Elliot Adam's Blog, page 48
January 15, 2023
The Card of the Day: The Three of Wands (Reversed)
“Presence.”
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The Three of Wands reveals that your life is like a large blank canvas. It is waiting for you to create a masterpiece that depicts your heart’s desire. Despite your fears, nothing has been irreparably “messed up” yet. There is still time! Time to take the courageous journey toward your bliss. The only caveat is, you have to stop to identify what “bliss” is for you. If you can name your bliss, you are on your way to claiming it.
Are you clear on what you want out of life? If someone asks you what you want out of life, do you respond "to be happy," without even knowing what that means for you? Do you think you've failed, or messed up with your life, and you that can't get it back on track?
Let me tell you something... That's just a lie from fear. It's not true.
The man on the card is considering his future. He's richly dressed, an important person in his small corner of the world. Yet he feels unfulfilled. The man is not looking at you, he's thinking about life. His life.
At first glance it appears he is overlooking a vast desert. A sandy wasteland with little promise. What kind of future is that?! But as always with the tarot, look closer... You will see that these are not barren sands, but the orange glowing waters of sunrise or sunset. Ships are crossing to and from their ports of safety. Sunrise and sunset are the magical times of "in-between." Transformations always happens at these times (see the Two of Swords). The man's heart is yearning to embark, to leave his small island home. Somehow, it has unconsciously always been his dream. He wasn't sure what he was missing, but now he knows. He took the time to stop, think, and get clear about what he really wants out of life. Now that he is clear on his objective, he can open himself to the wonders of the world. He's going to go for it!
Today the Three of Wands asks you to stop, overview, and think about where you are going. Is there something you still want to have, achieve, or be? Well you can still have it! The world is wide, open, and waiting. You just may just have to leave your own "small island" (a metaphor for your comfort zone). If you act on what you truly want for yourself, you won't ever regret it. Taking action in the face of fear proves your courage, which becomes self-esteem. Who doesn't want to feel more confident about themselves?
You can still have all you want, but you have to be clear about what that is. When you know it, it will be your treasure map, guiding you to unbelievable riches.
When you have your bliss, clear in your mind, ask yourself, "Am I doing at least one thing today that contributes to achieving this for myself? If the answer is "No," don't beat yourself up. Get up and change it. Make it priority number one tomorrow. Wanting to "be happy" isn't clear enough. What does happy actually mean for you?
Above the Temple leading to the Oracle of Delphi were the words: "Know Thyself."
If you really do take the time to know yourself, then all you desire can manifest like magic.
When the Three of Wands appears reversed, it asks where the majority of your mental energy is being directed... on a future that has not happened yet, or the present? Planning for the future is vital for achieving long term success in this life. However, thoughts about the future should not completely override experiencing joy in the moment. The Three of Wands reversed asks you to look at this moment as a snapshot of where you are on your path. If a photographer were to take a metaphorical picture of your life right now what would that picture look like? Can you see it as an image of beauty? It is time to be present with your life and see it as it truly is before proceeding. What do you love about your life currently? What do you wish would change? Accept your life and the lessons you currently find yourself learning. Breathe in the truth of your life at this moment, and bless it with loving acceptance from your heart center.
The Three of Wands reversed advises you to stop yearning for the future to bring you the peace and joy you are seeking. It is right here, right now, and its light envelops you in the place you are sitting. When you begin to accept yourself and send love toward the life you are living, strange, magical and miraculous things will start to begin. Doorways begin to open. Prosperity flows. You begin to see the light in others and in your experiences.
The Three of Wands reversed reminds you that you can find joy in the present. Look at all of your present achievements. Count all of your blessings. Take a break from rushing toward deadlines and tasks. Be present.
*Three of Wands (Reversed) in a Love Reading:
New Relationship
The person you are asking about is flighty, scattered, or ungrounded. There is a sense that he or she does not stay tethered to anything for long. Where the wind blows, they follow. The Three of Wands reversed can warn of impulsivity. Try not to project your desire for commitment on a person that is showing you they still want their freedom.
Long Term Partnership
You and you partner may be worrying about your potential for future happiness or security. Don’t borrow trouble. Often, this card will remind you to stop unhelpfully projecting your thoughts into the future and deal with what is right in front of you. You both may need a break from a stressful situation to regain perspective.
Seeking Romance
This card can symbolize the feeling of being lost. The future is wide open and waiting, but its possibilities might feel overwhelming. This is a good problem to have! Start wherever you are. Take small steps instead of trying to overhaul your entire life at this time. With each step you take forward, the future will come into sharper focus. You are on your way.
“Tarot in Love” available on Amazon!
*This excerpt is a sneak peek at my new book “Tarot in Love: Consulting the Cards in Matters of the Heart” from Llewellyn Books and available now!
Follow Elliot Oracle on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube for weekly community readings!
January 14, 2023
The Card of the Day: The Ten of Pentacles (Reversed)
“Ancestors.”
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The Ten of Pentacles is a card of legacy. It represents investment in the things that really last. It is also a card of family and tradition. When the Ten of Pentacles appears, it asks you if you are working toward leaving the world a better place than you found it. This can include caring for the future generations, cultivating a talent that impacts the world, or being a representative of what is best in humanity.
What really matters to you? What legacy do you want to leave? Where does the best part of yourself shine through? How can you ensure that your light continues to shine long after you are gone?
The old man in the card reflects on a life well lived. The roots of wealth are firmly established for the future generations surrounding him. He never grew up in a wealthy home. He sacrificed and scraped throughout his youth so that he could leave something better for his children and grandchildren. He is not only leaving his family "a house," or "money." He is leaving them with his example. He is also sharing himself and his love in the present. The love he has for his family is the greatest legacy he will leave. The family is content and has more than they need. His children have been "raised right," and will pass on all the love and learning they received to their children.
