Weekly Forecast: January 14-20

This week's reading asks us to hone in on how we're approaching our life. From the first glance, it's clear that we're driven by a great deal of energy and meaning. How else could we have two knights - the daring, dashing, and impulsive cards of the tarot - at either end of our cards? 

Before we go into the details, these knights tell us that we have no shortage of enthusiasm. We're ready to get hands on, to dive into the adventure of it all. Without the knights we'd remain mired in old patterns, complacent, and afraid to test and expand our personal power. But all Knights have to step down from their horses at some point, or risk burnout and one-sided conviction.

In fact, we've been harnessing knightly energy for quite some time now, but specifically from the standpoint of the Knight of Swords.

What does this mean specifically? Well, for one, we're all fired up and wanting to act on our principles. The intellectual knight in the tarot, the Knight of Swords loves to analyze, identify values, and make them a driving force behind his endeavors. It's a wonderful impulse, but it's also one that's brought us to a place of burnout, as the Nine of Wands illustrates.

What happens when we become so principled that we lose sight of what's important? Too much intellectual analysis can lead to an impersonal view of life. And, as you might guess, makes any difficulty or failure personal. 

We might be feeling a little harsh towards ourselves in the beginning of the week. Why haven't we done more? Why haven't we achieved all the lofty goals we set for ourselves?

There's a precious and endearing side to this knight that's important to recognize here. We want to do well and we have so much passion and ambition. Yet we're also human, with living, breathing bodies that need care and attention. We can't just keep on going on principles and convictions alone; we need food, sleep, and care.

The Nine of Wands illustrates the literal burnout from investing too heavily in the Knight of Swords' approach. In our enthusiasm we forgot our physical limits and the importance of being a part of our own lives. Being plain old tuckered out, however, is giving us a natural pause to reassess and adjust our approach.

Treating any tiredness or overwhelm with curiosity can help us see our current situation and make lasting choices towards our goals. Indeed, the Nine of Wands is telling us that we've gone as far as we can with the Knight of Swords' orientation. Any further and we'd be in the territory of ultimate exhaustion with the Ten of Wands. You may remember the illustration for this card: a figure pushing a fan of ten wands that obscure his view. Hardly something to work towards!

Fortunately, we're not there yet. We might be a little battered and tired, but we can still see the next steps available to us. And this next step? It's the diligent focus of the Knight of Coins.

This card is immensely encouraging. It's telling us that our general ideas - the information we've collected in our Knight of Swords phase - is helpful and valuable. We just need to bring it down to earth and integrate it into our actions. And that includes how we care for ourselves. 

We can have a life animated by what's important, those big and lofty ideas that the Knight of Swords loves to much, but it has to be channeled through everyday action and done in the service of a healthy and fulfilled life. 

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Exploring the Minor Arcana: The Knights

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 have such a soft spot for the Knights in tarot. They have so much verve and energy! These are not a group of cards interested in concepts or abstractions. They want to get down and dirty, engaging with life in the hands-on, adventuresome style of someone on a mission. While the Pages are eager students, the Knights might be someone who lists "School of Life and Hard Knocks" on their facebook education section. They want to learn by doing and they're already diving into the task at hand.

I often refer to the Knights as the teenagers in tarot. They have the same headstrong conviction and, like any rebellious youth, this attitude is also masking an endearing tenderness. Not fully formed as people, the Knights still have a lot to figure out, which is why these cards can also represent foolhardiness, irrational decision making, and risk-taking.

While the Knights can get themselves in a pickle by jumping the gun - saying something in anger or frustration, committing to a task they can't finish, or living in an idealized fantasy world - they also bring an incredible amount of energy and enthusiasm to any situation. Look to the Knights for the galvanizing force behind a big leap or the passion needed to get things going and inspire others. 

Each of the Knights comes with their own unique flavor. Let's explore their wild, engaging, and impetuous world below:

The  Knight of Wands is quite the handful. Just think about the combination of teenage energy + fiery wands! This card might possibly be the most charismatic of the deck. It brings with it passion, energy, and the desire to leap in and get things done.

For the Knight of Swords is much more cerebral. This is a card where the conceptual and the real come together for the Knight of Swords is all about testing out ideas. What might this theory look like in real life? How can we act on our principles or communicate our thoughts? This can sometimes get tricky since sharp swords are in the situation, but the intention is usually well-meaning.

