The Knight of Swords…

Busy life? Busy mind? If you were to stop and abruptly change your direction, what might you find yourself doing instead of what you are doing right now? Where might you be going? Who might you become? Big questions for a Saturday…I know. But, even the smallest shift in your direction can spark excitement in your day. Sometimes, you don’t have to stay on track. When you feel the inspiration just shift direction and charge into your new intention with fierce commitment. Even if you aren’t ready - even if you had different plans for your day or life and especially when you are unsure. Charge in with wild abandon - you can figure it all out when you get there or as you go. Try this today in the smallest of ways and see what magic unfolds.

“If you do not change your direction, you may end up where you are heading.” - Lao Tzu

The Knight of Swords from The Star Tarot by Cathy McClelland

The Eight of Swords…

Sometimes it takes a moment of melancholy and despair for you to find the magic you truly need. A prison of the mind will try to ensnare the heart in darkness so you will have to be open to receive the message. But, the answer will find you if you allow it into your sphere. When the light is full of shadows, you may not see it, so try to feel it’s protective guidance as it materializes for you. This might happen internally or externally, so sharpen your senses and be as receptive as you can to what is existing all around you. Let your spirit welcome the whisperings of the remedy and you will understand you were never truly in darkness.

“The patronus is a kind of a positive force, a projection of the very things that the Dementor feeds upon - hope, happiness and the desire to survive” - Remus Lupin from Harry Potter (JK Rowling)

The 8 of Swords from The Last Unicorn Tarot Deck

The Four of Wands…

Reach high and build your expectations past your own limited view. If you need solutions and truly want to find solid ground, access your most creative thoughts and ideas and take action and dream beyond what is right under your nose. It’s time to defy boundaries and “think outside of the box” as they say. Climb with curiosity and fearlessness til you are so far away from the situation that you cannot see it through the clouds. Don’t just look for a solution - develop a new vision. Who knows what is there, but don’t you want to find out? It may seem impossible and it could be, but sometimes we have to reach beyond what is possible to really appreciate having our feet back on the ground. So, the way I see it, is that you have nothing to lose.

“When you're way up high
And you look below
At the world you've left
And the things you know
Little more than a glance
Is enough to show
You just how small you are” - Jack from Into The Woods

The Four of Wands from the Fairytale Tarot by Lisa Hunt

The Empress…

Feeling groovy? Don’t you ever let the man keep you down - rebel by embracing your inner love child. Let’s face it, we are all children of this earth. Your natural essence holds magnetism - if you tear away all that is imposed upon you, you know you are authentically wild. Turn down the lights tonight, turn on some mind-altering music and meditate on the tiny ways you shined your raw, unique beauty today. Write them down. Then, freely revel in your juiciness and, heck, dance naked if you feel like it! Tonight when you dream, let your hippiest spirit lead the way. Tune out, turn on, drop out - jam out in all of the unrestricted ways you can in your most delicious night visions. What are the magical ways that you shine as this free-spirited version of self while you slumber? When you wake up, be certain to write it all down. Let your new list of freedom light a path forward for you into the unknown joys of transcendence. Empress is calling to you to do so. Right on, my friends.

“The more you live, the less you die.” - Janis Joplin

The Empress from the Classic Rock Tarot by Parisi Studios

The Eight of Swords crossing over the Nine of Swords - Reversed…

This week we will be facing some inner demons - the kind that keep us up all night with worry and make us shake in fear of what is to come. The kind that fill us with dread - the kind of our own making. Sometimes the inner turmoil we experience is something we invite in and let fester until it overtakes us. If you are experiencing the undeniable overwhelm of anxiety and torment, it may be time to do a whole lot of soul searching. Instead of lashing out and blaming others, look within and take note of what is within your control and what isn’t. Also, it’s a good idea for you to see your most damaging thoughts for what they are - self harm. You have the power to banish these demons because it it you who are holding them so close to your heart. Release those thoughts and watch them fall away. You are almost at the end of this turmoil, but only you hold the key to unclogging your mind and purifying your spirit. It’s hard work this week, but I think we are up to the challenge!

