Five of Swords…

So, during the week ahead we will be tested. The universe may present us with so many awful and annoying people that are making difficult and trying situations even harder to address. We will feel CRAZY with frustration. Why are they behaving this way? Why can’t they see what is obvious? Why are they trying to annoy and deceive us? Why are they such IDIOTS?!? Wait - hold on…we are getting so in our heads about this - aren’t we? Is it worth getting so amped up about their actions? The conflict will trigger us in so many ways, but is it worth the fight? Are we really ready to dive into a struggle or fight about something so ridiculous? Sometimes, the fight is not worth the thing we are fighting about or for. Let’s be careful this week to not wrestle with a pig. They don’t deserve the opportunity to deplete our energy and push our face into the mud. They don’t deserve any piece of who we are!

“Be selective in your battles because sometimes peace is better than being right.” - Unknown

The Five of Sword from The Peanuts Tarot Deck

The World - Reversed…

I had a couple of magical readings today and my first client drew our card of the day! Then, it was incredibly interesting to see the card emerge in the next reading in a very special way…not just once, but several times! We are all feeling a sense of suspension - being held above it all, ready to drop when the time is right. It’s important to stay open in this moment. Do not get frustrated when your life isn’t quite ready to advance, but recognize that it’s ok - you may need more time. If you allow yourself to close up in fear of anticipation or annoyance at the situation, you will not be ready to experience the full spectrum of what the universe has to offer you when the time comes to soar. The world opens quicker for some, but your time is coming, so trust in the moment and hang on with an open heart. Think of yourself as a new day that is dawning. The sun’s rays peak through slowly, before the full light is revealed. Soon you will shine so bright, we’ll all need shades.

“Life was always a matter of waiting for the right time to act.” -Paulo Coelho

The World (Reversed) from the Light Seer’s Deck by Chris-Anne.

The Ace of Pentacles…

A shiny new taste of success is popping out to say hello! What will you do with this? You can already feel it’s glittery glow all around you - lighting your face with promise. The colors of your life have increased in vibrancy, just enough to make you feel lightheaded with excitement. There’s a warm breeze that has caressed your skin with potential and filled your heart with hope. Ride the magical energy that has suddenly found you - nurture this garden inside and out, so it continues to bloom. You deserve to be uplifted in this way and continue to feel radiant - you are a rare jewel and this sudden shift in the atmosphere is just the start of something even more spectacular for you! The spell is cast and you are at the center of it.

“Cast yourself. You are the spell.” - T Thorne Coyle

The Ace of Pentacles from The Crystal Vision Tarot by Jennifer Galasso

Two of Swords - Reversed…

I love a card of the late night. Indecision haunts. But, what if you embraced the fear of it? If you could be the ghost in the story, how would you flip the script of the entire scenario? Think of your spookiest dream - that one that recurs and you haven’t been successful in keeping it at bay…For me this dream involves being in a car that is speeding on a windy, hilly road and not being in control of the car - the car is driving me. (Silent scream). But, what if I WAS the car or the hill? In my dream life, I could be. What spooks you in a dream and how does that reflect your deepest anxieties in waking life? Tonight, see if you can shift the perspective in this way. Examine the scariest angles - write out your nightmare story and figure out how it applies to your waking life trepidations. In life you will see that you have the control to choose and the scariest part is sometimes the choosing - the unknown. But, the unknown is always comprised by your own terror - your mind tries to fill in what it thinks might occur. So, study it all, accept it. Know that no matter how dark it gets, there’s always a sliver of light showing you the way through the shadows. Now that you have conquered your fright - choose! You can handle any specter, asleep or awake.

“The risk of a wrong decision is preferable to the terror of indecision.” - Maimonides

The Two of Swords (Reversed) - Artist Rendering by Anna Christenson

A three card message…

While shuffling this morning, these three cards flew out of the deck for our message of the day! I love it when the jump… You have been incredibly active and have truly grown something special for yourself and others. It’s ok to want to hold on to this and protect what you have accomplished, but the time has come to move on to your next adventure! This doesn’t mean you leave all the work you have done behind - it will stay with you in spirit as inspiration as you advance. But, you also deserve a break. Allow yourself to retreat into the deeper parts of your mind. Don’t push yourself to activity - RELAX. Napping is encouraged. In the in-between time between sleep and wake, you will see a glimmer of light that will serve to motivate your next escapade or quest. Don’t rush out of this moment when you see and feel it, let it gestate and brew as you recharge. Take this time in the blue to cultivate a stronger, more balanced mind and you will know exactly what to do with your fresh new idea.

