Eight of Wands into Two of Wands (Reversed)…

All of the movement and change in the world feels like it is descending too quickly upon you. While your instinct may be to run or make hasty decisions on how you might shift your own direction or intention, a pause may better serve you. As you move through your activities this weekend, slow your pace and discover the intense power you hold within. Take some time to notice that which makes you feel confident, strong and grounded. In all situations you excel in one way or another. Define these ways for yourself and note how you might connect to this brilliance again and again. These strengths are not accidental - they represent your own brand of magic. Observe and celebrate the many ways you connect to your personal power. Own your magic.

“Personal power is the ability to stand on your own two feet with a smile on your face in the middle of a universe that contains a million ways to crush you.” - J.Z. Colby

The Eight of Wands into the Two of Wands (Reversed) from The Dark Wood Tarot by Sasha Graham and Abigail Larson

Strength - Reversed…

I pulled this card at the start of the day and then the day stepped in to prove it to me. There are moments when we disconnect from our inner sense of flow and easiness. If you are feeling disjointed and overwhelmed by the sudden difficulty of the tasks at hand, this could be a symptom of a much larger internal rift. We’ve all felt the push and pull of day to day challenges, but how we choose to approach these challenges is incredibly significant. Today I felt jarred by the problems that appeared and the more I allowed myself to become entrenched in that feeling, the less I was able to focus and apply myself authentically to the solutions. So, my question for us all is, “Do we want to catch that lion and find small ways to hold it captive until it eventually breaks free and devours us? Or do we want to tame and care for that lion so it becomes devoted to us and we learn to work together as one?” Don’t push or pull. Find a deeper understanding by allowing instead. All involved will benefit.

“Your resistance is what slows things down for you. Allow instead of resisting.” - Roxana Jones

The Strength Card (Reversed) from the Sacred Rose Tarot by Johanna Gargiulo-Sherman

Judgement…

Yesterday you felt clouded with insecurity and darkness, but today you will rise up and face the day with total abandon! Why not? You don’t have to have all of the answers. Open your heart and embrace vulnerability as the best way to conquer fear and defeat life’s challenges. Who is there with you, standing up and listening to the music of the universe? Seeing that you are not alone in your feeling of nakedness will encourage you to stand taller when you are facing the unknown. There is a kind of shared nervous excitement in this experience. This is the moment when you choose to say yes to life, love and the promise of happiness. You are awakening to the unending possibilities of who you are.

“You’ve seen my descent. Now watch my rising.” -Rumi

Judgement from The Lotus Tarot

The Nine of Swords…

Swirling turmoil. Doubt. Fear. Worry. A storm of negativity is descending and it is hard to see that little ray of light through all of the dark clouds. But, you have been here before, haven’t you? The scars of your past battles adorn your skin and reveal your inner strength. Though the natural instinct is to guard and protect, you know what you really must do to prevail. Face those fears head on. To defeat them, you must fly through it all. You were meant to ascend into that glimmer of light and joy, so spread your wings and trust.

“When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.” - Henry Ford

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

The Nine of Pentacles…

It’s Masterpiece Monday and you, my friend, are a work of art. Here’s a question for you - if you were to be painted, how might you be interpreted by that artist? What elegant lines or creative shapes would materialize on the canvas? Which bold color palette would best represent your spirit? How does the artist capture the light of your face and the richness of your heart? Perhaps there is no face to be seen, but a striking series of forms and lines or a thrilling collection of modern imagery? Visualize your visage and spirit on canvas and feel the awe of your own composition. Honor yourself by living out your day - your week - your life in your truest form of art.

“Work is what you do for others, liebchen. Art is what you do for yourself.” - Stephen Sondheim, Sunday in the Park with George

The 9 of Pentacles from the Golden Tarot Of Klimt by Lo Scarabeo

The Ace of Cups…

There is dream in your heart that wishes to be realized. That deep sense of longing, even if it is accompanied by doubt and hopelessness, persists and flows like a resonant current through your veins. This week, see if you can bring it to the surface just enough to taste the potential of fulfillment and feel the warmth of the sun affirming your desires. Savor the tiniest sip of your most hidden, but meaningful, aspiration. How might you allow this dream which you keep so close to your heart the freedom to grow? Notice the ways in which the universe sends peace and prosperity to you illuminating that glimmer of hope which will allow for your intention to blossom. Swim in your own possibility.

