The Chariot

The Chariot - Kathy Zyduck’s illustration from her classic rock Tarot series

Freddie Mercury as The Chariot is spot on. He is someone that, despite the many odds stacked against him, he followed his true internal calling and blazed a starry trail of success through the universe, changing hearts and lives as he went. Strength and determination are two words often used to describe the Chariot card and they are definitely attributes that come to mind when this card appears in a spread. However, the crucial element of this card is that it pushes you to have strength and determination in the face of great opposition. Courage is hearing no over and over and doing it anyway, because you must - going against the grain and not letting anyone hold you back or push you down. Now is your chance, you warrior. When this card appears the question is, “How will you blaze a path as you move speedily toward your true destiny?” If you are like Freddie, you do it with your full heart and spirit and you make no apologies for your brilliance. Get out there and light up the sky!

Four of Cups

The Four of Cups - Artists rendition from The Slow Tarot - Lacey Bryant

Card of the night, the Four of Cups, urges you to explore the empty space. Where you think there is nothing, you may find your next big opportunity. If you focus too long and hard on what you feel you have lost, you may miss the richness of what is being offered. Tonight, when you sleep, see if you can explore those empty spaces - the dark holes that we often ignore while dreaming. What is there? What delicious, intoxicating treat are you not seeing? Who is the spirit offering you this cup of sweetness and if you see it, will you take and drink? Getting lost in scary and electric opportunities in your dreaming life is sometimes easier than taking big risks in your waking life, but maybe it’s time to try both!? You are too fixated on what you perceive you do not have to notice that life is offering you everything you need and desire - in both your dreaming and waking life. Remember Alice in Wonderland - the note that said “Drink Me.” When she drank, she saw and felt a transformative perspective. Go ahead - take a sip!

The Four of Swords

The Four of Swords

This card keeps coming up for us, friends! It’s time to look deeper. Yes, we all need a break - a little solitude every now and then - to maintain our sense of mental balance. But, what are we doing when we take this break? It might be time to meditate on our ancestry - the family we have known and loved and even those we haven’t known. What roots do you have that you should honor? What are the stories of those who have come before you and how have they contributed to where you find yourself in this moment? Take a moment today to show gratitude for those brave familial spirits that have carved a path for you in known and unknown ways. They are still with you on your current journey and will guide you as you continue on your way. Connect with their energy -feel their strength and honor their sacrifices. You are filled with the spirit and fortitude of those brave souls! Recognizing this will rejuvenate and empower you.

The Lovers with The World

The Lovers with The World hovering above - The Light Seer’s Tarot

Every human connection and close relationship has potential to be a life altering, transformative experience. When you share intimately with another it can feel like you have created your own little universe together. But, think about how this changes who you are out in the world, even when you step away from this person. Relationships are not always just stunning distractions from everyday life, they can be continually evolving experiences that modify your perception of everything around you. If you find yourself in someone’s loving embrace today, think about how they have changed your vision of who you want to be on this planet. What gorgeous experiences have you shared that have made you see yourself in a new light? If you have experienced glorious and gut-wrenching moments together, how have those moments shaped your approach to others? The love you are receiving can be reflected upon others - how are you revealing this to others? How does your lover inform what version of you hovers in the atmosphere? The next time you have your arms wrapped around a loved one remember that you are embracing the world.

The Eight of Swords

The Eight of Swords - An artist’s rendition by Tiana Faros

The Eight of Swords is like a house of mirrors. You find yourself in the darkness, stuck and surrounded by images of yourself, unsure of which way to go. This feeling is spine tingling and paralyzing, but exciting. You walked in here by choice, didn’t you? You can hear the shrieking and laughter of others all around you. Are they close by or far off? It’s hard to tell. The only way out of this maze is to truly alter your personal sense of perception. Trust those instincts, because the illusion of what is right is not serving you here. You may hear a friend call out to you, “Hey! Go left! Follow my voice! I found the way out!” Do you follow? You may have to feel your way out. You feel your heart pound, but you slowly start to move. Advancing through this puzzle is tricky, but you have found a new sense of confidence and direction and begin to pick up your pace. You see the light and before you know it, you are back out into that raucous carnival, hearing the music of the carousel and squinting into the flashing amusement lights. You can smell the delicious scent of funnel cakes being devoured and hear the ringing and buzzing of nearby games being won. What will you do first? How has your perception changed of this outside world - this carnival of dreams?

