The Ace of Wands…

Happy Monday! Your life is full of opportunity. Don’t yet see or feel it? That may be because certain kinds of possibilities do not feel enticing to you in this moment. But, if you take hold of them and commit your self to discovering what level of excitement they may invite, perhaps your entire existence would light up with creativity and inspiration?!? Listen, powerful prospects may require you to take a chance on something you hadn’t thought of as useful or necessary. Grab hold of that shot in the dark and see what kind of hidden magic lives there. Growth requires action and transformation demands dedication. Take a risk and then foster it and you will be rewarded with growth of fortune.

“To live, to truly live, we must be willing to risk. To be nothing in order to find everything. To leap before we look.” - Mandy Hale

The Ace of Wands from the Sacred Rose Tarot by Johanna Gargiulo-Sherman

The Five of Cups - Reversed…

Life is, perhaps feeling a bit bittersweet for you right now? Listen up, my friends! This week you can either retreat inward, hiding from the world around you and throwing a HUGE pity party for what you currently lack, or you can open your eyes and heart to the sweet of the bitter and drink in the the remedy. Yes, this will be challenging and you will find yourself being selfishly drawn to the pain of what you are currently experiencing. But instead, see if you can accept it without allowing it to swallow you whole. If you choose to open yourself to the possibility of a different option, you will be able to see the fruitful potential that awaits you. Life doesn’t always hand us a cup of exactly what we want and need, but we can take what we are given and turn it in to something better. So, you feel like your dreams are being crushed?!? We also crush grapes to make wine…which vintage or varietal will you become this week?!? I assure you, your cup is half full.

“Every box of raisins is a tragic story of grapes that could have been wine.” - Anonymous

“What did the grape say when it was crushed? Nothing - it just let out a wine.” - Silly internet wine humor

The 5 of Cups (Reversed) from the Lo Scarabeo Tarot Deck by Mark McElroy and Anna Lazzarinni

King of Swords…

Fly into the weekend with focus and determination. You can carry even more responsibility than you think if you target your plan of action tonight and let your mind lead the way. To ensure a safe and easy journey, it’s always best to think ahead, so take sometime this evening to strategize before you launch and you will sail through any challenges with grace and calm. Also, others will notice and likely feel intimidated by your confident demeanor, which may be helpful to you in ways you don’t know yet. Surprise elements or even visitors may materialize, but if you are ready you will not veer off-course from all that you hope to accomplish. And, if you would rather detach from your obligations this weekend, hatch a plan for that too. There’s no better place to hide than in your own thoughts. Whatever you are up to, I hope the clarity you bring to it helps you to soar higher than you imagined!

As we are beginning our approach to the holiday season, just a gleeful reminder that tarot readings AND tarot classes make uniquely magical gifts for loved ones. https://www.tarotwithholly.com/gift-a-reading & https://www.uncommongoods.com/product/in-the-cards-how-to-read-tarot-classgoods

“Nothing is unreal as long as you can imagine like a crow.” - Munia Kahn

The King of Swords from Oriens Tarot by Ambi Sun

The Ace Of Cups…

I pulled this card and snapped this picture in the golden glow of sunup this morning. It filled me with reverence for all that the world has to offer. My day was incredibly busy and it consumed me, but I carried the thought of this card as a reminder to greet each challenge with a newness of spirit like the burnt orange dawn. Now that we have transitioned into the late night, I encourage you to take a look back on your last twenty four and recall how and where you found fullness of heart throughout your journey. If you could package all of those tiny delights and pour them into your dreams tonight, what sugary visions might you invite to swirl about in your senses? Perhaps this taste of possibility for a deeper sense of love is on the horizon. Sweet dreams - be sure to wake up early to catch that sunrise in your heart!

“I rise to taste the dawn and find that love alone will shine today.” - Ken Wilber

The Ace of Cups from The Lightseer’s Deck by Chris-Anne

Knight of Wands (Reversed) colliding with The Four of Pentacles…

Feeling super protective of your personal security? Your instincts to guard what you have right now are absolutely on target. There’s no reason to make any impulsive decisions or take action based on another’s passions. No matter how they instigate or persuade, you should safeguard the elements that are helping you to maintain self in this moment. Honestly, it’s likely that the pressure you are being subjected to has very different intentions than are being shared. In this effort you may be called to shield your income and savings OR even the things and people that keep you grounded and composed. No matter what coersian or challenges come charging in your direction from this wild, outside threat - stand your ground and solidify your own self preservation, like a Dragon guarding its treasure.

