Weekly Forecast: November 7-13

We have a fascinating synchronicity at work in this forecast with two cards from our November monthly forecast start off our reading: the Nine of Swords and Judgment.

Okay, tarot, I’m listening…

This week we’re touching the source of our discomfort directly. What change are you recognizing in your life that’s activating sadness, angst, resistance, and old wounds? I’d like, however, to use this reading as a helpful guide. Because we can also work backwards, instead asking ourselves: What is my current discomfort teaching me about how much I’ve grown?

The Nine of Swords is an upsetting card to behold, but as we discussed in the monthly forecast, it’s also a nine, the group in the Minor Arcana that deals with the full expression of its type. Swords deal with our minds, information, and communication. This week we’re in a position where we know as much as we need to know. And that can come with a lot of grief, especially when a decision or big change is at hand. Rather than see our struggles as a source of despair, this reading is encouraging us to welcome them with open arms as harbingers of important information. We may be saying a final farewell to some harsh truths, old hurts, or ideas and values that have run their course in our lives.

Holding space for this transition will be crucial when it comes to a) making things as soft and gentle as possible and b) paving the way for a much grander transition on the horizon. Gather your people around you, sharing in the poignancy of life together. We’re all “in it” to some degree, and there’s so much healing that happens when we share both the burden and the beauty.

Now, let’s talk about this big transition. I’m laughing to myself at the imagery here: the Nine of Swords is sitting up in bed, head in their hands as if trying to completely avoid the card looming next to it, Judgment. And who among us hasn’t wished we didn’t have to do the hard and terrifying work of changing?

Again, this is a week to be extremely tender and gentle to yourself (and others). Pare down your commitments, slow your pace, and make room for reflection and processing - a healthy expression of that Nine of Swords card. Because, yes, big things are afoot, and while we do have both of these cards in our monthly forecast, suggesting that we’ll be working with their themes in the weeks to come, I do think that Judgment also holds the potential for big breakthroughs, changes, and developments in our lives this week. If you’ve been waiting on some news, a green light to take a big chance, or a breakthrough you’ve been impatient about, it may happen.

Or, at least, a key piece of information or a crucial event will pave the way for the inner transformation represented by the Judgment card. The King of Swords appears as the final card of our reading, showing us stepping into a position of authority and leadership in our lives, as if we’ve fully integrated the Nine of Swords and know exactly what to do with what we’ve learned. And I don’t mean this in a black-and-white sense of utter, irreproachable certainty. The power of this king lies in their ability to make the best use of the information that have at the given moment. They forgive themselves mistakes and miscommunications because they know that the ground is constantly shifting. Not acting with the information at hand is out of the question, and they trust themselves to pivot, learn, and adapt as they grow, harnessing their fearsome intellect and powers of perception for the greater good.

It’s a week thick with emotion, action, and breakthrough, but we have this sharp card at our side to guide us. Don’t be afraid to assert yourself, communicate your needs and, most of all, use your mind to shape the world around you. This is a powerful time for integration, release, and forward motion. Take things one step at a time, breathe, and trust that you’re equipped to guide yourself through this tricky landscape.

This week, embrace:

• Processing grief, disappointment, hurtful experiences, and limiting beliefs

• Mourning what could have been

• …while opening yourself to what is coming into focus

• Your personal agency

• Deciding what really matters

• Honesty, directness, decisiveness

• Community

This week, avoid:

• Overbooking your schedule

• Strenuous work and/or activity

• Appeasing others to keep the peace

• Being wishy-washy

• Wishful thinking/not consulting the facts/indulging in fantasy

Get creative:

• Nine of Swords: Look at all these neatly aligned swords on the wall - while they’re obviously causing the main character of this card some grief, they’re also impressively arrayed and, some might argue, presenting a path forward. Might our sources of discomfort and grief also be building a ladder of sorts, one that can lead us out of isolation and into something new? Take a moment of swords-y reflection this week to identify nine things that are worrying you. Write them out in a nice list so that they’re organized like this ladder of swords. Then, write a simple way that each could help you. This could be something you’ve learned, something you’ll avoid in the future, or some way that the theme or experience has taught you something. So that you can identify and the focus on the positive side of your double-edged swords moving forward.

