Weekly Forecast: Oct 10-16
Sometimes I look around my house and feel intense frustration. There’s a pile of dishes in the sink already and dog hair all over the floor. Haven’t I been doing dishes all week already? Doesn’t this ever stop??
In times like this I get a wild and reckless feeling. I’d rather burn the house down, start from scratch than was another dish!
I’m tickled to see a flaming upside-down house in the five of pentacles from the Tarot del Fuego. It reminds me of the caginess that can pop up in our day-to-day lives. The illustration is unique: tears with flaming pentacles inside cascading down a cheek covered in thorns. Heavy stuff, indeed! And one of the reasons I love this deck.
Frustration. Tears spilled over material matters. You may be feeling cagey in your home, your routine, your financial situation. Things may be tight and tensions may be high. For whatever reason, what you have right now just doesn’t seem to be enough.
The eight of wands follows in this theme, this time in the realm of work and creativity. You’ve been a busy bee and have jumped into a new project and idea. Perhaps you’re so engaged with it because you can escape from the material frustrations at home. It’s something exciting that came to you in a flash of inspiration. You set the wheels in motion and now the plan has been set into motion.
That was fast! And you’ve done a lot of work already. We see a huge fortress, its towers wrapped with wands. Buried at its base is a heart and two flames. These signify the passion and love behind your project. That flash of inspiration? It came from a good place. What you’re doing resonates with you. It’s exciting and it’s worth following.
But those walls sure look bulky, don’t they? In fact, they dwarf the heart that remains hidden underneath. And that ominous cloud full of eyes and flashing lightening? Not looking so good.
It looks like the passion project has become burdened with unnecessary extras. The substance got lost in hubbub of all the action. There’s no need to build the biggest, tallest, strongest next best thing. Especially when you’re just starting out.
You can smother your inspiration by piling needless work and too many bells and whistles on top. You want a curated collection that reflects your vision, not a crowded knickknack shelf (though those are delightful in their own right.)
Wrapping ourselves in our achievements can be a way of masking our insecurities. Focus on the fire beneath you, not the fear. Fire needs oxygen to burn bright. Don’t choke it out, otherwise you’ll invite the ominous clouds to make adjustments for you.
And maybe some of the dissatisfaction you’re experiencing with your home and financial situation is weaseling its way into this undertaking. Know that the underlying spark behind it is just what you need to better your situation and shake off that restlessness. You just need to buckle in, do the work, and stay connected to your original goals.
Look towards the two of swords (it rhymes and it stays!) as you hone this new project. Now is a time to plan by reconnecting with your daydreams. That is, to harness the magical combination of your mind and intuition. Savor this time to yourself and limit confusing outside input, including comparisons with others.
You might be sensitive about people’s judgements and run the risk of shelving your project because of a bad reaction. Your tender dream doesn’t deserve that! Keep it close, feed and nurture it. Use this time to get to know yourself. Think about why you’re doing what you’re doing.
This card suggests a reconnection to the hidden parts of your personality. Maybe something you were passionate about as a child, some part of yourself that came naturally and gave you great amounts of joy. And this part may have been met with some resistance back then. Did you hide it away and now it’s waking up, telling you it might be ready to come out soon?
Revel in the magic that happens when a part of yourself is awakening. Look inward and be dazzled by the unfurling. Support it with your thoughts. Do you need to train yourself to be nicer, kinder to yourself? Have your thoughts get to know this new spark. They get to protect each other, and given the time, they can make a big change in your life.
Weekly Forecast: Oct 3-9
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.
Weekly Forecast: Sept 26-October 2
Fall is here. The signs? Leaves starting to turn, shorter days, and pumpkins and gourds piled high outside of grocery stores. It’s a glorious time of the year. Last week we celebrated the fall equinox, officially marking the start of the season. And it looks like the season has ushered in a new change.
The cards for this week show the arrival of calm. Not just on a surface level, either. The Star, in all its major arcana glory, signifies a deeper sense of connection to ourselves and our values. The sort of peaceful certainty that makes decisions easy. You just know what to do because it feels right. Your intuition is lining up with your actions, a truly beautiful place to make decisions from.
So picture the crispness of a fall day. Maybe you’re going to pick apples. It’s just cold enough to wear your favorite sweater and feel your cheeks getting rosy from the breeze. The sun is shining and everything feels bright and full of possibility. This is the energy coming into focus this week.
