Weekly Forecast: March 26 - April 1
I wanted to use The Pagan Otherworlds Tarot this morning to match the season. For some reason the nature-based feel of this deck reminds me of Spring. And interestingly enough, we have the flow and action of Spring coming through in the meanings of these cards. Though our direction and motivations seem a bit confused.
We can see that The Knight of Cups and The Magician are facing away from each other. There's a sense here that our dreamy inclinations are in conflict with our desire to get things done. One one level we're looking forward, eager to make our mark on the world - charging ahead, creating, and changing. On the other we're feeling pulled to follow a pensive and more winding path. In other words, we want to charge full speed ahead, but our head is in the clouds.
What to do, then? The Ten of Wands shows us that we're prioritizing the practical over the romantic. The Magician's desire is to harness energy and create change. And that's certainly happening! We're finding our plates full this week, as we navigate multiple commitments, projects, and ideas. This enthusiasm, however, is disconnecting us from ourselves. In a way, we're experiencing a bit of an addiction to productivity. Quickly, the focus on The Magician is turning into the overwhelm of the Ten of Wands.
The Knight of Cups shows us another way. Perhaps we're feeling the call to squash our creative, passionate nature with a rush of busy energy. The Knight of Cups has the unbridled passion and at times bombastic emotion of a teenager and occupying his shoes can be vulnerable. This week we may find ourselves thinking that it's not practical to follow our whims or investigate curiosity for curiosity's sake.
The Magician and the Ten of Wands are telling us that stifling this natural expression can lead to detachment and burnout. We can stop to smell the roses as we navigate all the tasks we need to accomplish. The Knight of Cups invites us to interject moments of beauty and pleasure, romance and imagination, into our daily lives.
These acts, in fact, put the "magic" back in The Magician. It's easy to look at this card and see ideas of power, mastery, and creation. Yet The Magician also knows to leave space for inspiration. That strike of lightening is actually the key to all his accomplishments. With one hand raised and another pointing to the ground, The Magician is a conduit for this energy, not its master. All he has to do is lay out his tool in preparation for that important moment.
Instead of skipping this key experience and fast forwarding to action - rushing mindlessly from one task for the next or doing for doings sake - The Knight of Cups reminds us that a starry-eyed and rapturous enjoyment of life is a key component to our productivity, not a detraction. So while we might feel that taking a walk in the middle of a big project is a frivolous waste of time, it may actually be the perfect condition for inspiration, breakthrough, and wisdom to strike. What's more, it allows us to fully inhabit ourselves so that when we make magic, we're making it from a grounded place. Our actions are meant to serve us, not sap our energy needlessly.
Does Tarot Have to be Serious?
You're probably already guessing where I'm going with this post judging by the photo to the left.
What I love most about tarot is it's skill at probing into deep issues, but that doesn't mean that I'm all frowns and furrowed brows when I turn over the cards. (Though I do think that would lend me some imposing gravitas!)
I think that approaching readings with excessive seriousness dampens the cards' insightful power. It's like putting a concrete box over a budding garden. Wanting to seem serious over letting the cards speak for themselves can cut off the conversation before its even started.
Tarot can be intimidating, especially when you're just starting out. It carries a lot of esoteric history that can be tough to navigate, not to mention the many myths surrounding the cards. (Can we just all agree that nobody has to be gifted their first tarot deck? Talk about limiting!)
If our idea of tarot starts with a fortune teller's parlor, shrouded with mystery and draped tapestries, it can be scary to look at tarot as a more casual and fun tool. Will we be cursed? Will we anger the cards? (Short, definitive answer: no.) I'd like to stress that tarot is a tool - its power comes from us. How we approach it, how we practice it, and how we interact with it.
Sure, if we approach tarot with... how to put it? douchey?... energy it's no good. But I think the idea of starting with respectful intentions leaves plenty of room for all types of experiences and that includes the fun ones, too.
I've read tarot for breakups, I've also read tarot when deciding what to cook for a dinner party. Each was enriching and illuminating. (Fun fact: the card I got for the dinner party question was the three of swords and I immediately burst out laughing. I have the terrible habit of taking on overly ambitious cooking projects and then melting into a frazzled puddle halfway through a three tiered cake. Thanks for seeing me, tarot - I'm working on it.)
My main point here is to have fun with tarot readings! Let your curiosity and creativity guide you. As someone with a tendency to do big, spiritually probing readings for myself, opening up to quicker, lighthearted readings has greatly helped me understand another side to the cards. Laugh during your readings if you feel the urge, explore the light side of things along with the dark, and don't forget to ask the cards for low-stakes advice as well as guidance during tough times.
