, brings strength and wisdom, and assists in manifesting in the material world. I know what I'm wearing today! The King's chakra is the 1st, the root chakra, connecting him to the earth and his deepest foundation.
As a steady, consistent figure, the appearance of this card is a reminder to approach your world, tasks, and relationships, with kindness, reliability, and stability. By being a rock to yourself and to others, you'll be able to strip away superfluous distractions and focus on the true work that needs to be done. Whether this work is actual physical labor or more esoteric, spiritual work, by getting down to the base of it all, you'll save a lot of energy in the long run.
The King of Pentacles indicates prosperity, accomplishment, and robust health so you can be assured your projects have the potential to take off, and you'll live to enjoy them. Unfortunately, it won't all fall in your lap. (The truly valuable things in life don't, you know.) Work must be done to become peaceful within, gain acceptance of what must be, and manifest your ideas and dreams. You can do it.
May 27, 2016: Card O' the Day: 10 of Swords. This is a "shadow card" with some pretty heavy meanings. They include bottoming out, nadir, misfortune, and disappointment. Victim mentality and desolation take this unfortunate card even further by adding the "woe is me" aspect. So many people fear getting the Devil or Death cards when sitting for a reading, but quite frankly, the 9 and 10 of Swords suck way more than the Death or Devil cards. Do you know why? Because the Death and Devil cards happen TO us, whereas the 9 and 10 of Swords happen FROM us. All that crap shadow stuff denoted by the 10 of Swords is coming from within your own head!
However, if you're willing to face the truth and do the work, you'll find acceptance of your circumstances. Acceptance brings instruction from the lessons. Lessonsbring liberation from bad habits and actions. And Liberation allows for expansion. I'm not trying to be a gross PollyAnna (Google it if you don't know), nor am I making light of any unfortunate circumstances you may be suffering; I'm trying to help you change your view of your world.
If you need to, go back to your headstand and see the world from a literally different perspective. We had the Hanged Man the other day, and we might not yet be done with him. He was asking you to change how you considered life, and the 10 of Swords is asking the same in a slightly different way. Allow your mind to flex and bend to new ideas and concepts. This card is not about the actual difficulties of life, but about how you react to them. Your choice: fall in a heap wailing "why me?" or put on your big kid pants and figure it out.
May 26, 2016: Card O' the Day: Nine of Cups. It's said money cannot buy happiness, and no one else can MAKE you happy. This card has appeared today to remind us of that. It's all about wishes coming true, abundance, contentment, and all kinds of warm fuzzies we've made for ourselves and the responsibility we've taken to become happy. Nothing landed in our laps; we didn't win the lottery; it was old-fashioned strength of will, determination, and sweat that got you here. You deserve to celebrate and pat yourself on the back.
However, don't break your arm patting. Being too proud of oneself can lead to complacency, satisfaction, and even greed for more. Reaping rewards for hard work can get a little addicting, and one may go overboard with the working and reaping to the point life becomes just a joyless amassing of wealth.
The easiest way to keep yourself humble and not get stuck on the work/reap treadmill is to give back to others who have not yet made it. Give of yourself--your knowledge, time, kindness--and don't just make a monetary contribution. Yes, donating cash is helpful, but donating yourself is more rewarding in the long run.
May 25, 2016: Card O' the Day: Ace of Swords. Yesterday the cards hung you upside down so you could see life from a new perspective, and now the cards are cutting you down to implement that new way of thinking. Count yourself lucky it's happening so quickly! Often we're left hanging quite a while until we "get" it. However, the reason it's happening quickly is because you're in the right place at the right time for solving problems or manifesting goals. Aces represent new beginnings, but the opportunities are fleeting--get on the ball, people!
With this new thought process, old ideas are discarded or negative situations escaped to make room for inspired ideas and a deeper, wider, and more comprehensive understanding. We should all stand back and turn ourselves upside down on a regular basis if this is the result. If the swift movement of your thoughts or events around you are unsettling, have a cup of chamomile tea and latch onto a clear quartz crystal. The tea will soothe, and the stone will help clear your thoughts and allow for fruitful meditation.
By moving forward now and challenging yourself to keep up, you'll find peace and contentment in the new and graceful acceptance of the necessity to break from the old.
May 24, 2016: Card O' the Day: 12 The Hanged Man. Often, we want what we want, when we want it! Just because we're not three anymore, doesn't mean that feeling goes away. We've just matured enough to know kicking and screaming about something isn't the best way to get it and to know that sometimes what we want isn't meant to be ours. Right? We HAVE matured enough, haven't we? *Sigh*
For those of us who haven't (this author included), our Card O' the Day is telling us to dig into our bag of tricks and find all the patience and maturity we've got to let go what it is we're pining for. It's not going to happen, and it's best to let it go. By making this necessary sacrifice, you will be able to release the control this "thing you wanted" has over you. You'll be able to better move forward with your real tasks and the truly important stuff at hand.