Transitions come with a lot of activity and in the previous week you may have found yourself a bit exhausted. The seven of wands shows a young man fending off an army of sticks, defending his high ground. Similarly, you may have felt a bit besieged by work, obligations, and setting boundaries. All good things to accomplish, and yet once you realize what your time is worth, the unending exertion can get tedious.
This is a good sign, however, because who wants to be constantly grappling with life? There has to be some balance, right?
The Star gives us the answer and it is a clear, undeniable yes. You have integrated the lessons from the seven of wands. You know what you stand for, what is worth your time, and what you want. To stay in a defensive place past this point is a poor use of your energy. The Star tells us that you have made this move and are about to enjoy the peace and solidity of really knowing yourself.
Stars illuminate the night sky and when we look up at them we are simultaneously humbled and inspired. There is a playfulness and wonder to stars that will be helpful to keep in mind moving forward. Progress does not have to be a weighty thing.
When you’re following your inspiration and true self life is full of magic and excitement. This does not make it any less important than busyness and stress. In fact, it is the sign that we are headed in the right direction, under the guidance of our north star, so to speak.
Which brings us to the three of wands. In connecting with your true motivations and beliefs you are much better prepared to move forward. In this card a man stands on the shore of a body of water holding three wands. He has learned many things and knows what he needs to bring with him. Now he considers his next move, secure in his abilities and full of optimism.
You are arriving at a time where we have learned and integrated deep lessons. The next question is: where will you go next?
Weekly Forecast: Sept 19-25
There’s restlessness in the air this week. The leaves are turning, the light is golden, and although fall has yet to begin, these changes call to mind the specter of winter. Like birds being called to migrate or bears shuffling into the forest to hibernate, we too are feeling a deeper call this week to either retreat or strike out.
The motivation springs from two sources. At its heart is the feeling of needing to change. You are in search of a missing piece of the puzzle. While your instinct is passionate and correct, the act of leaving your comforts is slightly unnerving. Why turn your back on the coziness you’ve created for yourself to travel over unfamiliar terrain, looking for something new? Something you haven’t even defined yet?
But this isn’t just a feeling you have. The discomfort has been popping up in your daily life. There is a conflict between the sense of order you’ve created and the desire to shake things up. Everything is measured out just so. You take great pains to make sure things are done at the right time and in just the right amount. But this role is tiring and you may have found yourself daydreaming more lately, looking for a change and for something more adventurous.
Seeing the moon illuminating the path of the man in the eight of cups is a rather magical reminder of the recent lunar eclipse. It reinforces the pull drawing you from a place of comfort into unknown territory. Your motivations spring from within as well as from a deeper, more elemental source. It is wise to heed these calls and break away from the regimented life of the six of pentacles.
Here, the eight of cups tells us that in order to lead a more fulfilling life we must embrace our wildness and strike out to search for what is missing under the light of the moon. This card is grounded by two pentacles cards, showing us that while the journey may seem risky at first and its logic may not be immediately understandable, it will lead us back to the earth in an improved state.
The two of pentacles shows this outcome. After some soul-searching we reemerge with a sense of clarity. No longer focusing outwardly towards the two begging figures, we are considering the merits of two options. There is a sense of concentration and motion. Juggling requires focus and as we dance from foot to foot we truly feel out each path.
But perhaps the most magical aspect of these cards is the color. Red, the color of passion, dominates the clothing of each primary figure, and even pops up in the ships’ sails in the two of pentacles.
In the story told by these cards, we follow our passion from regimented balance, through brave soul seeking, to dynamic decision making. And maybe even to a journey. I see this continuity as a clear message that whatever little voice we’re hearing, whatever wild call to migrate or change with the season, is one worth listening to. We must follow our passions to truly realize ourselves in this world.
Weekly Forecast: Sept. 12-18
Cards from the Tarocchi di Donne by Gloria N. Castellucci
Life can be full of action. We find ourselves running from one thing to the next, writing out epic to do lists and checking off the boxes with a fast and furious sense of satisfaction. This can be exhilarating. We’re being productive! We’re kicking ass! We’re getting things done.
Being a productive badass is not sustainable in the long run, however. We’re human. We need to rest, we need to relax, and we need to have time to just be. The good things in our life don't need us to be running around frazzled to exist. They will still be there if we stop to smell the roses.
