Weekly Forecast: September 17-23

What happens when we rest? We don't often celebrate the importance and complexity of this practice. There's a sort of "nap alchemy" that transpires when we take the time to simply be. Yet we often skip over it, focusing on actions we can quantify instead.

Doing things often leads to tangible, braggable results. We've been productive, active, and we have something to prove for it! Not to mention that productivity is one of the primary ways we show our worth. Unfortunately, when we worship productivity we have the tendency to see rest as laziness.

The Four of Swords is here to shatter that unfortunate assumption. Here we see one of the healthiest manifestations of the swords suit. Three swords hang on display, clearly visible and safely arrayed. Another lies peacefully below. There's no cutting going on here, no interpersonal conflict. In fact, it's just us, the solitary character resting in a quiet gray room. 

This card shows us coming into the week with a strong desire to simply recharge and process things. The swords suit forces us to examine when our thoughts work for us, harmoniously informing our decisions, and when they become destructive, filling our lives with stress and pressure. We're being invited to hang our worries up and take a breather, to rest and trust that what seems murky now will become clear as we give ourselves the chance to recharge and care for ourselves. 

The Four of Swords also tells us that our bodies are leading the way. It's a good time to listen to what they tell us. Do we feel tired? It's time to rest. Are our minds racing, overwhelmed by everything that's happening? It's time to set those thoughts aside gently and return to our bodies, breathing deeply and detaching ourselves from the emotional pressure of our minds. And finally, are we feeling prickly and antagonistic towards those around us? It might be time to seek out some solitude.

What's fascinating here is that all the ingredients for an exciting change are active in our lives right now. Like a delicious loaf of bread in the making, we need to rest after all the mixing and kneading. We're forming important and essential connections when we let our minds and bodies recover. It may not be outwardly impressive or easily proven, but it certainly is essential to this next big step.

For while we're seeking out rest an solitude this week we're making room for an important insight. The fourth sword below the resting figure isn't on the wall with the other three. There's something just below the surface that needs to come into focus. No amount of squirming or over-thinking will bring it out. Opening our minds, releasing tension, and saying goodbye to our old strategies allows this deeper information to appear. 

Because this deeper information is something precious, special, and a little tender. It's leading us to The Fool, a card of profound new beginnings. This card shows us walking towards a new path that's as alluring as it is uncertain. Embodying The Fool requires taking a bit of a trust fall with life itself. And finding that path - equally frightening as it is promising  - requires discovering and listening to the inner voice that comes from the core part of yourself: that's the fourth sword. 

In a cheeky bit of tarot humor, we have the Knight of Swords as our final card, showing us that once we've identified The Fool's path  we're being tempted to steamroll over the magic and new beginnings with some swordsy certainty and ambition. This card is warning us that doing so will trample the new seed we've planted. We don't need to rush anything, go on epic crusades with our new-found information, or stifle it with overly-ambitious plans. If we do, we'll quickly find ourselves exhausted and needing more rest to reconnect with our initial spark of inspiration.

Of course, this is a dance we can do often, going back and forth between inspiration and burnout, but we also have another opportunity here. We can ease into The Fool's shoes and choose to leave the Knight of Swords' approach behind. This requires us to trust our intuition, take one step at a time, and open ourselves to the wonder of doing what feels right. 

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Weekly Forecast: September 10-16

What does it look like when we take care of ourselves? Lately, it seems like elaborate baths filled with fancy oils and crystals are all the rage. Or maybe a profound meditation practice? A walk outside? Yet sometimes caring for ourselves diverges from the popular and palatable (and photographable) practices du jour. The Star shows us mulling all this over at the beginning of the week, seeking ways to connect to our source that are deeply personal and, relievingly, private. 

