Weekly Forecast: April 11-17

Well, tarot friends, it looks like we’re approaching the center of the issue we’ve been working on for the past few weeks. This is another “Major Arcana Thesis Statement” - a reading where the cards show us how a single Major Arcana concept is at work in our lives. This week, the Major Arcana card in question is Justice. What is coming into balance in our lives? Where do we need to recalibrate the scales? And what values hold weight when we make decisions about how to structure our lives?

Despite being a lofty concept, Justice is bringing some of the wildness of our recent experiences into more practical realms. We’ve traveled through the wide expanses of The World card, heard the call of Judgment, and now we must sit out butts down on the throne of Justice and do some good old fahshioned discerning and deciding.

If the past few weeks have felt like a spastic merry-go-round, now is the time when all the experiences coalesce into something useful. Is it a new worldview or guiding principle that’s taking center stage in your life? Take time to outline what it is you know right now. When you take out your scales, what pieces weigh on either side? Above all, what is the unchanging, non-negotiable value at the center?

I think that this week is bringing us clarity; we’ll be well aware of what it is that demands the attention of Justice as well as our role in the process of deciding. The experience, however, is going to require some bravery. We have to step up to the dais, take the moment (and ourselves) seriously, and know that our needs, desires, and wants are justification enough. They stand on their own, because we say so.

And, I’ll add, because we’ve done the homework. We haven’t been cycling through Judgment and The World for nothing, here, and while those cards are more mythic and ethereal, Justice shows us how these concepts and experiences influence the earthly world we inhabit. Trust that the experiences and Ideas that have been working through your life and percolating into your conscious mind have traveled a long and winding path. This is not a time to second-guess, hem and haw, or equivocate. Take pride in the fact that, if these convictions or newfound sense of confidence have surprised you, you can still surprise yourself. Your powers go far beyond what you can perceive.

In the middle of the week, the Seven of Pentacles comes bearing an invitation to stop and consider what you’ve accomplished. Sometimes a sense of listlessness or dissatisfaction accompanies this card; don’t be discouraged, however, as The Seven of Pentacles carries a zing of trickster energy. Much like The Four of Cups from several weeks ago, this card tells us that a little itchiness never hurt anyone. In fact, pushing through the discomfort of applauding ourselves and assessing what we have (and yearning for more) often hides the seeds of something brilliant, unexpected, and magical. Here, we’re dealing with themes of the pentacles suit - earthly possessions, work, the physical body - and it may be time to shake up your routine or do something just for the thrill of it (while remaining true to your other commitments).

A break to connect with daily life and the body will be important as we have another visit from the Ten of Wands. I am, surprisingly, touched by its appearance here in the last spot of our reading. This has been a stalker card in our collective readings, accompanied by several “late stage” tarot cards (the 7-10s). We’re really doing the work, friends, and it’s felt like this work is interminable. Just when we think it’s over, another revision needs to be made, a deadline pushed out a few days. Be kind to yourself if you feel exhausted or burnt out.

I have a sense that this Ten of Wands is a particular culmination. Maybe it’s the punch of Justice and the finality of the decisions we can make under the guidance of this card. This may very well be a week of important breakthroughs - ones that we’ve had an important hand in fostering along their path. Trust in yourself, your values and experiences, and don’t be afraid to push for what you need and throw down your burden when you can see something is truly over.

This week, embrace:

• Taking space to separate your emotions from your thoughts

• Discernment, fairness… justice

• Reflection on your physical/tangible/real world accomplishments

• Persisting yet again!

This week, avoid:

• Seductive arguments

• Compromising your morals or values

• Self-criticism

• Seeking comfort in shirking duties

Get creative:

• Justice: It’s time to get our deciding on! Justice is a card of presence, and given the intensity of the Ten of Wands, it may be hard to give ourself the right environment to feel poised and collected. So, while things are relatively calm, take a moment to think about times during the week when you can do a self check-in. Justice finds clarity in concepts, deliberation, and rules. Schedule actual “meetings for one” where you can get into this headspace and ask yourself these questions: 1) Where am I being asked to do what is right and just for myself? My community? 2) What are the weaknesses and blindspots that steer me away from justice? 3) How can I remind myself to recenter around this card right now?

• Seven of Pentacles: I think, given the seriousness of the rest of our reading, that we should dive into the impishness of this card. Go on an accomplishment Easter egg hunt in your house. You don’t need to take much time, just wander around and find several (or ideally, you guessed it, seven) objects that represent something you’re particularly proud of. Photographs, souvenirs, a slice of cake you baked - it could be anything. Write them down or, if possible, gather them together and contemplate/journal how you feel beholding the evidence of your achievements.

• Ten of Wands: This is a very practical one: Let your environment support you. Whenever you notice yourself feeling stressed or overwhelmed by how much work is on your plate, take a break, look up, and take in the comfort and safety in your surroundings. See how all the pieces of your life are supporting you - the floor under your feet, the breeze coming through your window, the plant bringing cheer to your desk.