The Eight of Cups…

In our continued exploration of love through the cards, tonight we pulled the Eight of Cups. Sometimes the best gift you can give someone you deeply love is to just walk away. There are those moments in a relationship (with friend, colleague, family or lover), when that dreaded feeling of doubt in the gut takes over and you know that it is not going to work out as you initially hoped. If you stay, or delay the inevitable, it will only breed more toxicity and make it worse for both you and them. If you truly love them and love yourself, you will walk away and trust that if they are meant to be a part of your life and you a part of theirs, that you will find each other again in one form or another. This can feel like defeat and you may be shrouded in sadness and disappointment, but you are both actually winning. Think of how you have changed each other and how you’ve grown together. That will stay with you always, no matter where you roam. Tonight, before you fall asleep, take a moment to recall those lost loves and wish them peace and happiness, wherever they may be.

“You can love them, forgive them, want good things for them, but still move on without them.” - Mandy Hale

Eight of Cups from the Practical Magic Starter Deck

The Devil…

Love can be dark and dangerous. Have you ever had a love that pushed your limits and boundaries in ways that thrilled you - a person that you craved so deeply that you couldn’t see straight? Remember that urgency to be so close you couldn’t breathe or think? This is a love that feels bad and good all at the same time. Some might call it lust, but that’s almost dismissive, isn’t it? A dark connection might not be built to last, but it is undeniable love. Think about the dalliances of your past. What were the delicious and savage elements of who they were that drew you in and made your pulse boil? What did your own spirit love about their unpredictable energy and how did those juicy features fill your soul? Perhaps there is something to be explored here, within. What lies in the shadow of these past, deviant loves could ignite personal change for you in the present. They were, after all, a reflection of your own desires.

“I will not have you without the darkness that hides within you. I will not let you have me without the madness that makes me. If our demons cannot dance, neither can we.” - Nikita Gill

The Devil from Bad Bitches Tarot by Ethony and Light Seer’s Tarot by Chris-Anne

The Six Of Cups…

Do you remember a time when love was simple and innocent? When connecting with another person felt easy and natural? Maybe you don’t, because you didn’t know there was any other way in those moments. Our younger selves connect without fear and restriction. We meet people in early life that we allow to make a lasting impression on our hearts. Who were those people to you? Remember the smallest acts of sharing and kindness and honor how they shaped you. This was pure love. Can you reconnect with someone from your past that was this to you? It might be worth it, as that shared energy never really goes away and you have the power to uniquely lift each other up - a kind of deep, knowing connection to innocence and each other. When we are young, love can be an abstract concept, but it is undeniably there, shaping who we are. Rekindle that kind of love…

“There are things about your childhood that you hold on to, because they were so much a part of you. The places you went, the people you knew.” - The Wonder Years

Six of Cups from This Might Hurt Tarot by Isabella Rotman

The Seven of Pentacles…

In staying with our theme of real and true love, let’s examine our card of the day - the Seven of Pentacles. The myth of fairy tales and rom-coms would have us all believe that love hits you like a flash out of the dark, knocks you off your feet and makes your life instantly marvelous. And, after that moment, you live happily ever after. WTF?!? You and I, we both know this isn’t a reality. Real love can come out of the blue, but can also develop over time and with great care. Once you have it - and let’s face it, you always have it in your life (friends, family, even pets qualify) - you must nurture it and work hard to strengthen it each and every moment of your life. If you put in the work, you may be rewarded…but there are never any guarantees. Sometimes the union that you are trying to grow, just refuses to respond. It can wither or drift away, no matter how strongly you dedicate yourself to its success. But, it might also thrive and multiply in ways you hadn’t expected, bringing with it safety, security, fresh energy and abundant magic. Take a moment today to examine your relationships with those you love. What can you do to help them prosper and bloom?

“Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get. Only with what you are expecting to give - which is EVERYTHING!” - Katharine Hepburn

The Seven of Pentacles from Modern Spellcaster’s Tarot by Melanie Marquis and Scott Murphy

The Five of Pentacles…

Sorry for all of the hearts surrounding this card but, as we draw closer to Valentines Day, I am interested in examining the cards I draw through the rose colored lenses of love. Sounds a little corny, but not that commercial style love that gets crammed down our throats through rom-coms and romance novels - real, true love that exists outside of the fairy tale dreams of princes. Let’s get real about the Five of Pentacles. Today, see if you can step outside of your comfort zone enough to be kind in a new and inclusive way. We all know what it feels like to be an outsider - that awkward loneliness of never feeling like you belong. If you recognize that this is a reality for someone in your life - change it! Be the person that steps in and helps them in a way that makes them feel included, accepted and loved. To invite someone in that feels left out, secluded and unappreciated is an undeniable way to exude love. Do it!!!! I think you might be surprised at how it changes your perspective - not just about them, but about the world.

“A kind gesture can reach a wound that only compassion can heal.” - Steve Marboldi

The Five o Pentacles from The Gay Tarot by Lee Bursten

The Star…

Today is a day to be renewed. Clear away those dark thoughts and cleanse your psyche. Be vulnerable in a way that makes you feel renewed. Restore your faith in your own positive thinking and welcome hope into your heart. You have felt so weighed down, but you know that all of this was only in your mind. If you start to feel those negative thoughts creep back in, find a way to calm yourself and rise above it all with clarity. Release yourself. Give yourself the space you need heal. Your true nature is luminescent. Let your light shine.

“Let your light shine so brightly that others can see their way out of the dark.” -Katrina Mayers

The Star - Cleansing us of Eight of Swords, 9 of Swords and 5 of Swords - Rider/Waite/Smith Deck

The Eight of Swords…

Hmmmmm…. I am not surprised at the amount of swords we are seeing this week. There is a certain heaviness of thought plaguing us this week - a rawness, a cloudiness. Do you feel it like I do? I hope you don’t, but if you do, remember this: even when the dark shroud circles and you feel like a prisoner in your own mind, you will be aided by a companion who is close by. Allow the warmth of their heart to guide you out of this self-imposed trap. Let the light of their spirit illuminate a path you hadn’t yet seen - a path to hope where there is a promise of better days. No matter how great your thorny thoughts loom and swirl around you, allow yourself to see that kindred spirit hovering - they are waiting to lead you back to your true self. You are protected. You are loved.

“Look hard enough and you will always find light.” - Rachel Scott

The Eight of Swords from Shadowscapes Tarot by Stephanie Pui-Mun Law

The High Priestess (Reversed)…

There are just those days when we don’t feel connected to our own power and intuition. And this is likely one of those days. Enthusiasm may be low and inspiration is hard to find. Motivation? Forget about it. It’s ok to feel a little muted. Don’t make any big decisions today and don’t engage in emotional discourse that requires a deeper connection. There are wires within you that have become unplugged. Lay low, embrace the blah-ness and blame it on the Mercury Retrograde. Allow yourself the freedom of doing and feeling nothing. Soon, your inner wisdom and passion will re-emerge and you’ll be reinvigorated by that magic you hold within.

“Let your mind and heart rest. The world will not stop spinning for you, but you will catch up. Take a rest.” - Cynthia Go

High Priestess (Reversed) from The Muse Tarot by Chris-Anne

Knight of Swords (Reversed)…

You are flying fierce and wild, surrounded by clouds and with navigation equipment on the fritz. When you set out on this journey, your intentions were clear and true, but your circumstances have gone a bit haywire. Below you the rocky mountains loom as your plane bounces and sputters. By staying on this scattered path, you could be lost for a long time. Take a minute to steady your thoughts. Clear and rational thinking will ground you enough that you can re-chart your course. Breathe, connect to the steadiness of your heartbeat and calm the spirit to find clarity of mind. Don’t try to fight the turbulence. Take control of your actions and steer yourself to a better destination.

