The Sun…

During pandemic times I started a daily affirmation practice to boost my spirit. It proved to be so useful, that it has remained a vital part of my morning routine and it truly gets my day started right. Today, as I was crafting my affirmation for the day, I felt the sun beaming through the window and warming my cheeks and I thought, “I feel the sun on my face even when it’s cloudy.” Then for our card of the weekend, there it appeared, that glorious sun! And the day became incredibly overwhelming, but I continued to connect to the warmth of the sun through those swirling clouds! The truth is with this card, upright or reversed, the light is still undeniably there. So this weekend, no matter where you find yourself or what brand of chaos is hovering over you, take a minute to breathe and feel that sun. Let love and light blossom all around you with childlike glee- you deserve that beautiful brand of redemption. Happy Friyay!

“Even when it’s raining, the sunshine is still there.” - Clare Josa

“Here comes the sun…” - The Beatles

The Sun from the Sacred Rose Tarot by Johanna Gargiulo-Sherman

Page of Wands - Reversed…

There is a new and childlike passion smoldering underneath the surface for you! Oh, this feeling of readiness and excitement is urging you to release this fiery secret, but you must resist. I know you feel ready to liberate these smokey feelings or ideas, but the timing is not quite right. Keep it all to yourself for the moment. If you open yourself up to sharing these desires and fascinations too soon, you will feel quite vulnerable. That spark could be vanquished way too soon. So, hold it close to the chest. Study it and see if you can foster it’s potency so that when the time is right, you’ll be ready to set the world on fire!

“Keep a little fire burning no matter how small or how hidden.” - Anonymous

The Page of Wands (Reversed) - Don’t know what deck this is, but it’s fiery!

The Nine of Swords…

The Moon, The Tower and now this! The Nine of Swords can be a dose of darkness. We are off to quite a start this week. Perhaps the deep-dive into the subconscious is a little too cavernous for our mental well being? If you are spinning in your mind and finding it hard to sleep at night, don’t retreat even further inward. Raise your head and open those eyes - what you see in front of you will not be as overwhelming as it feels to you on the inside. In fact, this is the perfect moment for you to wake up and realize how you might utilize your own subconscious memories and experiences to master the dizzying thoughts you find hovering in the present. I mean, you made it through all that past terror, trauma and muckety muck, take a moment to recall how strong you were as you confronted it all and conquer this moment with ease. To start this process - just face it. The tangible truth is always less daunting than the imagined fiction. Slay your own dragons tonight.

“The real strength and the impelling part of the story isn’t the slaying of the dragon, it’s in the story of the main character’s development of the courage to try.” - Will Kalif

The Nine of Swords from The Llewellyn Tarot by Anna-Marie Ferguson

The Moon…

It has been proven that the subconscious mind controls 95% of our lives. Meaning that the majority of our interactions, decisions and basic body functions are dominated by the instinctual brain activity that is not consciously aware to us. In this forgotten space of our individual spirits, we hold repressed memories, knowledge learned through experiences both positive and negative and desires we tuck away for fear of shameful discovery. Incredibly, the frequencies of the moon has the power to move your subconscious into the conscious. WHAT?! It’s true. This can be jarring, but if you know how to use this energy to your advantage, it can be incredibly illuminating. This week, be your own Moon and shed light on the deepest secrets that you possess. Notice your instinctual decision making as you move through your days and ask yourself, “where IS this coming from?” Take a cavernous journey into that place of discovery deep within and let your hidden content claw its way to the surface. You shouldn’t be afraid of the pieces of you that determine 95% of your life. Use each day this week to become acquainted with them - welcome them into your life and wear the power of the moon like a heavenly crown.

“If the moon smiled, she would resemble you. You leave the same impression Of something beautiful, but annihilating.” - Sylvia Plath

The Moon from The Sacred Rose Tarot by Johanna Gargiulo-Sherman

A Cluster for the Holiday Season Ahead…

I felt compelled to pull four cards today with the holiday season in mind. What do we need to know as we enter the mad-frenzy of this next couple of months?!? I couldn’t help but laugh as these cards appeared. Family….oh, the joys and deep disappointments that await when it comes to family this season will amaze and astound. The truth is we will always feel like the tiny, vulnerable child longing for love and approval and this season will bring all of that to the surface as it has done over and over again each year. However, it is important to know that the power which you feel they hold over your experience is actually a choice you are making on your own. Their love is strong and true, but will not bend to meet your every expectation. Despite all of the question and doubts that arise for you this season, you can be certain that you have inherited who you are from the teachings of your family. Keep in mind that learning what not to do or who not to be is just as valuable as being guided in the right direction for self. Wherever you fall on the spectrum of family values, inclusion is not far off if you can recognize the strength and power of what has been handed down and find a sense of gratitude for who you have become. You may feel like you don’t have choices, but you ultimately get to choose how you will feel this season...