Happy Spring Equinox!
There've been small signs of Spring's arrival popping up all over Durham in the past few weeks. Our lawn has become peppered with tiny violets, the buds on our lilac are emerging, and bulbs I didn't even know were planted on our property have sprouted up - tall, vibrant daffodils and fragrant white hyacinth. It's our first Spring in our new house and everything feels like a discovery. Despite the snow in the forecast for tomorrow I'm ready to run headlong into this new season, sandals, sun dresses, and all.
I thought I'd celebrate this exciting, long-overdue (in my opinion) first day of Spring with a tarot spread to chart our growth. One of my favorite part of this season is the sense of awakening we all experience. After having laid dormant in the winter, we perk up, get restless, clean and preen just like the creatures and plants around us.
I hope you find this spread useful as you navigate this exciting change. I designed it to track the personal growth we're experiencing, with cards to identify they seeds we've planted in our lives and how they're emerging. Click on the image above for detailed instructions and don't forge to share if you have any illuminating experiences - I'd love to hear from you.
Weekly Forecast: March 19-25
The Eight of Cups has been following me for the past few weeks. It's been coming up in readings, conversations, and my thoughts as well. Though I'm pretty sure I've called each of the 78 cards a favorite at this point, I've been especially drawn to this eight lately.
Why? It's a beautiful and brave card. Seeing the German artist Kitty Kahane's interpretation of it is especially moving. This card shows us important moments when we dare to ask for more. Not more in a greedy sense. Or more in a arrogant sense, either. The Eight of Cups shows us daring to expand our emotional worlds, opening up to the vulnerability of who we are, and seeking fulfillment despite "having enough."
It can be a lonely journey - we are following our own instincts, after all - but, as this card shows us so beautifully, we bring our connections, relationships, and joys with us. The "enough" that we may be tempted to stick with ends up being the supportive foundation that allows us to journey into the unknown. We can see this in the water flowing between the two cups - one in the hand of the journeyer, the other standing solidly on the ground.
Breaking from the status quo and choosing to look for more adventure, connection, or fulfillment can be nerve-wracking. Doing so involves exposure; we're taking a risk and stepping away from the pack. And indeed, this sentiment shows up in our next card, the Nine of Swords. Taking the first steps towards something new is bringing up a lot of anxiety this week. We'll be grappling with our monkey minds as we feel pulled to turn over every stone, analyze every move we've been making. Did we look weird when talking about this new passion project? Did we bumble through a presentation? Look foolish and unprepared?
Making new headway is never easy. Otherwise it wouldn't be new. There's a certain learning curve that, while being inherently stressful, is also very necessary. In fact, it's what drove us out of the comfort and stability of the Eight of Cups in the first place. That was too simple and familiar. Now we're grappling with the feeling of being a stranger in a new land. Remembering where we came from can be a helpful antidote to our Nine of Swords feelings, both in the sense that it can give us contrast - we needed something new for a reason - and support - we have a beautiful life and rich connections to draw from in this tender new phase.
The Nine of Swords does carry with it a deep sense of grief. It's personal. We're leaving behind an old idea of ourselves. Digging under the top layers of whirring thoughts and fears to uncover this will be helpful as we process our experiences this week. What part of ourself do we have to say goodbye to as we begin to learn new things and engage with the world more fully? Though it may seem odd, it's easy to get attached to the idea of a past self, especially when we're just emerging into something new. Think of it as a butterfly yearning for the safety of its cocoon. We can't return to being caterpillars, cozily ensconced in darkness. We've turned into something with wings and it's time to learn how to fly.
While the churning emotions of the Nine of Swords can fell all-encompassing, they're just another stage in the process. Soon, surprisingly, they'll fall away into an action-packed and comfortably (who saw that coming?) public phase. The Four of Wands is a lovely affirmation of the risks we've been taking. Yes, growth can be hard, but when we face it head on we emerge into the freedom and possibility we've been seeking.
The Four of Wands deals with the dynamism of structure. Our new situation is allowing us to be both free and focused. The emotions and thoughts of the cups and wands are invigorated with creativity and action. We're finding the environment we need to move full steam ahead with our passion projects. This is quite the roller coaster of cards, so it will be important to treat ourselves with care in the days to come, leaving lots of room for quiet processing in between all the happenings. And, most importantly, reaching out to our support network to gain perspective on our growth.