The Moon - Reversed

The Moon (Reversed) from The Art Nouveau Tarot Deck

Yesterday’s Card of the Day was The Sun Reversed. Today, for a Card of the Night we get The Moon Reversed. This is incredibly interesting to me. As a single card draw, The Moon Reversed, is calling to you - urging you to release hidden fears and anxieties and to open yourself up to your deep intuition. Tonight, see if you can lose yourself a little - let go of any residual daytime energy and give yourself over to the Moon. In your dreams, venture into the darkest places that appear to you. Walk into that cave, let go of your senses and see what is there. The Moon has a message for you, but to get this message, you must be willing to explore freely and without fear or hesitation. In this dark, unknown territory your message awaits. Remember that stars can’t shine without darkness.

As two cards, pulled back to back - Sun and Moon Reversed - there is a powerful and unseen energy that is holding you back from so many things. Being curious about this strange haze that has settled in all around you will help you to break through it. Light and Dark - Day and Night - give in to the natural duality of who you are. Free yourself and cast out the clouds!

The Sun - Reversed

The Sun Card (Reversed)

Did you wake up today feeling that a cloudy dullness has overtaken you? You may feel unimaginative, unmotivated, uninspired…the list goes on. How do we turn that “Un” into “Sun”? Though you can’t see it or feel it right now, that sunny energy is shining down on you, urging you to come out and play. Don’t let a mood dim your light. See if you can channel the smallest amount of optimism - just enough to try something fun and different today. Your inner child wants your attention and the world needs your light. Did you know that a Sunflower loyally follows the sun from east to west everyday? Even on rainy, cloudy days, they follow that path of the sun. They know it’s still there, so they remain true to their spirit and to the spirit of the sun. Step out into the light today - feel that sun on your face. I promise you, it’s there.

Four of Swords Reversed

Four of Swords (Reversed) - Painting Rendition by Lacey Bryant for The Slow Tarot Collection

So much mental energy exhausted this week! You may feel turned upside down and unable to rest those thoughts that are flying around in your head. Do you have control are you falling into confusion? Finding mental balance is important today. If you want to start this next week right, you need grounding and a specific plan. For an hour today (at least), turn off your cell phone, step away from the TV, shut down your computer and put that iPad in a drawer. Sit with a notebook and allow yourself to dream. Perhaps write the story of the clear-headed, balanced, easy life you desire. Imagine yourself already in that life, feeling free and calm. Then, instead of crafting a weekly “to do” list…pretend it’s next Sunday and journal about all of the things you have already accomplished. What actions did you set in motion to bring each of these things to fruition? Write it all down. There’s your guide map of clarity and specific action! But, don’t rush in…Approach this action list with ease (after all, you’ve already accomplished it!)…wink…wink.

Knight of Swords - Reversed

Knight of Swords (Reversed) - Artist rendition by Sam Beck

Interesting pull for our card of the day, since this card came up for us two nights ago, but upright. What is the deck trying to tell us? I think it’s ok to take a break and calm the thoughts today. Otherwise, you may feel like you are flinging that sword around swatting, futilely, at nothing. I know you feel like you must take action, but organize your thoughts first and then just wait there with them - see what is there in that empty, quiet place. Today, stillness will bring you great strength and clarity. Steady yourself and harness your active mind in a way that allows you to find order. Trust that doing nothing is the right move forward for this moment. Tomorrow, with the morning sunrise, you will find yourself with a clearer, more fully realized picture on how to advance.

