Ace of Wands…

Whenever I pull cards in the late night, I find it’s important to examine how they reflect or impact our dreaming life. Dreams are important on many levels and the “otherworld” we go to can reveal so much magic that we cannot see or know in our waking lives. As we walk our paths, tiny ideas occur to us all day - wether we are awake or asleep. These ideas, especially when they pop up in our minds “out of the blue” may seem insignificant, but can be so vibrant. What inspiring thoughts have materialized for you through out the day? How might they appear in your dreamland when you close your eyes? What crazy and inventive musings manifest when you are dreaming? And, what do these surreal ruminations reveal about you in your waking life? Absorb every little contemplation as a new, fresh possibility and, even if you don’t have use for it now, reserve it for later. Inspiration is a funny thing - it sometimes comes from no where, but needs time to gestate. That small reflection or funny dream, could become a whole world to you!

Without the little ideas, there are no big ideas.” - Twyla Tharp

The Ace of Wands - don’t know this deck and too tired to search, but love the illustration - sweet dreams!

Four of Cups…

Overindulgence can lead to a sense of lethargy. If you are feeling despondent about a current situation you are in, you might have yourself to blame. Motivation comes from within. It’s ok if you need a little breather - a little time to detach might do you some good, but there is more waiting for you than what you are seeing. So, take your moment to zone out and then….snap out of it! The day has just started - you can choose to lie about, glomming on your phone and feeling lost and useless OR you can down that extra chance to connect to something fun and inspiring and share a moment that matters with who is there. The choice is yours…but I know what I’m going to do - drink it up!

"The key is in not spending time, but in investing it." -- Stephen R. Covey

The Four of Cups from The Urban Tarot by Robert Scott

The Page of Cups…

Do you want to add a little color to your life? Look no further than your most curious friend. You know the one - that playful, dreamy friend that you have never been able to quite figure out, but love to have around. At times, they may seem strange to you - lost in their own understanding of the world and feeling their way from moment to moment. But, it seems they may have ideas that could enrich your existence. Reach out, invite them out and be curious about their personal brand of curiosity. Dive in to their weird way of interacting with life and be open to their crazy and explorative schemes! There’s a message there for you just waiting to pop up and color your life in a new way. If nothing else, you will have spent the day with their magical spirit, which will inevitably change your own perspective. This will either be a strange, delightful adventure of a day, or a life changing connection. It may be both, so go ahead and splash around in their essence!

“As soon as I saw you, I knew a grand adventure was about to happen.” - Winnie the Pooh

The Page of Cups - Artist’s Rendering from the blog, Trans-cendental Musings online

The Fool - Reversed…

Life is a dizzying whirlwind of fun and frolic! I feel it, too. This playful, fun re-emergence energy is enticing us all to throw caution to the wind and indulge in our every whim without fear for the repercussions. But, there are repercussions. If you choose to turn a blind eye for the sake of the free-spirited moment…that is a choice. You can’t pretend to be so wide-eyed and unknowing in this case. In fact, unless you want to take a serious nose dive toward the ground and bring your closest confidants with you, you have to pull back on the carefree approach. It’s time to wake up from your delicious dream, see what is really in front of you and be able and willing to answer for your actions. Make a plan - know what you want - don’t just take what comes your way because it’s fun. You may feel like you are dancing, but you are actually falling from a great height - face first! It’s time to take responsibility for your actions and force yourself to make plans on how to advance in an adult manner. I know, I hate that word - adult, but you know what I mean. Slow your velocity and redirect. Spin yourself into a trajectory where you know you can land on your feet

“I’ll drink your champagne. I’ll drink every drop of it. I don’t care if it kills me.” - F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Fool (Reversed) Artists Rendering by Garde Art from the series, “Decadent”

Six of Cups…

Take a warm, cozy moment before bed to think of a moment that happened today that you just might treasure forever. We love to be nostalgic, but treasuring the small memorable events as they happen can really fill the soul. What did you do? Who did you see? What surprised you? What made you smile? What few minutes today may have left an indelible mark on your heart? Be grateful for the little lights of joy that surround you the calming, cheerful adventures you can share with friends in the fleeting minutes allowed. Years from now, you may look back on these short spurts of mutual glee with a sense of longing…so why not treasure them now. Share in the richness of the moment. Drink it all up with poise and care. Let your heart be grateful.