• Judgment: Oof. This card is so in your face! Rude? Maybe! A trumpet blast raising the dead isn’t my go-to mode of communication, but sometimes we need to be jolted out of our current position. It’s also important to clear space for this type of transformation, which makes me think of another use of noise: spiritual cleansing. So, to prepare both yourself for the incoming shifts of Judgment and maybe to get proactive and embody it yourself - make some noise in your home with the intention of clearing space, banishing confusion, and empowering yourself. Blast some music, walk from room to room clanging something, or just do some old fashioned yelling.

• King of Swords: This card knows things, and I think this week is an important time to remind ouselves of the depth of our knowledge. Not certificates or degrees, though those do fall under this king, but areas of expertise we’ve accrued through simply living our lives. What are you an expert at? How can you remind yourself of this and let the awareness fuel your decision-making?

Weekly Forecast: August 15-21

I’m curious about your first impression of this reading. These cards are direct, even a little confrontational, and from my “tarot trained” eyes, they provide a strong contrast to the impressionistic, fluid readings we’ve been experiencing lately. This summer has seen a lot of change (not to mention questions of identity, and restlessness, but this week big questions come to a head: we’re finally in a position to get conclusive answers and make pivotal decisions. First, however, we need to seek out support and input.

Where do we go when we need knowledge and guidance? Who do we go to for insight into tricky questions or during moments when our path is unclear? It’s not surprising that a card that has gone by the title “The Pope” comes with some baggage, and true to its themes, The Hierophant can reflect situations when institutionalized or traditional sources of knowledge and guidance are restrictive and even destructive. Not this week, however, because we’re entering into the space of this powerful card with the discernment and clarity of The Queen of Swords.

Swords have been front and center in our readings lately. We were visited by the intense, grief-stricken Three of Swords last week, which led us to a new and inspired search for answers. So we have a linear progression here - the themes of last week, particularly the insights we gained by facing them, has led us to a position of increased awareness and power. Take some time to consider how much more secure and informed you feel coming into this week. What do you know now that was out of reach just a few days ago? We’ve made the journey from Page to Queen - a tarot promotion! Allow this change to sink in and trust that the new information has transformed you.

True to the themes of healing brought up last week, we’ve been making big and surprising strides in the area of our lives most impacted by the stormy emotions of the Three of Swords. The feeling I’m getting is one of discovering and asking the right questions. Something about reconsidering and revisiting our grief - both old and new - last week has led us to powerfully transformative questions. And when we discover these and ask them a la the Page of Swords, it can be surprising how far they take us. If inhabiting the Queen of Swords feels too advanced or you’re gripped by a desire for caution and slowness that’s holding you back, remember that this card is all about wielding one’s mind responsibly and with confidence. Now that we know what we know, it’s time to act on that knowledge and let it shape our lives.

Not only this, but the Queen of Swords, like all queens in tarot, is adaptive, flexible, and innovative. Our seeking isn’t about blunt and prescriptive answers, it’s about using the truth of our perceptions, beliefs, and desires to shape a life that’s meaningful for ourselves and others. That will look different for all of us, but it brings about more justice and equity in the world at large.

Which brings us to The Hierophant. This week is a time to look outwards and seek support, guidance, community, and connection. It’s likely that the parts of your life this card touches will have to do with your experience of the Three of Swords in last week’s reading. Where has your grief or woundedness held you back? What part of your life does it impact the most? It’s clear that there’s a great deal of supportive energy around finding guidance and support with these issues, and they may not be obvious. Keep an open mind towards gatherings, group opportunities, and forms of education. Going into these spaces with the self-respect and intellectual powers of the Queen of Swords puts us at a unique advantage to sift out any boring, limited, or extraneous content. If groups or more formalized learning situations aren’t your thing, in other words, you can still gain something potent from them this week while feeling extra-empowered to take what you need and truly leave the rest behind.

