Weekly Forecast: May 29-June 5
Sometimes it takes a little nudge to set us off in the right direction. Usually we envision ourselves doing the nudging – how can we better ourselves? How can we push ourselves to perform better, to seek more truths, and to get more done?
It feels nice to know things. To have a sense of stability and trust in your mind. “I can think through this problem,” we tell ourselves, and then launch into the comforting realm of lists and planning.
Many of us have, like the King of Swords, become masters of the world of logic. Unfortunately, we can’t be completely objective when it comes to ourselves. After all, we can’t step outside of our minds, try as we might.
That doesn’t stop us, however, for building up quite an illusion. We tell ourselves we are objective. We know what we’re doing and can see everything clearly.
As we do this, plunging ahead with those satisfying lists and plans, something else creeps in. The certainty we’re wielding like a sword to cut through any confusion of complexity starts to feel heavy.
We get tired of sitting on a throne like the King – certainty can remove us from life, making us feel lonely. And it’s not the most comfortable thing to sit on, all hard and inflexible.
Cue the Wheel of Fortune to challenge this worldview. Beyond challenging it, The Wheel actually turns it on its head. And this can be quite jarring.
We come into this week used to sitting on a solid throne – feeling in control of our lives and oh so comfortable making pragmatic decision despite the fact that we’re secretly starting to feel itchy and restless.
The Wheel of Fortune represents change, and change is what we’ll have. Something is coming our way that will have us reassessing our kingly stance. At first it won’t be so pretty. Who likes to tumble out of their throne? But this change will be necessary. It’s time to switch things up and move in a different direction.
We also must consider where on The Wheel we are. We might assume that since we’ve been embodying The King of Swords, in some ways the pinnacle of mastery in the Swords suite, that we’re on the top. If this is true, then as the wheel spins we plummet downwards, our fortune taking a turn for the worse.
In this case, we’d be experiencing a somewhat traumatic shakeup we’d then have to recover from.
But what if The King belongs on the bottom of The Wheel? He is the conclusion of the court cards, after all. Where can you go from being a king? What’s more, as individuals we are more than just the embodiment of one set of traits. Perhaps we can balance all four, a much more holistic way of being that makes us truly human and complex.
If this is true, then we’re actually ascending this week. Pushing through the end of one cycle and embarking on a new, more refreshing path.
The next card in the reading, the Six of Swords, points us in this direction. We leave the certainty of The King and set off across a mysterious body of water, heading towards a foreign shore. Our boat, however, is made of swords, showing us that we’re taking many lessons with us while abandoning the absolutism of The King.
So this week be aware of how a more balanced approach could serve you. Are you relying too heavily on the siren song of objective and analytical thinking? Perhaps you’re feeling burdened by a compulsion to plan, plan, and plan some more, reducing your decision making down to its logical components while ignoring your feelings?
The change that comes your way this week will be entirely out of your control, something that a King of Swords would find frightening. You, on the other hand, are a complex human being, and having mastered many swordly skills, are free to use this moment to take what you’ve learned in your toolbox and start learning new things.
Where are you headed this week and how can you embrace the change that’s always happening around you? How can you evolve and allow yourself to embrace your full complexity?
Introducing: Tarot Spreads
I like to be footloose and fancy-free with my tarot readings, but sometimes a custom-made spread is just what I need to really hone in on a question.
Sure, old faithfuls like a 3 card past-present-future spread or a more comprehensive celtic cross reveal plenty of information, but nothing beats a more specific-spread to cover all the issues on my mind.
What better way than to devise a layout of cards that directly refer to what you want to learn?
Concocting these is especially satisfying, and I like to test them out, tweaking a position here and there until they're just right.
Well, now I'll be sharing my favorite, time-tested spreads on my website in the creatively named "Tarot Spreads" section under my collection of free resources.
Jump on over to see the first in the series, my trusty Two Options tarot spread. I like to use this one when I'm faced with a choice between two equally alluring possibilities. In this spread you'll find cards to help ground your choice - what you're really looking for when you make your decision - as well as information and outcome cards for each option.
And of course stay tuned for more spreads in the days to come!