“We all have demons, but we can't hold onto them long enough for them to turn us into monsters.”
― Brianna Sugalski, Disenchanted

The Eight of Swords from Aunty Flo Tarot crossing over the Nine of Swords (Reversed) from The Sacred Isle Tarot by David Higgins

The Seven of Cups…

Too many options on your plate? Feeling emotionally jolted at the thought of having to make a decision? Don’t do anything - let your choices fall away. WHAT?!? Yep - all options available to you - let them go. Pretend as if you never had them at your disposal at all. It’s not worth all the drama of having to decide what is best for you. And it certainly isn’t worth the dread of the “what if” - what if you make the wrong decision? Weighing your options is tedious and such hard work anyway -don’t even dream of writing up a a pros & cons list. It’s not worth your time. Just let it all go - ALL of it. Don’t invite change. Things are fine the way they are. You should just coast and accept the status quo. If you have read this far - your response to my missive will give you ALL the information you need on whether or not you should proceed. How do you like that reverse psychology? Happy Saturday!

“I’m such a pro at using reverse psychology, that now it doesn’t work on me anymore.” - Payal Jain

The Seven of Cups (Reversed) from the Lotus Tarot Deck by Angie

The Four of Coins (Reversed) and the Seven of Swords (Reversed)…

Feeling an itch to spend money? It might be wise to take a pause this weekend. In fact, I think your bank account is giving you the side eye right now. This weekend will creep in with sneakiness and give you an opportunity to come clean on a few financial dealings that you have been quite underhanded about. Don’t you want to feel good about how you are spending and what/who you are spending on?! Give your mind the clarity it needs by taking a more responsible approach. It all begins with a pause, so you can recalibrate your spending. It may feel like a bummer right now, but you will thank yourself later.

“It’s easy to dodge our responsibilities, but we cannot dodge the consequences of dodging our responsibilities.” - Josiah Stamp

The Four of Coins (Reversed) & The Seven of Swords (Reversed) from The Slow Tarot by Lacey Bryant

The Six of Cups…

What was your favorite place to be alone when you were a kid? Was it the backyard swing set or treehouse? Was it that secret fort you built in your closet that you could escape to with a flashlight? Perhaps there was nook you made under a desk to hide away with a book? If you could go there now and meet your former self in their safest, coziest place, what might they say to you? Would you be invited in to share in the wonder of whatever dream they were up to? How might spending a little time in their world change the way you approach your own? Allow yourself to reunite with the dreamer within. They are still a part of you. They are calling to you to remember who you are… I leave you with the lyrics of an old song I used to sing to myself on the swings in my own backyard…

“We’ll sing in the sunshine, We’ll laugh everyday, We’ll sing in the sunshine and I’ll be on my way.” - Gale Garnett

The 6 of Cups - I can’t find what deck this is from, but my inner child just loves the image! Do you know?

The Six of Wands…

Feeling proud and happy today?!? You SHOULD! You are on fire - kicking ass and taking names. Have a full on “Me Party” in honor of yourself. It’s ok to brag and strut with all of your colors proudly displayed. Let everyone around you know that you are a rare gem in an ocean of the mundane - you ARE! Celebrate your accomplishments with glee. If you aren’t sure you have anything to celebrate - you are WRONG. Celebrate the uniqueness of who you are by flaunting it for all to see. You know you are the bomb, so create an explosion that is all about how awesome you are. You deserve it - don’t hold back.

“The more you celebrate your life, the more in life there is to celebrate!” - Oprah Winfrey

The Six of Wands from Orien’s Tarot

The Star Card…

So, after last night, when I was inviting the energy of the Star, I pulled this morning and whispered to the deck, “please send us a positive message today!” and I got…The Star. I absolutely love it when your deck supports you and sends you that affirmative message from the Universe that you so desperately need. Batten the hatches, my friends! We may be experiencing rough waters, but it’s nothing we can’t handle. Through ups and downs, thick fog and dangerous waves, we have the full support of the Star. So, when you are feeling lost or tossed or just plain over it, navigate yourself in the direction of light and love. Can’t see it? It’s there. Feel your way through the chaos and chart a course directly to the light of your own existence.

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

The Star Card from The Slow Tarot by Lacey Bryant

The Star Card…

Confession - I didn’t pull this card, I chose it because it’s energy was needed today. There are some days you must invite the healing light of the star. Cleanse yourself of all that distressed you. May you be embraced in restorative energy and be renewed by a light from within. May everyone you love feel its softening glow. Heal, restore, renew - that is my wish.