“Cultivate your mind. It will blossom beyond your expectation.” - Priya Priyadarshni

The 10 of Wands - The 9 of Wands (Reversed) - The 4 of Swords (Reversed) from The Star Spinner Tarot Deck by Trungles

The Tower - Reversed with The Four of Wands - Reversed…

Confession time…Frequently, when pulling the card of the day, I shuffle and I have my BF pull it for us… He, secretly, likes to be a part of it and I figure, why not include him in the experience! However, for a while he kept pulling swords, so I gave him a little break and started pulling cards myself. Since he’s returned to pulling cards, he keeps on picking The Tower!?! This is slightly alarming to me, but today when he pulled it (reversed), I let him pull a second card to clarify (he pulled the 4 of Wands -Reversed) and I was quite struck when I noticed how similar in shape and content the two cards were side-by-side. The message suddenly became very clear to me and I am a bit transfixed by it all. What is stopping us from building the strong foundation we need and deserve in our lives? It’s time to take a closer look. We really want and need to achieve higher ground, don’t we, but something big is getting in our way. I have a feeling there is a piece of our younger-self trying to assert themself for our higher good, but we are pushing them down and hiding them away at every turn. We should honor this inner-child lash out and listen to what they have to say. Be defiant, be spontaneous, express a diversity of burgeoning beliefs and tie them all together to fortify your life and the lives of those you respect and love. We deserve golden skies, strong ties and blossoming spirits. Let’s flip the energy of these cards. Let’s work together and start climbing toward the sky.

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

The Tower (Reversed) and The Four of Wands (Reversed) from the Slow Tarot by Lacey Bryant

Ace of Cups with The Hierophant…

Looking to elevate your opportunity for love or take a love you have to higher heights? There is an ancient, wise spirit watching over you who holds the key to your mysterious quest. Tonight, see if you can figure out who this elder might be. They could be here with you and ready to dole out the advice you need or they could be in another realm, anxious to make an appearance in your dreams to impart the right guidance. You are not someone who seeks counsel because you think it might pull you down from your current peak, when in fact, it will enlighten your path in a way that lifts you into the juicier elements of the atmosphere. The love you seek is waiting to be tasted, but in order to reach it, you must allow yourself to acknowledge and understand the lessons of your ancestors. Accept this imparted intelligence and you just might pass the test which grants you the capability to fly into an emotional nirvana. Dream of this paradise tonight, figure out who your guide is and then ask for the knowledge that can make it a reality!

“The youth walk faster, but the elderly know the road.” - African Proverb

The Ace of Cups from the Tarot In Space - 78 Tarot Deck by Teal Newcomb and the Hierophant - Artist Rendering by Michael Rohner Art

The Eight of Pentacles -Reversed…

Good morning, Beauties! August is upon us, so I asked for a theme - a message to clarify what we should focus on for the month ahead. We are self-reflective people by nature and have been thinking about all the ways in which we can enhance our personal growth. This month marks the start of that growth. It’s time for us to put the work of what we hope to become in motion. Start small - make a list of logical steps you can take toward personal goals. Our focus here is self-improvement, so these steps can be related to any part of your life that you wish to see sprout and flower in a new direction. You only need four action steps - one for each week. Think of each step as a seed you are planting and work each day of that week to help your seed grow. Concentrate on how you might incorporate your action steps into your daily routine throughout the month. Stay focused - let yourself get enthralled with all of the work you are putting in. Have fun with it! On the last three days of August, observe your personal magnification and honor your dedication by doing something that makes you feel spectacular. This month, you are a ravishing, thorny rose opening slowly but majestically toward the sunlight.

“Blossom like a flower. Take time, but glow bright.” - Nidhi Patel

The Eight of Pentacles (Reversed) from Cosmic Tarot Deck by Norbert Losche

The Six of Chalices…

I pulled this card for you under a magical night sky while asking the question, “What should we invite into our dream life tonight?” If you have been experiencing emotional drama - wring out the juiciest bits of it and drink it up just before bed. You know when there’s drama involving the heart there is usually something tantalizing about it and the desire from which it springs is overwhelmingly hard to escape. That’s the fun part - otherwise, why would you even involve yourself in something so trying?!? So, take that delightfully entrancing part, sift it out through all the other gunk and see if you can channel it on its own. Remove yourself from the conflict and just feel that desire - your heart’s deep yearning. If you could take this bit - just your hidden fancy - as a potion, what dreamy, night-time experiences would manifest while you slumber?!? Whatever the thing is you most want, allow yourself to have it fully in your dream-life. Absorb the forbidden luxury of it all and relish it in that far away land in your spirit. When you awake, whatever you remember of it - write it down. There is power to putting your hidden thoughts and feelings in writing - it’s solidifying your longings in a way that is clear to the universe. Manifest. Quench your thirst. Sweet dreams, my friends!