Yes, it's hard to recognize what wasn't meant to be; it's difficult not to be disappointed. Choose maturity and patience and trust the Universe to be right. Release control of your wants; return to Source for your needs. If you have any aquamarine, wear it today to help gain the peace needed to let go and walk away.
May 23, 2016: Card O' the Day: Page of Swords. All righty then! Now that you're ready to take a little time out for yourself, we've got the right combination of personality energies to lead the way. The Page/Princess is ready to try something new in relation to ideas or systems, has just enough wildness to wing it, but yet has all senses tuned for hidden dangers. There's fortitude, perception, a bit of daring, and enough brains to make a go of things. However, this Page is a bit of a fence-sitter...consider what your indecision is about and why you're letting it hold you back. I mean, there are equal measures of drive, determination, caution, and ideas--so what's causing the clog?
Oh, I get it now...more delegation issues.; the Page can't delegate any better than the Queen of Pentacles. What a bunch of control freaks! Under all that control actually lies a bit of insecurity; am I right? Perhaps you're doing so much and not delegating because you think you're being "pushy" or "demanding" by asking others to take on a task or responsibility. This card is a reminder to stand up for yourself and clearly convey your needs and feelings. By keeping quiet and doing it all, you don't have to reveal much of yourself or take a chance on developing relationships with anyone. That might get a bit lonely.
The chakra for this card is the heart--that center of our beings that connects the guts to the voice and brains. I feel like this is also a reminder to get out of your head (Swords, thinking) and little more into your heart. Use a little of that adventurousness and daring to risk getting to know those around you. Be vulnerable and ask for help; allow yourself to be generous enough to receive. By receiving, we're allowing someone else the opportunity to give.
May 22, 2016: Card O' the Day: Queen of Pentacles.In some decks, the queens are also called "nurturers" and for good reason. They're the mother personalities of the deck; the Queen of Pentacles is the earth mother. She's concerned with hearth and home and managing resources and is down to earth, practical, and frank. She lives firmly in the real world. Because this queen is the "head of household" type, she has difficulty delegating responsibilities and often forgets to nurture herself as much as she does everyone else.
Her appearance today is prompting me to remind y'all to stop trying to do it all yourself. This "self-reliant" thing can be taken too far. Delegate where you can and TRUST it will get done--maybe not precisely as you would have done it, but it will get done adequately. With that free time you've created by delegating tasks, nurture yourself! Spa Day, anyone? All that care of others takes energy, but if you're tapped out, you're not able to prop anyone up anymore--never mind yourself. Question: are you so busy looking after others because you find yourself unworthy of care? You'll be a much more effective nurturer if you can accept and love your own self and be happy in your skin. Just sayin'.
Agate is our stone du jour. It's supposed to help you in the search for truth and allows acceptance of unpleasant circumstances. "Acceptance" is a really good thing so put a piece under your pillow, in your pocket, or wear your agate jewelry for a few days. You might find a little more ease in going with the flow, loving yourself, and seeing things for what they are and being okay with that.
May 20, 2016: Card O' the Day: Six of Pentacles. The "generosity" card.... My first thought about this card was the charity and philanthropy associated with it, but I'm struck by a small variation on the theme today. Peace, tolerance, fair exchange, and responsibility are also present. When we're respectful enough of our fellow beings to give of ourselves freely and/or offer fair exchange for goods and services, I think that allows for, and stimulates, personal peace and feeling good in our own skins.
This is a two-way street in that the card is about benefitting and being benefitted, the joy in giving and receiving. This card also has a note about "having/not having", but I feel even if we are naked, with absolutely zero material resources, we still have something we can give. Something that has value and something that is a fair exchange for goods and services of others.
(This is one of those readings where I struggle with words...it's like trying to describe a dream--there are definite feelings and ideas I wish to convey, but language is falling short.)
Let us practice the type of selfish generosity, tolerance, and responsibility for our neighbors that will benefit someone else and returns to us a sense of peace and joy that far out weighs the effort or cost of our initial gesture. Give to the point of feeling giddy and let that mere "warm and fuzzy" be all the reward you need.
May 19, 2016: Card O' the Day: Five of Wands. Labor, endeavors, strife, obstacles, and yet determination, commitment, and profit are all present in our card today. Saturn, the plant of hardship and struggle is in opposition to Leo, the sign of power and authority. Saturn has a plan and Leo has the drive, but the two are pulling in opposite directions, and thus the conflict.