The Knight of Cups is the romantic of the bunch. Think of the emo guy writing poetry in the back of class. This Knight has a way with words and imagery, loves art and poetry, and will sweep anyone off their feet with romantic promises. When it comes to real life, however, this card balks at anything less than glamorous and perfect and can become sullen and withdrawn.

Last but not least, The Knight of Pentacles brings the energy of the Knights back down to earth. The most practical of the bunch, this card is all about slow, deliberate, action. Concerned with cultivation and making plans into reality, this card can get stuck in their ways and become resistant to change. Is the path they're going on what they really want?

What about you? How do the Knights show up in your tarot practice? How do you relate to them personally? Share in the comments below, and be sure to do something bold and adventurous today in celebration of these zesty cards.

Explore In-Depth Minor Arcana Meanings

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Weekend Send-Off

My new happy place: Gunter's Greenhouse in Durham, NC

Hello my peaches! I'm so excited to introduce a new regular feature here on the Incandescent Tarot blog. Each Friday I'll be sharing some of the things that have made my week brighter - books, films, resources, and tarot happenings. Not to mention a one-card reading on what to expect for the weekend ahead. I hope you enjoy and share what's been making your world extra-magical in the comments below!

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I know, what a time to start a positive column like this one. This week has been fairly soul-crushing when it comes to current events. I'll be posting more about this in the next few days; until then, I'll be doing what I can to support organizations like RACIES, the ACLU, and others, and you can bet your butt that I'll be marching in Raleigh tomorrow.

Still, there have been some lovely bursts of light amidst all this madness. Now more than ever the importance of kindness, beauty, and community is coming through loud and clear.

Big Discovery - Hannah Gadsby

I hadn't ever heard of Gadsby's work before watching her netflix stand-up performance Nanette. And oh my, I was seriously blown away by her radical honesty, hilarious comedy, and stunning insights. Go watch it now and cry tears of happiness for the utter magic that happens when we let our true selves shine freely. 

Everyday Joy

I got back in the swing of making a new batch of iced tea to sip throughout the day. I'm terrible at hydrating until I remember that it makes my skin infinitely better (yes, vanity is my prime motivator). My favorites are fresh mint with honey and lemon, hibiscus chamomile, and ye olde green tea aka what I will continue to assume is healthier and morally superior caffeine.

Repeat Tarot Card

I love seeing what card makes the most appearances in my personal and client readings. This week was all about the pages, especially the Page of Wands. It's a nice card to have during these tumultuous times. For me, this intrepid page is reminding us to stay fired up and take baby steps forward, trusting that we'll learn all we need to succeed so long as we stay engaged and motivated.

Special Gratitude

I'm feeling incredibly mushy about the friends and community I'm blessed to have in my life. Even when I'm furiously hermiting away, lost in my thoughts, and surprised that they're still there when I peek my head back above ground! That and the reliable decadence of sugary pastries.

Listening, Reading, Watching

This week I finished another gorgeous book, Fair Play, by Tove Jansson, creator of the Moomins. She's also an incredible writer and this thin volume (you could read it in a day) touches beautifully on art, creativity, and nature. Though I just checked the amazon reviews and a fellow named "Jason G" strongly disagrees with me and chose to title his review "I would rather put sand in my anus." Thanks for the evocative image, Jason. Guess we'll just agree to disagree!

I've been listening to Sam Evian for some chill summer jams after having the pleasure of seeing him live a few weeks ago. That and the wonderful and entertaining podcast Pairing by my dear friend. Check it out if you like all things wine and art!

How about you? What has been bringing joy to your life this week? And now without further ado... the card for the weekend!

Knight of Pentacles

Message: It's time to get hands-on in your life in ways that are gratifying and truly you 

Embrace: Positive action, sprucing up your space, interacting others and sharing your plans

Let Go Of: Overwhelming "big picture" thinking, hiding behind theories, timidity

Guidance: What actions will contribute to the world I want to see? How can I live lushly and justly?

Weekly Forecast: February 12-18

This week is bringing up a lot of feelings of guilt  around what it means to have enough. Finding ourselves a step beyond the basics - being able to provide for ourselves and bring in a little (or a lot) extra - is activating a protective part of ourselves. There's an urge to fight the gifts we've earned and been given in the hopes of protecting ourselves against loss or criticism.

The Three of Swords is letting us know that this part of ourselves is deeply rooted to the point of being instinctual, a knee-jerk response to abundance that's far from accepting. Finding ourselves in the plenty of the Six of Coins has us feeling exposed and unworthy. Yet all we need to do is look at the illustration of the Six to see how alluring and healthy we are right now. 

