Elliot Adam's Blog, page 53
November 25, 2022
The Card of the Day: The Five of Wands
“The immaturity of the comparison game.”
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The Five of Wands traditionally represents competition, ambition, and struggle. It symbolizes the inner tension we feel when we are caught up in our egos, constantly comparing our “status” in relation to others. Early on kids are taught “you must be the winner!” Life is a series of competitions.... best at music, best at Monopoly, best at softball, best at spelling. You must win at each thing you try otherwise...........you must be a loser, a nothing, a failure at life. This sort of “all or nothing” thinking sets up impossible standards that can never be attained. As kids grow into adulthood, they carry this toxic baggage, feeling there is something wrong with them. No wonder so many adults struggle with self-esteem.
Do you constantly compare your “status” with others? Do you feel that you must be perfect at everything? Have you ever stopped to think how adolescent that is?
The adolescents on the card are competing.[1] Each is trying to prove that he has the biggest stick. Each of the competitors think there can only be one winner. They think to themselves, “Either I win this, or I am humiliated.” The teenagers on the card do not have the wisdom that age engenders. They do not see that each is an individual, with their own combination of unique skills. This is represented by their distinctive colored costumes and designs. Each figure in the card has condensed his whole concept of self-worth on a game of sticks! This is all or nothing thinking, and it is very damaging to self-esteem.
Think about it, could you ever attain being the richest, most beautiful, eternally young, perfect bodied, artistic genius? Oh, and smartest person in the world, best at every sport, every subject, every language, every artistic medium and every skill set known to man? Nobody can do that! The truth is we each have a unique combination of gifts. You might not be the best at each skill and talent you possess, however, there is no person on the planet with your unique combination of talents, skills, and abilities.
Today, catch yourself if you are playing the game of the big sticks! It’s ridiculous! You don’t have to win at everything to be worthy. You are special, unique and radiate a beauty that is all your own. Nobody does you like you. My favorite entertainer Judy Garland used to say:
“Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.”
*Five of Wands in a Love Reading
New Relationship
The Five of Wands can warn of childishness, immaturity, or incompatible values in a new relationship. Just because you prize certain qualities or expectations does not promise that the person you feel strongly about feels the same. This card can also signify an internal conflict about whether you should proceed with this person. Let your maturity to lead the way.
Long Term Partnership
The Five of Wands can highlight a simmering conflict that habitually boils over. This can come in the form of bickering, squabbling, or “scorekeeping” insignificant infractions. The point trying to be proved has nothing to do with the underlying source of the tension.
Seeking Romance
If you are single, you may still be feeling conflicted about a past love. Although you may feel hurt and angry, there is a strange attraction to revisiting the past. Before attempting a new relationship, seek closure for unresolved feelings first. This card can also signify unresolved anger that is frustrating your search for love.
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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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[1] Johannes Fiebig and Evelin Burger, The Ultimate Guide to the Rider Waite Tarot, (Woodbury, MN. Llewellyn Publications., 2016), 86. The authors of this book were the first to make me realize that these were adolescents competing in a struggle.
November 24, 2022
The Card of the Day: The Knight of Swords
“Slow down.”
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The Knight of Swords is an ambitious man. He is always striving to prove he is a successful adult. No matter how much he achieves, he can't seem to be happy or rest. The only thing he knows how to do is push ahead. Once he has completed his objective he doesn't even know how to absorb it. He is already rushing ahead to the next task, driving himself mercilessly to win, hoping that someone will acknowledge his value through deeds.
Are you rushing through life? Do you stop to savor successes you've already achieved, or do you rush ahead to the next task? Do you feel guilty about resting when there's so much to do? Do you cram your day with so much activity that you feel drained and depressed?
The Knight of Swords reminds us that this is no way to go through life. In fact it is downright harmful to your health. In this card's imagery, the horse represents our physical body. The horse is uneasy, anxious, tight, and trying to outrun his rider. The horse looks back at his master with an expression that says "Seriously, you want me to run faster?!" The Knight brandishing the sword represents the "cruel master" within. That nasty voice that tells us to shut up and keep going, even when we feel we are going to drop.
Our culture glorifies suffering through work. When someone says you are "a hard worker," that's almost as good as being one of the troops! "She worked until the day she died," is another one of our highest honors. But is your tombstone really going to be inscribed with all the hours you heroically put into your job? Is that really an authentic encapsulation of what you amount to? Our country has the highest death rates for stress related illnesses. Why don't we allow ourselves a siesta like other healthier countries? Is it a sin to have more "vacation time" than one paltry week a year?