Today, make great memories with your family. It is important to work hard and plan for the future, but it is even more important to stop, reach out, and connect with your loved ones. Love is your greatest legacy. Don't sweat the small stuff. Forgive past pettiness. Every human being has a mixture of "good" and "bad." Nobody's perfect!
This card also asks you to look at your progress toward your larger goals. The things you are building that will remain long after you have gone. It could be a book, a business, a masterpiece, an art-form, or even a property. Perhaps your life's work is merely to be your best self, and to spread kindness and love in a world that really needs it right now.
The Ten of Pentacles assures you that what you are investing your energy in now will have positive results, well into the future. Your life is becoming more and more secure. There is no need to fear the future when the Ten of Pentacles appears. Keep an eye on the long game and be patient. Now is an ideal time to establish strong foundations.
If the Ten of Pentacles appears reversed, then it is time to honor the ancestors of past generations in some way. This will ensure that the legacy they worked so hard to leave survives. What wonderful qualities did you learn from these people who have passed on? Perhaps it’s time to learn more about your grandparents and great-grandparents or your genealogy. What adversity did your ancestors overcome in their time? What can you learn from their example? Did you have a special relationship with someone who has now passed on?
The greatest tribute you can give those who have passed on is to exemplify their best qualities and share them with the present generation. This will ensure the legacy they worked a lifetime for will live on. You share not only genetics, but a soul connection, and traditions. Bring your ancestors’ best qualities into the present generation. Allow their determination to inspire you to overcome present challenges. If they could do it, you can too! History is a great teacher. By learning about it we can be motivated by its transcendent victories. By learning from it we can ensure we aren’t doomed to relive its darkest hours. Take what you have learned and strive to be your best. Make sure the legacy you leave will be a good one. One-hundred years from now you will be the ancestor! What do you want those future people to know about you?
*Ten of Pentacles (Reversed) in a Love Reading
New Relationship
This card can represent a well-meaning, but unstable partner. Although they have many excellent qualities, they may lack personal security and therefore cannot offer it to another. If you are confused, take the most practical course of action to ensure your own security. This card can also signify family drama which is interfering with this relationship.
Long Term Partnership
The Ten of Pentacles reversed can signify a relationship that feels habitually insecure. If you are wondering how events will likely transpire in the future, look to past patterns. This card can also signify intrusions from meddlesome family members who wish to create drama. Stronger boundaries are needed between your relationship and external interference.
Seeking Romance
When the Ten of Pentacles appears reversed, the qualities you once prized in relationships could be changing. You may be establishing a higher standard and are insisting on authenticity. Although you may endure a temporary period of discomfort, inner growth is happening. This will lead you toward more meaningful connections with people who share your values.
“Tarot in Love” available on Amazon!
*This excerpt is a sneak peek at my new book “Tarot in Love: Consulting the Cards in Matters of the Heart” from Llewellyn Books and available now!
Follow Elliot Oracle on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube for weekly community readings!
January 13, 2023
The Card of the Day: The King of Swords (Reversed)
“Time to change your thinking.”
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The King of Swords appears to be a stern man. In fact, for many he is the archetype of The Man (The societal structures that unconsciously direct us to assume our place). The King of Swords asks us to examine how we might be limiting ourselves based on our own assumptions.
Are you unconsciously allowing old, fixed views to color your perception of yourself or others? Do you feel like you are limited, or can't get ahead because you're a woman, a minority, gay, poor, disabled or just feel like the deck is stacked against you? Do you look at others that are different from you with assumptions before you really get to know them?
All of us are raised in a world of assumptions. As children we are unconsciously presented with attitudes of racism, sexism, and phobias that color our eventual view of the world. People fear what they don't understand. People also find it uncomfortable to question a conclusion they arrived at long ago. When the King of Swords appears, he places you in contact with your own assumptions. Every now and then we need to challenge our assumptions in order to grow. Sometimes the assumptions that need to be released are narratives that you are unconsciously accepting from external society about how far you can go, and how much you can achieve.
The King of Swords is not an evil king. His real interest is preserving the security of the System. He argues that the way things are far better than changing his mind. Sometimes the King of Swords symbolizes a difficulty with changing your mind about something that seems settled. Although the King looks fixed, look closer... There are butterflies covering his throne. This represents that systems can be changed; assumptions can be transformed, and old divisions can be healed through understanding. The King of Swords can change his mind! Here's the biggest secret: The King of Swords is a part of us. The part that needs to lose its rigidity.
What part of you feels rigid? Are you dismissing whole swarths of people, simply because they have a different viewpoint, politics, ethnicity, or other social identifier? What calcified attitudes in the world would you like to see changed? Are you encountering these traits with someone else around you?
In order to change fixed attitudes, you must understand them. The King of Swords represents understanding things more acutely, so that you can make reasoned arguments and arrive conclusions that are evidence-based. The King of Swords is at his best when he applies critical thinking and logical arguments. Sometimes the King of Swords appears in the form of a loved one who challenges your own viewpoints and assumptions. They may say the craziest things, and may be incorrect with the facts, but they do serve in making you question your own conclusions.
You will never win a full on “battle” with the King of Swords. He’s heavily entrenched and armored. He can be a fixed personality, or he may represent an institution or organization that is set in its ways. When the King of Swords appears win him over with clarity, evidence and reason. This King can change his mind, but only if it makes logical sense to do so.