We're on the right path to our goals, but the energies are getting a bit chaotic. Perhaps there's a bit of competition or differing opinions among your team members or those assisting you. This sparring and vying for position can cause anxiety and snarkiness and ultimately slow down the momentum of the project as egos clash and everyone tries to be "right."
Make use of this great fire energy by channeling it effectively. Step back from the fray, assess the situation rationally, and allow the dust to settle. (No decisions should be made at this time anyway, so there's time to take a small break.) Release all pettiness and focus the energy of the group or your assistants. Look for common ground where you can rather than amplifying the differences. Concentrating on what's going right will help you put what's going wrong into proper perspective. Also, look at it from a collective view point instead of hogging credit for the "right" and pointing fingers for the "wrong."
May 10, 2016: Card O' the Day: 0 The Fool. As we "rock on!", we must do so with our eyes open. I'm feeling the blind faith, folly, indiscretion, and reluctance to listen to advice more than anything from The Fool today. There's also egotism, present: "I've got this!", "No, I don't need your help!", "Get out of my business! (But I need a ride to....)". Lots of "teenaged angst", rashness, and indecision. This card represents everything--potential, hope, dreams--or nothing--aimlessness, thoughtlessness, chaos.
Yes, it's good to be self-assured and strong-willed, but be sure you channel that energy wisely. In some writings of Tarot lore, The Fool is the same man as The Magician. The Magician commands and utilizes the power of all the elements--fire (Wands), air (Swords), water (Cups), and earth (Pentacles). Whereas The Fool, in his aimless wanderings, has forgotten the purpose and power of each of these symbols. He carries a totem of each element in his bag, but it's just clutter to him.
Collect your personal powers and use them for your highest good without trampling on everyone around you. Your highest good may include being kind, helpful, and cheerful. Never forget that no man is an island. We all need help to reach our goals, but if you've alienated those around you with selfish, "what can you do for me" attitudes, it's going to be a lot harder to achieve your dreams--if not impossible.
May 9, 2016: Card O' the Day: The Queen of Wands. The Queen of Wands is the strongest of the Tarot queens. She's self-assured, kind, responsible, supportive, honorable, and loving. She's also dynamic, strong-willed, and powerful. Successful in business, she's creative and passionate about her projects and cannot be deterred. On her shadow side, she has trust issues, is quick to anger, and can suffer some pretty wild mood swings.
The Queen's message is to have faith in your abilities and master your personal power. This card is of boldness, assertiveness, and self-discovery. With these qualities, obstacles are easily overcome and confidence soars.
Don't allow yourself to whine "yeah, but..."--I think that's one of the most destructive phrases that can ever come out of our mouths! Let go of any grudges, negative energies, or thoughts of revenge. Make note of what went down and then move on. Next time you will NOT be so unprepared! Now, light a fire under your ass, and rock on!
May 6, 2016: Card O' the Day: King of Swords. Today's card is brought to you by the word "truth." This King has the ability to see through all the static and straight to the heart of a matter. A discerner and seeker of truth, he's all about embracing new ideas to make the world a better place. Use that yen to make things better by blending creativity with current knowledge and getting a little unusual with your methods. Tried and true is good, but it doesn't always work, and we must stay flexible so we don't get jammed up by life's roadblocks.
In addition to staying flexible, we're called to expand our small-minded view points. Because the Sword King is represented by the heart chakra, this tells me we can expand our minds by opening our hearts. Ponder that a moment.... The most glaring example of opening our minds via our hearts is last year's new legislation that allows same-sex marriage. Through compassion for all people, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, our minds opened to the idea that the concept of marriage is for anyone. You don't have to change laws to make the world better; you can do much by just being nice in your own little corner.
Because the King is a fanatic truth-seeker, hidden truths may come to light. If you think that might have been a little TMI, remember that knowledge is power. Now that you know, you can deal with whatever's at hand. This might mean cutting some losses for the greater good. Not always pleasant, but necessary.
May 5, 2016: Card O' the Day: Three of Wands. I saw this great meme yesterday of a bunch of duckings in a pond. The headline read something like "I may not have my ducks in a row, but at least I have them all in the same pond." This sums up our card for today. The loose ends are getting organized, tools are being gathered, ideas are being tweaked, and negotiations are ongoing to line up the things we can't do ourselves.