Weekly Forecast: May 22-29
Asking for what we want can be hard, but when we speak up we send our desires and intentions out into the world.
If we remain silent, who will know all the wonderful ideas we have swimming in our heads? And who will be able to reach out and help us along our way or, better yet, come along for the journey?
This week shows us that communicating our needs, plans, and goals can call in the energy we want to see in our lives. We don’t have to go it alone, and even though we might be nervous to vocalize our plans, our first little peeps will call in the allies we’ve been looking for.
The Page of Swords shows us that this approach is new. We’re getting the hang of wielding our sword and because of this we can expect some trepidation and awkwardness. The key isn't getting it right from the get go – having the perfectly polished elevator pitch, for example – but trusting that our enthusiasm and passion will communicate themselves even if our words don’t come out perfectly.
What I love about Pages is they’re full of charm. It’s not the studied kind you can smell a mile off. No, it’s the natural and innocent charm that comes from genuine interest. The ideas we’ve been mulling over are the real deal: invigorating, exciting, and motivating. All of those feelings? They give us the momentum to communicate our ideas and convey our contagious energy.
That charm is simply radiating off us this week and it would be a shame to let it go to waste. So don’t let the false allure of perfectionism hold you back. Trust in your personal magnetism to make a good impression as you engage with others and let them in on your plans.
As we practice sharing with the world we end up attracting the help we need most and the supporters who will cheer us through to the end. The Two of Wands highlights the magic that can come from creative partnerships. And these partnerships wouldn’t be possible if we pushed away the Page of Sword’s impulse to communicate.
This is not a week to stay hermited up in our rooms, immersed in our secret and solitary plans. The world has a lot to offer. Keep your ears perked up for supporters, helpers, and partnerships in the days to come.
Practice vocalizing your ideas everywhere you go. This doesn’t have to be intense, blow-by-blow speeches. Instead, when someone asks what you’ve been up to, tell them about your idea. You never know where you’ll find your next big supporter or helpful resource.
By the end of the week it looks like we’ll have quite the array of new options in front of us. The Seven of Cups shows us this bounty in the form of a tree with each branch holding a cup with its own bright red apple. The new idea shown in the Page of Swords is catching on and we’ll be getting a lot of information about where to take it next.
We can take some time to let this all sink in. The Seven of Cups can lead to overwhelm if we don’t slow down and check in with ourselves. After all, we’ve come a long way with these three cards, and there’s more to come and plenty of time to let it unfold.
Notes from a Tarot Reader: On Tarot & Time
When we get tarot readings we often want to know exactly when all the messages in the card will show up in our lives.
The temptation for certainty is real. If I’m asking about my love life, I’m probably secretly hoping to hear that I’ll meet someone special soon.
And when emotions run high? Details are even more alluring. For example, I’m sick of my job and the cards suggest that a new job opportunity might be heading my way. Well does that mean next week or in a month or two?
I’m feeling stressed and impatient, I want answers now!
It’s funny, really. We often look to tarot to shake us out of our regular patterns of thinking. When our favored methods of analyzing fall short the evocative world of the cards looks wise and promising. But what do we do when we get there? We expect logical, analytical, and specific answers.
Sometimes we get frustrated with tarot for the very traits that we seek it out for.
Certainty, set dates, and specific timelines? Tarot doesn’t speak that language. It does, however, show us what energies are most powerful and how we can move forward when we embrace them.
In other words, if we’re looking for a new approach we’d better be prepared for new ways of thinking.
In my approach, I view time and Tarot as occasional friends. They might get together for coffee once in a blue moon, but they don’t spend every waking moment together.
We must learn to read between the lines when looking for timeframes in our tarot readings, and when times does show up it’s in a much more diffuse and flexible form: energies, tendencies, and trends rather than deadlines, dates, and guarantees.
Below are some things you can look for in your tarot readings to get a grasp of the timeframe. And remember, follow your intuition and keep a flexible outlook. You might be surprised by what you find.
1. Major vs Minor Arcana
Look at the outcome positions in your spread. Are they major arcana cards or minors? Majors tend to depict larger events unfolding that usually have to do with personal development. These cards tend to show events that take longer while Minor Arcana cards come to pass more quickly.