“You will see in the world what you carry in your heart.” - Creig Crippen

The Ace of Chalices from Star Spinner Tarot Deck by Trungles

The Eight of Wands…

Do you feel the flow all around you? Things are really moving forward and you are starting to sparkle and shine in new and unexpected ways. This is the fun part of the work you are doing, when all the little elements you have been piecing together, take shape and fly. I think it’s safe to say, that you have been so detailed in your efforts, that you are ready for anything obstacle that might appear. Flow-state is flattering on you and you are in your element. Ride this energy with wild abandon and as you pick up speed, celebrate your personal successes. You are swiftly headed toward your target with an unstoppable momentum, but so enamored with the movement, that you don’t even notice the destination.

“The happiest people spend much time in a state of flow - the state in which people are so involved in an activity, that nothing else seems to matter; the experience itself is so enjoyable that people will do it even at a great cost, for the sheer sake of doing it.” - Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

The Magical Girl Eight of Wands Tarot Card by Mahou Shoujo on Art Station

The Two of Swords…

Allow yourself to be initiated into the mysteries of your own life. Murkiness and indecision can signify a moment of discovery within. Disconnect from distractions, sit in the eye of the storm, welcome the rocky emotions that swell up all around you and let your hair fly in the wind. It’s true, you cannot stay here forever, but by being active in a moment that feels confining, so much can be revealed. Tap into the electricity of your subconscious and power up your duality. The universe may morph all around you, but your deep intuition is a constant. Accept the invitation to a stronger version of you and allow the answers you seek to flood in before you move forward. You will soon understand that you have more power than you think.

“Intuition is the whisper of the soul.” - Jiddu Krishnamurti

The Two of Swords from The Vice Versa Tarot by Massimiliano Filadoro and Lunaea Weatherstone

The Hanged Man - Upright and Reversed…

So, you know those days you receive a message from the universe that you don’t feel like dealing with and to avoid it you ask again and hope for a brand new answer? Then the result is the same answer. My deck is not letting us off easy today. Is it safe to say, after all we have been through this past year or so, that we feel we are dangling from all angles and unsure we even want to hit the ground? Uneasiness and discomfort are bitter, but necessary. Take a moment in your day to sit with all the dis-ease and see if you can let go. Let go of the story in your head. Let go of the need to know all of the answers. Let go of the urge to control how you move forward. We don’t have to have it all together all of the time. Embrace the fear, the chaos and the strange euphoria of the cloudiness of life. You are protected, even if you don’t know what is next.

“By not knowing, not hoping to know and not acting like we know what is happening, we begin to access our inner strength.” - Pema Chodron

The Hanged Man (Upright and Reversed) from The Light Seer’s Tarot by Chris-Anne

The Ace of Swords…

If you want to be prepared for the remainder of your week, today is the day to focus your mind and ready yourself for the new opportunities that will reveal themselves. Finding a zen-like balance will allow for effortless flow of ideas and thoughts. Clear communication is essential for success. Free your mind of confusion and find that lovely, textured but mellow easiness of thought. There is a certain richness that can emerge from a the muting of your perpetual reasoning. Ruminate in this clean but muted area of your mind and the answers to life’s daily questions will materialize with precision. Uncomplicated contemplation will dissipate any challenges that present for you. Knowing how you choose to respond is more important than knowing what you think you should say. Get focused.

“Clear thinking requires courage rather than intelligence.” - Thomas Szasz

The Ace of Swords - Artist’s Rendition by Lacey Bryant for The Slow Tarot Collection

Ten of Wands…

The end is the beginning and the beginning marks an end. Outgrowing something just means you keep growing! In this case, your labors have provided a great deal of support and comfort for others and the fruits of this labor will continue to grow long after you have moved on. Doesn’t it feel wonderful to know that you have planted something so strong it will even outlast you? You are definitely moving on, but as you go use the strength and confidence you have gained to dream about how you might advance and spring up in even greater directions. Also, before you switch paths, take a moment to see just how much you have impacted those around you with what you have accomplished already. Who is protected by the shade of your growth and who is blossoming under your watch? Well done…now shed the bones of your well crafted work and see what else you can cultivate. Sky’s the limit and you have all the resources necessary to magnify and mature to new heights.