Why, then, is the Three of Swords churning in the background?

Being stable after a period of struggle gives our more complicated emotions and beliefs space to unfold. When we're not running around frantically - maybe trying to manage unnecessary drama or burying ourselves with mountains of stress - we are able to see ourselves more clearly, sometimes whether we want it or not. This can be confusing - why are all these unruly emotions surfacing when things are going well? Doesn't that mean that something's wrong?

This current period of stability, however, is the perfect time to gently engage with the turmoil of the Three of Swords. Just look at the imagery in the card: a clear heart pierced by three swords, hovering over an imposing mountain or, depending how you see it, a wave. There's pain, vulnerability, and immediacy here. This card reminds us that, when left unexpressed or unprocessed, painful feelings live on with the same intensity as when they first happened. Sometimes, with more that has been building up as they remain buried within us. 

And yet in the curve of the heart on the right we see a wash of rainbow light, as if the glow of the Six of Coins is illuminating a facet of this experience we haven't seen before. What in our current moment of security is allowing us to see into our painful past differently? This is a wonderful time to slowly allow our new environments and our new lives to warm the calcified suffering we've experienced, allowing some of its sharpness to soften and dissolve. 

The Knight of Coins sheds some more light on the situation. As we can guess, Coins (or Pentacles in the RWS system) signify the material world and our practices in it, including money. The Knight shows us that we're taking a new initiative in this area, perhaps seeking a new source of income or pursuing an opportunity in our current field. This action is the natural growth from our current situation and a path worth taking. However, it's shaking up our conept ourselves.

The Six of Coins deals with issues of exchange and power dynamics around money, sometimes through healthy generosity and sometimes through entrenched and unequal structures. This card is asking us to reconsider our roles. Are we more comfortable giving our wealth or recieving it? How might this role be shifting and how can we embrace a healthier attitude towards money that's empowering and dynamic instead of limiting and stagnant?

The Knight of Coins suggests that we're starting to ask for more and emerging into a more proactive space where instead of waiting for good fortune, we reach out and work to achieve it. This comes with increased responsibility, and perhaps a new way of relating with others. 

All of a sudden we may find that people are looking up to us, asking for advice and support. This is pushing us to recognize that we've come farther than we thought. Where we once believed we were the beggars we find ourselves stable, capable, and in a position to help others.

This is all beautiful, slow, and natural growth. Our role here is to let it unfold gently, honoring both the exciting changes we're making for ourselves and the transfomation of our past hurts. Both can coexist together and we can find  tender solace in the fact that we've come far enough to hold space for our more complicated emotions to emerge, be seen, and then released as we change.

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Weekly Forecast: May 1-7

There’s a lot of intense energy in flux this week. We may find ourselves feeling impatient, prickly, or dissatisfied. We have plenty of energy and no desire to take things slowly or engage in self-reflection.

Why is this?

The King of Wands shows us that we’ve recently pulled off some very impressive feats. We’ve reached a kingly place: confident, stable, and accomplished. In the suit of wands this refers to creativity. Where in our lives have we took a creative leap that has paid off? Instead of commemorating ourselves and what we’ve done, however, we’re rushing onto the next thing.

We see the King facing to the left, looking back at where he came from, while our card for the present, The Knight of Pentacles, is facing the opposite way, charging into the future and looking both deflated and intensely fixated at something in the distance.

There’s tension between these cards. Instead of reflecting on the past like the King, we’re skipping to the teenage overzealousness of the Knight of Pentacles. Rushing forward towards something new, our tunnel vision is leaving us removed from the moment and feeling anxious and enervated.

I love this depiction of the Knight of Pentacles. The figure on the horse looks anything but enthused. And yet he’s riding a massively powerful horse that’s ready to rear ahead. This is a card that speaks to moments when our ambition overshadows our limitations and even our true desires.

If you’re going to be charging ahead you’d better be into it, not dragging a heavy pentacle like the knight we see here. Perhaps there’s something heavy and stifling about wanting to turn the fiery creativity of Wands into the solid, predictableness of a Pentacle. Maybe we’re not quite there yet this week. Maybe we don’t even need to go there at all.

There’s a distinct undercurrent of tension here: passion vs. obligation. What’s fueling this Knight charging forward? What is making him droop on the saddle? It seems like there might be a hint of old pressures and thought patterns: the pressure of “should” sending us off on journeys we’d rather not take.