Strangely, this actually increases our power to accomplish our goals. We have time to remember why we’re doing what we’re doing, giving meaning and motivation to our actions. It's not always an easy thing to do, however, especially in our work-obsessed culture.
The cards for this week show a high potential for burnout at an already busy time. Action and activity are front and center - expect a full schedule and multiple people competing for your attention. Remaining mindful and grounded will be a challenge, but very worth it.
The Ace of Pentacles shows us that this is a very exciting moment. It’s also the carrot dangling above us, tempting us to overwork ourselves: There’s a new opportunity available involving our daily lives, most likely money. Who wouldn’t want to get a jump start and make this happen?
Pursuing money and a tendency to overwork are a dangerous combination. The Five of Wands suggests a delicate balance. There’s just enough on our plates that we’re able to juggle it if we concentrate hard enough. Add one more piece and our abilities are stretched too thin. We have to drop something or the whole thing comes tumbling down.
This brings us to The Tower, perhaps one of the more blunt cards and also one of my favorites. The Tower reminds us that we are at a pivotal moment. If we continue as is, overextending ourselves and focusing on action over mental and emotional health, we cannot accept the new opportunity without causing our balance to collapse.
In a beautiful way, the outcome depicted in The Tower redirects us to the Ace of Pentacles. It tells us that if we rush headlong into this new beginning we would squander the gift that is being offered to us. Here, these two cards remind us that good fortune is worth celebrating.
We’re at the beginning of a cycle. There is no need to rush a good thing. In fact, doing so will only work against us.
If we take it slow and enjoy what we have while welcoming change at its own pace we can give ourselves the space and time to decide how to restructure our lives when the time comes.
So relish the opportunities sent your way, take the time to reconnect with yourself and your motivations, and remember you have the choice to adapt as you see fit. This unknown future could be the best yet.
Weekly Forecast: Sept. 5 - 11
Cards from the stunning Fountain Tarot
Picture the beauty of a sunrise. The dark sky begins to glow at the horizon. Night is over and the day is about to begin. At this moment we are unaware of the glory of the details. What color will the clouds be illuminated with, if there are any clouds at all? Will be see a flock of birds fly by on their way to begin their days? Will the sun glow orange or a pale yellow as it travels up the sky?
I like to think of aces as the moment we take in these beautiful details. We are too entranced by the newness, the reality of the sunrise to question, stress, or overload ourselves with plans for the day. We simply accept the gift as it’s presented to us.
This day and age it’s hard to hang onto this feeling, but I urge you to savor this moment for as long as you can.
This week brings in a pair of new beginnings, so get excited, remain in the moment, and get ready to be inspired.
Maybe you’ve been contemplating turning a personal passion into a business or looking to share your creative output with the world. The ace of coins and the ace of pentacles give you a glowing go-ahead. Now is the time to launch new projects and embrace your creative and practical side. If you cultivate your goals you could end up creating something satisfying and sustainable. This is a week where creativity and financial success are primed to meet. Who doesn’t love this combination?
If you’re not quite there yet or feeling unfocused, the energy this week will be prime for brainstorming and exploring opportunities. There is a great deal of positivity and inspiration at foot!
The powerful enthusiasm that comes with aces can lead to overthinking and insecurity. If you’ve ever had a flash of inspiration, gotten excited, and then lost your steam when you sat down to make it happen you know what I’m talking about.
The Hanged Man shows us another way. Instead of scrabbling to control our inspiration, this card encourages us to step back and let these forces work their magic. Stay playful and embrace the energy of the aces this week. Sometimes our ego is the ultimate roadblock to brilliance. Talk about putting a wet blanket on a lightning bolt. So tell your inner critic to kindly take the backseat as you explore.
They key is to remain flexible and trust in the gifts you’ve been given along with your capabilities.
The verdant lushness of the Ace of Coins clues us into a little trick. While coins signify financial matters in their most literal sense, they also evoke a sense of being grounded and connected to nature. As the week brings more practical opportunities to you, connect with the world around you to avoid stress and overload – take a walk, spend some time with your pets, or get dirty in your garden. This can also temper the sometimes manic energy that comes with wands.
I’m excited to see what we make of these incoming opportunities, so make sure to share what these aces bring you way and enjoy the week ahead!