An introspective and rejuvenating card, The Star is inviting us to fall gently into the core of ourselves. Only when we're there can we ask, "What do I truly need right now?" If that's mindfully bathing with your quartz crystals, go for it! If it's more like reading Science-Fiction novels and eating beef jerky or listening to music while staring at the ceiling or drawing autobiographical comics, that's exactly what you should do.The Star invites us to lean into our unique desires and celebrate them, to follow our feelings with the goal of offering ourselves the care and kindness we often reserve for others. 

So what happens when we dive into our inner sanctum and give ourselves space to nurture ourselves? We just feel amazing, right?? The remaining cards for this week tune us into a different, more complex reality. 

Sometimes when we give ourselves space to relax it also makes room for more difficult emotions to emerge. Caring for ourselves means honoring the entirety of our emotional experiences, even those that are difficult and distressing. In our case, this week is all about the Ten of Swords, a spiky, bittersweet, and challenging card, to say the least. It looks like we're settling into an important truth about ourselves that, although beautiful and necessary for our growth, also requires us to shut a door on something in our lives.

The Ten of Swords represents the end of a cycle, the final chapter of the "story of Swords." With this suit we're dealing with the many ins-and-outs of our thoughts: their power to shape the world around us and their ability to reverberate outwards through the ways we communicate them. In the ten, we've reached the end of a difficult journey. It's time to shed some old ideas about ourselves, particularly the one's that have held us back or wounded us. If there's anything helpful about the the Ten of Swords, it's that these issues are obvious and unavoidable. In other words, we know exactly what is causing us pain and exhaustion. 

Why might this be bittersweet? Whether we've inherited these ideas, picked them up from relationships, or absorbed them from the culture around us, we're familiar and attached to them. Maybe we feel like we're abandoning part of our upbringing by saying no to these patterns, betraying an idea that's been so important to us, or walking away from a relationship that has seen us through so much. The Star reminds us to tend to ourselves - to feel our feelings and let them flow through us - while prioritizing what rejuvenates us over what weighs us down. 

Our final card, the Four of Cups, offers an important clue. In addition to feeling attached to these cutting sword thoughts and experiences, we may also be using them as a distraction from our calling. A classic card of ennui and dissatisfaction, the Four of Cups appears in an almost comic position after the Ten of Swords. After all the processing and suffering and over thinking there's... boredom? We may be making things too complicated for ourselves in an effort to avoid getting down to the exciting and vulnerable business of being ourselves.

This is an affirming card because it shows us that we've already grown beyond the Ten of Swords. Once we say our final goodbye we might be surprised to vault into a different state of being. It may be so uncharacteristically pleasant and calm that we feel wary. Hence the Four of Cups. Where we're expecting drama and deep, slogging emotional work we're instead finding peace. And for a second, it feels empty and strange.

The Four of Cups is an important reminder that embodying The Star - filling our cups with what regenerates and sustains us - feels good. And when we're used to feeling "bad," struggling through choices and decisions, we get suspicious when things are easy. This week is a time to replace that thinking, equating deep satisfaction and the magic of natural focus with progress, instead of immense effort and tough going. 

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Weekly Forecast: September 3-9

This is a week full of opportunity for us if we choose to reach out and take what's being offered to us. Of course, starting with the Ace of Pentacles is a welcome beacon of potential and promise. Look at this singular, shining coin! And yet taking gifts when they're offered isn't as easy as it may seem. Many of us struggle with accepting good things. Sometimes we're afraid of the spotlight - that we look greedy or boastful - and sometimes we're afraid of growing into something bigger.

We'll be experiencing some of these tensions this week, though not in a paralyzing sense. Rather, we're in a position where we can no longer ignore the magic happening around us. We can work on editing some of these stale and limiting stories because the rewards and support in our lives are too big to ignore.

This ace is appearing to let us know that our actions to date have been accumulating a lot of goodwill and recognition, even if we've been unaware of it, lost in doubts or simply the focus of continuing along a path, one foot ahead of the other.