Exploring the Minor Arcana: The Eights
In this series we'll be diving into the world of the Minor Arcana. Each segment will group the cards by number where we can engage in their themes and differences. For all the posts in the installment, click here.
If the eights could be described in one word it would be "action." These cards illustrate moments of dedication, movement, and commitment. Often growth-oriented, the eights show us how deciding to put our noses down and do the work can be in turns satisfying, galvanizing, and intimidating.
Eights also have an entrepreneurial bent - they relish using their surroundings to their advantage and have a savvy way of negotiating with the world. In readings, eights are an indication of a path nearing conclusion that could benefit from work and focus. Below we'll look at each suit in depth.
Explore In-Depth Minor Arcana Meanings
The Eight of Wands gives us one of the most visually straightforward illustrations in the deck. Eight budding wands descending through a vivid blue sky. There's not a cloud in sight, indicating smooth sailing, quick-moving action, and plenty of creative inspiration and motivation. This is a card that sees energy unleashed constructively and with no obstacles.
For the Eight of Swords is quite different. This card shows us the paralysis that comes with overthinking. The figure in the card is fenced in by a line of swords, bound and blindfolded despite the many sharp edges available to sever the ties. When we worry too much or fall into the overwhelming possibilities of our choices we lose sight of the end goal and even ourselves.
The Eight of Cups shows a profound emotional journey. The main figure in this card is leaving behind a row of upturned cups, heading up a jagged mountain pass under the light of the moon. The action in this card is personal, pioneering, and brave. It shows us an inward search for new sources of fulfillment.
Finally, the Eight of Pentacles gets practical, as pentacles are known to do. Here we see a literal representation of work. The main character here is busy hammering away at a pentacle, the tree besides him decorated with those they've completed. This card shows us the pleasure that comes with being in the flow when we work, as well as the big strides we're capable of when we remain focused.
All in all, we can see that the eights show us pivotal moments where we're being asked to commit to a task and be present with ourselves, whether it's through our love of work or our nervousness when faced with decisions.
Weekly Forecast: March 12-18
This week is bursting with transformative cards. We have a unique opportunity to look at the world with balanced passion. Yes, all the energizing and seductive energy of The Lovers is here in spades, perfectly matched with the flowing contemplation of Temperance.
Starting with two majors shows us that we're entering into the week with a boost of energy. Beneath the surface of our daily lives we've been working through some important personal growth that's now shining through quite brightly. Look for a clarifying feeling that places you and your needs front and center.
There's an important theme here of rediscovering our role as the protagonist of our own life. This can be easy to forget as we rush around doing what needs to be done in our daily lives. All the crossing of t's and dotting of i's can take us outside of ourselves. It's that feeling when the "to do" list becomes too long and action eclipses who we really are. Life boils down to a series of tasks instead of a winding adventure.
Now we're snapping back to a bigger perspective in a way that might initially be jarring. Suddenly we see The Lovers, a striking card. We've been missing a mythical quality in our lives. Now that it's here we might fight against it. Isn't it wishful thinking? Are we being fanciful? Can life really feel this way?
Not all the time, of course. We know this because we're not always traipsing around on quests or bursting with poetry. Yet we need the meaning and excitement of romance to remind ourselves that we're more than our actions and obligations. Fighting this energy in the name of being practical is actually wildly impractical. As we'll see later, the impassioned nature of The Lovers is urging us towards the finish line of an important task.
The Lovers isn't just about love. As a Major Arcana card it speaks to romance on many levels, not just the interpersonal or erotic. If we take this energy as overarching and essential, we can find love and passion in so many things. It's the spice that makes every dish sing, the feeling that elevates the mundane to the cosmic, and the creativity that finds poetry everywhere it looks.
This is a time to embrace the transformative magic of love, whether it's in an actual relationship or through a more universal life outlook. In fact, I'd urge you to expand the reach of your love towards all parts of your life, even if you are in a magnificently satisfying union. The Lovers asks us to see the importance of our life through the lens of love. With the balancing nature of Temperance front and center here, we don't run the risk of over-sentimentality or distraction. In fact, feeling our infatuations is showing us how important things are and how essential it is to follow our pleasures.
The Lovers also deals with choice and I see this card as encouraging us to use our romantic imaginations to engage with a decision we're facing. This card asks us to think big and to take our paths seriously. Shrinking from the visionary nature of our dreams won't do us any favors. If you were to write this choice in the style of an impassioned fairytale or dramatic young adult novel how would each option sound to you? Using these types of exercises - embracing our imagination and desire - is helping us to create clarity and re-frame our lives as truly and deeply important.