2. Numbers
In Minor Arcana cards, look to the numbers. Smaller numbered cards depict earlier stages of a cycle while larger numbers show the end stages. In readings, the card itself depicts a leg on the journey; however, its number shows us how many more stages are left before the cycle is completed.
For example, say we have the Three of Pentacles. This tells us that the querent will soon be collaborating on a project. The project itself, however, is relatively new, and it will be some time before it reaches its full potential (X of Pentacles.)
3. Immediate Cards
There are some cards in the deck that quite simply depict immediate actions and events such as The Tower, the Eight of Wands, and the Aces. Other cards such as The Wheel of Fortune and Death indicate that a change is arriving soon.
4. Long Term and Rest Cards
Then there are tarot cards that indicate slower paced action or periods of rest such as the Four of Swords, the Four of Cups and The Hanged Man. Cards that depict journeys also tend to take longer to play out such as the Five and Eight of Cups and The Hermit.
5. Seasonal Cards
As I mentioned in my Tarot Cards for Spring post, some cards have a distinctly seasonal vibe. In my practice, I look at the suits as the seasons: Wands for Spring, Cups for Summer, Pentacles for Fall, and Swords for Winter.
In the Major Arcana, I see The Fool as Spring, The Empress as Summer/Early Fall, and The Hermit as Winter.
How about you? How do you see time depicted in the tarot? What cards do you see as long term and short term cards? Share your ideas in the comments below.
Weekly Forecast: May 15-21
Life can rush by us and sometimes we’re the ones rushing through life.
This can be negative – think “sad businessperson too focused on career to appreciate the little things” – but when applied with purpose and precision? It can help clear way for the very “little things” we cherish most.
With a little effort we can direct the forward-moving action of the Knight of Swords towards accomplishing our work goals, clearing the path for other areas of our life.
We start the week feeing speedy and determined. It’s a glorious way to get going. Our busy schedules are no match for precise thinking and confident decision making. I like to call this Knight of Swords approach “first coffee energy,” the blissful feeling of alertness you get after you drink your first cup in the morning. You’re bright eyed and bushy tailed, ready to tackle things, and a long way off from being an over-caffeinated mess.
Of course it’s a smart idea to have a plan when rushing full speed ahead while swinging a giant sword over your head. Knights can have the tendency to ignore any subtlety when they set off on their grand adventures so while you’re valiantly checking off items on your to-do list, be mindful about how you’re treating others.
But just where is the Knight of Swords leading us? What is the motivation behind our satisfyingly effective productivity?
The Knight of Swords transitions into the sweet energy of the Six of Cups showing us that our pointed efficiency is giving us the beautiful opportunity to connect with both ourselves and others. In the middle of the week we find that our hard work has given us a lovely bit of respite to stop and smell the roses, check in with an old friend, or spend extra time with our family.
It’s important to connect with the ones we love this week, making time to cultivate relationships and celebrate the wonders they add to our lives. Just look at all the cups in this card: they're full of blooming flowers.
There’s another side to the Six of Cups that feels especially important this week. We can look at the two figures as symbols representing ourselves: our adult self and our inner child.
Take the time to do something for yourself this week that speaks to this part of you. Something simple that you like just beacause. Treat yourself to a book on a subject that fascinates you, eat something decadent you loved when you were young, go on an imaginative adventure.
Pay attention to how you feel when you let yourself do something for your inner child. How does it change the way you see the world? Do you feel guilty at first? Does it inspire you, make you feel more like yourself?
Instead of being frivolous, reconnecting like this can give us a wonderful sense of balance and energy.
We see this as the Six brings us into the grounded power of the Queen of Pentacles. Pleasure and a healthy relationship with our inner child fosters a truly holistic sense of stability. Like the Queen we can bask in the energy of the world, seeing ourselves as both ambitious and effective and tender and curious.
All while remaining open to what life has in store for us.
Weekly Forecast: May 8-14
We’re caught in a transitional period this week, digesting deeper truths about ourselves while trying our best to make sense of our daily lives. On their own, one of these would be more than enough to keep us busy. Together they’re pushing us towards a seemingly inescapable sense of overwhelm.