This is a time to examine our reflexive responses to gifts and kindness. Are we comfortable receiving attention, support, and goodwill? How adept are we at navigating the spotlight? Whether we're feeling ready for it or not, this is a moment where we can launch ourselves into a radically new phase. It's time to get going, abandon any limitations we tend to put in front of us, and let ourselves walk into ease and expansion.

Because we have two Major Arcana cards springing from the Ace of Pentacles. Both point towards expression, growth, and support. Taking a gift, gesture of support, or windfall and running with it is leading us to bigger places. 

The Hierophant lets us know that we have incredible resources to draw on. This card speaks to mentoring figures in our lives. Who in our circles or their peripheries inspires us? Who can guide us on our path and offer us sage advice as we stretch our wings? We're onto something here and reaching out to those who've been down similar roads will both add to our knowledge and help galvanize us. This week is a time to reach out and connect with the people who inspire us. 

Bringing our dreams to others is a magical way to stay accountable and dedicated to their realization. Left alone we can abandon the path and nobody would be the wiser.

And that would be a shame since The Sun, our final card, shows us walking towards a beautiful burst of self-expression. The Sun shines so brightly that we often take it for granted. It's difficult to squint into its light and see how much energy and work goes into its output. Being a beacon, living our truth, and sharing that truth with the world is a true labor of love. It's a wonderful thing to behold, but it also requires being active, present, and, in a sense, vulnerable.

We may be feeling some anxiety this week about being seen fully, our ambitions and dreams visible to all around us. Wanting things and then pursuing them means that we're putting ourselves out there. Make room for that naked feeling while focusing on the freedom that comes with it. So what if we have big dreams and are working to make them real? When we become our own suns we don't need to worry about the opinions of others or even the bumps along the road. 

Our vision for change and connection to ourselves will always be shining above any clouds. 

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Weekly Forecast: August 27-September 2

The Knight of Wands is a charming character. Like all knights, they carry with them a sense of adventure, but this one in particular has the passionate zest of the wands behind them: their ideas are energizing, their enthusiasm is irresistibly contagious, and they promise change and distraction from the ordinary. 

Is there a catch to all this flashy brilliance? Why yes, there is, and this week we're seeing this card enacting both sides of its nature. First comes the alluring invitation to adventure. Knights represent youthful energy, and it's not the guileless innocence of early childhood. Instead, these cards are willful, idealistic, and impulsive. 

We might experience this card as a sense of restlessness, spiritual itchiness, or dissatisfaction in our lives. Wands are the suit of fire, so we can be sure that we're looking for quick fixes and immediate solutions that have an air of romance about them. We're finding ourselves entranced by ideas of escape from the ordinary like quitting our day jobs to travel the world or abandoning a project that's gotten difficult to take up a new opportunity. This could also show up in our love lives as we start to look at our partners, new or established, with a critical eye. The overarching message? We feel edgy so we should do something about it now!

Not so fast. While the Knight of Wands' message might be galvanizing, it runs the risk of fizzling out when put into action. In other words, we're using a new venture to run away from something that's already working for us. Maybe the reality of the situation feels boring, or we feel hemmed in by the commitment. Starting something new is the perfect way to distance ourselves, but we might be side-stepping what we really want and need.

The Two of Wands illustrates the escape fantasies that can come with boredom or over-familiarity. Looking at the card we can see that the main figure is living a life filled with riches. They're caressing lush feathers while standing on a castle parapet wearing luxurious finery, for goodness sake! Then why are they staring wistfully off into the horizon?

This card is a cheeky reminder that our fantasies are just fantasies. Instead of propelling us out of a tricky situation they're cheating us out of enjoying what we have. Are we growing bored with our fancy clothes, the beautiful castle we've built for ourselves, and the relationships that take place within its walls? 

And the bigger question beneath all this is, what feelings, desires, or wishes are we avoiding with all these plans and daydreams? 

The Queen of Cups is a reassuring and insightful card to end with and it shows us how we're actually sitting on top of a huge well of intuitive knowledge. We know, in our heart of hearts, that the situation isn't calling for wandsy action. Instead, this is a time to step back into our personal inner sanctum, that quiet space where we consult ourselves and then listen quietly for our own response.