There’s an interesting convergence happening around The Hierophant as well. We see the Queen of Swords partner, The King of Swords, on the other side of this card, almost as if they’re both meeting within its hallowed halls, taking on the roles of the two supplicants in the foreground. Perhaps a chance encounter with a powerful ally is in the works this week? Be on the lookout for someone similarly astute and questioning who is maybe a bit more blunt, assertive, and openly ambitious. Partnerships forged in riveting conversation, similar aspirations, and complimentary characteristics are very much supported by this week’s reading. Whether it’s business, pleasure, or a combination of the two, it’s likely that you’ll meet, reconnect with, or have an exchange with someone asking similar questions to you and who can give you a pivotal piece of information about your journey.

This week, embrace:

• Making big decisions

• Settling into a newfound sense of independence, self-direction, and knowledge

• Processing how your healing is telling you where to go next

• Healthy discernment

• Trusting your perceptions and ideas

• Learning opportunities: groups, classes, gatherings

• New connections or re-connections with like-minded people

• Partnerships, launching business ventures, communicating something new

• Taking on a position of authority

This week, avoid:

• Equivocating

• Downplaying your knowledge and experience

• Eating your words

• Hermiting/excessive solitude

• Looking for perfection in group or learning situations

Get creative:

• The Queen of Swords: This card seems to be bridging the gap between our final card last week, The Page of Swords. Both have cloudy backgrounds, suggesting there’s still some clarity we need to find around our grief and pain shown in the Three of Swords. The storm clouds haven’t quite departed - what can we learn from them? Spend some time in the beginning of the week contemplating how you’ve navigated this recent rough patch. How did you handle this difficult situation and what are you proud of? Since swords deal with communication, I highly suggest writing a sincere and precise letter of appreciation to yourself. Get specific, lay it all out, and let yourself be fed both by your growth and your love for yourself.

• The Hierophant: Sometimes I feel like hefty cards like this need simple, digestible action. In that spirit, find some way to learn something in a group. That’s it! Possible ideas: take a class, attend a seminar, listen to a podcast with three or more people, host a salon with your friends, read tarot in a group… anything that brings people together to gain and exchange knowledge. It does not have to be big or flashy, because I think that will be coming of its own accord IRL; this gesture is to simply augment/call in/bolster the energy of the card.

• King of Swords: Do you remember those dating boardgames from the 80s and 90s? The ones with the baseball card-esque decks of boyfriends, complete with stats and personal anecdotes? Since this card is appearing as a potential ally entering into your life, let’s get embarrassingly granular. Spend a moment writing down the ideal traits and characteristics of a person who would be a powerful partner in whichever area of your life this reading is touching on. What is your ideal King of Swords? Some questions to get you started: What do they believe in? How do they communicate? What is their guiding value in life?

Weekly Forecast: September 30 - October 6

I'm struggling with how to frame this reading, dear friends, since it has a unique energy. The virtuous Six of Pentacles is on one side, anchoring us in our desire to help and provide for others. On the other, however, we have the uneasy and dissatisfied Four of Cups. It's as if our outside life is masking our more turbulent feelings, and the decisive King of Swords is mediating between the two.

How to distill this into simpler terms? I think these cards are asking us to use our sense of discernment and judgment to dig deeper into our desire to please.

The Six of Pentacles is all about giving and receiving. Sometimes we give out of a true sense of altruism and generosity. And sometimes it's a way to mask our own inner turmoil.

This week we may find ourselves growing tired of the routines we use to avoid confronting our more difficult emotions. Are we directing our attention outwards, allowing our edgy energy to get channeled into pleasing, helping, or supporting others? It's important to be aware of how this may reflect a desire for control: If we can ease someone else's suffering (or think we have) then we can eliminate our own.

I'm drawn to the fact that this reading is using the Four of Cups to illustrate our true emotional state. This card is quite mysterious; there's a sense of stasis, pause, and the unknown.