The Six of Pentacles (Pumpkins)

Six of Pentacles (Pumpkins) from The Halloween Tarot Deck

“Trick or Treat!!!!” We often think of the holiday season when we think about giving, but Halloween is about giving too! If you can safely participate in this year’s tradition of Trick or Treating, think about what it means to you to give so freely! Early origins of Halloween saw peasant villagers dressing in costume to ward off the evil spirits and placate the dead. More prominent residents of the time would leave out a banquet to appease them. This slowly evolved into an exchange - protection for goodies and sweets! And now, we have our own delightful version - children get treated to candy for their spooky attire. Giving and receiving is an important element of this Halloween ritual and a great reminder that, in everyday life, you get back threefold what you give to the world. As you dish out those snickers, butterfingers and skittles - take in the energy of those little candy hoarders - they are excited, joyful and so grateful for every little morsel! It’s really quite simple, this phenomenon - share love, get love. What more can you give in life? See if you can make giving a daily practice for yourself - you will be rewarded!

Knight of Swords

The Knight of Swords from The Light Seer’s Tarot

Our card of the night is, again, a Knight! You are impulsive and determined. Your mind urges you to rush in, take action and use your intellect to figure it out as you go. Tonight, rush into your dreams with wild abandon. Notice what you are chasing while you sleep. How does this reflect the things that you run after in your waking life? Is there a hidden road there you have yet to explore? Are there new dreams to conquer in both your dreaming and waking life that you haven’t thought of? Sprint forward with confidence and use your keen intellect to problem solve as you go. Your heart pulses with excitement and exhilaration only if you stay in motion. Don’t worry about the destination - that is secondary to who you are. You are an adventurer, a problem solver, a doer and, to many, a hero.

The Lovers

Street Art rendition of “The Lovers”

In our current moment wearing a mask is the definition of love - love of neighbor, love of friend, love of family, love of lover and love for community. When The Lovers Card emerges from a deck, it brings with it a delicious vulnerability: that tingly, excited nervousness you feel when you first fall in love - the rush you get from being close - the joy that comes from open sharing of thoughts and feelings - the soul-stirring high you feel when your lips meet. The experience is delectable. But, there is a certain point in any new relationship when a decision must be made…What kind of love will this become? Is this a pure, true connection? Or are we just having fun? When it comes to masks - this is your moment to commit to that “pure, true connection” with a whole universe of people. Masks are juicy when you think about it…preserving the lives of all those love connections yet to stir your soul. By wearing a mask you are ensuring that all forms of love will prevail for so many going forward. We are all bonded in our collective vulnerability. Let’s get excited about preserving our potential for delicious, everlasting love.

The Tower

The Tower from The Dark Mansion Tarot Deck

Change is inevitable.  If you have been resisting change, or looking the other way when you know something is just NOT working for you, this time you will not be able to run, hide or resist. Let go - let it all crumble down all around you in a big, beautiful mess. Look around and observe the ruins with an inquisitive mind - there is no turning back. I know it sounds terrifying, but amidst this chaos, what is calling to you? What do you see, hear, feel? Can you identify what brought you to this moment of upheaval? The lesson on how to rebuild can be found here…if you really absorb the situation and focus on what led you to this point. There is an undeniable excitement in the air as you gather yourself, heal and redesign your existence in bold and resilient way. There is a support system close by, waiting to guide you through this transformation. Allow for their wisdom and love! There is also personal strength to be discovered. Admire your own gorgeous fortitude. Become the foundation. “Progress is impossible without change” - George Bernard Shaw

Seven of Wands - Hermit Reversed - Three of Wands

Seven of Wands - Hermit (Reversed) - Three of Wands from The Tarot of the Haunted House by Sasha Graham

This morning, I was shuffling with the intention of pulling our card of the day when what appeared to be one card flew out of the deck and landed directly in front of me. I chuckled and thought, “Well this should be good”. But when I picked it up, there were 3 cards there. The first card was our card of the day yesterday. Perhaps the universe feels there is more we need to know? But what strikes me most about these 3 cards is the light within them. How do you deal with your own personal light these days? Are you at war trying to preserve your spark against the internal and external threats which engulf you? Are you harnessing your light and hiding it away waiting for the right moment to emerge with a new luster and glow? Are you carefully planning to expand your light and strategizing with small determined steps toward new knowledge and exploration? Today, pay attention to that passion and drive within. What does it need? What do you need? And what small or big steps can you take to enrich that light and really let it shine?