If the King of Swords appears reversed, he is offering you knowledge, to overcome something that is keeping you stuck. Many times, we remain entrenched in something that is not working because we lack more information about what is truly possible. The King of Swords reversed may be calling your attention to fixed attitudes or opinions that need questioning. The butterflies on his throne now appears at the base of the card. This signifies that you have begun the process of discarding outdated, self-limiting thinking.
The King of Swords reversed is challenging you to resist reverting to fixed assumptions about yourself, or your possibilities, without questioning them. Reach out and open yourself to perspectives which may not be aligned with your comfort zone. Walk in another’s shoes for a day. Look at challenging issues with another’s perspective instead of dismissing them outright. Instead of avoiding what you don't understand, dive in and learn more! Engage in reasoned, dispassionate debate. Arm yourself with knowledge. The ancient Greek philosopher Socrates once said, “the unexamined life is not worth living.” We must all occasionally question our beliefs, especially about other people, in order to attain wisdom. When this card appears reversed it indicates once fixed perspectives are shifting. New possibilities are opening. Allow yourself to be flexible enough to invite an evolution to your own perspective.
*King of Swords (Reversed) in a Love Reading
New Relationship
The King of Swords reversed can represent a partner who desires to keep others at arm’s length. This card can also symbolize an overly judgmental attitude that sabotages intimate connection. This is often a mask for fear. This individual finds it difficult to challenge their assumptions.
Long Term Partnership
The King of Swords reversed can represent a neurotic partner who insists on controlling everything. He (or she) may have established so many rules to follow that relationships with him end up feeling stifling. He believes his perspective is the only one that could possibly make reasonable sense.
Seeking Romance
If you are single, the King of Swords reversed might suggest that it is time to lower your guard. You could be coming across as remote or emotionally uninviting. You might also want to reexamine hardened beliefs you may hold about your prospects for an intimate relationship. Let go of rigidity. This card can also represent excessive fault finding in others.
“Tarot in Love” available on Amazon!
*This excerpt is a sneak peek at my new book “Tarot in Love: Consulting the Cards in Matters of the Heart” from Llewellyn Books and available now!
Follow Elliot Oracle on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube for weekly community readings!
January 12, 2023
The Card of the Day: The Knight of Pentacles (Reversed)
“Managing expectations.”
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The Knight of Pentacles represents a need for patience and perspective when our current life does not measure up to our expectations. It is a card that teaches us how to use setbacks as opportunities for personal resilience. Only hindsight will reveal just why something we hoped for or expected didn’t quite pan out the way we thought it should. Life has a way of steering us to even better blessings than the ones we expected.
Has something you expected not panned out the way you hoped? Do you feel bad about the present because you don't "have" something that you think others do? Are you able to honestly see that the game isn't over yet, and there are still marvelous things in store for you?
The Knight of Pentacles rides the fields dreaming of the future. He is utterly disappointed with the present. The fields he surveys are brown, and don't seem to be growing anything. How many more years does he have to keep pacing the same fields before they grow?! It can be so frustrating! In order to become a King, this Knight needs to demonstrate he can make a field grow. Here's the rub...........the field will never grow until he learns to be at peace with himself and the lesson the present is teaching him. Patience and self-acceptance.
It is also interesting to note that of all the knights in the Waite-Smith tarot the Knight of Pentacles is the only knight to be seated on a horse that is not moving forward. This indicates that events are at a standstill. Although the knight is eager to progress, he has to learn something important that can only be found where he is now, in the present. It is in the present where the magic of transforming conditions can be found.
The Universe has a way of providing teachable moments. The lessons appear in the form of recurring "setbacks," that repeat themselves over and over until you absorb what we need to change about your mindset. At first glance it might just seemed like you are getting thwarted again! "Why does this always happen to me?! Grrrr!" That's when you need to ask, "What is this recurring situation teaching me?" "How can I use this as an opportunity for resilience?" Perhaps the recurring situations are teaching you patience and self-acceptance. Perhaps they are teaching you about boundaries, or not needing others to validate you. Perhaps you just need to learn to be at peace with who you are in the present, with all your perceived imperfections.
Today the challenge is to look at situations that seem like setbacks, and instead see their value as lessons to help you grow. Ask the situation "Why do you keep happening, what are you teaching me?” It's okay to feel disappointment for a little bit, but then you need to see its value as a teacher. Look back at how past disappointments actually made you stronger and led you to even better blessings than what you thought you wanted.
Be patient and resilient.
When the Knight of Pentacles appears reversed, he represents managing your expectations. This card often appears when we are bracing ourselves for something that we "assume" is going to be bad. This card asks you to turn your expectations on their head. How could the situation you are dreading turn into an unexpected blessing? By confronting this situation what do you have to gain? Sometimes this card indicates that you just need to be more practical, and not buy into assumptions without current evidence to back it up. The field in the background of this card may look brown, but there is magic happening beneath the surface. Seeds that are germinating will manifest into autumn's harvest. Although the Knight may be impatient, patience is the lesson that he will find himself repeating until he learns acceptance of universal timing. Now is not the time to retreat or give up. What happened before and what will possibly happen later is not where the decisions must be made. Decide to be powerful in the present. This moment is where you power truly resides.
Today, accept that not everything you want, or desire is going to happen right away... and perhaps you need to make peace with the idea that it won't manifest in quite the way you planned. Sometimes things we don't get in life are actually blessings in disguise. The Dalai Lama once said "Sometimes not getting what you want is a marvelous stroke of luck. Don't judge your current progress by how it appears in the brown, sparse fields of winter. Even in winter new life is stirring beneath the surface. Progress may feel slowed, but this is an illusion. With patience, and hindsight, you will see why this situation took the turns that it did. Getting frustrated will not help your situation. Focus on how you can productively improve your situation practically, without laying your sense of security on unsubstantiated hopes and fears. It is never a waste of time to work on yourself while giving situations time to straighten out. If something externally isn’t working out it’s a sign to place your focus inward.