It’s natural to throw up a flurry of activity to distract ourselves from personal concerns. Like the Seven of Wands, the underling turmoil gives us energy. Rather than looking inward to meet it where it lives, we prefer to fling it outwards instead.
It’s bustling, dramatic, and easy to hide behind. Who can get upset when you’re just working hard and getting things done?
As much as we’d like to insist that we’re being pragmatic and hard-working, the dust we’re kicking up serves a purpose.
Why is the strong character in the Seven leaping down the stairs to defend himself? Why not use his energy to leap upwards, towards something new?
Sometimes we’re more comfortable confronting old demons than blazing new and unknown paths. The man in the Seven of Wands didn’t grow strong completely on his own. Maybe he feels he needs to be fighting off enemies to stay that way. Maybe simply walking up those stairs makes him feel weak.
Well, that sounds exhausting. And it doesn’t leave much room for ease and exploration. What do we do then?
We have to create meaning that comes straight from ourselves and not struggle or distraction.
This might be scary, since it involves truly standing behind who we are and what we want. There’s nothing to hide behind, no excuses to offer. It’s just us and our own values and desires.
Judgement shows us that we’re reacting with understandable fear and insecurity to something that’s actually quite beautiful. We’ve been getting some clear messages about what’s important to us and who we really are.
Rather than leap towards the light we question it. Before we know it we’re tossing around sticks and feeling lost in the fray like the Seven of Wands. Our backs are turned away from the next steps forward.
Luckily things can’t stay this way for long. Judgement is a powerful card and as much as we try to ignore it, there’s no going back when we find something pivotal out about ourselves. Maybe it’s a dream that’s laid dormant for a while, something secret you wouldn’t even admit to wanting. Or maybe it’s a desire, something you want in your heart of hearts and don’t want to accept.
Well, here it is. You’ve gotten a glimpse at it and try as you might you can’t forget it. It’s natural to leap out of this awareness and into the confusion of the Seven of Wands. And this is not altogether negative. Sure, a dream or desire or truth about yourself is purely what it is. It’s an idea, after all. Making it come true, however, is not so simple.
The moment of Judgement – seeing something for what it is – is just a moment. When we try to make something out of it, well, it gets messy because we’re bringing an idea into the complexities of everyday life.
We end with The Star to remind us to be gentle with ourselves as we start grappling with making a dream into a reality. Yes, we’ll be tempted to run back down the stairs and grapple with old fears, but we can’t remain stuck down there and we won’t.
Why? Because when you see a dream for what it is for the first time you also see the power of your own guiding light that illuminates the way. And that’s utterly, and completely yours.
Weekly Forecast: May 1-7
There’s a lot of intense energy in flux this week. We may find ourselves feeling impatient, prickly, or dissatisfied. We have plenty of energy and no desire to take things slowly or engage in self-reflection.
Why is this?
The King of Wands shows us that we’ve recently pulled off some very impressive feats. We’ve reached a kingly place: confident, stable, and accomplished. In the suit of wands this refers to creativity. Where in our lives have we took a creative leap that has paid off? Instead of commemorating ourselves and what we’ve done, however, we’re rushing onto the next thing.
We see the King facing to the left, looking back at where he came from, while our card for the present, The Knight of Pentacles, is facing the opposite way, charging into the future and looking both deflated and intensely fixated at something in the distance.
There’s tension between these cards. Instead of reflecting on the past like the King, we’re skipping to the teenage overzealousness of the Knight of Pentacles. Rushing forward towards something new, our tunnel vision is leaving us removed from the moment and feeling anxious and enervated.
I love this depiction of the Knight of Pentacles. The figure on the horse looks anything but enthused. And yet he’s riding a massively powerful horse that’s ready to rear ahead. This is a card that speaks to moments when our ambition overshadows our limitations and even our true desires.
If you’re going to be charging ahead you’d better be into it, not dragging a heavy pentacle like the knight we see here. Perhaps there’s something heavy and stifling about wanting to turn the fiery creativity of Wands into the solid, predictableness of a Pentacle. Maybe we’re not quite there yet this week. Maybe we don’t even need to go there at all.