“A dysfunctional family is any family with more than one person in it.” - Mary Karr

“If you cannot get rid of the family skeleton, you may as well make it dance.” - George Bernard Shaw

The Page of Cups - The Emperor - The Empress - The Seven of Cups (Reversed) from The Sacred Rose Tarot by Johanna Gargiulo-Sherman

The Hierophant - Reversed…

Who needs tradition when you can do it your own way?!? The theme of this weekend is to defy conventional habits with your own colorful and unique approach. Don’t let anyone tell you how it should be done - invent your own way and declare that it is so. Sift through any delineated truth and you will find doubt. All prescribed guidelines must be challenged. Rules?!? Break them. If something existing in your path doesn’t make sense, question it and keep questioning it until you figure out what the alternative is. There is always an alternative. It’s time for you to reclaim your personal understanding of the world around you. Become your own authority this weekend and do it with unbridled flair.

“If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun.” -Katherine Hepburn

The Hierophant - Reversed. I don’t know what deck this is and I’m not following rules today, so it’s up to you to find it…

The Four of Swords - Reversed…

Wake up, sleepyhead. You may feel inclined to retreat into stillness today and remove yourself from what is at hand, but this is not the time to drift away from your responsibilities. Rouse yourself and take a hold of one specific thought that is ready for action. Grab onto that idea and let it jar you from the idle rest you have succumb to. Use this thought as a weapon against your own lethargy. It’s time to motivate yourself. True balance, in your case, calls out for decisive measures. Take initiative by forcing yourself to accept one challenge set in front of you. Before you know it, you will be taking on so much more with ease and confidence. If you want that solid foundation of thought, time to leap up and take control.

“You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” - Zig Ziglar

The Four of Swords (Reversed) from the Deck that resides on Aunty Flo’s Website - still unidentified, but love the images

The Nine of Wands…

In what ways did you smolder on this Wednesday? What struck a fire in your soul so strong that you felt driven to self protection? If you had been feeling lost, let the glowing embers of your impassioned heart point you on the path of your true direction. If you know exactly where you stand, let the fierceness of your determination draw a line in the smokey sand creating the boundaries you need to hold your ground. Those who try to cross you or that boundary are to be pitied. They will shake in fear and be in shock when they encounter the zealousness you exude in defense of your authentic journey. Own this defiance - you have earned it and you will prevail. Let your blaze be a warning and if they choose to ignore it….burn it all down.

“The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory.” - Howard Zinn

The Nine of Wands from The Tarot De La Nuit - Artist Rendering on Deviant Art by Alexandra V. Bach

Two of Wands - Reversed & Ten of Pentacles…

Happy Tuesday! I’ve decided to work with my Sacred Rose Tarot Deck a lot more in my practice, so you will be seeing more of these cards. Why, you ask? I was drawn to buy this deck almost 20 years ago while I was in New Orleans, one of my most favorite magical places and I was excited to get to know it. Strangely, when I started to use it, it felt distant to me and indecipherable - so I set it aside. I am called to return to this deck because, I have learned over the years that even the most shy and aloof friends are longing to be understood. Usually, the messages they have to share are even more impactful than you might expect. So, here goes… Decisions are tough when it comes to forming a bond that will help you to build toward a more fulfilling future. If you are caught in a place of indecision today regarding something or someone that you feel incredibly passionate about - a personal sacrifice must be made. Purity and love don’t always meet eye to eye and you understand that you cannot hold on to this idea much longer. Give of yourself knowing that the atonement will inspire warmth and radiant promise in the years ahead. Though it may feel a bit out of alignment, do what you must do now to harvest spun gold and splendor in your future.

“Sacrifice is a part of life. It’s supposed to be. It’s not something to regret. It’s something to aspire to.” - Mitch Albom

The 2 of Wands (Reversed) & the 10 of Pentacles from the Sacred Rose Tarot by Johanna Gargiulo-Sherman

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