“When in doubt, hold your altitude. No one has ever collided with the sky.” - Old Pilot Sayings, Rules of the Air

The Knight of Swords (Reversed) from Steampunk Tarot by Barbara Moore & Aly Fell

Queen of Swords…

You are in the heart of a blizzard. Allow the fluffy snowflakes to blanket your emotional life in a way that brings your intellect to the forefront. Freeze out any drop of feeling and get focused. It’s not icy to know, understand and take control of all that is happening in your life. Keen awareness and cool decisiveness are your best tools to chart a new path through the snow. Let your brainpower lead the way toward the highest version of you. Declare your power and ascend to your throne. By seeing the world around you with clarity of mind, you will begin to own your own potential as you claim your true destiny.

“No matter how hard we try to ignore it, the mind always knows truth and wants clarity.” - Tony Morrison

The Queen of Swords from Couture Tarot by Megan Skinner

Two Cards for the Week Ahead…

Get ready for an internal, royal standoff this week. There will be a confrontation between your determined inner-child and your know-it-all drama queen morality! You have a desire to grow, learn, explore and expand, but you also have an understanding of life and emotional baggage that conflicts with this spirit. It’s true, you have gained a wealth of knowledge through your past emotional experiences. You’ve grown based on the trials and tribulations that you have survived! However, do not let your emotions strangle the ideas and creative longing you have within! Perhaps, it’s time for your Queen to ease up and for your Page to grow up, so they can meet somewhere in-between?!? Your inner-child will rebel and your emotional compass may need to change direction. So, be ready to feel all the feels as you work your way through this, but expect a big and positive return!

“Hold the hand of the child that lives within your soul. For this child, nothing is impossible!” - Paulo Coelho

Page of Wands and Queen of Cups - Ryder/Waite/Smith Deck

The Ten of Pentacles…

Wealth, abundance, fulfillment and harmony are all things that come to mind when you pull the Ten of Pentacles. It can represent completion and success in the the suit we generally associate with material gain. But, what I love most about this card is just how the image at the forefront speaks of wealth - family, togetherness, joy and sharing of love are the primary themes at play. Today, take a moment to explore what wealth and success truly mean to you. What defines achievement and how much do material things actually factor in for you? It’s an interesting idea to explore and one that the card urges you to consider. What or who fulfills you? And how much of it or them do you already enjoy? The answers may surprise you.

“Without a rich heart, wealth is an ugly beggar.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Ten of Pentacles - Artist’s Drawing by Shushila Burgess for Tarot of the Younger Self

Three Cards for the “In-between”…

I recently had a session with a client in which we explored options and ideas for a time they referred to as “the in-between” or “the intermission”. It’s funny, we all have those moments that feel this way and this current pandemic has become an uncertain intermission for so many of us. I asked one of my decks about this “in-between” and three cards popped out (I was only trying for one, but the deck had a lot to say). In this pause between passion and thought, our direction has been refocused undoubtedly inward as we all strive to refresh and restart. While it may seem like we are at a stand still, when you really examine that “in-between” there has been so much joy, love, celebration, collaboration and growth. Perhaps we needed this more than anything - an “intermission” to take it all in and rediscovery the harmony that life wants for us. How will you honor and celebrate all of the missing fire that surfaced for you during this time? What does togetherness now mean for you?

“Maybe the good stuff isn’t ahead or behind us. Maybe it’s somewhere in-between. Right in the midst of this moment here and now.” - Jeff Goins

The 9 of Wands (Reversed), The 4 of Wands, The 10 of Swords (Reversed) from The Light Seer’s Tarot by Chris-Anne

The Ten of Swords…

Okay, so, the Ten of Swords is giving you the hard truth - a little tough love. Wake up and look around - you cannot stay here. You are done with this and the universe has sent you clear and painful signs. It’s time to move on. The more you distract yourself from the reality of your situation, the bigger the wound will be as you extract yourself from its grip. It’s time to put down the phone and recognize that you are at the end of something. Scary, yes, but also exciting. Starting a new chapter can be thrilling in ways you haven’t imagined. Take notice and get to it!

“The end of one chapter is just a beginning. Read on - the best is yet to come!” - Susan Gale

The Ten of Swords from the Modern Witch Tarot by Lisa Sterle

Ace of Cups - Reversed…

Don’t stifle your feelings! Speak up and speak out - share your opinions, your desires and your needs. It will feel scary, but it will also relieve a great burden and allow you to blossom. It might seem to you like it won’t make a difference, but it will. Open yourself up to sharing the reservoir of emotions you hold within and you will be opening yourself to a world of new possibility. So, don’t hold back - let it all out!