“You are not required to set yourself on fire to keep other people warm.” - Anonymous

The Knight of Wands (Reversed) colliding with The 4 of Pentacles from The Shadowscapes Tarot by Stephanie Pui-Mun Law

King of Wands & Ten of Cups…

The transition from Halloween Season into the heart of Fall can be very sentimental for me. There’s a certain kind of magic which October brings that fills me with energy, but also a reflective poetic nostalgia. My inner child surfaces to dream, play and dance under the October moon and I am hyper-alive. If you are like me, the abrupt end of it all leaves you feeling like you are saying goodbye to that tiny, hopeful tot until next year. But, the cards are urging us to take control of the romanticism and connect with the more vibrant colors of fall that will empower and inspire us. Let the changing landscape of radiant foliage heighten your senses and fuel your desire to start anew. Sure, you can stay connected to the deep and fulfilling world of that inner child, but take control of who you will become in this new season with fire and verve. Start by recognizing that good things aren’t meant to last forever, but can be used to advance toward a more powerful brilliance of existence.

“Oh, if life were made of moments - even now and then a bad one….but, if life were only moments, then you’d never know you had one!” - The Baker’s Wife from Into The Woods (Stephen Sondheim)

The King of Wands and The Ten of Cups from the Tarot of Mystical Moments by Catrin Welz-Stein

Three of Cups…

Happy Halloween, my spooky friends! This is the night where the veil is at it’s thinnest, so let your spirits roam free and invite in all that is hidden. And, if you are resistant, resign yourself to the revelry - it is a celebration of scariness, after all. What lurks within should be revealed this twilight. Nothing is more frightening than the unknown or the unseen, but you cannot deny that this brand of horror comes with a euphoric kind of thrill. There is so much that frightens us that is meant to be celebrated. So, in your revelry, welcome all ideas, things and creatures that terrify you and see what ghoulish surprises await there for you. Raise a glass to conjuring a deeper kind of magic on this night and into the winter season.

“Despite my ghoulish reputation, I really have the heart of a small boy. I keep it in a jar on my desk.” - Robert Bloch

The Three of Ghosts from The Halloween Tarot by Kipling West

The Five of Wands…

Get it together, witches! I’m flying in with some strong tarot tough-love for our week ahead. We don’t have to all agree, now, do we?!? BUT we must treat each other with respect and work together to conquer the task at hand. It’s so easy to let differences, big or small, get the best of what could be a truly magical outcome. DON’T. Have the insight to push beyond petty disagreements this week. If a full on fight erupts, remove yourself from it’s path - you do NOT need to become entrenched in the drama. There is so much potential here for an incredible end result, but the chaos of clashing personality threatens to burn it all down. While you may feel like you must stand your ground and fight, you will spoil the brew in process while you are distracted by anger and fear. Stay focused and unite!

“Remember your words can plant gardens or burn whole forests down.” - Gemma Troy

The Five of Wands from The Everyday Witch Tarot by Deborah Blake and Elisabeth Alba

The Knight of Cups…

A past betrayal in love may materialize to spook you tonight. Whether they appear to you in person or in your dreams, that charmer of yore just won’t leave your psyche. They gallop in to inhabit your spirit with an undeniably empty feelings of regret, shame and loss. They may have squandered pieces of your heart in unimaginable ways, but try to resist the urge to let them hold court in your kingdom this evening. Banish them from your realm. And, if they refuse to vanish from your mind, figure out how you might use that moonlit sense of longing and despair to infuse your own twilight with deep romance. Turn what seeks to possess you into a desirous quest for dark beauty and personal mystique. Twist this narrative, so that you can be the haunt…not the haunted.

“You’re like a living ghost, the way you haunt me.” - Ranata Suzuki

The Knight of Cups from The Ghost Tarot Deck by Davide Corsi

King of Cups - Reversed into Queen of Wands…

This is a weekend to prowl with authority, whether you are going out to enjoy Halloween activities or staying in with friends and a scary movie. Even if the thought of it terrifies you, you don’t need to control your emotions - let them spill out as they wish. Share every shocking feeling with the world around you. Then use that sense of release to full the fire of your passion. I think once you have released all that you have been holding on to, you will know just how to take action in a motivating and fiery way. Whatever you are inspired to do, hold court in your pursuits with creative flare. Even if you just decide to stay in, let your imagination light up your solitude with ideas and activities. Water doesn’t always fuel fire, but on this twisted Halloween weekend, it may. Fully inhabit this concept and you won’t be disappointed, my friends.

“The sky broke like an egg into full sunset and the water caught fire.” - Pamela Hansford Johnson

The King of Cups (Reversed) into The Queen of Wands from The Rider/Waite/Smith Deck

The High Priestess…

Pulling this card on a day when I have two Halloween Tarot Experiences for Uncommon Goods has filled me with excitement! The power of intuition is calling, so I decided to test it out right from the start of the day, by making a big prediction in hopes that it would manifest. On my way into the real-world job, I said to myself “Today I will welcome the prospect of a brand new project!” Then, when I got to work I told my colleagues that I foresaw a new project presenting itself today. Guess what…an email inquiry did come through. So, the High Priestess in you is encouraging you to evoke the thin veil of Halloween in honor of manifestation. What magic acquisitions would you like to predict? See it’s vividness with your third eye and voice it with absolute conviction through your throat chakra. The universe may surprise you with the realization of your prediction. And now, I predict that the energy of Halloween Tarot Experience will be off-the-charts tonight! High Priestess will magnify our collective insight and illuminate the true, wicked magic of the season!