Today, you must take responsibility for your own health and wellness by actually scheduling relaxation. No one is going to say "Boy he needs a break, let's make him take one!" Working toward achievement is marvelous, but as with everything it needs balance. The Oracle at Delphi had a saying that guaranteed a satisfying life. "Nothing too much." That includes work, activity, play, food, drinking...everything!
Slow down today. Turn off the phone and take a relaxing walk or sit in the yard for twenty minutes. Stop being a slave to clocks, demands, emails, texts, televisions, and social media updates. You aren't living a full life if you are constantly cracking the whip across your own back to achieve. Balance work with rest today and your body will thank you.
*The Knight of Swords in a Love Reading
New Relationship
The Knight of Swords can represent a passionate and exciting paramour. However, it can be very difficult to maintain a hold his (or her) attention for long. In a love reading, this card will advise you not to rush into commitments thoughtlessly. Time will tell if the intensity of the Knight’s initial passion finds the potential to be something more.
Long Term Partnership
The Knight of Swords can represent a turbulent relationship. The pursuit of personal ambitions will often need to be weighed against the needs of the partnership. If both partners are engaged the pursuit of a mutual goal, this union can succeed. A Knight of Swords relationship thrives when there are shared priorities. Clarify what those priorities are for both of you.
Seeking Romance
If you are single, the Knight of Swords can indicate that you are in the intense pursuit of your heart’s desire. Be mindful of the path you are racing down, and who you may be running over. Your priority may be to get what you want at all costs. However, this can come at great expense to yourself.
If this resonated with you…
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November 23, 2022
The Card of the Day: The King of Swords (Reversed)
“Challenging ingrained thoughts and beliefs.”
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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.
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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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November 22, 2022
The Card of the Day: The Four of Pentacles (Reversed)
“Insecurity.”
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The Four of Pentacles represents material security and stability, which is very different from being secure in yourself. Although this a wonderful card (financially speaking), it warns against being consumed by the pursuit of security, in the external world. The Four of Pentacles reminds you to balance both your worldly position, with the needs of the "authentic you."
Do you feel harmony between your "inner" and "outer" life? Are you "maintaining an image" because you fear sharing your authenticity? Have you found that no matter how much you achieve, it still doesn't feel like it's going to be enough?
The miserly man on the card had a very difficult early life. He knows well what it is like to go hungry. He was the eldest, in a poor family of eight children. Dealing with severe poverty in his early childhood created a lot of emotional turmoil, accompanied by feelings of being "worthless." One way for the man to medicate this sense of worthlessness was to make a lot of money. He was also going to be "the best" at everything he did. He thought if he gained enough money and status, he would finally prove to the world he was worthy. The man moved to a looming city, buzzing with opportunity and flashy personalities. He did everything to gain their acceptance, and soon became the wealthiest man among them. And yet, no matter how much money he earned, or how much approval he gained, he still felt empty, and insecure.
Here we see the miserly man clutching his four pentacles. They are the symbols for status, money, power, and achievement. These are not bad attributes to have so long as they are held by one that is already secure in himself. As tightly as the miser holds these attributes, they never seem to bring him an authentic sense of security. Look at his face. There is still suffering happening there. Internally he remains a scared neglected boy. Now, in turn he's neglected the needs of his inner self. His four pentacles have become barriers. The one on his head makes him forget he is connected with Spirit. The one clutched to his heart blocks him from feeling his real feelings. The two pentacles under his feet cut him off from being grounded in nature. His nature.
The pursuit of position and wealth are not inherently bad things. By all means, be a great financial success! The problem lies in "deadening" your humanity, to conform to the world around you, in order to finally feel "good enough." Your humanity can be described as the part of you that feels love and compassion, for yourself and others, and is in constant dialogue with your true spirit. Many people in our culture use their work, or worldly position as a way to seek validation. And yet pharmaceutical companies are getting rich because these same people are depressed and miserable, seeking an authentic feeling in all that is artificial.
Today, listen to the needs of your true nature. What you seek to make you feel good about yourself isn't found "out there." It sounds cliche', but " True security can only be found within."
You are worthy, just as you are.
The Four of Pentacles (reversed) often accompanies the feeling of hollowness that comes from seeking fulfillment in external distractions and symbols to validate status. Although these luxuries can make you feel good temporarily, they never last. The man on the card is suffering because he is not connecting with the loving place within himself. He has mistakenly bought into the idea that if he is just successful enough, acquires enough, hangs on to enough, that he will eventually feel secure in himself. By clutching to the coins he is preventing the healing that will happen if he just feels his feelings. This card often accompanies avoidance behaviors that can keep you from connecting with yourself like shopping, eating, drinking, binge-watching television etc.