“We must accept the end of something in order to begin something new.” - Anonymous

The Ten of Wands from the Tarot of the Divine (Aka - Fairytale Tarot) by Yoshi Yoshitani

The Wheel of Fortune/Fate…

Although I pulled this card at the start of my day, it has become a card of the very-late-night. My own spin on the Wheel of Fortune was a little rough today - flight delays amounting to a long day of travel in unusually crowded airports, so apologies for the later than usual post. Eek! I’m not trying to freak you out with this spider, but rather hoping to inspire you to see life as a web. We can get ensnared in it’s clutches or we can walk those tiny strings like mini tight ropes to another side. We can choose to fall prey to others, or we can be the weavers of dreams (and tiny tight ropes for others to walk). Where are you currently in this web? Are you tangled and frustrated or are you looking at it from a branch, admiring how the sunlight glistens on its silky, dew covered thread? Wherever you may have landed, know that this position is fleeting and be ready and open for change. Keep walking that tiny tight rope, dreamer.

“Sorry I’m not home right now. I’m walking into spiderwebs, so leave a message and I’ll call you back.” - No Doubt

The Wheel of Fortune from The Animism Tarot Deck found at Rainbow of Crazy

Eight of Swords - Reversed…

Is something you are involved in leaving another person feeling confined? Closely examine your actions and how they relate to the people in your life and beyond. If you aren’t being clear or forthright about something, it might be severely effecting someone in your life. I know it isn’t your intention to inflict this kind of malice upon them, so you may want to find a way to adjust your approach and release them from their suffering. Or, at least make them aware that you are not meaning this for them. Also, if you are thinking that it’s them or you - that your own success is somehow linked to the restraint of theirs, this isn’t true. If you release your hold on them, you will feel a burden lift within which will allow for greater success in your endeavor! Take action to change the tone here - don’t leave them hanging!

“Don’t push others down to reach the top, instead pull yourself up.” - Rishi Rishi

The Eight of Swords (Reversed) from the Silver Era Tarot by Russell J Moon & Aunia Kahn and from the Thelema Tarot by Renata Lechner for Lo Scarabeo

Judgement hovers over Nine of Swords & Five of Swords…

In your mind there is a voice that whispers to you, constantly judging every move you make. This voice is sometimes kind, but often deceptive and if you let it run wild, can become very insidious. The way out of this cycle is above the thought process. A higher realm is calling to you - listen for that music and see the light and color to which you can ascend. Flying upward, out of the mind and into a higher frequency you will transcend the surface and circular thought process that ensnares you, because you will know that you are so much more. Answer the calling of that music and rise to the higher level within, which is yours to claim. If you do, you will be able to use your thoughts in a much more targeted way. Embrace the dynamic energy of who you are which is so much bigger than you thought. Become who you are meant to be by rising above all the inner chatter to a truer, freer self.

“Enlightenment means rising above thought…In the enlightened state, you still use your thinking mind when needed, but in a much more focused and effective way than before.” - Eckhart Tolle

Judgement, Nine of Swords & Five of Swords from the Star Spinner Deck by Trungles

The Fool…

Do you remember a time in your life when the future seemed limitless, even though you had no idea of what you where doing or where you were going? For me, I often think of myself in my 20s, backpacking through Europe in college. There was nothing in my backpack but jeans, a sweater and a bunch of dreams and I could barely navigate myself down a street, let alone from country to country. And yet, despite my naivete, I never have felt so alive and full of excitement. Perhaps you don’t have to remember this if you are experiencing it right now? But, if not, do recall that version of you - they still live within. Find some time today to connect with that carefree feeling, where everything you encounter is just a new thrilling escapade generated by the universe specifically for you. Walk freely and experience the magic that you are gifted with each step and if you encounter adversity - smile, say hello and pretend you don’t know what it is. Have a great day, my dreamer - so full of hope with so many adventures waiting for you!

“There was nowhere to go, but everywhere.” - Jack Kerouac

The Fool from The White Numen: A Sacred Animal Tarot by Alba Ballesta Gonzalez

Ten of Pentacles - Reversed…

What do you want to accumulate in your life? I often like to gaze at ink and ponder how those images fit the person who displays the art. Was it something they really thought about and treasured before having it permanently placed on their skin? Or was it a random act of spontaneous rebellion that they are still unclear about? Think about the messages you wouldn’t mind etching on your skin for the world to see - how do you acquire these sentiments as you walk through life? Or, I guess the question is…are these meaningful things what you are already reaching for? If not, why not? Don’t be so easily distracted by material gain and superficial achievements. Do you want to show off, or do you want to feel fulfilled? True wealth cannot be purchased with money - unless money is what holds deeper meaning for you. If you’d have an artist etch a dollar sign on your back - go for the bling. But, if your personal message is deeper, think about how the things you acquire and the successes you achieve in your life reflect who you really are.