“The forbidden love is the sea, let your thirsty eyes drink from it.” - Supriya Kuar Dhaliwal

The Six of Chalices from The Star Spinner Tarot by Trungles

The Ace of Pentacles - Reversed…

I hate to hit you with this first thing in the morning, but a financial opportunity you had popping up, might be slipping through your fingers. This possibility was incredibly promising, but it’s looking like it will totally disintegrate or wind up not being even close to everything you hoped it would be. Its thwarted growth is not a reflection on you or your actions, but you now must decide how you will react to this sudden disappointment. You can let it fall away with grace, but you might want to bolster your financial soil and perhaps plant something new in its place. You can fight to bring it back to life, but it’s important to get rid of all the dead parts, so it can have a chance to regenerate. In essence, you should trim away anything that seems rotten and hope for the best. You can take a break from it, clear out your whole financial garden, and map out a new and exciting design that incorporates the bigger picture of your life. But, you must do something! I know this is disappointing and maybe a little alarming, but taking control of the situation is your roadmap to freedom.

“The only way you can ever permanently take control of your financial life is to dig deep and fix the root problem.” - Sure Orman

The Ace of Pentacles (Reversed) from the Light Seer’s Tarot by Chris-Anne

What, Why, How? - Three Cards to Clarify…

I have to admit, I’ve been a bit confused about all of these major cards popping out for us this week. This week feels for me, well, ordinary…yet the cards keep sending me messages that right now life should be experienced in a major way. So I asked for clarification - for us all! Three simple cards - What, Why, How? Let’s signify…

What? Your heart and universe are calling you to explore wider horizons. If you want to blossom and truly feel the freedom of the light on your face, this may mean returning to old ideas. Something from your past may guide you to a new outlook or purpose in your future. Also, think of what you have always wanted to create and who inspired you way back when to do this. There is so much to be discovered, if you can return to a simpler moment and re-envision your ideas…

Why? I love a repeat card and this was one that started our week - drive, determination, focus and movement toward dreams and goals. But, don’t you see? We need to be moving toward a wider vision with joy and innocence in our hearts. There’s a gleeful adventure waiting, if we move toward an idea from the past with gusto. Don’t question it, just go!

How? How are we to do all of this? First step is to let go of the constant feeling or need of having control of what we have in our lives. In fact, a voice within is urging us to use what we have to time travel back to a simpler vision. Let go of having to be the leader or the one others look to for support and just be you. The current version of you is well regarded by others, so why don’t you listen to what your own heart and mind are saying and shed that skin. You don’t need it anymore. You need to simplify.

“There are three classes of people: those who see, those who see when they are shown, those who do not see.” - Leonardo DaVinci

The Three of Wands - The Chariot - The Queen of Coins (Reversed) from The Slow Tarot by Lacey Bryant

The Tower…

This morning I pulled yet another major card - The Tower. I have to say I was a little disheartened because I was headed out the door on a week long excursion. One in which, I hope to relax, detach and completely unwind. Feeling resistant to this chaotic energy, I went online to try and find an image of the card that would speak to me in an exciting way. Did you know there are Disney Princess renditions of the Major Arcana? Honestly, I’m not much of a “princess person”, but when I saw my girl, Tink, as the Tower I was definitely seeing this card in a different way. What if the sudden shock of life was a change from within? In what ways recently have you been acting out? Sometimes our most destructive and mischievous behavior is a sign that an inner seismic shift is taking place. You can tell right away when a certain way of being is no longer working for you. If you aren’t being heard, taken seriously or given the attention you deserve, it might be time to rip it all apart with gleeful disobedience. You can incite the mayhem that will bring about the change you want and deserve and have a blast doing it! It will be messy and difficult at times, but you can be the lightning in this scenario. In fact, I think you will find your calamitous intentions to be incredibly rewarding when all is said and done. Go ahead - be naughty. Tear it all down.

“Tink was not all bad: or, rather, she was all bad just now, but on the other hand, sometimes she was all good. Fairies have to be one thing or the other, because being so small they unfortunately have room for one feeling only at a time. They are, however, allowed to change, only it must be a complete change.” - JM Barrie

The Tower - Artist Rendition by Maria Lia Malandrino

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