“Then you cave. You sit in the dark of the pain and gently wrap starlight around you as you knock on the doorway of home and healing.” - Jody Doty

The Star Card first design by Sanja & from The Mystic Dreamer Tarot by Heidi Darras & The Green Witch Tarot by Kiri Ostergaard

The Empress…

The radiant and regal Empress is inviting you to create your own abundance. Her nurturing spirit is embracing you on your journey this week and gently guiding you in a direction of luxurious growth. Her message: You don’t have to wait for abundance to appear or materialize for you - it is always available in ways you haven’t yet understood or accessed! Take advantage of what is offered and make it come alive with richness of spirit. But HOW?!? What is available to you in this moment - what natural elements of life are presenting to you? How might you enhance them, so they reverberate with meaning, purpose, beauty and harmony to their fullest potential? Your beautiful home may be lacking natural elements - outfit it with flowers and plants and delight in new atmosphere of vibrancy you have created! Your current relationship feeling mundane? A small gesture of lavish attention can go a LONG way. Do something extravagant for the person you love and reap the rewards you receive in return. Perhaps you, personally, feel a little lack luster?! Spa treatment is calling to you- something that will not only regenerate your body, but fuel your spirit with glamour and nurturing sustenance. Your journey into the the realm of the Empress could be as simple as indulging in the wonders of an art museum or reading an inspiring poem. This week, ask your spirit what it needs most and then nourish it with wild and fortifying love!

“When you recover or discover something that nourishes your soul and brings joy, care enough about yourself to make room for it in your life.” - Jean Shinoda Bolen

The Empress from The Star Spinner Deck by Trungles

The Three of Wands - Reversed…

Feeling a little down because something you have been planning for is not materializing the way you had hoped? This can be frustrating, disappointing and send you into a debilitating funk OR you can use that fire within to redirect your energy. Instead of spending tonight throwing a pity party and longing for something that isn’t meant to be, commit yourself to a moment of reflection. Recall all of your past plans that fell through and think about what the payoff was for you. Yes, I said payoff! On the other side of that failed effort there was a reward. It just wasn’t the reward you initially hoped for, but there was something gained from your loss. Sometimes when things fall through it’s for a very specific reason. The universe is either pushing you in a new direction or protecting you from a mistake that doesn’t initially appear to you as a flaw. Take stock and then turn your attention to your current situation. Let the sun set on this dream. It may be hard to watch it drift away, but see the undeniably dynamic colors that appear as it vanishes. Tomorrow morning, you will be ready to take a step toward a new plan!

“Sunsets are proof that endings can be beautiful too.” - Beau Taplin

The 3 of Wands (Reversed) from the Tarot de St. Croix by Lisa de St. Croix

The Four of Swords…

This weekend get totally zen and clear your mind. Say goodbye to your dizzying thoughts as you watch them float away. It’s fine to let them hover above you, but recognize that they are not of you - but something other to be observed, but not held. Let your whole being become an empty vessel and give your brain a chance to think…nothing. Not sure how to do this? There are many fun ways to detach -meditation, hot bath, zen music, a peaceful walk through nature, a long mid-day nap or an engrossing novel. However you decide to do this, as soon as you hear that inner voice spring up with a thought that is not reflective of your moment, release it and watch it fly away. You seek mental balance and you have everything you need to achieve it this weekend. Relax, zone out and enjoy.

“The soul always knows what to do to heal itself. The challenge is to silence the mind.”

The Four of Swords - Not sure what deck this is, but I’m not going to think about too much. Do you know?!?

The Wheel of Fortune - Reversed…

Are you ready for a Karmic shift today? Before you dance around screaming, “Yes! Yes! Yes” with glee, ask yourself this, “Where have I been mostly residing on the wheel of life recently?” If you have been moving forward with good intentions and positive energy, this shift may work in your favor. If you have been acting from a place of selfishness and manipulation to get what you want or need, you may be in for a sudden wake up call. Wherever you land today on the sacred circle, absorb the lesson of it. We all sometimes need a reminder of the power of give-and-take in our universe. So whether you find yourself at the top or bottom of this rotation, you can be certain to blossom and flourish from there. Round and round you go, my loves!