The Four of Pentacles reversed is a card of numbing distraction, from important feelings that need to be experienced. Although it may feel like confronting your feelings will be uncomfortable this card shows that the prolonged avoidance of them actually leads to more suffering. The best medicine today is to step off the hamster wheel of automatic behaviors and responses to life. Take some time for quiet. Light some candles and some incense. Give yourself a reading. Take a contemplative walk. Start a dialogue with your heart. Ask how it has been feeling these days. External pleasures are not negative in themselves, it all depends on how they are used.
Today, give yourself some quality time. Silence the chatter of external distractions and take time to hear the concerns of your best self. The peace you seek is never found “out there.” It is waiting within.
*The Four of Pentacles (Reversed) in a Love Reading:
New Relationship
The person you are asking about is releasing old burdens. They are beginning anew and uneasy with taking on more pressure from another person. They may need to place themselves first; this is not entirely a bad thing (for either of you). The Four of Pentacles reversed encourages patience as events are still in motion.
Long Term Partnership
The Four of Pentacles reversed signals a time when you and your partner are finally removing the external barriers that have kept you from connecting. This card can also signify a positive career change, where one partner is leaving a profession that brought them more misery than happiness. This will positively affect their mood and the relationship.
Seeking Romance
It is time to be more giving, open, and vulnerable. This will transform your energy from shutting down, to allowing good things to naturally find their way to you instead. You are beginning to recognize that what is yours will always come to you. You are also learning to let go of a past relationship that once seemed impossible to get over.
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November 20, 2022
The Card of the Day: The Eight of Wands
“Events are speeding up.”
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The Eight of Wands represents movement, progress, and momentum. Events begin to move faster when this card appears. The Eight of Wands also rules information, and communication. Answers to questions become available. Once stuck issues becomes unstuck; whether about a personal goal, an awaited answer, or your state of mind.
Is it time for you to confront something in your life that feels stuck, and get it moving again? Is it time to take action on your personal goals? Are you procrastinating about something instead of just getting the job done?
The imagery of the Eight of Wands in the Rider-Waite Tarot is the only card without a human (or part of a human) illustrated on it. There is an impersonal quality to this card. Eight sticks are flying through the air....what is that supposed to tell you?! The lack of people symbolizes that events that are progressing should not be taken personally. It also advises you to move forward on what makes rational sense, instead of letting anxiety stall you.
A river that appears on the bottom of the card, symbolizing that you need to move with life's currents, and not fight against them. The small house on the hill signifies looking at things from a higher perspective. Take the rational view when confronting this issue. Make the logical choice.
This card can also appear to tell you to just “get this going!” Write the emails, finish the job, stop procrastinating, do a “Hail Mary,” and take that personal risk! Ask yourself, “Am I letting anxiety about something impede my progress on this issue?” “Do I need to speak up and confront something, so that I can overcome it?
Don't be surprised if once stuck parts of your life begin to pick up speed. Summon your motivation and get it done. No excuses, no whining, and no making choices derived from anxiety. Avoidance results in depletion of personal power. Today, strength comes from confronting and taking action.
Let the breeze at your back propel you forward. This is a very favorable card for those who act.
*Eight of Wands in a Love Reading
New Relationship
The Eight of Wands can represent an exciting, fast-progressing partnership. The person you are inquiring about is thrilling, offering endless opportunities for exciting experiences. Your ability to communicate is unmatched. Expect engaging conversations, shared interests, and ideas. This card can also represent a close connection to someone who is separated by a long distance.
Long Term Partnership
The Eight of Wands can signify sweeping changes that are providing new opportunities for either you or your partner. This card can also represent increased passion and communication after a period of quiet and distance. A fresh breeze of exciting momentum is blowing through your life together. When this card appears, go with the flow.
Seeking Romance
If you are single, this card encourages you to act instead of overthinking. Avoid analysis paralysis. If you see someone you like, say something. Socializing online can also give you a safe opportunity to put your toe in the water before taking the deep dive with dating.
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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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November 16, 2022
The Card of the Day: The Knight of Pentacles
“Being patient and resilient.”
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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.
*Knight of Pentacles in a Love Reading
New Relationship
The Knight of Pentacles can symbolize a partnership where the reality does not always match hopes or expectations. This card can also represent a relationship where one person is constantly stepping on the brakes. You may have to decide if you are willing repeatedly wait for this person to express their intentions for the future.
Long Term Partnership
There may also be a financial decision, or major commitment that affects the partnership that should be placed on hold as you learn more. See to the details and gather more information before rushing ahead. This card can also represent a partner who is at an impasse in their personal or professional life. This person will resist feeling rushed.