*Knight of Pentacles (Reversed) in a Love Reading
New Relationship
The Knight of Pentacles reversed can represent a person who sends mixed signals. He (or she) may assure you they want a deeper connection, and then not follow through. This card can also represent someone who struggles with making a commitment. If you are confused, focus on actions to reveal the truth more than words you hear.
Long Term Partnership
The Knight of Pentacles reversed can represent a time where a relationship feels at an impasse. The horse can start moving when both partners truly understand one another. One partner may be feeling “nitpicked,” constantly interrogated, or unable to live up to the other person’s exacting expectations. Respect needs to be reaffirmed for bonds relationship to be repaired.
Seeking Romance
The Knight of Pentacles reversed can represent times where life has been feeling barren for too long. This might be because you have been waiting for other people to make the decisions. You have the power to get events moving again, but first you must leave fruitless fields behind.
“Tarot in Love” available on Amazon!
Follow Elliot Oracle on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube for weekly community readings!
January 11, 2023
The Card of the Day: The Five of Cups (Reversed)
“Changing your perspective”
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The Five of Cups symbolizes the trance-like state of focusing only on the negative, even when all is not lost. The figure on the card gloomily stares at three spilled cups. He fails to notice the two perfectly upright cups still standing behind him. Behind the two standing cups is a bridge. This bridge symbolizes that the way over your obstacle will be made clear when you focus on what is working and what is positive in your life. This card also reveals that just because everything in your life isn’t perfect, doesn’t mean that you need to feel bad about it all day.... month...........year...................decade!
Does your mind ever feel hypnotized with problems? Is it difficult to see all the blessings you have because you can't stop focusing on the negative? Does ruminating rob you of countless hours in your day?
If you’ve ever experienced this sort of hypnotism you know it seems very difficult to snap out of. It usually occurs when the mind is idle. "An idle mind is the Devil's workshop," or so the saying goes. If you are traditionally a problem solver, it can be difficult to be at peace when there is no task to do. The mind immediately shuffles through its memory banks to drudge up something that we should have anxiety about. Then the mind says “Here’s a doozy! Remember this horrible time? What if it happens again?” The trance begins, and soon twenty minutes have gone by, leaving you feeling hopeless about yourself and your prospects.
When the Five of Cups comes up in a reading, its message is to “Snap out of it!” If you’ve ever seen the television program “The Dog Whisperer,” the host Cesar Millan is asked to fix the behavioral problems of dogs. The dogs “get stuck” mentally on behaviors like barking at the mailman, dragging the owners on a leash, chewing things, etc. There is a visible shift in the dog’s body language the moment it transitions from being at peace to getting stuck on the negative behavior. Cesar Milan watches for this shift and makes a sharp “SSSSKK!” sound. This breaks the dog’s trance, allowing it to refocus on a positive behavior instead.
If dogs can snap out of trance you can too! However, you need to catch yourself as you’re slipping into it. When we were children and started pouting, our guardians (hopefully) snapped us out of it. As adults we must step in on our own behalf. If you slip into negative ruminating you must redirect your thoughts.
A nice strategy for shifting focus from negative thoughts is to remember the details of your favorite place. This may be a park you visit, or a particularly beautiful place you traveled to. What is your happiest memory of a place? Close your eyes and remember each of the details of the place. The sounds, sights, smells and sensations of being there. When the anxiety interjects just keep seeking the details of the place. Details are key.
I think of a river I used to visit. I remember how the sound of its rushing waves took my anxieties with them. I remember the beautiful light that sparkled over her surface like a thousand diamonds. I remember the feel of the large cool rock I sat on. I recall the majestic blue herons that flew overhead, and the deer that came to drink the clear waters at dusk. I remember feeling completely relaxed and at peace. These were my calmest days of my youthful summer.
There! I snapped out of the negative trance! Now quick give me something constructive to focus on! Perhaps all the things that I can do, and that are still possible. Snapping out of negative trance gives you the opportunity to do something constructive toward your future.
Today shift your focus to break trances when they start. The more positive details you can remember the better you’ll feel. Ruminating doesn't help anyone solve anything, so knock it off! Place your focus on something that makes you happy or restores your faith in yourself instead.
You deserve to enjoy goodness in life, even when everything isn't perfect.
When the Five of Cups appears reversed it represents making the choice to view “setbacks” as hidden opportunities. In life there will be issues thrown your way which you didn't deserve or intend. When we don’t get what we want, we often view the situation as negative. The Five of Cups reversed symbolizes an opportunity to go even further than a challenge’s outward appearance. Always with this card, you must shift your perspective to the cups still standing in order to cross the bridge.
Don’t allow yourself to feel defeated. Ask yourself, “What is this challenge teaching me?” Also ask, “How is this difficulty teaching me to become a better version of myself?”
The situation that life is presenting you with is neither "positive" or "negative." These perceptions of “good” or “bad” luck are blocking you from the purpose of this situation. Choose to see how these challenges are directing you to a stronger, more empowered version of yourself. Open your eyes to the strength of character you may have forgotten you possessed. If you continually look at life in an aggrieved manner, your personal power will continue to elude you. Personal growth happens in the place where challenges occur. Being surprised that life is not going according to your best laid plans is like being shocked that the weather is not behaving as forecasted. “Setbacks” appear when there is a better way forward, that you are not aware of yet. Don't get mad, scared, or depressed. Get powerful. Focus on what gifts remain on the pathway to success. Negativity halts momentum. The Universe is not depriving you. It is redirecting you to where better blessings await.