Because we're not at a Knight's phase in this moment. And we don't want to initiate distracting change and get lost in new ventures. We're actually well on the way of a slower journey. We know ourselves better, and can identify, accept, and lovingly re-direct our anxious, eager reactions. The Queen of Cups shows us that underneath it all, we know where we're going, and our sense of direction is based on an indescribable knowing. We're feeling our way forward, not rationalizing or justifying it to anyone. 

Clarity is coming our way towards the end of the week, so all we need to do is recognize our eager, impatient Knight of Wands selves while making space for the insight of the Queen of Cups. And while we're at it, we can enjoy the wonders of our actual lives, returning the romance and value to what we've worked so hard to cultivate. There' so much to enjoy and treasure. 
 

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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: August 13-19

How nice is it to hear that taking a bit of a reckless chance will pay off richly? This certainly isn't a message that comes out frequently, but leave it to the action-packed suit of wands to lead the way this week. We're certainly feeling all fired-up and ready to make moves. Fortunately, our sense of readiness is justified. The time to act is now.

Because we're dealing with wands, this is likely in an area of our lives that requires creativity. So often we disqualify ourselves from the term, thinking that creativity only refers to artistic pursuits. I can't tell you how many people come in for readings and balk at this side of the wands."I'm not a creative person," they say.  And yet how can we be human and not be creative? 

Just look at the Knight of Wands. What better card to represent our need to think on the fly? Each day we have to navigate a sea of choices and options and this requires us to, yes, think creatively. We must pivot on the spot, cobble together solutions, and follow our instincts. I don't say this to take away the glamor of creativity, but to add a sense of excitement and respect for all the things we're required to do. Even the mundane can be given that shininess with a simple shift in thinking.

That being said, we're past the point of thinking this week. Whether we're being creative in an artistic or more general sense, it's not a time to deliberate or agonize. That will only make us feel restless and hemmed in. Knights bring with them an influx of energy and purpose. Of course, this can be hot-headed and foolhardy, so it's a good idea to look before we leap to make sure we're not going to step on any toes. In this reading, however, that threat is small because we have the Three of Wands as our central card. 

This card is telling us that we've laid the groundwork for our plan, giving the ambitious Knight in us a well-thought-out path to ride. If anything, we may have to make sure we're starting out on that path in the first place. The Knight of Wands is facing to the left, away from the Three of Wands. Are we being led astray by another enticing project instead of moving towards a more long-held goal? In that case all we have to do is reign in our horse and get back on track. Once we do this we'll find our passion and motivation unchanged. When we work with the enthusiasm of the Knights, giving them structure and direction, we can get so much done.

The Nine of Cups is a welcome addition to this array. Too much fire can burn things to a crisp. Our creative plan, however, isn't just action for action's sake. We're also seeking connection and community through our work. What we do is creating links with others and providing us with the means to give back to our communities. Taking moments to reach out, share our joy and plans, and provide ideas and advice to others is leading to a deep sense of satisfaction. 

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Weekly Forecast: August 6-12

It's always exciting to see a reading featuring a single suit. Why? Because it shows the cards giving us an extremely targeted message, and in this case, it's an extremely practical one as well since we're looking at the earthy group of pentacles.

Not only that, but we're entering onto the scene with the King of Pentacles! Already, we can see that we're in a position to lead and delegate with ease. We're showing up fully with lots of well-earned confidence. This isn't a time to make ourselves small or run away from responsibility. And we won't want to because we have lots of exciting work to do.

This week we're being called on to muster our forces and reign in our spending (financial and energetic) in order to get ready for the launch of a new project. It may be an adjustment, especially since the King of Pentacles loves decadence and pleasures. Moving from this king to the Four of Pentacles is a shift from expansiveness to strategic restraint and consolidation. 