Temperance is showing up next to The Lovers as a friendly reminder that we can navigate this burst of energy with equanimity and wisdom. We won't get swept away with this creative thinking because we're balanced astutely between feeling and doing, imagining and living. We have experience. And we might even need the heightened expression and emotion of The Lovers to tip us back into equilibrium. We might be being too practical for our own goods here.
The Six of Wands tops off this reading as a very pointed and affirming answer to our experience of The Lovers and Temperance. The experience of infusing the everyday with the passionate is paying off, practically speaking. We're poised to find an important sense of direction by opening up to The Lover's energy and it's directing us towards a major creative breakthrough. Choosing between our options with the guidance of The Lovers in mind is directing us towards accomplishment and acknowledgment. Living passionately is fueling our growth, pushing us towards the spotlight and a deeper sense of our path.
Weekly Forecast: March 5-11
The cards for this week are bursting at the seams with energy, movement, and tenderness. We're entering into a time of growth that we're directing both inwards towards our self and outwards to those around us. With this balance of seeking, accountability, and support we're able to venture towards a new project that's both exciting and a little nerve-wracking. The beautiful connections of the cups are inspiring us to take an important step forward.
Our first card, the Eight of Cups, shows the immense power that's unleashed when we take advantage of our skills and assets. What sources of inspiration and support feed our imagination? What allows us to flourish? When considering these questions we may be surprised to find some unexpected answers.
The watery nature of cups encompasses all sorts of emotions and relationships. It takes time to process the events of our past; once we've done so, however, we can find strength and experience in even the most difficult and painful moments. Grappling with them is a long-term and difficult process and the Eight of Cups is showing us that we've reached an important stage in that journey.
This week we may find lightness and unexpected insight into heavier parts of our past. Like the vines growing out of the cups, we're finding nourishment in our emotional experiences, the "good" and the "bad." Both are serving as the watery source from which we can branch out, change, adapt, and grow.
The Eight of Cups is a perfect card for this season as the days grow longer and all the plants and creatures begin to stir. We're eager to shake our worlds up a bit, too. To clean, take inventory, plan, and disrupt, making room for our new, growing selves. This is also occurring on an emotional level, as we can see by the vines tearing down a column and revealing a bright flame. The old is giving way to the new and stodgy structure is caving way to wild and winding growth. Underneath it all is a new, undiscovered source of passion and clarity.
It's time to make changes that clear space. We're craving change over structure and in seeking it out we're also discovering a hidden store of energy. What more is out there? How can we best create a life that nourishes our creativity? It may be helpful to engage with these questions as you do your spring cleaning, go through old clothes, or even mop the floor. Channeling feelings through actions can be energizing and immensely satisfying.
The Six of Cups suggests that this is a larger phenomenon. Think of us all as little chicks hatching from our eggs. The process involves some squirming and struggling, as we can see in the Eight of Cups, and it calls on us to figure out our true strength. Once we emerge, however, we can see that there's a larger community of newly hatched chicks. Exploring our deeper selves and growing into a new, more free space is opening doors to many new and inspiring connections. Finding support and guidance from like-minded people is immensely gratifying. Bringing these connections close, celebrating them freely and happily, is a beautiful reward to the inner seeking of the Eight of Cups.
With our growing community behind us with supportive words and encouragement, we're ready to venture towards something exciting. This could be a new project at work, a new direction for your business, or the start of a new creative exploration. The Page of Wands shows us venturing towards an alluring unknown. We're not experts in this area - just look at that dark eye-filled cave! - but we're armed with burning curiosity and endearing chutzpah. With a new understanding of who we are and where we've come from, plus the gratifying encouragement from our friends and supporters, we're ready to take a little risk. It's time to shake things up and see where our inspiration leads us.
Weekly Forecast: February 26 - March 4
Processing our emotions can get complicated, especially when it comes to the sticky ones. Sadness, grief, regret, disappointment - all of these don't match up with the indefatigable optimism we're supposed to embody. We're taught to embrace a positive spin to the point that we gloss over these feelings, wanting to seem put together, wise, or "evolved," whatever that means.
As a result, we have the unfortunate tendency to hide these feelings, sometimes from our selves, and especially from others. We can see this in the intense solitude of the Five of Cups where a person is facing towards a trio of spilled cups. Yes, we do need personal time to process our feelings, but remaining fixed in this state and cut off from outside support and help leaves us isolated. Instead, once the dust has settled, we could connecting with others, lifting our eyes from the hurt and seeking comfort and a new path forward.