*The Five of Cups (Reversed) in a Love Reading:
New Relationship
The Five of Cups reversed can represent someone whose perspective is clouded by toxic emotions. Keep your energy clear of anyone that makes you consistently feel bad. New love is supposed to feel good! This card can also signify a lesson you’ve learned before but seem to be repeating with someone new. Don’t get stuck in past ruts.
Long Term Partnership
You and your partner are doing some major work on your relationship. You are releasing toxicity that has built up from the past. Everything you’ve experienced, including setbacks, have taught you something valuable. This card can also signify a mutual commitment to picking up the pieces after a major storm in your relationship together.
Seeking Romance
You’ve begun to snap out of the illusion that your unhappiness is permanent. You’ve given yourself space to cry, grieve, and truly accept a loss. Now joy will want its turn. Don’t allow past attachments to ensnare your heart. You are strong enough to begin anew.
Preorder “Tarot in Love” on Amazon!
*This excerpt is a sneak peek at my upcoming book “Tarot in Love: Consulting the Cards in Matters of the Heart” from Llewellyn Books and available for preorder!
Follow Elliot Oracle on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube for weekly community readings!
January 10, 2023
The Card of the Day: Death
“Transformation.”
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The Death card is the tarot's most notorious symbol for change and transformation. Many people are afraid to sit at a tarot reader's table because the "dreaded” Death Card might show up! We've all seen the movies where the dark and mysterious fortune teller turns over the death card, to foretell someone's ghastly end. In reality, the Death card is a wonderful card to get in a reading. It means that conditions are going through vitally important changes, for your own good. Although not always welcome, and sometimes shocking to experience, the change is absolutely necessary. Death is ALWAYS accompanied by rebirth. Like the legendary Phoenix, you too will rise from the ashes to live a joyful life again...revitalized and renewed.
Do you struggle with accepting change? Does fear of death, keep you from actually "living" your life? What old, unneeded, part of yourself are you resistant to letting go of, even though you know it would set you free?
Death appears astride his white horse, to herald an end to the old ways. His steed marches over kings and commoners alike. No one is immune to his power. All must change. Everything that lives must die. Death's banner is a white rose on a black background. This is stark symbol of a truth that is "black and white." Light (the white flower) always emerges after darkness (the black background). Although his skeletal face looks scary, Death is not a monster. Nobody wants to see Death, even though he has the thankless job of ending suffering. Death cannot be bargained with, and eventually visits all. The King under the horse found that out. No amount of money could put off this day for him. The adolescent girl in the card looks away...unable to look Death in the face. The priest has been preparing for Death his whole life, and yet even he kneels uneasily.
Only the fearless little child in the foreground holds a flower up to death. Children don't get scared of change the way adults do... Children don't fear death, because they don't understand a fear of "the great beyond"..... They were just there not too long ago! Why be afraid of a realm of infinite joy, reunion, relief, rebirth, peace, and laughter?
Look closely at the background of the Death card...past the river...way up in the distance where the two towers form a gate. A realm of light lies beyond, represented as either a rising or setting sun. Whether it is rising or setting sun is unimportant...for as the sun setting here it is simultaneously rising somewhere else. Is that a "shining city" illuminated in the sun's radiance?
Overcoming your fear of change is the requirement of this card. Powerful symbolism, as appears on the Death card, has the power to place us in direct confrontation with what we are most resistant to. Being in denial, and avoiding making necessary changes, sets you up for a rude awakening. Why put yourself through that? However, if you cooperate with your current changes all will be alright.
Today, don't fear your changes...they are occurring as a better you is being reborn.
*Death in a Love Reading
New Relationship
The appearance of Death can indicate that the person you are interested in is still undergoing a major change. You may have to be patient and not make anything official until after their transformation is complete. Once they cross this major threshold, they won’t likely be the same person you initially fell for. Inevitably, you will have to accept who they are becoming.
Long Term Partnership
Death can indicate a major ending in the life of one or both partners. There is much transformative energy that can feel difficult to process. Some of the changes occurring may also trigger feelings of loss or grief. This partnership must face its current challenges and transformations with honesty and compassion. Everything is in flux.
Seeking Romance
If you are single, Death can highlight a difficult ending that you are still processing. Let the past be the past. Although Death can highlight a difficult change, it is truly leading toward a better future. Accept what needs to end now so you can move on to happier times.
Preorder “Tarot in Love” on Amazon!
*This excerpt is a sneak peek at my upcoming book “Tarot in Love: Consulting the Cards in Matters of the Heart” from Llewellyn Books and available for preorder!
Follow Elliot Oracle on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube for weekly community readings!
January 9, 2023
The Card of the Day: The Devil (Reversed)
“The power of your shadow is fading.”
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Nobody likes to confront the Devil. The Devil can be a jarring image to confront. This is because he represents our shadow self.... the inner-saboteur. This is the insidious voice within that tells us that we aren't worthy, that we can't be successful, that we are stuck with our lot. Often this voice pipes up, just before we are about to make a huge breakthrough. This voice comes as a final test, to see if we what we really believe about ourselves. The Devil is known by many names but by far the most fitting is the Prince of Lies. The biggest lie the Devil tells is that he is more powerful than we are. Each day you have a choice.... To believe the voice that tells you that you are garbage........ or to hear your better angels, who remind you that you are worthy.
How does your shadow manifest in your life? Do you struggle with self-esteem? Do you feel trapped in a situation that feels beyond your control?