When we feel unsettled and blah, it's tempting to fill that space with action and distraction. Yet we have the King of Swords bringing a powerful sense of discernment to our center, as if we're finally in a position to see our behavior clearly and adjust accordingly.

This week is a time to listen to our inner voice and to trust its messages and direction. If the giving stance of the Six of Pentacles seems hollow, off-putting, or uncomfortable, it's likely an invitation to step back, to move from the earthy realm of the pentacles and into our personal emotional experience.

The Four of Cups brings us into relation with ourselves as we are in the moment. What are we feeling? How can we sit with it? Time alone, practices of reflection, and plenty of rest can help coax out important epiphanies and breakthroughs. But we can't get there if we neglect our inner life.

I also think that the King of Swords represents a highly developed sense of self. We know, at a conscious level, that we need to turn inwards. And, perhaps, that our emotions have something deeply important to tell us.

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Weekly Forecast: May 6-12

Well, my friends, it looks like this reading is quite gory, visually speaking! 

Artist Ricardo Cavolo's illustration of the Nine of Pentacles is, to be frank, pretty gross. Why choose an open wound to illustrate a card traditionally associated with abundance and plenty? 

It's a lot to meditate on, particularly when the grisly theme continues with a blindfolded King of Swords committing seppuku. You know, just some light Monday messages to contemplate...

Yet this reading, despite its visceral nature, came across loud and clear: While oftentimes our old wounds are the wellspring of our unique gifts, there's a huge difference between honoring this connection and obsessing over it to the point of self-limitation and injury.

This is a time to let the reality of our lives ground us and lead us forward and to put aside the destructive urges of our minds. We've been hurt in the past, yes, but our future is unfolding now and not all of our actions spring from the hardship we've endured.

The King of Swords, the utmost monarch of the suit, is adept at using thought to create clarity. But sometimes we can only get so much clarity out of life. If we stay in the realm of the swords too long, we prioritize analytic remove over actual day-to-day involvement. What comes of this? Isolation, stagnation, and self-doubt. 

Over thinking distances us from the movement and rhythm of life, a dance that leads us towards the answers we're seeking. It's not a view we can achieve from the top-down, safe in the hypothetical or the tempting certainty of the past. We have to get our hands dirty and accept that seeking fulfillment leaves no room for invulnerability. We're all living and breathing creatures and we can't go through life completely unscathed. 

In this sense, this nasty Nine of Pentacles in reassuring. If we're feeling tender and bruised, it's not because we're failing. Rather, we're showing up and seeing ourselves - all the contours of our experience, even the painful ones. And that is a high achievement, indeed.

What to do from here? The Star tells us we have to love ourselves even more, and make room for a life of plenty that also feels exposed, tenuous, or too much at times. Nothing needs to change for us to be here with ourselves.

The King of Swords represents our urge to over-analyze ourselves at any moment of conflict, struggle, or indecision. Instead of seeing these times as a natural facet of life, the King reacts to them as threats to stability. Thus, the wide-open plenty of the Nine of Pentacles becomes an invitation to turn our swords on ourselves. 

Are we feeling raw, excited, eager, a bit nervous about what we're moving towards? The King of Swords wants the answers now, and to him this is a scary threat to stability. Cue the self-doubt and criticism. Instead of accepting tenderness, this King is using it as an opening to harm the self: If we can't do it perfectly and with perfect knowledge, we shouldn't even try at all.

The Star is here to tell us that this is completely unnecessary and over the top and this reading gives us a wonderful alternate course. It's not a time to take our thoughts of worry and doubt with absolute seriousness. What if we could tell ourselves that we're doing our best and it's working out well?

Having a lot of feelings means that we're opening up to feeling life itself. We're already doing a wonderful job and now is a time to stay grounded in the beauty of our everyday lives, letting its rhythms and routines move us forward, instead of abandoning our path because it's not what we envisioned. 

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Exploring the Minor Arcana: The Kings

In this series we'll be diving into the world of the Minor Arcana. Each segment will group the cards by number where we can engage in their themes and differences. For all the posts in the installment, click here.