“Sometimes you will never know the true value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” - Dr. Seuss

The Six of Cups from the Shadowscapes Tarot by Stephanie Pui-Mun Law

The Tower - Reversed…

You are a dark, rare gem that is being splintered by circumstance. What is happening to you is unavoidable, but also no reflection of who you are. Allow the electricity of the chaos to invigorate you. This moment may feel like a free-fall, but it is actually a chance to grow stronger. Since this is our card of the night think about how electricity connects and charges - instead of giving in to this surprising shock, be a conduit for the thrilling power it provides you! Those pieces of who you were might fall away, but you haven’t lost them. If you absorb the energy of this thunderbolt, how might you use this to grow bigger and stronger? Before bed, draw a fortress - your impenetrable fortress of the pieces you feel are falling away. Yes, a drawing - label each brick and rock that you use to build it in this rendering based on what you feel is being lost in the mayhem. When you are finished, fold your drawing and put it under your pillow. In your nighttime adventures, see if you can will yourself to visit this bastion. What or who resides there and how can you welcome it or them into the waking world of you? The answer to this just might electrify you…

“If I accept the sunshine and warmth, then I must also accept the thunder and lightning.” - Khalil Gibran

The Tower (Reversed) from The Muse Tarot Deck by Chris-Anne

The World…

One of the things that I love most about the Tarot, is how it can serve to uplift us by making us see a larger perspective. In a world that can make us feel so very small and inconsequential, it can be quite difficult to connect with a larger picture than what is in our immediate atmosphere. Sometimes, we just don’t like what is encircling us and we lose sight of the true beauty we hold within and the possibilities yet to come. When I pulled this card this morning, I laughed outright, because it is that reminder. You may not see it, but you hold the world within your hands - within you heart. No matter what obstacles you are currently facing or how tiny you feel, it’s yours for the taking, because you carry it within. You matter to so many. You make a difference every day in every minute. It would be nice if we could all commandeer our own space ship and fly into the cosmos like Richard Branson to get that glorious view, but we don’t have to spend all that money to see the world from afar to truly know the deeper meaning of our lives. If you are feeling down, take a few minutes today to connect to the world - the world within, the world outside and the beautiful world of who you truly are.

“It suddenly struck me that that tiny pea, pretty and blue, was the Earth. I put up my thumb and shut one eye, and my thumb blotted out the planet Earth. I didn’t feel like a giant. I felt very, very small.”– Neil Armstrong (a giant, if you ask me)

The World from the Dark Days Tarot by Wren McMurdo Brignac

Magic for a Monday Night…

I don’t know about you, but I could use a little magic. Long day…long weekend and life suddenly feels a little muddy. Time to invite the light! Pull out your deck - your favorite deck (if you don’t have a deck, feel free to use this image). We are calling on the Sun and the Moon and the Stars to cleanse our spirits, reveal the truth, heighten our intuition and inspire us. They harken the moment of the Major Arcana which we enter the ethereal - we connect with the understanding that the universe is much more vast than we can ever know. But, it’s still the light from the heavens that shines down upon us, guiding and illuminating every minute of our existence. Line up your cards (or study this image), perhaps near a window sill. As you gaze at them, express your gratitude for their constant rays and ask them individually for what you need to fill your own heart with light. Now, turn out all the artificial lights in your room and see your surroundings in the fresh, natural light that is available to you. Tonight, when you put your tired body to bed, leave the shades open. Allow that natural light of the universe to revitalize your essence. When you wake up, spend a moment to feel your own light emanating - you can’t be dimmed - you now carry the light of the universe within. But, you always did - didn’t you?