When you look at the image of the Devil card you can see a man and a woman chained to his throne. They are a "corrupted" version of the innocent and pure image of the man and woman that appear on the Lovers card. They sport horns and tails...symbolizing their enslavement to the animal parts of their nature. The animal nature is only concerned with survival and protection of itself. It is not enlightened, and manifests in the form of fear, excess, jealousy, anger, hatred, unforgiveness, and the pursuit of personal comfort over all else.
Look closer at the figures chained to the Devil's throne. The chains they wear are quite loose. In fact, they could step out of them at any time. This shows that despite the fearful size of the Devil, one can be free of him whenever they choose. When the Devil appears, this symbol calls your attention to the self-limiting thoughts and behaviors that are keeping you imprisoned. You can be free at any time, but you must stop "rationalizing" these behaviors away and confront them honestly. The Devil highlights any untruths you may be telling yourself, which are keeping you from being the best version of yourself. You are more powerful than your inner shadow. The shadow is real, but you are more powerful.
The best way to defeat shadows is to embody love. Be loving to yourself and to others. Don't get hooked into defending yourself in the face of someone else's shadow. Lovingly help someone else. Be of service. Be kinder. If you are feeling fear, help someone else feel braver. Challenge the lie that you are stuck. Send light and love to those people you can't quite seem to forgive. "Unhook" yourself from the Devil's chains.
By embodying your better angels, the Devil will lose all power.
When the Devil appears reversed it appears that the loose chains on the upside-down figures will easily fall away from gravity alone. Old habits that once kept you stuck are no longer the insurmountable challenges they once were. You are letting go of these outdated, self-limiting thoughts. You are finding that you outgrew them, and they no longer hold you in bondage.
Often habitual cynicism will rush in to justify why it's important to hang onto past negative beliefs. The familiar, even when destructive, is far more comfortable than the unknown. The ego’s cynical aspect hates not knowing things, so it looks for something to attack. The Devil reversed represents releasing the negative habits and assumptions that keep you in a pessimistic hell.
When the Devil appears reversed your shadow’s power is fading. It is time to challenge any remaining unconscious attitudes of fear, anger or sadness that you have been carrying with you. Bring it all into the sunlight. Each day you work on your best self you become less stuck than the day before. It's time to remember your strengths, talents, and abilities. These are who you truly are. You are not the awful things the shadows lurking within wants you to think. Be kinder to yourself and be on your own team!
The Devil reversed means that you have received your "Get out of Hell Free Card." Let the chains of negative thinking slip off and fall away. Know that when these chains emerge that they are born from fear of shadows from the past. Step back into the radiant light of your limitless spirit. You are your present, not your past. You are so much more than what the shadow wants you to believe. The light within you is stronger than the darkness, and it’s time to affirm it.
*The Devil (Reversed) in a Love Reading
New Relationship
The person you are asking about has a difficult past that they are still overcoming. They are no longer ensnared by a former limitation. The past they are walking away from will still attempt to pull them back. Time will tell if they keep progressing. Gather more information before allowing yourself to fall head over heels.
Long Term Partnership
The appearance of the Devil reversed does not doom your relationship life to ruin. However, uncomfortable truths and repressions must be addressed honestly. The Devil reversed encourages breaking destructive habits. Beware of excusing behaviors you once considered inexcusable. It’s time for the relationship to be raised to a higher standard.
Seeking Romance
The Devil reversed can signify that you’ve overcome a destructive relationship pattern that was depleting your power. Hope for a brighter future emerges and the chains of the past are slipping off. You may feel your first steps are wobbly, but trust that a better future awaits. Keep making good choices.
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*This excerpt is a sneak peek at my upcoming book “Tarot in Love: Consulting the Cards in Matters of the Heart” from Llewellyn Books and available for preorder!
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January 8, 2023
The Card of the Day: Strength (Reversed)
“Remember, you are stronger than you think.”
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The Strength card is a symbol of inner fortitude, which helps us prevail in the face of life's challenges. Strength is something that needs to be reinforced every day. Just as muscles need to be continuously used to maintain their power, so too does inner-strength need to be habitually exercised. Every time you act in your own best interest despite your fears and inner weaknesses, you are developing strength. Strength is a choice. You can either buckle to what keeps you stuck and afraid, or you can choose excellence.
At what time in your life did you feel you were strongest? Do you sometimes forget you are that same person? Do you need to get back on track by standing up to inner weaknesses which have been keeping you stuck and afraid?
The woman on this card does not sport bulging muscles, but she is the epitome of inner strength and confidence. The lion on the card represents her "lower" impulses, such as fear, anger, bad habits, belligerence, and other out of control behaviors. She confronts her lion by gently closing its mouth, thereby not allowing it to consume her. The infinity symbol above her head shows she is eternally confronting the lion. Her strength is part of her now. It has been habitually reinforced, by confronting and overcoming weakness every day.
Strength is not manifested by large displays of power, but by gentle, compassionate, self-directed corrections in the form of good decisions. Strength is also not just used once and then you're done! It is a daily routine that becomes much easier with practice and time. It’s also important not to make self-corrections because of how "guilty" you feel. Inwardly directed corrections should come from a place of self-love and compassion, or they won't work (later the lion will rebel and revert, if it has guilt or shame to latch on to).
You are more powerful than you may give yourself credit for. Human beings get stuck in ruts, and sometimes it feels that we can't change something because we've been acting that way so long that it is just part of who we are. You are not anything/behavior that depletes your majesty! If a certain behavior has been running amok like a wild lion, and you feel it can't be self-controlled, think again. Every day you have the power to be excellent. You have the choice to direct your own life or leave it to the shadows. Being strong in the face of your inner beast can feel difficult at first, but with continued positive action the lion is always tamed.
Commit to at least three choices that gives you power over the beast. This will affirm your strength.