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I think I’ve been dragging my feet with this final post on the court cards because I don’t want to be done with my card meaning dictionary! But it’s a new year and the time has come to tackle The Kings once and for all, so let’s get to it.

The Kings are a fascinating group of cards and deal with questions of authority, expertise, and leadership. Like the Queens they are fully in control of their suit and element, having learned to master it after years of study, dedication, and real-life practice.

Yet while the Queens deal with a flexible and personal relationship to their suit, the Kings take their connection outwards, using their expertise in the social world.

Perhaps because of this they can tend towards being inflexible, though at their best they’re even-keeled, confident, and determined,

Let's take a closer look at how this stance is reflected in each suit:

Explore In-Depth Minor Arcana Meanings

The King of Wands is a passionate and noticeable leader. This is the kind of personality that loves to be in the vanguard, pioneering new ideas, sometimes without considering the feelings of others. Motivated by the thrill of doing, achievement, and success, this King values change, innovation, and creativity.

The King of Swords, in contrast, is a much more intellectual leader. They prefer to deal with concepts and principles over actions and value deliberation, knowledge, and planning. Sometimes abstract to a fault, the King of Swords can be thought of as a researcher whose intelligence is undeniable and inspires others.

The King of Cups has the fascinating ability to use healthy detachment to understand even the most complex emotional situations. Concerned with relationships and interpersonal dynamics, this card is deeply feeling, perceptive, and intuitive. A wonderful judge of character, this card speaks to bigger life questions and can inspire with his personal charm and equanimity.

And finally, the King of Pentacles is a jolly yet formidable leader. It’s not hard to see that this king has no problem cultivating abundance. Just look at those grapes twining throughout his card! A figure whose command of resources, money, and riches is unparalleled, the King of Pentacles also knows how to have a good time and values celebrating and using wealth for enjoyment, not just for himself but others as well.

Click on each card for the full meaning and share your take on the Kings below. How does their leadership and power show up in your life and your readings?

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Weekly Forecast: November 19-25

How do we engage with community, both chosen and inherited? It's fascinating that this week - the week of Thanksgiving for those of us in the states - features the Three of Cups, a card all about coming together and sharing joy with others. 

This card has been a frequent addition to so many readings lately that I've been holding it close in my mind, mulling over all the happiness, richness, and, yes, even challenges that come with community. 

What do we do when our groups and gatherings require more than just lighthearted abandon? How do we navigate our different needs, opinions, and personalities? This week shows us congregating in a moment of celebration - The Three of Cups - and bringing some interesting and non-traditional tools to the table. We are, it seems, poised to navigate our differences and remain true to ourselves, whether it's over large ideological issues like politics or small tensions like what kind of cranberry sauce is the best (canned, homemade, smooth, or chunky??)

With the Three of Cups front row center, we can see that the overall context is warm and delightful. Just our ability to connect with others is something worth celebrating and, interestingly, this is not a card that focuses on or represents family exclusively. All connections, biological or chosen, are beautiful and worthy.

This is the basic foundation of our week; but, as we know, groups can get complicated quickly, and the other two cards see us doing some wise preparation for the hubbub. 

One could see the King of Swords and think, "Aha! We're arriving armed for battle!" While this is a pretty crude interpretation, it's somewhat applicable here, though a lot less militant! Rather than showing up to our gatherings with swords brandished, we're actually doing the wise mental preparation to navigate the different kind of intensities around our celebrations. This can be stress-based, aka "let me plan out how to cook all this food without losing my mind," or ideological - "what is really important for me during this gathering and what do I want to communicate about my ideas?"

There are no one-size-fits-all answers to that final question. The King of Swords does show us all that we have the ability to stand behind what we value and use our sharp mental powers to think through how we'd like to present them. What's more, this card has the formidable mix of diplomacy and strength. Using this approach we can find ways to be our truest self and take part in the celebration.

I love this combination of self-awareness and fun because we usually assume one excludes the other. The King of Swords asks us to cut through that myth and embrace our power to participate mindfully, clearing a path for ourselves to be a part of a group while being ourselves. 