While this isn't a glamorous change at first glance, the King of Pentacles has more than enough chutzpah and persuasiveness to see things differently. We're being given a chance to see thrift and saving as a way to celebrate and cultivate our personal vision. The King of Pentacles may like to partake in the pleasures of their life, but they also know that doing so is only part of the cycle. The other half? The work itself. And it's just as affirming and joyful.

If we enter into the financially conservative position of the Four of Pentacles with the vision of the King we can view our resources as tools to build something new, vibrant, and exciting. In other words, reigning it in is a way of preparing for expanding into new territory. In this way, the Four of Pentacles doesn't have to be miserly, stingy, or dissatisfied.

 Instead of seeing the need to save money as shameful - I dont' have enough right now and I should! - or limiting - I want to buy new clothes and I can't! - we can re-frame it as an empowering, self-directed move. We are the masters of our finances, just like the King of Pentacles. 

Because the motivation behind these choices is a project that has a great deal of potential. The Three of Pentacles is always exciting to see because it shows the immersive, intoxicating, and motivating act of planning. We're ready to start building something new and we're going to need our material resources to make it a reality. The more we hammer out the details, the more we feel aligned and justified in our saving.

Staying connected with our goal will only build our energy and excitement. And in the long run, this expenditure will bring us back towards the celebratory success of the King. Finding satisfaction in work and security in saving will be bringing us a deep sense of meaning. 
 

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Weekly Forecast: July 30 - August 5

It's always a delight when I pull one of the moon phase cards in the Pagan Otherworlds Tarot from Uusi Design Studio. This week we have the waxing gibbous moon as the center of our reading. It's beautiful, mysterious, and in the process of becoming fully illuminated. Similarly, we're in the midst of a wonderful period of self-discovery that's awash with equal parts energy and mystery.

On either side of this alluring moon we have two very different cards whose meanings are wonderfully complimentary. For starters, The Fool is sauntering into the week bringing their adventurer's sense of possibility. In contrast with the Knights, who are more ego-driven and intense seekers, The Fool has a refreshing selflessness and innocence. When we see this card we can know that we're heading towards uncharted territory that requires us to shed expectations about the path ahead as well as ourselves.

In order to take advantage of this new journey we need to travel light. In the days leading up to this week we've been doing some heavy shedding. Though this metaphor might be a little gross, it is very much like a dog shedding their winter coat or a bird moulting their feathers. We've been letting go of some stale ideas and choosing the few tools we need to get by. This leaves a lot of space for us to grow and expand.

We may, however, be feeling a bit empty and unsure. That's completely okay and part of the process. The Fool is a card that shows us the importance of taking a leap of faith, trusting in ourselves and our instincts to catapult us into the next level. It's worth remembering that we have everything we need to move forward with us right now. This card's lesson is that sometimes we have to brush aside some of the dust and burdens we've accumulated to get to our true self and true potential.

Embracing the energy of The Fool means taking our desires and wishes seriously. They may appear a bit outlandish to others, but that's none of their business. Our dreams are ours to pursue; they only need to make sense to us and us alone. And yet we won't be alone for long. 

The big leap we're taking is leading us towards important co-collaborators. There's a like-minded group of allies on the other side and we'll be able to dive into planning and building quite soon. The Three of Pentacles shows us this satisfying period of creation and connection. What's more, it brings the ever-important grounding energy of earth. Our Fool's path is doubly affirmed here. Not only do we have pure, self-guided intentions, but we're connecting with others to make them a reality rather than staying lost in the clouds. 

So what of the shimmering moon? It's glowing from the center of our reading to remind us to take it easy and to let our vision unfurl naturally. Time is the essential ingredient for our plans right now. Like a waxing gibbous moon, things are slowly coming into light. Now is a time to watch, listen, and notice how we're feeling during the transition. The work we've done to put ourselves in The Fool's shoes was no small task. Resting and simply feeling what it's like to be here now - before the work and toil begins - is a beautiful opportunity to integrate these big changes and celebrate what we've just put into motion. 