In Pentacles-language, we could be feeling a need to be practical, conservative, and safe. Pentacles value stability. Are we afraid of our creative accomplishments leading us away from safety?

Change and creativity can be frightening because they destabilize us, no matter how positive it may seem. But before we rush off to counterbalance by being overly practical, we could also take a moment to get to know how it feels to master a part of our creative lives.

Contrast the two creatures in both cards. The King of Wands holds onto a fearsome lion, confident enough to turn his back to it and gaze to the side, looking purposeful and grounded. The Knight of Pentacles, on the other hand, is slumped on the back of a powerful horse. He doesn’t appear to be in control of the situation.

The King knows how to keep his wild nature by his side. The lion is a protector and a sign of power, working with his master. The Knight is disconnected from his wildness, allowing it to react to change with barely-controlled energy.

This a reminder that it is best to not move forward when we are acting out of fear and anxiety. Being connected to ourselves is most important when seeking out change. If we’re not feeling it at the moment, we can simply wait until we are clearer and more collected.

Over time, this struggle will be fruitful. Our reading ends with Justice, a powerful Major Arcana card with the ability to cut through bullshit and achieve clarity in moments of confusion.

This card suggests that our struggles between creative confidence and practical ambition will balance themselves out by the end of the week. Our flailing will give way to peacefulness as if our internal push and pull is simply the movement of a scale balancing itself. Take comfort in knowing that the ups and downs are relatively small in the scheme of things, and are leading us to a healthy medium. In the meantime, take stock of your ideas around success, safety, and creative expression. There’s a lot of be learned in the coming days.

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Weekly Forecast: Oct 3-9

Cards from The Fountain Tarot

We start this week’s reading with a beautiful and serene image. The ten of coins shows us the courtyard of our lives. Sun filters in over a pyramid of coins – the fruits of our labor, the accomplishments we have worked so hard on. Green and riches abound, surrounded by smooth white walls.

As symbols, walls can go different ways. Are they rigid? Protecting from a dangerous force outside? Erected out of fear? Or are they stable, built from hard work, and peppered with windows and doors that let us come and go?

This card signifies arriving at place of peace about your prosperity and ability to live a full life. You’ve built a secure and vibrant place for yourself. What’s more, you don’t forget the importance of the everyday. In fact, it is there that your strength and inspiration lies.

The space pictured in the card is not completely enclosed. We look through the archways and see the lush greenery on the other side. This reminds us to stay connected to the outside world and open to change.

Cherish what you have and see it as a stable place from which you can start new ventures. Your accomplishments are not rigid and constraining. Rather, they are flexible like a diving board you can leap off with joy.

Light shows up in all three cards: illuminating the tools in the magician’s hands, glinting off the coins in the ten, and shining onto the face of the knight of coins in a JJ Abrams-style lens flare.

We all can choose how much light to let into our lives. After all, the sun is always shining. Do we block it out with walls and gloomy curtains? Or stare into it like a child on a dare?

The walls in the ten and the knight show the perfect balance. Used well, boundaries and safety help let the perfect amount of light shine into our lives.

Like spiritual sunglasses, it’s important to protect ourselves from the overwhelming brilliance of life and inspiration. Otherwise we can be blinded by the myriad possibilities and paths open to us at all times.

Consider the magician. He is focused, meeting our eyes with a level gaze while balancing the four symbols of the suits in his hand. They float, levitating from his willpower. The strain doesn’t show on his face – he has mastered the balance and can harness this power to create new possibilities for himself. Light plays off the objects and his face is illuminated. He in neither blinded nor lost in darkness.

This is the moment we find ourselves in. You’re about to start making things happen using all the tools at your disposal. The ten and knight of coins suggest using a recent accomplishment to catapult you to greater success and spiritual alignment.

The knight of pentacles strengthens the theme of the material world and the financial. He also signifies a time of enthusiastic action. Perhaps this next step is regarding our work, businesses, or earning potential. Either way, know that you have accomplished much and that more is possible.

Be sure to protect what you have while you strike out on this new venture. And find strength in the solidness of your situation. You are well-primed for something new and all signs suggest it will be successful if you remain grounded and dedicated to maintaining balance. So put your sunglasses on, enjoy the protection of what you’ve built, and embrace the magic of what can happen when all the parts of your lives are aligned.