When the Strength card appears reversed it usually comes at a time when you are starting to doubt your courage, personal power and abilities. Don't let this happen! A good way to remind yourself of your strength is to keep a "Courage Journal." This is invaluable little book is where you will record your victories, great and small, each time you faced your fear and prevailed. Every time you meet a challenge you are afraid of, and persevere, write it in the Courage Journal. Every time you make a huge life achievement, write it in the Courage Journal. This special little book can be taken off the shelf any time you are facing a frightening challenge. It will immediately remind you of your personal power.
The Courage Journal is written proof that you can accomplish what you once thought "impossible." It will be a repository of hard evidence, proving that you can handle the issue confronting you. To begin your journal, start with the five most pivotal turning points in your life where you kept going, even when you thought you couldn’t. That is where your courage and character are found. Write about who you were before the event, and who you became after. Remember that you have come so far and can go even further. Add pages to your Courage Journal each time you choose bravery instead of fear. In time, you will see written proof of your excellence. Your record book of strength will be there to pull off the shelf any time you need it.
Strength reversed can also indicate that you are being too hard on yourself in the quest for self-improvement. The woman on the card is making gentle self-corrections. She isn’t beating the lion up. Today, be kinder to yourself when taming the unruly parts of your experience. It is important that you aren’t just courageous, but that you are also respecting who you are and what makes you strong.
*Strength (Reversed) in a Love Reading:
New Relationship
Strength reversed can represent a relationship partner who requires validation. They may not feel confident or strong and will struggle with taking the lead. This person requires encouragement, and not criticism before they feel they can be more vulnerable.
Long Term Partnership
Strength reversed can represent a connection to a person who struggles with self-restraint. This can manifest as an addictive tendency or the inability to restrain their impulses. Sometimes this card will appear as a warning not to enable a destructive behavior, just to placate the raging lion. Stand up for your values and hold high standards for what you know is right.
Seeking Romance
Strength reversed can signify a person who is seeking love, but still harbors uncomfortable, bottled-up emotions surrounding rejection, anger, or humiliation from the past. Before a new partnership can be initiated, self-confidence must be restored. Exercise, engaging activities, or creative expression are wonderful ways to nurse the wounded lion back to health.
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January 7, 2023
The Card of the Day: The Three of Swords (Reversed)
“Stop self-inflicting wounds.”
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As you might imagine the Three of Swords symbolizes the wounded heart. Everyone experiences betrayals, cruelty, unkindness, and even abuse to varying degrees. These traumatic events can feel like swords driven into the heart. Like any penetrating trauma, the shrapnel must be extracted for the injury to heal. Likewise, the swords pictured on this card here need to be drawn out and released from the heart so that it can heal. Sounds easy, right? Well it's not! This is because the only thing that can give you the power to release the sword from the wound is forgiveness...... What?! Forgive that @%^*@*+?! Never!
Are you unable to forgive individuals from the past who betrayed you? Do you still get angry and feel victimized? What emotions do you feel when you conjure the image of this person up? Hatred, revenge, rage, sadness?
The heart on the card is the victim of devastating injury. Three large swords symbolize wounds inflicted by three past traumatic events. The swords are weighing the heart down beneath grey clouds. Rain continuously pelts down on the sunken heart. And yet look at the proportions... The floating heart is quite large when compared to the swords. This symbolizes that the heart is stronger and more resilient than any wound to it. It also symbolizes that the wounds can weigh down a normally buoyant heart. This negative energy prevents the heart from rising above the clouds, to bask in joyful sunlight.
The Three of Swords reminds us that even though “another” may have put a metaphorical sword in your heart through a past betrayal, we perpetually betray ourselves by not letting go and releasing the resentment. So, if the only thing that will unburden the heart is forgiveness, then why is there such resistance to letting the swords go?
Swords represent power... Righteous indignation is seductive and can give a false sense of empowerment. The heart may want to hold onto the swords because it feels that somehow it now possesses more power. Although it gives an immediate illusion of being the moral victor (we are not the bad one after all), it also leaves us feeling hollow and empty. This sense of "power" is held onto for dear life, so that we aren't suckers caught off guard again! And yet, the heart remains heavy and isolated, and we miss the joy of the sunlight above the clouds.
Practicing forgiveness allows for releasing the negative energy within, so that you are not carrying it with you everywhere. Each day you refuse to forgive, you are deciding to continue carrying all that toxic poison within you for another day. There is an anonymous quote that says, "Holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to drop dead!" Think about our world affairs, and how lack of forgiveness perpetuates war, hatred, and conflict.
Forgiveness does not mean "condoning" the reprehensible behavior of another. It doesn’t mean you need to call your abuser over for tea and pretend nothing happened. Forgiveness is less about them, and more about you. The wound happened, but it's not still happening today unless we choose to hurt ourselves with it. This means that you also must forgive yourself for holding onto this garbage for so long. Forgiveness gives you the power to let the painful past go, allowing you to move on in your life unencumbered and free.
The Three of Swords indicates that it’s time to let go of any painful people or things that are weighing your heart down. Forgiveness often doesn't come overnight! It takes time and continual affirmation before the swords are released. An opportunity for major healing is being presented to you now. Like the rising phoenix, let your heart ascend above the rain clouds, and into the realm of light.
When the Three of Swords appears reversed it calls your attention to any self-inflicted wounds that are being perpetuated through negative thinking. Holding onto negative expectations is a form of self-betrayal. The clouds that appeared in the sky are now on the base of the card. Clouds symbolize the element of air, and air represents your thoughts. The Three of Swords reversed reveals that what is makes you feel bad are thoughts that you may be holding onto. This includes thoughts projecting catastrophes into a future that hasn't even happened yet, or replaying the mental tape of a past trauma, and anticipating it will happen again. Your anxieties aren't harbingers of disasters to come. They are merely fears, and they rarely resemble the future that will actually come to pass.