In this reading, the Five of Cups, a mournful card showing the immediacy of loss, transitions almost seamlessly into the loving connection of the Two of Cups. It's as if the clouds in the Five have cleared away to reveal a velvety expanse of night sky. We can find community in our sticky feelings - commiseration, inspiration, and love - if we just reach out for it. A dark hour is also a time when stars can shine brightly.
This week carries a deep undercurrent of personal processing. We're looking to our past to address current feelings of loss or grief. This can come at many different levels - either something smaller reminding us of a past loss or having to contend with something upsetting in the here and now. We come into this week with a full knowledge of the situation, so there's no need to wait for the other shoe to drop. Sometimes even the change of the seasons has us reflecting back to what happened at this time in years past. That horizon stretches far back, but it doesn't go nearly as far as the wide open infinity of the night sky.
We have to turn around and contend with our present to get to the community and connection of the Two of Cups. We have this bravery in spades and are using it. These small acts of reaching out are important and require us to be vulnerable. Recognizing this and being proud of our courage is an important part of navigating this tricky terrain. When we do this we're saying, "I've had enough of just processing these feelings alone, who else is out there?" And just looking at this central card highlights the beauty of friendship. There are people waiting to gently direct our eyes to the sky when we're tempted to look at our spilled cups.
This doesn't mean glossing over or "pepping up" our complicated feelings. The Hermit shows us that connecting with others - sharing our difficult emotions - is giving us the guidance to truly understand them. The introspection of The Hermit is much deeper and aligned with our personal development. We still need that sacred time alone to navigate our feelings, but with the guidance of The Hermit we're traveling to new and unexpected places. At the root of our emotions is an important truth and we need our friends, family, lovers, and support network to help direct us there. Sometimes we can't see ourselves as well as they can. With their support we can find a different path to travel, lit not only by our past experiences, but by our greater goals and beliefs as well.
Exploring the Minor Arcana: The Sevens
In this series we'll be diving into the world of the Minor Arcana. Each segment will group the cards by number where we can engage in their themes and differences. For all the posts in the installment, click here.
The growth and harmony of the sixes quickly gets complicated with the topsy-turvy sevens. This group of cards illustrates the necessary shakeups that takes us out of our comfort zone and towards the next level. We may struggle in this moment of adjustment, but this gives us the opportunity to test ourselves and emerge all the wiser and affirmed with valuable knowledge.
As a number, seven pops up frequently in mythology and superstition - think snow white and the seven dwarfs and "lucky number seven." Because of this, the sevens hold a great deal of mystery and a spiritual undertone, whether literally or through a more general "deeper meaning."
Explore In-Depth Minor Arcana Meanings
The Seven of Wands sees the fiery energy of the suit back at it again. The six, with its happy victory parade, is calm and content with success. This feeling, however, is feeling and the seven shows the exhilaration and motivation that comes from action.
For the Seven of Swords is delightfully tricky. Like the Seven of Wands, this cards energy is somewhat challenging. Wielded irresponsibly, say by sneaking off with seven literal swords, it can be harmful and deceptive. With understanding of the necessity of lightheartedness and play, it can add a refreshing zest to life. As a swords card, it also refers to the rejuvenating force of mental experimentation and games when it comes to shaking up old ideas or plans.
The Seven of Cups shows both the bounty and overwhelming power of our imaginations. We're able to conjure up the most fantastic situations, ideas, and even feelings. Without direction, however, we can get frozen in the face of all those possibilities. This card shows us the wonder of daydreaming, spiritual seeking, and uninhibited emotions as well as their shadow sides: it's easy to lose sight of ourselves in the face of all these visions.
Finally, the Seven of Pentacles unsurprisingly seems to channel the destabilizing energy of the sevens best. Being all about, well stability, the pentacles expression of this group of cards is one of reflection and achievement, though not in the boastful sense. Rather we see a contemplative farmer gazing at a vine blossoming with golden pentacles. Their hard work has paid off, giving them a moment to reflect, learn, and plan for the future. Perhaps there is even a hidden message as well...
We’re using a different deck than normal this week, for no other reason that that it was the closest to my morning writing spot - nestled in bed under a crisp, white duvet. Our cards have a similar energy, a focus on finding comfort and rest in difficult situations. Because, as you’ve likely noticed, The Tower is starting things off this week. What’s crumbling or has crumbled recently? What is making you tired?