Seeking Romance
If you are single, this card can represent feeling frustrated with the slow pace of your love life. Although it may not look like it now, growth is happening beneath the surface. The Knight’s horse may have stopped because there is something important you are learning about yourself now. Don’t be in a hurry to attain every dream. There is much to be enjoyed in the present.
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November 15, 2022
The Card of the Day: The Two of Cups (Reversed)
“No need to exacerbate a wounded ego.”
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The Two of Cups symbolizes harmonious partnerships that are meant to be. These relationships can be based on love (as is the case with the couple pictured here), however, they can also be platonic partnerships based on mutual interests or goals. The message of the card is to create harmony in your most important relationships through positive and honest communication.
Who is the “other” in your most important current relationship? Do you let this person know how much they matter to you? Do you need to get out of your own head and see another’s perspective to restore harmony?
The Two of Cups pictures a loving couple. They are separated by the staff of Hermes, the Greek messenger god of communication. Topping the staff of Hermes is a giant lion’s head with wings. This represents that each person in the relationship will have their own sense of pride. They are very different, and yet it is important that each feels their differences are honored, not disparaged. The lion head can quickly override the relationship if the ego is damaged by either party. A wounded ego can severely damage a once loving partnership. The only way to ensure harmony, is for both parties to communicate (the staff of Hermes) in a manner that makes each feel equally important and valuable, leaving their personal dignity intact.
The Two of Cups asks you to see the other person’s point of view, and to communicate in a manner that gives everyone the ability to walk away with their dignity affirmed. This goes for personal relationships, business partnerships, friendships, and family members. The message of the card is that none of us gets to where we are all by ourselves. We need cooperation to survive in this world.
When the Two of Cups appears, it is time to reaffirm and reconnect with the people that make up your most important relationships. Do some relationship maintenance. Let another know how you feel to get an issue resolved. See another’s perspective. Resolve differences with honest, kind, and open communication. The Two of Cups reminds you that you can’t do everything alone. It also advises you to validate the people you care about most.
People you love need to know that they matter. Don’t assume that they already do. Give a thoughtful gift or send a loving message. See the divine light in their eyes and recognize how much richer they make your life. Communicate in a way that restores harmony.
When the Two of Cups appears reversed it highlights miscommunications in relationships. It also asks you to take responsibility for your part in intensifying or deescalating conflict. The large lion head on the card represents ego. Many of the miseries we experience in our relationships are rooted in pride. Sometimes this card can indicate you are experiencing the ego of another. When encountering wounded egos, it is important not to activate your own ego in response. This has the same result as throwing gasoline on an already raging fire. The Two of Cups reversed asks you to talk less and listen more. Be open and curious about what others have to say.
This card is also the harbinger of resolution to misunderstandings, and miscommunications with others. The most important thing to convey is openness, love and understanding.
Let go of your pride, your need to be right, and your need for the last word. Stop wasting energy on pettiness or conflicts. Do your part to bring light and healing to the world. There is no need to exacerbate already raging conflicts. Send love to those who've hurt you and be okay with peacefully walking away from those who are not receptive to resolution at this time. Send them love from a distance. The Two of Cups represents the old saying that “you can lead the horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.” Raise your personal standards of what a healthy relationship constitutes for you. Accept only the best for yourself and be selective about who you trust. Air out old issues and finally let them go. This will free you from a wounded ego. Rise above all the traps set by your ego, or the ego of another. Reestablish harmony by surrendering pride.
*Two of Cups (Reversed) in a Love Reading
New Relationship
When the Two of Cups appears reversed it can represent a potential partner who may be feeling misunderstood. This card rules all indirect forms of communication. Know that this person prefers to send unspoken signals rather than speaking clearly and directly about what they want. Applying more pressure will likely cause them to withdraw.
Long Term Partnership
The Two of Cups reversed can represent a loving partnership, however a situation has arisen that is pulling both parties in opposite directions. You will have to choose whether to reconcile or compromise for the sake of the relationship or stay committed toward your individual courses. Facilitating a receptive conversation can help both people feel heard.
Seeking Romance
It’s time examine what you are communicating about yourself when seeking relationships. Be self-aware of the body language, facial expressions, posture, and other unspoken signals when interacting with others. You should always feel that you are meeting a potential partner as an equal.
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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November 14, 2022
The Card of the Day: The Page of Pentacles
"Passion for learning."