There’s a distinct undercurrent of tension here: passion vs. obligation. What’s fueling this Knight charging forward? What is making him droop on the saddle? It seems like there might be a hint of old pressures and thought patterns: the pressure of “should” sending us off on journeys we’d rather not take.
In Pentacles-language, we could be feeling a need to be practical, conservative, and safe. Pentacles value stability. Are we afraid of our creative accomplishments leading us away from safety?
Change and creativity can be frightening because they destabilize us, no matter how positive it may seem. But before we rush off to counterbalance by being overly practical, we could also take a moment to get to know how it feels to master a part of our creative lives.
Contrast the two creatures in both cards. The King of Wands holds onto a fearsome lion, confident enough to turn his back to it and gaze to the side, looking purposeful and grounded. The Knight of Pentacles, on the other hand, is slumped on the back of a powerful horse. He doesn’t appear to be in control of the situation.
The King knows how to keep his wild nature by his side. The lion is a protector and a sign of power, working with his master. The Knight is disconnected from his wildness, allowing it to react to change with barely-controlled energy.
This a reminder that it is best to not move forward when we are acting out of fear and anxiety. Being connected to ourselves is most important when seeking out change. If we’re not feeling it at the moment, we can simply wait until we are clearer and more collected.
Over time, this struggle will be fruitful. Our reading ends with Justice, a powerful Major Arcana card with the ability to cut through bullshit and achieve clarity in moments of confusion.
This card suggests that our struggles between creative confidence and practical ambition will balance themselves out by the end of the week. Our flailing will give way to peacefulness as if our internal push and pull is simply the movement of a scale balancing itself. Take comfort in knowing that the ups and downs are relatively small in the scheme of things, and are leading us to a healthy medium. In the meantime, take stock of your ideas around success, safety, and creative expression. There’s a lot of be learned in the coming days.
Weekly Forecast: April 24-May 1
I don’t know about you, but I’m especially curious about what the cards have in store for us. Maybe it’s because we’re in the last week of Mercury retrograde; things have been feeling extra mystical, mysterious, and even a bit topsy-turvy.
Interestingly enough, we have a visit from The Hanged Man as our central card this week. It doesn’t get more topsy-turvy than this. It looks like we’ve experienced a major change in perception from last week.
What in our life has been flipped on its head recently? Are we contending with a big change, something we didn’t see coming? The only thing that’s certain is that things don’t look the same and we have little control over the forces behind it.
This doesn’t jive well with the card in the past position, The Chariot. In The Chariot’s world it’s best to know all the aspects of a situation. In harnessing both positive and negative aspects with mastery and control, The Chariot can navigate the tricky seas of life towards victory.
This requires a great deal of energy, focus, and determination. The Chariot is not messing around here. In the realm of business you know there’s going to be reams of spreadsheets and research. In relationships, intense self-awareness and self-work. The Chariot does not half-ass anything and because of this it’s a card that’s used to getting results.
Contrast this with the perplexingly chill Hanged Man and we have a very interesting situation. The Hanged Man is a card that speaks to moments when the world changes us and we change with the world.
So what happens when The Chariot’s self-made world crashes into the unpredictable nature of the universe? In these moments what appeared one way right side up is radically different upside down. Are we able to receive the wisdom from this change in perspectives? Are we able to lean into it instead of fighting a force beyond our control?
The Chariot shows us that we may be carrying in an entirely different set of expectations. We’ve been holding our lives by the reigns, feeling masterful and accomplished. Peachy stuff, that’s for sure, but it’s hardly guaranteed. We don’t always get to feel in control, and when we’re used to this feeling a change can bring quite the blow to our egos.
So moving from the self-assuredness of The Chariot to the beatific surrender of The Hanged Man is no easy transition. This is a case when what’s between the cards is just as important as the cards themselves.
This is a week to see our change in perspectives as a gift. Carrying the reigns of The Chariot can be exhausting. We might even trick ourselves into thinking the whole world in our chariot. We can direct our future, make things happen, it’s all… up to us. Well, push pause on that thought and we can see how much pressure operating under a Chariot mindset can bring.