Fascinatingly, we end things with The Chariot. Clearly, something more epic is coming from these efforts than bloated stomachs and some time off to nap. Engaging with the ins-and-outs of connection head-on, embracing the stress with the joy and the love with the disagreement, is creating a complex and beautiful alliance. 

When we look at The Chariot we see two horses leading the way. Proceeding as a unified front requires training and patience and lots of work. It's up-close and personal. Someone's going to neigh and bite, rear up in the air and come down huffing. That's what it means to harness all that wild and alive power. But if our larger goal is the same we can drive towards it together, still kicking occasionally, but united in our connection and strong in the power of our individual selves brought together.

The Three of Cups, rather than being frivolous and small, sees us practicing and strengthening our ability to move forward together as The Chariot. No matter how inconsequential it seems, our ability to show up for each other and navigate the complexities of our relationships strengthens and solidifies the important, beautiful, and diverse bonds between us. 

But first, the celebration!

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Weekly Forecast: August 20-26

Sometimes it's tiring being rational, or at least occupying a rational standpoint 100% of the time. This week we're willingly sacrificing the need to be right so that we can open up to new sources of knowledge, namely our feelings and intuitions.

This is no small shift, and the fact that we're coming at it from the authoritative stance of the King of Swords shows just how conscious and responsible we are for this choice. And this is good news! We know we need more and we're taking the vulnerable and brave step to move towards it.

In this case, we're choosing to experience a Death of sorts. How can we step down from our thrones of certainty and embrace the complicated magic of everyday life? 

Though we may be moving into some confusing territory, these cards indicate that we're ready for a change. Maybe we're tired of feeling in control all of the time, isolated in our positions of power. Maybe we'd like to step down from our roles as arbiters, deciders, and experts, if only just for a while.

As you may have noticed, though, Death carries with it some pretty irrevocable consequences. So while we may be leaving the King of Swords' throne (and carrying with us his intellectual prowess and experience), we won't be quite the same when we return. 

This is an excellent time to consider what about our current position is feeling itchy or empty. Have we backed ourselves into a corner, suddenly realizing we've been positioning ourselves as someone with all the answers? Are our words feeling hollow or lacking inspiration?

Well, this dynamic leap through the Death card is certainly about to change all that. We're catapulting from the solid, academic remove of the King of Swords into the wishy-washy, imaginative wonderland of the Seven of Cups. Now how's that for contrast?

Towards the end of the week we'll find ourselves feeling radically different. Awash with exciting visions and possibilities, we'll be in the mood to let our minds wander freely, thinking magically instead of pragmatically and theoretically. 

While the Seven of Cups can be a tricky card, one where alluring options can become distracting and even paralyzing, it's a wonderful follow-up to Death. It shows us processing our change and reacting to it with joy and expansion. Death is a long process and thinking creatively in all directions - dreaming up possibilities and alternate futures  - offers us both the space and activity to move through the transition.

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Weekly Forecast: September 4-10

Problem solving. The phrase can feel clinical sometimes, like we're scientists measuring out the exact quantities needed for an experiment. Get it right and voila! we've solved the problem. I find this phrase neglects many things - the multiple moving parts we need to wrangle in order to find a solution, the practice of "making things happen," and the magic of it all coming together. And what happens after.

We have all this and more coming our way in the next seven days. This week we're at our peak ability to smooth over obstacles, find elegant solutions to tricky situations, and to make the final touches on big projects. We're prime problem-solvers an we're also visionaries. What we accomplish now is sending us down even more promising paths and our challenge will be to shift from a mentality of putting on finishing touches to starting an exciting journey anew.

It's a very invigorating energy to see emerging during this time of year. We're beginning September with sharp minds, honed over months of deliberation, challenge, and experimentation. We're the King of Swords, wielding our minds like the sharp and efficient tool it is. We know and trust that our perceptions, thoughts, and insights are our guiding force, a compass that leads us in the right direction.