Threes are the manifestation of choices or unions. The 3 of Wands is a "yes" card with powerful energy flowing through it. Tiger iron is the stone for today, and it helps us connect to the vital energy of Mother Earth. Astrologically, we have the power of the Sun combined with Aries, god of War--need I say more about the heavy duty energy of this card?
Be assured you're on the right track, and others see what you're doing and are respecting you for it. While success isn't guaranteed--when is it ever?--you're encouraged to follow your visions as you move forward with your current plans. Balanced emotional energy along with mental focus will be vital to achieving your goals. You might have to make adjustments along the way so remember to be flexible and, at minimum, listen politely to any suggestions.
May 4, 2016: Card O' the Day: 21 The World. In some cases this card is about having arrived, completion, yada, yada, yada. Sorry, but I don't see it today. One of the OTHER interpretations of this card, which I AM centering on, is a supreme feeling of union, integration, and an encompassing of the whole. Lately we've been working towards becoming more at home within ourselves; we're trying to accept all our warts and being okay that we're flawed. The World is telling us we're getting closer to our goal.
Somebody else has written this card is about "dancing within your limitations." I think that's a very apt phrase! We're all limited in many ways; the trick is to thrive and dance through life despite those limits. Just because I can't sing doesn't mean I can't perfect a one-note "ohm" at the end of yoga class. I sound like a love-sick moose, but I'm becoming okay with it; I'm embracing my internal love-sick moose, dammit!
As we come to accept our limitations and flaws, our soul finds peace, and there's union between our inner and outer spaces. We reconcile our human selves with our spiritual selves and become whole. Are we there yet? No, 'fraid not. Will we ever make it? That depends on how hard you want to work.
P.S. I have a sneaking suspicion we won't ever "make it" completely as long as we are in human form. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't try to get as close as we can before we kick the bucket and transcend to the next plane. Just sayin'.
April 28, 2016: Card O' the Day: 1 The Magician. This is the 4th Major Arcana in a row; the Major Arcana represent the big life lessons in the Tarot Deck. Therefore, we need to pay extra attention to these cards. The Magician symbolizes the ego, the self, the "me, myself, and I" concept--but in a good way today. He's telling us we have the power, resources, knowledge, and the will the create the changes necessary in our worlds. Sometimes the changes we help manifest are in The World, but right now I'm thinking personal world. With this card we have the concentration, focus, energy, and desire for action and change.
The Magician is the ultimate director of the quest for self. That quest is leading us to better ourselves within, but also to better our physical environment. Whether it's planting a garden or moving houses, this is a time of feeling trust in the Universe and yourself and using the bubbling force of Nature to impel you forward.
The internal work does not cease just because we're manifesting on the physical plane. Continue to pay attention to subtle signs from your environment, the people you interact with, and from your own gut. Allow those nuances to have weight in your decision making.
April 27, 2016: Card O' the Day: 10 The Wheel. With all the personal reflection of late, you'll be able to see the changes coming and that are so necessary. The Wheel symbolizes the inevitable changes of time, seasons, culture, and trends that are part of life on this Big Blue Marble of ours. You can embrace those changes, make the most of them, grow...or you can dig in your heels and scream bloody murder as you're dragged down the path of change. Your choice: walk voluntarily or get dragged and suffer a gnarly case of road-rash.
Change is always for the better, but some may beg to differ. Is the change of an awful divorce really "better"? Is the death of a loved one a "good" change? Is there an upside to the change of losing your job? It depends on how you view these changes. You can look at the events' results: alone, bereaved, and jobless. Or you can dig deeper: if the marriage was so good it wouldn't have ended; the loved one may have been physically finished and it was more than time to go; the job was stifling and slowly killing you.
Your homework for the day is to see how you can surf the waves of change--meaning to flow WITH the energy rather than AGAINST it. Turn the fear of change into excitement for all the "new" that's coming. Expand yourself to embrace rather than shrinking to defend.
April 26, 2016: Card O' the Day: 5 The Heirophant. The Heirophant represents what stimulates inner awakening and growth. So, while you're hanging out and seeing things from a new point of view anyway, allow the guru of the Universe to guide you. He also evokes ancient memories, and one would do well to pay attention to personal experiences and those of the ancients. See if you can tap into the collective conscious to learn from that deep well of wisdom.
Tradition, belief systems, cultural norms, and organized religions are defined by this card, too. We're encouraged to find our own truth rather than just mouth the words of others or pre-set doctrines without feeling and understanding them. The Heirophant is the bridge between spiritual belief and daily life--he helps you actually "walk what you talk." Stay flexible to ALL beliefs and incorporate into your life what truly resonates with you. You're allowed to take a little of this and that to make a custom belief system that works best with your personal values.