The Hanged Man has a distinctly spiritual ring to him this week. What we might initially think of as a setback has the unique potential to blossom into a life-altering moment. This is a week for unexpected and beautiful realizations. Maybe a big change will send us spinning off into a better place, a delayed plan will give us time for an unforeseen opportunity, or a humbling moment will allow for those close to us to reach out a helping hand.
This is a time to practice letting go and remaining open to the gifts the universe can give us. If you’re struggling with the woo (or picking at the word “spirituality”) don’t despair. The Chariot has a hard time letting go, and that’s just what The Hanged Man is asking of us right now. There’s room for struggle and feistiness, so long as we’re not so wrapped up in it that we ignore the special moments unfolding around us.
We end with The Page of Cups, a beautiful card that shows us letting go will bring us to a fresh place of exploration. We’re opening up to our feelings, to our relationships, and to the mysterious wonders of the world. A little youthful lightheartedness will temper the heaviness of the two Major Arcana cards at work here. And what’s more, this Page could also be pointing us towards some exciting news, a new epiphany, or even a magical sign pointing us in a new direction.
Weekly Forecast: April 17-23
This week sees us struggling with unearthing our intentions and expectations. There’s a tendency to bury ourselves in work – the kind that seems legitimate and even pressing. Underneath all the hubbub, however, there's something much more fun going on.
We’ve had a lot of this moth-about-to-burst-from-a-coccoon energy lately. It’s very of the moment, very Spring!
The two court cards – the Page of Swords and the Knight of Cups – show us that we’re doing a lot of growing right now, teasing out the meaning behind various impulses. The two most important for this week are our desire to communicate and our desire to seek out feelings. Both the Page and the Knight are young cards, meaning that these sides of ourselves are in the process of developing but haven’t integrated themselves into our identities. That is, we’re not so confident when it comes to expressing ourselves and going after what feels right in some arena in our lives right now.
So what is this? Perhaps it’s in our work. Are we feeling stretched thin yet unfulfilled? Maybe it’s showing up in a relationship. We’re feeling unheard, not able to truly be ourselves.
These feelings don’t have to mean anything conclusive, though being frazzled definitely adds some spice to life. But is it the spice that we want? Will it really make this dish taste any better?
We’re a little wiggly and awkward this week, but the intentions are good. The Page of Swords gives us a big advantage. We want to speak our truth and have the option to do some good inner work. If we take the time.
In this way, our reading gives us some options (though that’s always the case.) Rush ahead and barrel through these feelings and they should subside – the cards for this week don’t show anything too major and far-reaching. As we know well, however, the same things will pop up at some point down the road.
Why not use our boundless energy to play around with these feelings now?
How do we learn to talk, interact, and be in the world? Through play. Watch puppies cavorting with each other a) because it’s adorable and b) because it’s important. Though they do look cute, they’re also doing some real, serious work. And having a ball. We too can have these experiences as we grow this week.
If we choose to do so, the key will be accepting the gawky sides of our personalities with open arms and a sense of curiosity. We may stumble over our words as we try to communicate or rush headlong into a project without fully thinking things over. The lesson for this week is to embrace imperfection as part of the joy of leaning and becoming. It’s okay if we stumble or make a mistake! In fact, we might look just as endearing as those puppies.
So be kind and brave this week, especially to yourself. The stakes aren’t too high aside from the potential for very temporary embarrassment. Both the Page of Swords and the Knight of Cups show us yearning to get out and experiment. Our energy is plentiful and we’re not set in our ways. These are the perfect conditions for truly creative work and heart-warmingly vulnerable connections with others. Be eager, enaged, and excited.
It’s so easy to get serious when reading tarot. With cards like The Tower, The Hermit, and the Ten of Swords, who could blame you for painting sweeping pictures, waxing poetic about existential dilemmas, and focusing on the mythic in the mundane? I’ve noticed, however, that sticking to these areas when reading can lead to burnout, not to mention a limited understanding of the cards. If everything is epic, how can you go to the cards to understand smaller issues like daily decisions, exciting and low-stakes choices, or even open-ended explorations of themes?