“To express yourself needs a reason, but expressing yourself IS the reason.” -Ai Weiwei

Ace of Cups (Reversed) from the Art Nouveau Deck

The Moon - Reversed…

The anxiety and turmoil you have been experiencing is starting to lift! Tonight, when you are just about to drift off, see if you can imagine the residual traces of doubt leaving your pores and slowly evaporating into the night air. Ask your dreams to send you a message of what is coming to take its place and allow yourself to give in to the tugging of the dark, night air. There are new possibilities to be captured in your visions and musings during slumber. What is your psyche trying to convey? Intuition is sneaky and sometimes needs to be caught off guard. Collect these pieces of you. Write them down when you return to your bed in the morning from that other world. See if you can bring these elements into your waking life for new inspiration. Manifest the unseen magic within.

“Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it” - Roald Dahl

The Moon (Reversed) from The Deadly Tarot

Four Cards for Balance…

How can we best find balance this week? I decided to pull a card, but Four jumped out of my deck, insisting on being seen! It will be to our benefit to spend some meaningful time alone this week - not time with our eyes fixed on social media or time vegging out in front of the news cycle, but time to reflect on who we are. There may be a relationship rift or discord clouding our judgement. Now is the wrong moment to focus on this. Put this aside and embrace self - the answers to this situation lie within and will be discovered at another time. Be frugal with your finances this week. This is not a week to spend, but rather take stock of what you have and protect it. New passions are brewing and opportunity may appear that inspires you. Begin work on this slowly, but with enthusiasm. You are planting a seed which will grow into something beautiful! Balance will be established if you move with caution, protect your heart and money and reconnect with your true spirit and passion this week. Make yourself a priority and do not let outside forces shake your foundation.

“Balance is not something you find, it’s something you create.” -Jana Kingsford

The Hermit, The Lovers (Reversed), 4 of Pentacles & Ace of Wands from The Rider/Waite/Smith Deck.

Seven of Pentacles - Reversed…

You have dedicated yourself to a situation in your life that is just not giving you the return you had hoped for. This can feel disappointing because you have invested so much time and energy to make this a success, but it is time to step away from this particular scenario. Your diligence has not gone unnoticed and, down the line, you may receive unexpected appreciation regarding this labor, but there are other things that need your attention. Don’t waste another moment on circumstances that will never reciprocate. Step away from this, redirect that devoted energy and you will find yourself more fulfilled!

“The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are.” - Unknown

Seven of Pentacles (Reversed) from The Mystic Mondays Tarot Deck by Grace Duong

Queen of Pentacles…

Our Queen of Pentacles keeps popping out to remind us that a more beautiful and lush life is coming! To prep yourself for the changes the year ahead will bring, be sure to luxuriate in the alone time that you can find right now. Use these moments to treat yourself to all of the juicy and rejuvenating self-care you can think of. Don’t for a second think that you don’t deserve it. You deserve the best - always. So take a moment to relish life’s indulgences. How can you be more extravagant toward yourself this weekend? Make a plan to spoil your spirit. Savor every second.

“Life becomes beautiful when you learn to be as good to yourself as you are to others.” - Anonymous

Queen of Pentacles from 78 Tarot’s Nautical Deck by Jessica M. Douglas

Three of Swords Reversed & Justice…

You are starting to figure out that it’s time to cut through the BS of all that worry, pain and doubt you have been keeping close to your heart. Step up and find balance and clarity by accessing and implementing your personal value system. What is right and good to you should always be relied on as a guide map in situations that overwhelm you. If you know what you stand for and where your particular limits are, you can swiftly slice through any negativity in your way. Trust your instincts and don’t be afraid to lay down your own personal law. The clouds will lift when you are certain in doing what is right and you step up, step in and take control!

“Do what is right, not what is easy.” - Roy T. Bennett

3 of Swords (Reversed) & Justice from The Rider/Waite/Smith Deck