April 25, 2016: Card O' the Day: 12 The Hanged Man. The Hanged Man is quickly becoming my favorite of the cards. Or maybe just today.... There's something so peaceful about surrendering the ego to a whole new perspective. The active waiting, the period of deep contemplation, the "aha" moment that inevitably comes. It might not be a bolt of lightening but more along the lines of a whisper of light that gradually grows and brings clarity to your life or a particular circumstance. (You realize, of course, we can be in different places on the Tarot path at the same time, right?)
While in this suspended, up-ended place, you might feel a bit uncertain, and that's okay. You're just finding your way. Sometimes we must grope through the dark and take action because standing still is worse. Not right now. Stand still and listen with all senses, including your 6th, 7th, and 8th senses. Turn your head, this way and that as you focus on the subtleties. The animal spirit of this card is the Bat. Bats may be effectively blind, but their hearing is supernatural--be a bat.
Chill out, and let the breezes and waters flow past, washing away the fog of indecision and unknowing. You'll see the way clearly in a little while.
April 24, 2016: Card O' the Day: 8 of Cups. One is in the process of leaving something behind to seek a deeper meaning and to find higher purpose. Perhaps there's a need to venture into unexplored territory... But even if that's carried out physically (like going skydiving, on a safari, to an ashram), there will be inner discovery woven into the physical discovery.
There've been some painful experiences lately, and one is overwhelmed by the disappointment, weariness, and drama of it all. This overwhelm is causing one to walk away, separate, and disengage from the trouble. It's not running away, it's giving healthy space to the circumstances so one can pause, regroup, and rethink things. Keep moving away from the turmoil, in fact, and towards people who support you being your higher self!
Remember that life is cyclic and what may have served well at one time, no longer does. This is the time to figure out what's still useful and what's not. Even goals, once thought the key to happiness, may grow stale. It's okay to change your mind and redirect energies. We all grow out of things, ideas, and patterns of living. A change of scenery, even for the day, will help in the search for new energy, new thoughts, and the higher self.
April 22, 2016: Card O' the Day: Ten of Pentacles. Can I get a hallelujah for a happy card for a change? The animal spirit associated with this card is the dog. Right there that should put you in the mood of the Ten of Pentacles: stable and abundant life, home, security, loyalty, and love. The Ten is also associated with material prosperity and success. Our stone is tiger's eye, which teaches tolerance of different points of view and helps one be more flexible in order to attract the people and things that are important for our personal development.
This card reminds us to count our blessings, even the tiniest, and to give thanks for those recent tough lessons we've been struggling to accept and integrate. We're on the right path towards spiritual and material growth and security in our later years. Know you're safe, so go ahead and relax and celebrate with family and friends.
As with all good fortunes and abundance, the Ten encourages us to share the wealth. By keeping the bright energy FLOWING through us, new abundance can then come in as we share the current abundance we're enjoying. Damming up the creek will give you a larger puddle, but that puddle will become stagnant, slow, and dank as nasty things begin to grow. Moving energy stays fresh.
April 21, 2016: Card O' the Day: Two of Wands. The fiery energy of Wands is urging you forward, but the choices represented by 2's are holding you back. Thus, all that energy is going in circles, increasing your feelings of unease and conflict, and all you really want is peace! You're at a crossroads and need to make a choice; determining what that choice is, precisely, is your first step. Does it involve a concrete, tangible project or option, or is it more of an internal, spiritual thing?
If the choice is on the physical plane, you know the drill: weigh pros and cons, ask for advice, do a little research, balance the creative dreams with reality, and listen carefully to your intuition. If it's a matter on the spiritual/emotional plane, a retreat, meditation, and advice from a trusted friend are all solid tools to help you hear your gut, so you can take the best course of action for YOU.
Another good way to make tough choices is to look back and see what worked in the past in similar situations. Do not forget to examine crashing failures along with the singing successes. In fact, the failures might have more valuable information, if you can bear the inner humiliation of recalling your crash-and-burn in minute detail. As we all know, the devil is in the details, so just briefly touching on a failure and saying "we won't be doing THAT again!" may not be enough to really glean all the wisdom available from that mess. Get dirty! Dig around and really explore your failures! "It'll be fun!" she said....
April 20, 2016: Card O' the Day: 9 The Hermit. Sometimes this daily card thing makes no sense. Yesterday we were encouraged to be social and make use of contacts, today is all about going "within" to find truth. Say what? Go back a little further and see the cards of the past week; it begins to make sense if one looks at the big picture.