“Everyone is born with psychic abilities. It’s just a matter of knowing how to tap into them.” - Julian Offray de la Mettrie

The High Priestess - Tarot Art by Craftea on Deviant Art

Temperance…

As we draw nearer to Halloween, we can become overtaken by an inclination toward indulgence and over-exertion. Let’s face it, any holiday or celebration can bring out bacchanalian tendencies in all of us. But, today we should use all of that eerie, fall energy to calm our spirits and connect to sense of flow. How might you find the balance you desperately need? It could be a simple as eating more greens to prepare for the inevitable candy overload. Or perhaps you need to initiate one special fall activity for self for every two that is required of you by others? Maybe a day of rest with a scary book will refuel you enough to ready you for the overwhelming commitments you have on the calendar in the next few weeks. Stop bobbing for apples and set up some guidelines to help you through. Think of this adventure as an exciting way to cast your own spell for personal wellbeing. An easier circulation of what you need, what you want and what is required will put your mind at ease so you can claim full enjoyment from the rest of the spooky season!

“I’m glad I’m in a world where there are Octobers.” - LM Montgomery

Temperance Cat - Tarot Art by Joanna Nelson Studio

Knight of Pentacles meets The Fool (Reversed)…

There is someone in your life that knows exactly how to turn you upside down. They have the uncanny power to keep you moving in a powerful direction, but they can make you feel like you are dangling on an unknown and dangerous precipice. This is energy you both hate and crave. The need for each other is undeniable, but the constant guessing is driving you both mad. This beautiful chaos - this push and pull - is like being caught in an entrancing spell. You are opposites, yet so very deliciously the same. You wonder where this is all headed, but do you actually want to know? There is some strange and bewildering reason for your connection and you will unravel it’s mystery eventually, but for now throw caution to the wind and toss and turn in the heart pounding exhilaration of your shared incantation. If you survive each other, you will one day have quite a tale to tell.

“What we find in a soulmate is not something wild to tame, but something wild to run with.” - Robert Brault

The Knight of Pentacles & The Fool (Reversed) from the Haunted House Tarot by Sasha Graham

Knight of Knives (Reversed)…

Monday is greeting you with trepidation and alarm. There is so much ghoulishness on your mind today! You may feel an irresistible urge to take action, but please do not make any rash decisions. Maintain a somber and pallid demeanor - do not slice so quickly at the unfamiliar and unforgiving threats that surround you. If you spin into a reactive approach, the consequences of your response will cut even deeper than the predicament you face. So, let it all haunt you a bit more, as scary as that sounds, and you may find a more proactive solution hidden in the middle of all of the chaos. Sometimes, you just need to sit in the cloudy doubt of it all and ponder life’s dilemmas, trusting there is a way out.

“Only the wise possess ideas; The greater part of mankind are possessed by them.” - Samuel Taylor Coleridge

The Knight of Knaves (Reversed) from The Vampire Tarot by Robert Place

The Five of Pentacles…

Feeling a bit cursed at the start of your week? You may experience an unexpected sense of hopelessness and despair creep in, especially when it comes to your personal security and financial wellbeing. No matter what wicked spell has been cast on your soul, it’s important to recognize that you can pull yourself out of this desperate trance. Support is always nearby if you need it and you hold the necessary magic within to transform your outlook. In the spirit of Halloween, it’s time for you to cast a counter-hex. First, recognize and accept the sorcery that is being offered to you from the universe, then hatch a plan to reverse that curse. How can you use the gifts you do have to expel all of the darkness you feel inside? Once you rid yourself of that paralyzing feeling, you will be able to build upon the abundance being offered in a way that will allow you to have the wealth that you crave. Dispel the spell and invite enchantment!

“That was her magic - she could still see the sunset even on those darkest days.” - Atticus

The Five of Pentacles from The Mermaid Tarot by Leeza Robertson and Julie Dillon

Seven of Pentacles…

This weekend, step into a lush night-garden of your own making. The dark hours are yours for the taking! What nocturnal treasures have you been working hard to bring into fruition? This is the weekend they will blossom under the silvery moon. You have been hard at work manifesting this opportunity for nighttime pleasures. Ignite all five senses and enlist your extrasensory perception to be sure that you claim the full experience of them. Don’t for a second believe that you are not deserving of the rewards you claim. You have made these moments possible for yourself, so be sure to take advantage of every juicy gift being offered. Have a delectable adventure dancing among the many flavors that are available on what will be a hauntingly memorable weekend in October.