So what to do with this hard-won and refreshing clarity? In the middle of the week we'll be using our insights to focus in on the last stretch of work on a project. We have the ability to focus deeply, so let's use it! The eight of coins is the perfect card to direct the powers of the King of Swords into concrete results. It's work, yes, but we can dive into it and find a peaceful flow that will make things proceed quickly and smoothly. 

When we finally look up we'll see that the scenery has changed ever so slightly. New opportunities have sprung up from all our hard work. Change is on the horizon and a sense of effervescent possibility. It'll be a big contrast from our rational, buckle down mode and we'll be asked not to question it too much. Change is always happening and if we spend too much time mulling over the why we might miss the natural next thing.

The two of coins will have us juggling several options. It'll be exciting and dynamic, and we'll need to call on our sense of playful adventure to make the best of it. The stakes aren't high and things are just getting started. Luckily we have the work ethic of the eight of coins and the wherewithal of the King of Swords to guide us forward. 

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Weekly Forecast: May 29-June 5

Sometimes it takes a little nudge to set us off in the right direction. Usually we envision ourselves doing the nudging – how can we better ourselves? How can we push ourselves to perform better, to seek more truths, and to get more done?

It feels nice to know things. To have a sense of stability and trust in your mind. “I can think through this problem,” we tell ourselves, and then launch into the comforting realm of lists and planning.

Many of us have, like the King of Swords, become masters of the world of logic. Unfortunately, we can’t be completely objective when it comes to ourselves. After all, we can’t step outside of our minds, try as we might.

That doesn’t stop us, however, for building up quite an illusion. We tell ourselves we are objective. We know what we’re doing and can see everything clearly.

As we do this, plunging ahead with those satisfying lists and plans, something else creeps in. The certainty we’re wielding like a sword to cut through any confusion of complexity starts to feel heavy.

We get tired of sitting on a throne like the King – certainty can remove us from life, making us feel lonely. And it’s not the most comfortable thing to sit on, all hard and inflexible.

Cue the Wheel of Fortune to challenge this worldview. Beyond challenging it, The Wheel actually turns it on its head. And this can be quite jarring.

We come into this week used to sitting on a solid throne – feeling in control of our lives and oh so comfortable making pragmatic decision despite the fact that we’re secretly starting to feel itchy and restless.

The Wheel of Fortune represents change, and change is what we’ll have. Something is coming our way that will have us reassessing our kingly stance. At first it won’t be so pretty. Who likes to tumble out of their throne? But this change will be necessary. It’s time to switch things up and move in a different direction.

We also must consider where on The Wheel we are. We might assume that since we’ve been embodying The King of Swords, in some ways the pinnacle of mastery in the Swords suite, that we’re on the top. If this is true, then as the wheel spins we plummet downwards, our fortune taking a turn for the worse.

In this case, we’d be experiencing a somewhat traumatic shakeup we’d then have to recover from.

But what if The King belongs on the bottom of The Wheel? He is the conclusion of the court cards, after all. Where can you go from being a king? What’s more, as individuals we are more than just the embodiment of one set of traits. Perhaps we can balance all four, a much more holistic way of being that makes us truly human and complex.

If this is true, then we’re actually ascending this week. Pushing through the end of one cycle and embarking on a new, more refreshing path.

The next card in the reading, the Six of Swords, points us in this direction. We leave the certainty of The King and set off across a mysterious body of water, heading towards a foreign shore. Our boat, however, is made of swords, showing us that we’re taking many lessons with us while abandoning the absolutism of The King.

So this week be aware of how a more balanced approach could serve you. Are you relying too heavily on the siren song of objective and analytical thinking? Perhaps you’re feeling burdened by a compulsion to plan, plan, and plan some more, reducing your decision making down to its logical components while ignoring your feelings?

The change that comes your way this week will be entirely out of your control, something that a King of Swords would find frightening. You, on the other hand, are a complex human being, and having mastered many swordly skills, are free to use this moment to take what you’ve learned in your toolbox and start learning new things.

Where are you headed this week and how can you embrace the change that’s always happening around you? How can you evolve and allow yourself to embrace your full complexity?

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