The Hermit is indicative of continuing the search for personal truth regarding our best selves and the best use of our lives. He has a strong sense of responsibility for others and the meaning of duty. The lantern he carries is not just to light his own way but to light the way of others behind him. The Hermit offers a voice of calm, an acceptance of circumstances, and the inner compass to guide us. We need to be still, however, to hear that voice. We need to forgive to accept, and we must be open to guidance to follow the direction of our compass.
But before we can truly light the way for others, we need to have our own sh*t together. Where are you throwing yourself under the bus in order to "do your duty"? Where are you obsessive/compulsive about controlling people, situations, or your environment? Most importantly, WHY are you so obsessive/compulsive? Take advantage of the Hermit's lantern to achieve meaningful self-discovery as you ponder these questions. Understanding the answers will take you a long way towards inner peace and acceptance of self.
April 19, 2016: Card O' the Day: Seven of Pentacles. There's a tremendous potential for achievement and financial success if a well-disciplined and balanced approach is taken. There's so much going on for you that you really have to fine-tune and focus the energy lest it scatters to the winds and is wasted. ...But you don't waaaaaaaant to be patient and methodical! You want to be DONE already! That's not the way it works. We're talking slow, steady progress rather than a leap forward at this time.
Part of the impatience and "let's get on with it" feeling is actually uncertainty and fear of failure. You want to jump off the cliff, quickly tear off the bandage, and rush forward before you lose your nerve. No can do...evaluation, assessment, and careful consideration is necessary. Check the figures, mull pros and cons, and inch forward with eyes open and "Spidey Senses" on full alert for anything fishy lurking in the shadows.
Balance is also needed in your whole life, not just at work or with financial endeavors. In our eagerness to move forward and make millions, we're ignoring the emotional demands and needs of family and friends. Your world will contract if you let social connections drop. Not only are social connections good for your soul, they're good for business. You never know who's cousin's hairdresser's daughter-in-law knows someone who can get you hooked up with a potential client/employer/investor. Make time for sincere socializing and enjoyment of the hearth fire.
April 18, 2016: Card O' the Day: 8 Strength. Real power: the strength to love with all your heart; the strength of union between yourself and others; and the strength of the infinite light of Universe.
More soul searching, I'm afraid.... We're asked to honestly look at our lives and see where we're not ALLOWING balance. What?! Not "allowing".... Yes. Remember the daily dusting thing? Super-hyper control of your environment will prevent balance in your world. Super-hyper control of other people will prevent balance in relationships. Super-hyper control of yourself will prevent balance in your psyche.
Some of us thrive on drama and conflict (and will stir some up just for the cheap thrill), others like to dive in and "fix" a perceived problem, and still others run screaming from any sort of upheaval or the merest whiff of discord. One does well to develop mature strength of soul and character by not running, "fixing", or thriving, but handling the issue with compassion, trust, and love. What does that look like? It means not overreacting from a place of fear and insecurity, not stopping to butt into a situation that's none of our business just to vicariously enjoy the drama, and not forcing those involved into a box that tidily "solves the problem" in your eyes. Working from a place of compassion, love, and trust means facilitating communication, mediating a solution that's best for those involved, and/or letting others sort out their conflicts by themselves.
April 17, 2016: Card O' the Day: Ten of Wands. Could it be that the "hidden dangers" hinted at by The Empress are actually hidden anger and grudges? The Ten of Wands is representative of heavy burdens and responsibilities--either self-imposed or life-imposed. Being that weighed down is going to mean you won't have time to do all you WANT to do because you'll be caught up in the "shoulds." Not doing the "wants" will lead to frustration and feelings of being held back from your life.
What to do? Let go. Yes, I'm yammering on about "letting go" uh-gain! The more stuff you keep dwelling over, chewing on, and rehashing, the more energy you waist on the past. Acknowledge, learn, move on.
See where you can delegate necessary tasks that can't be dropped. See where you can slack off without the world coming to an end (seriously? do you HAVE to dust the entire house EVERY day?). Use that newly freed energy and time to pursue your dreams and goals without risking total burn out. Some final thoughts: self care; you are ENOUGH!; appreciate your accomplishments so far.
April 16, 2016: Card O' the Day: 3 The Empress. The Empress signifies nature, renewal, creativity, and all that mothering, nurturing stuff. Her appearance also reassures us that creative growth is on track, which will lead to progress and abundance, yada, yada, yada.
While your head is bursting with new ideas, life, and possibilities, keep your eyes peeled for hidden dangers or miscalculations of time and resources. Remember that Mother Nature is often cruel.... I use the movie "Wizard of Oz" a lot in my verbal visuals, and at this moment, I'm stuck on the poppy field. Dorothy has come out of the Dark Forest into the sunshine and starts dashing across the poppy field to the Emerald City and promptly hits a pothole because she didn't pay attention.