When the Three of Swords reversed appears, it’s best to not borrow trouble. Negative projections into the future will cause you to miss out on being joyful in this moment. If you are anxious about what hasn't even happened yet, then you are harming yourself with your thinking. Catch yourself when you notice you are falling into this. Release harmful thoughts and know them for what they are: thoughts. Choose to focus your thinking on something that really interests you or brings you joy. Remember, the heart on this card is much larger, and stronger than any wound it's experienced. Your heart is stronger than your fears and wounds from the past. Love is always a viable answer when this card appears.
*The Three of Swords (Reversed) in a Love Reading
New Relationship
It may be time to do some “self-work” before attempting to form a deep connection with the other. Using another person to avoid what is uncomfortable within will not result in true love or happiness. Only you have the power to draw your own “swords” from the wounds in your heart. Confront the uncomfortable things that needs to be released gently and courageously.
Long Term Partnership
You (or your partner) are rationalizing away a relationship issue that has been causing inexcusable pain. It’s time to stop deflecting and communicate honestly about what is being experienced. This card can also signify that time has begun to heal a wound from a difficult past episode of your relationship.
Seeking Romance
The grey clouds that appear on this card in many decks can symbolize the use of old mental narratives that “convince” you that there is no hope. This is an illusion, as you can absolutely be happy again. In the Rider-Waite -Smith deck, one cloud is drawn unfinished. Your future is still unformed and provides unlimited opportunities to create a happy life.
Preorder “Tarot in Love” on Amazon!
*This excerpt is a sneak peek at my upcoming book “Tarot in Love: Consulting the Cards in Matters of the Heart” from Llewellyn Books and available for preorder!
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January 6, 2023
The Card of the Day: The Eight of Cups
“Reconnecting with your authentic self.”
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The Eight of Cups represents a journey within, to the realm of your instincts. Periodically you must go deep within yourself, to hear your spirit, and to reclaim strengths and abilities you forgot you possessed. Although this journey is of great value, it never feels easy while you are going through it. It is often accompanied by depression, feeling crazy, or feeling you've hit a patch of consistent "bad luck." This card appears to tell you that you've already made this brave journey, and are ready to take your strengths into the world again. Your instincts are once again, your guide.
When you are quiet, do you hear the call of your authentic self? Do you seem to go through periods of confusion, depression, or seeming "bad luck?" How have you improved within yourself? Are you trusting your own instincts more?
The man on the card is reminiscent of the Hermit. He is taking a night journey alone, staff in hand, returning from the realm of shadows. He is stepping out of the sea, representing his unconscious feelings. These feelings were not acknowledged in his daily life and were acting up in strange ways. At first thought he was crazy, then just unlucky. Finally he realized his instincts were not being respected or acknowledged. He wasn't being true to himself.
The sun is eclipsing the moon in the picture. Thoughts about what he "should do," or "be," to gain the acceptance of others in his daily life eclipsed, and took precedent over his own instincts. Finally he had the courage to go within, and reconnect with his instincts. They are now his best friends, giving him the power to overcome any obstacle.
The moon has been associated with unconscious instincts since the dawn of humanity. It strangely pulls and affects us, and yet we so easily dismiss and ignore it (just like our instincts). The Latin word for moon is "luna," where we get our word "lunatic" from. If your instincts are chronically ignored they can make you crazy. Like a neglected child, they will "act up," and wreak all sorts of havoc in your daily life. This can manifest as a streak of bad luck, a period of depression, an imagined illness, or a time where you feel utterly lost and powerless. The journey to reclaim your instincts will arm you with the ability to set everything right again. This journey only happens alone, and in the dark places. That is where all the healing happens.
Today, the Eight of Cups appears to remind you are now letting your instincts guide your path. The very fact that you are reading a "tarot card of the day" demonstrates that you have the courage to listen to these unconscious feelings, that speak in the language of pictures, myth, and symbols. Instincts do not adhere to the laws of a logical, organized, rationalized world. Instincts can feel messy at times, and very confusing to those that aren't used to acknowledging them. And yet they motivate all of us, and must be acknowledged if we are to find our way over the barriers that block us (symbolized by the mountains on the card).
This is a card of deep healing. You are listening to your instincts and they are giving you the power to overcome previous blockages. You can now return to the land of the sun; less burdened and free.
*Eight of Cups in a Love Reading
New Relationship
One or both partners is undergoing a journey of emotional self-discovery. They may have just walked away from a relationship that failed to nurture their deepest needs. This person requires “alone time” and may periodically withdraw to regain clarity. Don’t rush this individual if they are not ready. Trust your instincts and be patient as circumstances become clearer.
Long Term Partnership
The Eight of Cups signifies a relationship that thrives when both partners can occasionally separate to restore clarity. This card does not necessarily foretell a “break-up.” It can reflect a “mid-life crisis” or a desire to restore a piece of oneself that feels missing.
Seeking Romance
If you are single, you may be feeling sad or disappointed with your current options. You may think a new relationship is the cure, but you must first restore wholeness within. Be gentle as you reconnect with the part of you that felt missing. This will help you turn the corner with this frustrating time.
Preorder “Tarot in Love” on Amazon!
*This excerpt is a sneak peek at my upcoming book “Tarot in Love: Consulting the Cards in Matters of the Heart” from Llewellyn Books and available for preorder!
Follow Elliot Oracle on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube for weekly community readings!
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