“Everyday you play with the light of the universe.” - Pablo Neruda

The Star, The Sun, The Moon from the Wild Unknown Tarot by Kim Krans

The Ace of Wands - Reversed…

Sometimes opportunity shifts and morphs or simply evaporates. This isn’t failure. It might be that this chance, this particular moment, was not what it seemed or that the timing was way off. It could also be that your passion was initially misdirected. This week, you may find yourself growing in the opposite direction of what you had been aiming for and that’s ok. If your past dreams and wishes blow away with a warm, easy wind it’s ok to watch them go. Don’t cling to something that isn’t taking root like you thought it would. It’s not a reflection of you - it just wasn’t meant to be. Instead, be kind to yourself by allowing for self reflection, self love and self care. There are so many other opportunities waiting for you - you will find inspiration when you are ready to welcome it and you’ll be ready to welcome it when you let go of this small loss and focus on caring for yourself.

“You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing we call “failure” is not the falling down, but the staying down.” - Mary Pickford

The Ace of Wands (Reversed) from the Slow Tarot by Lacey Bryant

The Nine of Pentacles - Reversed…

Sometimes reversals pop up to remind us to honor who we are. We spend so much time running from obligation to obligation, working relentlessly for the benefit of others and climbing stairs in the hopes that we can make it to “the next level”. But, what if we stop for a moment and luxuriate in the wonder of who we are and what we have accomplished. If you don’t believe you are being rewarded in a way that is corresponding with the effort you are putting in - reward yourself. This weekend, take a moment to remind yourself of all of the triumphs and strides you have made in your life over the last year or so. Dole out your own reward. Shower yourself with gifts - pamper yourself - relish the idea that you can have the juicy life you deserve. The act of honoring your own worth may make it easier to insist that others in your life do the same. Knowing you deserve all the finer things you crave - how will you ask for what you need and want going forward?

“Do not be afraid to give yourself everything you’ve ever wanted in life.” - Frank Lloyd Wright

The Nine of Pentacles (Reversed) from the Tarot of the Mystical Spiral by Giovanni Pelosini and Giuseppe Palumbo - Lo Scarabeo

The Hanged Man…

Do you feel like the entire world has resumed activity, but you are still in a holding pattern? Perhaps, you are suddenly paralyzed at the thought of reemerging into the fast and furious pace of a re-opened environment? Maybe, you started to arise amidst the excitement and chaos of a reopening culture, but the universe has brought you to a screeching halt in some way? It might be frustrating, but there is something you need to be fully available to that is coming your way - you just don’t see it yet. You are being christened by the light of the moon in preparation for something magical. Resolve yourself to this slower pace and remove distractions that try to sneak in, so you will know it when it appears. Don’t covet the business and opportunities of those down below in the rat race - you have a greater purpose ready to emerge. Relax here and enjoy the view.

“Join all the dots and believe in Serendipity. The Universe is telling you something - just listen.” - Anonymous

The Hanged Man from the Bohemian Gothic Tarot by Alex Ukolov and Karen Mahony

Five of Cups - Reversed…

That private pain you have been holding on to so tightly is bleeding you lifeless. We all have past regrets - situations we wished we had handled differently, failures both personal and professional, people that we loved deeply but let down…the list goes on and on. But, when we embrace these experiences and continue to feel the hurt and shame as the years go on, we allow them to suck our spirit away. Mistakes can inform who we become, but they do not define who we are. It’s true, the other party involved may never be able to forgive you, but the time has come to forgive yourself. Acknowledge the horribleness of what you did or did not do, then recognize that you learned a big lesson from this. Let go of the shadow shame that you allow to follow you and put a stop to the hemorrhaging of your essence. Apply pressure to yourself only for change and growth and hop into your next adventure burden free. It’s time, little bunny - you are free!