I don't mean to be a Negative Nelly, but the shifting energy is still fairly heavy and caution is warranted. Yes, give voice and fuel to your ideas and the possibilities before you. Yes, come out of the dark forest with a spring in your step and a song in your heart. You deserve the sunshine! Just don't forget reality, and keep your feet on the ground.
April 15, 2016: Card O' the Day: 2 The High Priestess. The epitome of inner wisdom, she speaks without words. She is the Spiritual Mother as well as your heart of hearts, your deepest self where all the truth dwells. On the spiritual level, you're being asked to risk finding out what you may be hiding from yourself.
You may discover aspects of yourself you never knew existed; it may not be a joyful discovery. Meaning, you may be way more intolerant and selfish than you'd like to be. That's okay! Face that truth and accept it. Then see where you can make room. You can't change inherent, deep truths, but you can sneak around the edges to participate more lovingly in life. Example: you feel you should volunteer your time but really want to stay on the couch and watch Netflix. Solution: donate money, get a phone list and make 20 phone calls from the comfort of your own chair, bake something for the next bake sale.
Not all of us are born to be selfless saints. Understand your limitations, accept them, and still love yourself. You have appeared at this time for a purpose that only Universe knows. Your purpose may be to simply exist or become the next POTUS. Be the most authentic you.
April 14, 2016: Card O' the Day: 7 The Chariot. This card is the final card in the first stage of the Fool's Journey through the Tarot's lessons. Stage one is concerned with developing awareness and building character, competence, and maturity. Sort of the "physical plane" stuff, whereas it gets more ethereal and esoteric after that. As one does build personal character and maturity, one begins to get one's act together. However, before gaining control of yourself and your environment, there's going to be some "letting go" required as well. Spinning plates comes to mind: you can't spin them ALL so pick the most important ones to control, and let the rest fall.
The Chariot indicates movement and speed, so some decisions may seem rushed. That's not always a bad thing, though. We don't always have the luxury of lots of time to consider all the angles, pros and cons, etc. You might have do a quick assessment and then jump on it. Mistakes and failures will happen, but it's the only way to learn, grow, and attain what you seek.
This card is also of deep commitments. Be very careful not to over promise or extend. It's better to say "no" up front rather than weasel out of something once people are depending on you. Even if you do keep your word, at what cost to you? Honoring a commitment at great expense and inconvenience will leave you with a sour taste in your mouth. Being kind to others is important, but being kind to yourself is more so. Spinning plates and all that.
April 13, 2016: Card O' the Day: Three of Swords. Different deck, I swear!! So what did I miss yesterday....
Recognition--we need to identify the patterns of life that got you here. If your life was running smoothly, you were keeping up with the trash, and giving as much divine energy as you received, then you wouldn't be having to clear the decks in such a dramatic way. This means you'll have to squarely face the central issue(s) with HONESTY, courage, and clarity. This is not the time to look outward at all who done you wrong, but to look inward and accept your part in the mess. Two nanoseconds after recognition and acceptance should come responsibility.
This part is really hard because it feels like an attack on your ego from YOURSELF! And it is in a way...being brutally honest is kind of ego-bruising. The upside to this is that it's all internal and the public doesn't know a thing. Nobody see's your dirty linens. If you don't know where to start, check to see if you're having unrealistic or idealistic views of how your life "should" go. More honesty, courage, and clarity....
In the end comes resolution to all world problems! Not really; that would be "idealistic" and "unrealistic." What does come is resolution to this particular phase of your life. Hopefully, you'll learn a few lessons on how to keep your house in order, so you don't have to go through painful total-tear-down-and-rebuilds every six months to a year.
Remember yesterday's Tips O' the Day re the same card: no wallowing and self-care.
April 12, 2016: Card O' the Day: Three of Swords. I can't say I'm surprised this card came up. After the rough announcement yesterday, it's typical to fall into a funk and resist what's coming. However, know there is potential for transformation, wisdom to be gained from this suffering, and finally, healing. In the process of tearing down old structures, you'll probably find old wounds and crap that's been buried. Now's a good time to deal with them--you're already in turmoil so you might as well clean out this closet while you're at it.
So much stress can lead to actual physical ailments, therefore you need to protect yourself with lots of sleep, hydration, meditation, and exercise. There's a psychological difference between facing truths, doing some needed "work", and feeling sadness and loss as you jettison what no longer serves you and wallowing in self-pity. The wallowing stuff is what leads to physical illness. We are strong and resilient enough to handle crisis and the sh*t hitting the fan; it's about attitude: think "strong" and you'll be strong.