“My body is my journal and my tattoos are my story.” - Johnny Depp

The Ten of Pentacles - An Artists Rendering by Nathan Dixon (which can be purchased - upright - via his website).

Nine of Cups - Reversed…

Do you deserve the best? YES! Can you have too much of a good thing? Maybe. You might not want to hear this, but you’ve been luxuriating a little too much. You may have earned yourself a little treat, but you aren’t yet to the place in your life where you can re-envision your entire lifestyle. Take a look at your recent habits - in fact, take a huge step back so you get the full view. Where are you overindulging? Are you allowing your emotions to run wild? Are you letting the money you worked so hard for quickly drain away? Are you defending your own toxic behavior by saying “I deserve this”? Recognizing that you are living outside of your means in one way or another is healthy. Choosing to ignore your own detrimental actions because they bring you a false sense of fulfillment is just keeping you from finding authentic happiness. Stop the cycle of denial and realize that your over-indulgence is a symptom of an internal disease that is holding you back.

“The proximity of a desirable thing tempts one to overindulgence. On that path lies danger.” -Frank Herbert

The Nine of Cups (Reversed) - Artist’s Rendering by Jane Valeur found on ArtStation

Queen of Pentacles - Reversed…

You like to be in charge of your domain and always feel like you are on top of it. But, there are some days when you just don’t have it all together and this is one. It may feel uncomfortable, but it will be easier if you just admit you can’t handle it all. Ask for help - you are allowed. Success doesn’t have to sit squarely on your shoulders. Yes, there are others that rely on you to run the show, but even they need to understand that you are not infallible and perhaps it’s time they are delegated some of the responsibility. So, if you need to throw your hands up today and say, “I just can’t do this right now!” DO IT! A real queen knows when enough is enough and can and will put her personal wellbeing first.

“Give to yourself as much as you give of yourself.” -Suze Orman

The Queen of Pentacles (Reversed) - Artist’s Rendering by Rachel Srinivasan for UGallery

Strength…

Whatever obstacles pop up for you this week, tap into your inner strength reservoir. What? You didn’t know you had this hidden underneath the surface? Well, for every hurdle you have already jumped, every hard lesson learned and every inner battle you have had to face, you have amassed a personal reservoir filled to the brim with wisdom, intuition, resilience and spirit. Dip into your magic waters this week to navigate any unknown territory and master that unexpected foe. Trust that you already have all the resources to handle any barrier or deterrent life throws your way. You are a silent warrior who fights for good with knowledge, power and ease. You will be triumphant and others will look to you for strength.

“Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.” - RBG

The Strength Card from The Cosmic Gateways Tarot Deck - Artist’s Print by Brittany Lewis available online

A message from the Moon…

I had a magical reading today with a friend who inspires me. We celebrated the new moon and looked into the cards to see what might be springing up for her! She guided us to our message of the day. What has been shrouded longs to be revealed - that fresh new outlook you have connected with is just about ready to take flight. It’s true that you are leaving a former version of yourself behind once you release this light, but you know in your heart that that version of you has evaporated anyway. Tonight before bed, glance up toward the moon. Even if the sky is clouded and you can’t see it - feel it’s presence. The moon is always changing - waxing, waning and everything in-between. The night sky adheres to these cycles, offering differing views from every angle and with every phase. In honor of the moon and yourself, soak a small rag with water and then ring the excess dampness from it til you cannot feel a drop. As you do this, imagine that these are the last vestiges of that old version of you which you release into the night sky. The moon will claim this and look after it, so you can rejuvenate without hesitation. In the morning, embrace that bright, airy outlook of your fresh take on life! Under the light of the moon, you are reborn.

“If the moon smiled, she would resemble you. You leave the same impression of something beautiful, but annihilating.” - Sylvia Plath

The Five of Cups and Death/Rebirth from the Light Seer’s Tarot by Chris-Anne