Strength…

This is a powerful week, indeed. From the Chariot to the Strength Card - chances are you are experiencing a giant shift - inside and out. At the core of who you are is a heart that lights the world. The strong and persevering pulse through your veins is giving life to your dreams in a way that you feel with every breath. Do you want to slay dragons or tame dragons? Think about this one carefully. You have the power to take the fiery energy thrown toward you and turn it into healing luminosity that protects others. You are a warrior that fights a battle to conquer the negative forces that threaten darkness in the world…and you do it with ease and generosity. Use this superpower wisely and stay true to who you are. Inner Strength is your secret weapon on your quest to transform the landscape around you. And those Dragons - they love you….

“On the field of the self stand a knight and a dragon. You are the knight. Resistance is the dragon.” — Steven Pressfield

The Strength Card from The Ostara Tarot by Eden Cooke, Krista Gibbard, Molly Applebaum and Julie Iredale

The Chariot…

Hey Superstar, you are filled with confidence this week, so take the reins and fly out into world with fierce determination. This new journey won’t be easy - there is a battle to be won, but you know it. Arm yourself with all the knowledge you need to advance, streamline your focus on that ultimate and harness the power of your incredibly fiery spirit. Understanding the complexities of what you might face in advance and balancing your own inner life to ready yourself for any obstacles is advised. Once you have all these elements in place, it’s time to move forward - you will be unstoppable! Your motivation will provide all of the fuel needed to soar with speed toward your target. So, what are you waiting for - climb aboard - your Chariot awaits….

“Believe in your greatness. Because what you believe is what you become.” - Udai Yadla

The Chariot from The Inspirational Tarot Deck by Rachel Farabaugh

The Four of Wands…

For the week ahead, it’s time to focus on balance and building a secure foundation for your life. This is a tall feat and the thought of it is a little wide in scope, but let’s get a little more specific. If you had to chose four people in your life that lift you up when life tries to push you down, who are your “fab four”?!? These are the people in your life that help support the foundation of who you are and, likely, you do the same for them. Once you have your list, this week, you have a tarot homework assignment. Call them one at a time and show your gratitude for their undying love and support. Celebrate who they are by thanking them in a fun way. While you are on the phone with them, pull a card - this card represents the fun new element they can bring into your life this year. Share with them this message and the hope that you can continue to make magic with them in the years ahead. At the end of the week and after a few incredibly affirming phone conversations, lay these cards side by side and study the guide map of the foundation they have helped you to build. Are there any hidden messages here that you have missed? What new magic can emerge from this message of solidarity and united strength? Take a photo of your four cards - representing your four most reliable friends - and save it in your phone as a reminder of just how balanced your foundation is. Whenever you feel off-kilter, examine this photo and remember that you are lucky to have such a solid base of dedicated humanity in support of who you are. Use this love and support to make magic!

“It’s the friends you can call up at 4am that matter.” - Marlene Dietrich

The Four of Wands from Britt’s Third Eye Tarot Deck

The Ace of Cups - Reversed…

An emotional opportunity has turned in a direction that threatens to dim your light. Disappointment hovers. The hard truth is just that sometimes things don’t work out the way we would like. If your hopes were high, you may be feeling especially vulnerable right now. Breathe and feel it. Don’t hide from your emotional life - it is a part of who you are. Swim through the doubt and pain with courage. Surround yourself with friends that support you and lift you up. You may feel like everything is upside down, but it is better to know the truth, so you can get to the other side. And, you will get to the other side! Breathe and hold on to that glimmer of light on the horizon of your heart. It’s hard to see it now, but this experience will help you blossom in a new way.

“I wish I could show you, when you are lonely or in darkness, the astonishing light of your own being.” - Hafiz

The Ace of Cups (Reversed) from Witches Tarot by Ellen Dugan

The Knight of Swords…

This has been a week FULL of Swords! Are we using our minds or what? Thoughts have taken the forefront and, at times, have overwhelmed us. But, today you are ready to charge in and use all of the energy swirling around in your mind to take action. Cut through the chaos by allowing it to feed your motivation. Be defiant, speak your mind and defend what you believe in. Carefulness is not advised in this moment - just go for it! Sounds risky? It may be. But, sometimes taking a chance and flying into the fight is the only way to achieve honesty, clarity and understanding. Your determination to get what you want is quite powerful in this moment. If you bring everything out in the open, you will clear the path for forward movement. What are you waiting for? Charge in and say all of the things that need to be expressed. It will, at least, feel really good!