Three's generally mean fruition, harvest, and fulfillment, but Swords represent conflict. The "harvest" of conflict is pain and suffering, but it can also act as a catalyst for true growth and change. View it in that light and it might make it slightly easier to endure the next phase.
April 11, 2016: Card O' the Day: 16 The Tower. A hard transition is coming. Take it slowly and keep what's essential for your sanity and inner strength, and let the rest go. You'll need to take some time for healing before you can recognize this shift as a defining moment of your life. It will be, ultimately, for the best and a blessing in disguise, but it's not going to be fun, and it'll hurt.
Expect disruption, loss of trust and security, awakening to truth, dramatic upheaval, and crisis. This transformation could be entirely spiritual or internal, your physical world may come crashing down, or it'll be a little of both. More likely both, because I can't think how a total shift in one aspect of life will leave the other completely untouched.
The silver lining to all this is you'll be blasted loose from a rut, some rigid life patterns and ways of thinking, and in this stripped-bare condition, you'll find growth. Best of luck to you.
April 7, 2016: Card O' the Day: Six of Wands. There's a breakthrough represented by this card...victories after challenges, results of efforts, and rest from troubles. (Whew!) It is good to have things FINALLY work out after working so hard! However, pride in your accomplishments must be tempered with humility. You didn't get there by yourself. Elizabeth Warren has publicly congratulated the successful businessmen of this country but reminded them they used public roads, took advantage of laws, had the assistance of many workers, etc. who helped said businessman get to his goal. This is the same thing--recognize the help you've received and give thanks in the appropriate directions.
Breakthroughs come in many forms, so you may be having a more spiritual breakthrough than something on the material plane. But again, stay humble. Becoming enlightened in some way doesn't make you "holier than thou." True enlightenment shows us how far we still have to go. Kind of like the more you learn, you realize the less you know. Just as victories and gains on the physical plane need maintenance to keep them viable and expanding, spiritual victories and gains need to be nurtured and maintained as well lest one backslides.
April 5, 2016: Today we're looking at 7 The Chariot. We're revisiting the self-assertion, efforts, and perseverance of the Seven of Wands from the other day. The added element today is of balance of opposing forces. We need to find equilibrium within ourselves...between mind and body. Once whole, we can seek happiness and join with others to create community wealth and wellbeing. As we all know, when working with others, balancing all the egos and "forces" within that group can get tricky. If you are balanced, then you can help others attain balance, too.
Deep commitments go with this card, as well. Be careful of your promises because you must keep them. Your integrity and the value of your word are important and cannot be compromised. Therefore, don't overextend yourself; say no if you're not sure you can follow through.
April 4, 2016: The card for today is the Ten of Wands. Oof! Heavy weights of carrying too much, being overburdened, struggle, demands, and moving due to necessity rather than choice. Um.... I'm going back to bed.... The good news is so much stress is going to give us a new perspective leading to conscious transformation. The problems will resolve shortly and all that strife will lead to some growth and lessons learned. (Why can't "lessons" come with rainbows and ice cream?)
Know that all you've done is all you CAN do. You've done enough and you ARE enough. In fact you've done so much, you're in danger of burning out; then you'll be totally useless to yourself and others. See above re "new perspectives" and "conscious transformation." This is where you cut yourself some slack and say no to the next request made of you, or at the very least, ask for help.
If you allow the world to rest on your shoulders and stifle your dreams for too long, you're going to get angry. That anger sits in the pit of your stomach and rots your soul. When your soul is rotting, you get cranky. Therefore, lay down a burden, or three, and have a little "me time" to soothe your soul and rekindle interest in your own dreams.
April 3, 2016: The card for the day is the Seven of Wands. It's a card of conviction, struggle, standing up for one's intentions, success, victory, competition, and confrontation. In finding your courage, you can more easily maintain your belief systems, follow your convictions, and set a few trends. Maybe your ideas and beliefs might be a little "out there", but so what? Show a some defiance and go with your gut! Wands are fire energy and under the seven it can get very exciting. Therefore, you're cautioned to keep control of your passions and use them to your advantage and not just flame out.
In the struggle and confrontation necessary to buck the system and set a new trend, gather your inner strength and stand tall in your integrity. How you present yourself during times of difficulty speaks volumes about who you are. When the going gets rough do you play dirty pool or take the high road? This card demands honest self-reflection as you navigate struggles ahead, so remain steadfast but open-minded; no one is always "right." Composure, confidence, and a dash of humility will see you through!