“All of the lights of the world cannot be compared to a ray of the inner light of the self.” Anonymous

Seven of Wands

Seven of Wands - Deviant Art

Hey warrior prince or princess - you have achieved enough to find yourself in the position of defending your territory. Yes, other people want what you have. If this is a creative project or idea, hold it close to your heart and be ready to push idea thieves away. If this is your own personal sense of balance and happiness, fight like hell to maintain what you have worked so hard to attain! Don’t let others take or take credit for the things that mean most to you. You have the power to keep them at bay. Defend yourself and your self worth. You may feel a little caught off-guard by this sudden situation, but you’ve got this. You are completely up to this challenge. You are a warrior.

Justice

Justice from The Light Seer’s Tarot

Happy Saturday! Today is a good day to check in with your personal moral code. Reexamine your past actions and dissect your current motivations in life. What has felt right to you and what has felt “off”? Truly knowing your personal value system and being able to act from this place of integrity will help you find the fulfilling life you seek. Balance works best when you know where you stand. The people you encounter in life will respect you for knowing who you are. Morality means different things to different people, but doing what feels right and good will help you find what it means to you. Take a stand in the way that feels best for you or at least KNOW where you stand. To quote a favorite of mine, Lin Manuel, from his smash hit Hamilton - “If you stand for nothing, what’ll you fall for?” Ethics are key. Know thyself and act accordingly.

The Fool

The Fool from The Tarot of The Haunted House by Sasha Graham

It is a very exhilarating feeling to start fresh, moving quickly out into the world with an open and eager determination to experience a new beginning! But, are you actually open and eager? You may actually be running away from something that is haunting you and convincing yourself you just have a new outlook. Changing your outlook because you are excited and curious is different than fearfully avoiding something that might need to be addressed. You know the saying - “You can run, but you can’t hide”. It might be time to turn back and face the darkest part of who you are. Coming to terms with your demons will allow you to truly find that new beginning you so desperately long for. Face the unknown parts of yourself, before you set out into the unknown frontier waiting for you.

The Four of Swords

The Four of Swords from The Tarot of The Haunted House by Sasha Graham

Today calls for restful reflection and solitude. Even if you are incredibly busy, find a moment today to withdraw from the madness that surrounds you. Once you are alone, see if you can disconnect completely for at least 45 minutes. Yes - 45 minutes…you can do this! Relax your mind, body and heart. Let go of anxiety and stress and just be. Nap time is acceptable. Allow yourself to drift off into the darkness of the subconscious. What are you seeing in that darkness? How does it feel to be at rest? What new thoughts and ideas spring to mind? Are they different from your waking brain and how can you carry them with you into your conscious realm? If anxiety creeps in and you hear that little voice say, “You don’t have time for this - Get back to work” - just ignore it. If you feel the pull of responsibility try to grab you by the ankles and drag you back in - refuse. You have a right to make some space to recharge and reflect. Claim that space and investigate what is there.

Ace of Cups

The Ace of Cups

A wealth of emotional abundance is being handed to you. This joyful, overflowing chance for spiritual and emotional opportunity may mean a new relationship or the spark of a creative idea which really moves you. There is a challenge here. By accepting this chalice, you are agreeing to putting in the work involved in bringing this lush and fervently driven opportunity into motion. It might feel dangerous and difficult to bring this dream to fruition, but it is a gift that will fulfill you. Are you going to accept this offering? Will you drink from it’s magical waters and experience a whole new version of yourself? Will you share this gift with others, or savor it for yourself? I’m not going to tell you what to do, but I can’t wait to hear about your experience!

The Devil - Reversed

The Devil (Reversed) from the Holy Wood Tarot

You are not a slave to that narrow, limiting thought process that swirls around in your brain, keeping you from moving forward in a positive direction. In fact, you are on the threshold of personal freedom! Now is the moment to confront all of your thought distortions and damaging behavioral patterns. Fully recognize your dark fears, embrace those hidden anxieties - figure out why they have become habitual for you and then LET THEM GO! If you cannot let them go, maybe you can channel them in a more constructive and beneficial way. You may need to consult a professional or enlist the help of a friend or family member as you do this and that is ok. Asking for help and having someone hold you accountable in your quest for lasting, personal change is just one big step in the right direction. Break those chains that are holding you back from being who you truly are. Step out of the shadows and into the light. You deserve freedom, love and everlasting happiness.