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Weekly Forecast: July 23-30

The way we live these days it's easy to feel like we don't have enough. How often are we taking in messages about consumption without even knowing it? I think back to my great grandmother. We still have a set of china that belonged to her in the family. It's a huge set, from back in the day when having a gravy boat that matched your soup tureen (who still uses those?!) was the pinnacle of class and sophistication.

For her, buying this set of dishes was a huge deal. It was hers for life. And she obviously cherished it since it still survives with all its pieces intact. And yet now, in one outing wandering around Raleigh yesterday, I saw so many dishes. New cups and glasses, delightful platters and bowls. I caught myself lusting after them even though my cabinets are full.

We have a similar situation this week. Our lives are full of support and plenty, yet instead of enjoying it we're looking beyond it all to an imagined situation of poverty. But we're not dealing with dishware here. This is about feelings, connections, and relationships, as we can tell from the two cups cards that start our reading. 

What happens when we take our wonderfully supportive and rich emotional lives for granted? Our answer is short and concise: the false sense of scarcity is driving us towards conflict. 

The Five of Swords sees us rising to an imagined challenged with edgy, frustrated energy. Like swords, it's spiky and stabby and likely to injure someone, whether it's ourselves or others.

But this path is ill-advised and completely divorced from our present reality. Though we'll feel pulled to gloss over what's great, heeding the siren song of "more" to disregard what we already have, there's another path.

"What's this?" you might ask. It's simple. Enjoy what you have and care for it with love and respect.

The Nine of Cups is a beautifully radiant and jovial card. I love how it's illustrated in The Fountain Tarot. In the Rider-Waite-Smith deck the satisfied look of the main character paired with his confident stance in front of a wall of cups can come across to some as smug or boastful. Yet this card is all about care and connection and joy. I've found that this version is much more resonant with modern audiences. Here, a person is holding one of his cups happily, smiling with the warmth of someone who is truly present. 

This card is showing us what we're really working with this week - a beautiful life rich in relationships and meaningful experiences. It's our job to tend to these actively. The Nine of Cups can't be their magnificent self by checking out or distracting themselves. Contentment requires consciousness. Are we fully aware of the gifts in our lives? And, most importantly, are we willing to honor them by enjoying them?

The Four of Cups suggests that we're dealing with an aversion to happiness. This is a good time to explore and get to know how and why we cut ourselves off from fulfillment. Are we afraid of responsibility? Showing up and appreciating our lives and those in it requires acknowledging that people count on us and that we're responsible for how we act in the world. Do we think we don't deserve what we have? That celebrating it is somehow boastful, cruel, or even tacky? Or are we simply following the script that more is better and what we already have isn't enough?

Having such a stark contrast between the Nine of Cups and the Four of Cups is a blessing in disguise. That is, it'll be easy to notice the difference between these two mindsets if we look for it. We can either be with it and happy, like the Nine, or detached and despondent, like the Four. I'm not going to speak for anyone here, but I can confidently say that I'd much prefer to be the Nine of Cups!

And of course the Five of Swords has a lot to say about the repercussions of seeing four cups when there are actually nine. When we invest in a scarcity mentality we start behaving in desperate and sneaky ways. If we think that the world isn't bountiful - that we can't enjoy happiness as we are or with the life we have right now - we start grabbing for what we can and disregarding others. While the immediate feeling might be satisfying, it's ultimately short-lived, and we run the risk of leaving a wake of hurt-feelings and ill-will behind us. 

So, yes, we may find ourselves in the dreamy, dissatisfied state of ennui represented by the Four of Cups, but we can choose which way to go. Do we pick ourselves up and re-emerge in our lives, accepting the loveliness we have and the wonderful people who care of us? Do we cherish the full set of dishes we've been given? Or do we treat them callously, seeking whatever's new and shiny? I'll leave the choice up to you, but I certainly know which version I'll be striving for.

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