“The wheel of fortune lifts us up and brings us down. You must free your happiness from its vagaries. Expect nothing and everything is a gift.” - Phil Tucker

The Wheel of Fortune from the Sacred Rose Tarot by Johanna Gargiulo-Sherman

The King of Cups…

Let the emotions of your day flood your dreams with imaginative journeys tonight. Perhaps you didn’t feel like you quite had a handle on your feelings today, but that is ok, because while you slumber you can commandeer your own vessel as you traverse the waves that overtake your heart. Your feelings are stormy, but have the power to illuminate your dark beauty in ways that can elevate you into your own true power. As you drift off to sleep, envision yourself as wildly in control of every element composing your most luscious emotions. Allow your spirit to navigate the most dangerous pieces of self with composed wonder. When you float back to the waking world in the morning, steer yourself into Thursday with tranquil ferocity. Become the dream of your mysterious inner life. Welcome the fathomless elegance of your heart.

“A single dream is more powerful than a thousand realities.” - JRR Tolkien

The “Female” King of Cups - Digital Artworks by AW Stein

The Nine of Cups - Reversed…

Don’t let your emotions lead you into a dark, unrealistic cave of expectations today. You are feeling your way through a lot, so give yourself some room to swim through it, but don’t dive too deep or allow your emotional understanding get clouded by the murky water in your heart. Examine your feelings like they are a foreign language, meant to be studied and understood and remain logical about everything that you encounter on the surface. It’s an interestingly heavy day, though nothing you can’t handle. So, remain calm, breathe and make it your mission to stay afloat and see the world around you with clarity.

“Negative feelings weigh you down and can keep you from experiencing healing, as surely as stones might weigh you down if you were trying to swim.” - Susan Barbara Apollon

The Nine of Cups (Reversed) - Image featured on Astrology Zodiac Signs Website

The Five of Swords - Reversed…

Are you in the midst of planning something - a trip, an event, a project for work?!? It’s good to plan ahead, but in this case make sure that you are not overthinking it. If you simplify your approach as you plan ahead, it will prove to be easier to move forward. You know the elements needed to bring your plan to fruition, so start by doing what is logical and don’t get weighed down by conflicting thoughts. If you allow negative past experiences to cloud your process, you will regret it. Trust yourself and take small steps toward bigger action. As it all starts to materialize, you will be able to feel your way down the path to successful execution. You got this!

“The best things happen when you are not overthinking it.” - Ben Zobrist

The Five of Swords (reversed) - Artist Rendering on Reddit - Felix Fradalrius

The Moon…

I asked the cards how we can invite magic into the week ahead and I got the juiciest response! Also, since this week begins with a full moon on the 17th, it seemed incredibly appropriate (thank you, deck!). Start your week with activity that will release and free your mind and spirit. What are you holding on to that is inhibiting your intuition and restricting hidden thoughts and feelings from rising to the surface? Cleanse yourself of this on Monday. This may mean doing some meaningful cleaning around the house, getting something off your chest with a friend or loved one, or exorcising internal conflict with finality. Using the power of the full moon to support the shedding of your block is encouraged. In releasing yourself from this self-imposed censorship, what deeper magic rises to the surface? Follow your whims, nurture your wildly creative ideas, express your innermost desires and savor the moments when you do. As you let your demons swim out in healthy and exciting ways, stop and thank the moon for aiding you on the dark, delicious path toward the magic of your authentic self.

“Let the waters settle and you will see the moon and the stars mirrored in your own being.” - Rumi

The Moon Card - Artist Rendering by Moonspiral found on Red Bubble

The Lovers…

Love presents us with a choice - constantly urging us to step outside of our comfort zones and often asking us to pursue that which excites us most, but feels forbidden. But, even when you make the choice that feels safe in your romantic life, love is still dangerous. Look at the reality of it….You are accepting an uncomfortable level of vulnerability. You are offering yourself up to someone who might embrace you or abuse you. You are investing time and energy in a joint effort, but you never really know what dwells within the person who is the object of your affection. So why not let love feel a little dangerous? Acknowledge the unknown and let it walk beside you under the engorged and luscious moon. Though it may feel menacing to you, don’t lose sight of the fact that love is a two way street. Sometimes you will face your lover and see the face of an adversary, but sometimes they will face you and receive the same antagonistic response. On the other side of the situation, you might meet under a dark sky and quickly become one - merging together in mind, spirit and heart. So, why not walk with that danger beside you? Seems like a deliciously rewarding chance to take! Protect self, but not too much…

“Love’s for fools wise enough to take a chance.” - Amy Grant

The Lovers from the Tarot Familiars Deck by Lo Scarabeo