“You did then what you knew how to do. And when you knew better, you did better.” - Maya Angelou

The Five of Cups (Reversed) from The Dark Wood Tarot by Sasha Graham and Abigail Larson

Knight of Cups…

Our charming lothario is making another appearance today. Why? Love is in the air. In fact, the opportunity for love is all around you. Can you feel it, splashing wildly against your skin, urging you to make a move? How will you charge in to claim your prize? You have a few tricks up your sleeve that you haven’t yet employed. Prepare to dazzle. Think about how you might like to be seduced and tap into your natural magnetism and use it to your advantage. Creativity and compassion are key to your pursuit. Don’t stop to decipher why you are doing what you are doing - just go for your treat with wild abandon. The more thrilling you make your quest, the greater the reward for all involved. You know you deserve it - Charm, dazzle, seduce, bewitch, beguile, conquer in the name of love.

“On a quest for love, the stars shone your way to me.” -Ramnaresh

The Knight of Cups from the Shadowscapes Tarot by Stephanie Pui-Mun Law

The Sun - Reversed…

It’s funny how a day can start and then you pull a card and the theme is clear - the card just highlights the lesson of your morning! This is what happened when I pulled today and I hope it resonates with you just as strongly. We all want to bask in the sun - absorbing the warmth of it’s rays and feeling at ease in each beautiful moment. If life felt this way every day, think of how trouble free it would be for us all. But, don’t forget, you ARE the sky and you have a light inside of you - a brilliance that is longing to be shared. You can project your own warm rays out for the benefit of all the wandering souls in your own personal orbit. What glow can you shine upon them? How might you use your light to express the joy and beauty in their day? What comforts can you illuminate with each word you speak? Allow your smile to radiate the calming and healing energy you crave. Shine your light and you will see that energy reflected back in ways you never expected. Gleam, glow, glisten and do it all with an open heart and naked spirit. Shine on, friend. Shine on.

“The real you is loving, joyful and free. The real you is just like a flower, just like the wind, just like the ocean, just like the sun.” - Don Miguel Ruiz

The Sun Card (Reversed) from The Fey Tarot by Riccardo Minetti and Mara Aghem

The Moon…

I wanted to mix it up a little, so this morning I asked my cards what we should be grateful for today and The Moon Card was my deck’s response. Since we pulled the Moon (Reversed) a few days ago, it definitely feels like we need to dive deep this week. Let’s be grateful for all of the rich, hidden complexities of our lives. It’s the undercurrent of who we are that we can use to make the most powerful of magic. Be grateful for all those parts of you that are murky and dark - the feelings and impressions that feel imperfect but unrelenting. You may believe that you aren’t forthrightly sharing this energy with others, but there is an undeniable trickle down effect of this potent energy that finds it’s way into everything you do. Your personal understanding of life and your unseen knowing are integral to the manner in which you move through your life and the smallest of actions you take have an effect on the entire universe. Your perceived imperfections are a rare gift you can give to others. Be grateful for your darkness, it is an incredible provider of light for all those around you.

“I know I stand visibly onstage, but my function is still unseen, because I rarely see the results of what I’m saying or doing or writing.” - Larry Norman

The Moon Card - digital artists rendering

A Glance at The Week Ahead…

There are two versions of you emerging this week and a clear decision that needs to be made. The passionate and driven side of you is looking into the past and dreaming of those “better days”. It’s true, you felt stronger, more grounded and structured in that other life, but you were at a standstill in some ways. Emotionally, there is an energy hanging over you that longs for you to recognize what is good about moving forward. The unknown can be intimidating, but you won’t be able to shake the feeling that you must move in a new direction to reclaim your emotional wellness. This means being aware of what you have that benefits you, but also being willing to leave some of it behind for the promise of change. This is a tough decision. You can stay with the powerful assurance of stability, or move forward in hope of emboldening your spiritual wellness, but with no real guarantee of what is to come. You’ve been dreaming of making a bold and risky life change for sometime, so maybe now is the time…Can’t wait to hear about what you decide! Also, a very appropriate position to be in for Independence Day… Happy 4th!