“Let us step into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure.” - Dumbledore

The Seven Of Pentacles from Tarot of a Moon Garden by Karen Marie Sweikhardt

Three of Pumpkins (Pentacles)…

Collaboration is key to crafting the perfect pumpkin. But, seriously, germination can be quite challenging for all manner of gourds and humans. Take advantage of all of the spirits you have lingering about you to aid you in your endeavor and don’t be afraid to be that companion, seen or unseen, to another who is striving toward maturation. Do not dismiss a helping hand and do not discount your own contributions to another person’s achievements. Guidance, support and encouragement are the trifecta of team success, but can also be the building block for an individual’s chance to broaden and magnify. If a companion advances toward their goal or dream, this only signifies that you have the opportunity to as well. Help to lift each other up and so much can be accomplished. Take this thought into your dreams tonight and ask, “What more can be realized if collaboration is fueling our growth?” Sweet dreams, my pumpkins!

“Vital to quality of life is the ability to work together, learn from each other and help each other grow.” - Stephen R. Covey

The Three of Pumpkins (Pentacles) from the Halloween Tarot by Karin Lee and Kipling West

King of Cups…

Lately, I’ve been experiencing some pretty potent dreams - have you? Many of these visions have been infused with darkness and mystery. Some have felt eerily lucid in moments. Perhaps it’s the thin veil of October awakening our senses and connected us to the world beyond this one. Or maybe it’s our own psyche calling out to us = trying to send us a message. I decided to ask the deck for more information on the strange hypnotism of our sleeping mind’s imaginings. What kind of insight should we be searching for in this maze of shadows? The answer from my deck was the King of Cups. It seems we are working through some internal, emotional turmoil we have hidden away in the blackest corners of our hearts. Perhaps this is so we can maintain control over our emotional power in waking life? Sometimes emotional maintenance happens in the subconscious realm without us even knowing. If we are to take a deeper look into these visions, we must pay attention to how we feel - when falling asleep, when in a dream state and just upon waking. Rest assured, the diabolical fantasies that have inserted themselves into our hibernation are working toward our ultimate good. Once we truly understand the core of it, we will rise above in ways we hadn’t thought possible.

“Trust in dreams, for in them is the hidden gate to eternity.” - Kahlil Gibran

King of Cups - Tarot Art by Unknown internet Artist- Bwahahahahahaha….

The Six of Cups - Reversed & The Nine of Pentacles - Reversed…

On this Two Card Tuesday, it’s time to stop clinging to disappointments and to just let them fall away. It is such a let down when you share of yourself deeply for the benefit of another only to find that you, your feelings and your efforts are dismissed and in some cases totally ignored. Not only is it frustrating, but it can really hurt your feelings in ways you hadn’t expected. You can harden your heart and promise that you will never share of self so openly again or you can accept that this person or circumstance is just not ready or willing to see the specialness you have to offer them and let the pain of it drift away. Similarly, we all have moments when our diligent labour does not reap the rewards and benefits we deserve. It’s so easy to just default to anger in this moment. You can blame the person, the situation, the world at large, but the hard truth is sometimes you just don’t get the things you deserve. You can hold onto your grievances and let the resentment build up inside, or you can say, “Welp - that sucked” and let it drift away. The trees in Fall send us very clear messaging - you must let go of that which is not serving you, move through the vulnerability and take the time to regenerate in order to grow. It all starts with shedding your dead leaves.

“Disappointment is a sort of bankruptcy - the bankruptcy of a soul that expends too much in hope and expectation.” - Eric Hoffer

The Six of Cups (Reversed) and The Nine of Pentacles (Reversed) from The Dark Wood Tarot by Sasha Graham

The Empress…

The magical love of The Empress comes prancing in on this Monday to remind us to take the time to connect with the natural world around us. I know that the pace of life can swirl you into a distracted trance and consume your full attention, but here she is, staring us down quietly to say, “stop, breathe and enjoy the wonder of the world around you.” Often when I pull this card, I find it is a gentle reminder to reconnect with the enchantment of the earth that is always available, but often dismissed or unseen. Take the time today to wander through a mystical forest (even if it is only in mind) and experience the clean, crisp air as it dances through the falling leaves. Embrace the quiet peace of this imagining and she may just dart out and grace you with her presence. Once contact has been made, you will start to notice the grace of the earth a bit more and the energy in your day will shift and expand. Tune in to her commanding and awe-inspiring love and you will not be disappointed.

“Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet.” - Thich Nhat Hanh

The Empress - Tarot Art by Art of Tranifer on Etsy