“Speak your mind, even if your voice shakes.” - Maggie Kuhn

The Knight of Swords from The Everyday Witch Tarot by Deborah Blake and Elisabeth Alba

The Five of Swords…

The bulk of your day is coming to a close and from the outside, things seem smashing. But, all day you may have had the uneasy feeling that something just isn’t quite right. Dark thoughts encircling your every move and the strange notion that you have been deceived. You feel it, but you just can’t see it yet. The fear that this deception will materialize when you least expect it has become imprinted in your mind. It’s hard to shake this because you don’t even really understand where it’s coming from or what it’s all about. Not a fun headspace to negotiate, but it looks like you may have to sift through those thoughts to try to get ahead of this darkness surrounding you. Tonight, before bed, write down your five biggest anxieties regarding being misled - who or what in your life would cause you the most pain if they turned out to be not what they seemed? When you write it down, imagine those ideas being expelled from your own sword onto that paper. By releasing them to the world - they are no longer haunting your mind. Under each one, write a brief summary of what you might do or say to protect yourself should that element of your life reveal itself as a deception. Now, fold up that paper, put it someplace safe and forget it. If any of this materializes in a malicious way down the line - retrieve your paper and you will find the advice you desperately need. But, right now, you need a clear mind and focused energy - free of worry! Let it go….

“If you want to test your memory, try to recall what you were worrying about one year ago today.” - E. Joseph Cossman

The Five of Swords from The Crystal Visions Tarot by Jennifer Galasso

Page of Swords - Reversed…

Do you feel the urge to rush in with ideas today? It’s true that you have some creative and explorative visions, but it’s not advised to leap into action with them in this moment. Slow yourself, hold onto all of that inspiration and just wait. I know - this is crazy frustrating, especially because you can see solutions and improvements and you are ready to share this inspired intelligence. However, it won’t be perceived with the significance it deserves and you will wind up feeling like you are moving back a step or two. Honestly, the others in your circle aren’t ready for the fresh, uncomplicated perspective you have to bring to the table. In this case, it’s best for you to keep it to yourself, but use the knowledge you have to your own benefit. They may not recognize or appreciate what you have to offer, but it can serve you in ways you hadn’t thought of. So, keep it a secret but use what you got. They’ll all wind up wondering how you are making all that magic with so much ease!

“Only your ideas can express the real you.” - Akash Sakar

“Do not tell your secrets to those whose faith and silence you have not already tested.” - Queen Elizabeth I

The Page of Swords (Reversed) from The Robin Wood Tarot

King of Swords…

Yesterday, I was on an Island in Lake Eerie and I went out on a nature trail overlooking a gorgeous quarry. At one point I heard a very loud flapping and saw the most magnificent Eagle take off from a rock it had been perched on. Wow - what a sight. This morning, I pulled the King of Swords. Swords, in some decks, are closely associated with birds because they represent the element of air. Immediately upon pulling that card, I thought about that majestic Eagle stretching its long wings and launching into the sky. This week, instead of letting life’s little dramas swirl you into a circling spiral of doubt, defeat them by rising above it all. Channel your inner King of Swords and use those thoughts to ascend to a higher realm of thinking. True strength and focus can be achieved, if you take ownership of the end game and recognize that the little hiccups are so much smaller from where you are. Soar free and harness the wind as a buffer against the insignificant obstacles that threaten to disrupt your beautiful flight. Be the king - transcend the trivialities of your day to day by recognizing that you are engineered for higher ground!

“May you soar on eagle wings, high above the madness of the world.” - Jonathan Lockwood Huie

The King of Swords from the Animal Totem Tarot by Leeza Robertson and Eugene Smith

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