“Sometimes it’s the smallest decisions that can change your life forever.” - Kerri Russell

The Emperor -The 2 of Wands - The 8 of Cups with the 5 of Cups hovering above from The Rider/Waite/Smith Deck

The Moon - Reversed…

Do you hear that tiny voice from the heavens? It’s trying to send you a message. I know you feel it - you sense it in the vividness of your dreams. Or, maybe you feel different when you awake to start the day? Perhaps it’s that feeling like someone is there with you as you walk down the street? It’s thrilling, unsettling and hard to decipher - a kind of knowing of the unknown. What does it all mean? You don’t need to concern yourself with that right now. Dive in to that hazy, beautiful vibration and listen to the whispering like it’s a beautiful song. Welcome this strange new energy any way you can. Explore the feeling of it with abandon - write about it, express it in an artistic way, tell your most mysterious friend all about it…pull some cards , meditate on it. The true message will be revealed to you if you keep this otherworldly energy alive - dance to the music it’s playing just for you.

“The universe is always speaking to us. Sending us little messages, causing coincidences and serendipities, reminding us to stop, to look around, to believe in something else, something more.” -Nancy Thayer

The Moon (Reversed) from The Muse Tarot by Chris-Anne

The King of Pentacles - Reversed…

Do you long for increased abundance? Are you waiting for life to gift you with more luck? Is money what you seek more of? You must re-think the ways in which you interact with others! People look up to you, but they see you as someone who is not forthcoming - someone who is hiding and hoarding things from them. Self protection is sometimes necessary, but not ALL the time. You have riches within that should be shared freely and openly. You have to stop thinking that you have something to lose by giving of yourself. If you want to multiply your chance for good fortune, you must be willing to share your blessings without malice or regret. Trust that the universe is ready to repay your generosity and stay focused on the rewards that are much greater than your little pot of gold.

“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” - Winston Churchill

The King of Pentacles (Reversed) - Artists Rendering for the Daily Draw Tarot Journal

Knight of Cups…

This week is all about our emotional life - isn’t it?!? So many cups - so little time! A new dashing energy has pranced into your life and everything suddenly feels delicious! This comes to you in the form of a highly engaging human - someone that is charming your pants off (quite possibly literally). You are opening up to them like a flower opens and reaches for the sun. BUT take a closer look. They may not be exactly how they present to you. Something is a little unusual here. I don’t mean to burst your beautiful bubble, but take a step back, outside of this situation and study it from all angles. They are dazzling, yes, but are they using you to hide from something they have left behind? What wild remnants of thought do they reveal to you in small, cloudy ways? Do they truly look into your eyes when they are connecting with you - or are they distracted by bigger things? And, is this excitement you are feeling true joy or a thrilling response to the tempest they are using to overtake you? Danger is fun until it isn’t. Try to see the whole picture here - they may not be what you think they are. Protect yourself.

“Be careful. Not all are what they seem. Some people pretend to the be beach, but actually they are quicksand.” - Steve Maraboli

The Knight of Cups from The Slow Tarot by Lacey Bryant

King of Cups…

Mastery of your emotional life is not impossible, but does require work. Instead of stifling your passions, let yourself splash around in them. If you are willing to truly immerse yourself in your feelings to understand why they come to you when they do, you can learn to use them for the betterment of all. When we are children we haven’t yet learned censor our emotional responses and our spirits swim free. Tonight before you drift off to sleep, imagine your bed is a small boat, drifting gently on the sea. It is not you that is the captain of this vessel, but your younger self. How would your inner child take command of the situation - how would they brave the currents? Would they doubt or restrict their natural emotional instincts or would they allow themselves to feel the full content of their experience and use this magic to befriend and beguile the sea? Drift around in the deep water, see what swims up to the surface and feel the complete power of your own emotional expression. When you awake, see if you can carry the ocean of who you are into the new day with authority

“Sometimes I think I need a spare heart to feel all the things I feel.” - Sanober Khan, A Thousand Flamingos

The King of Cups (Father Of Water) from Today’s Journey Tarot by Expanding Dimensions - Christopher G. Wilkey