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The Page of Pentacles represents the passion you feel for what really interests you. This can be a goal, a talent, a creative pursuit, or a career that you love. To get better at anything, you have to work at it. When your interests become "work," it can be easy to forget why you used to love it. The job to do (and the anxiety to do it well), can soon take the place of the passion. The process of getting better at anything is strewn with mistakes. Errors are your best teachers. If you don't remind yourself what you love about the work you do, your morale can quickly sink. If you throw in comparing yourself to others, who you think do it "better," and you've got a perfect recipe for anxiety, apathy or avoidance. In order to reclaim your passion, get back to the basics. It's time to remind yourself what initially made you passionate about this pursuit in the first place!
Why did you choose to go into the work you do? What did you like/love about it when you were just getting started? Has perfecting your talents become something that gives you more anxiety than joy? How has this work made your life more meaningful?
The Page holds up his Pentacle with reverence. It is a symbol of his passion for learning, perfecting, and understanding. He lives in a fertile valley in the shade of trees and mountains. Although he is a child of the "Earth element," he always seems to have his head in the clouds. The tall trees and the towering mountains lie far beneath where his dreams take him. This kid is going places! His red hat symbolizes the passion he has for the fresh goals he is just getting started with. He is not just a dreamer but also a "doer." His green tunic represents that abundance will always result when there is a self-motivation for improvement.
Sometimes anxiety about doing well at something causes avoidance of the very things that used to bring you joy. The Page of Pentacles asks you to try to remember, what made you passionate about doing this work in the first place. Did it make you feel good to help someone? Was it something that you felt brilliant in? Did it build your self-esteem up, because you had a gift, and you used to know it?
For success to take root, the love of the pursuit must supersede your anxieties about it.
*Page of Pentacles in a Love Reading
New Relationship
The Page of Pentacles represents a fresh union overflowing with possibility. This card can also represent a partner who shares similar interests. This relationship is at its best when engaged in shared activities that stimulate the mind.
Long Term Partnership
This card can describe a partner that lives in their head. This relationship thrives when there is a meeting of the minds on something both partners can grow toward. The relationship will likely last because of mutual interests or a passion for working toward the same goal.
Seeking Romance
The Page of Pentacles may call you toward academic environments or places of shared interests. Take a class, join a membership club, follow where the passion of your interests leads you. Romance may reawaken when you place your focus on self-improvement and learning.
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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November 13, 2022
The Card of the Day: Strength (Reversed)
“Remember your strength!”
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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 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 at your 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 so much easier with time. Its also important not to make self corrections because of how "guilty" you feel. These 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 to latch on to).
You are definitely 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. Your identity is not fused to any behavior that undermines your majesty. If something has been running amok like a wild lion that you feel can't be self-controlled, think again. Every day you have the power to rise up and 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.
Make at least three choices today that give 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 or forget your abilities. Don't let this happen! A good way to bolster yourself is to keep a "Courage Journal." This is invaluable little book is where you will record your victories, great and small, each time you face a fear and win. 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 very special book can be taken off the shelf any time you are facing a scary challenge. The Courage Journal is written proof that you can accomplish what you once thought "impossible." It is also proof that you can handle the issue you are facing now. 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. In time, you will see written proof of your excellence.
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 you bring.
*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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November 12, 2022
The Card of the Day: The Four of Cups
“Accepting blessings.”
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The Four of Cups reminds us see all the good things being offered to you in the present. Thinking too far ahead or dwelling on things long past can rob you of now. The present is where life is happening! This current moment is also loaded with abundance, blessings and positive energy. Are you being open to receiving it? Right now, is the moment to start seeing your gifts and blessings.
Are you focused and worried about the future? Are you shutting down with a numb heart because of the past and you fear being hurt again? Is something distracting you from seeing the multitudes of miracles and blessings present in your life?
The Four of Cups shows a sulking man, sitting under a tree. He is fixated on three earthbound cups. These could represent his worldly acquisitions (money, reputation, and image). He is not acknowledging a miracle right behind him! An angelic hand is reaching out of a cloud and is offering him a divine gift. Not only is he not open to accepting (his arms are in a crossed, closed position), he is unable to see it.
Western culture tells us to be constantly worried. Even when we aren't running around at our jobs our minds are still running. Constantly planning. Avoiding pitfalls. Constantly pushing to be better. Endlessly striving. This is just fear in disguise. Fear of being hurt by something. Fear of being caught unaware. Fear of the past repeating itself. Fear of rejection. Fear of loss. Fear, fear, and more fear. Have you ever heard the saying that "Fear robs you of the joy of the present?" Well it does! And the more you engage in it, the more blind you get.
The man in the card isn't happy. If the golden cups represent "gifts," he already has three in his possession, and there is another on the way. He is not open to receiving because he has "closed down." Look at his posture, he is guarding his heart. Some major pain from the past must have happened to him. His whole present is focused on how to prevent that hurt from happening again. As a result, he has closed access to his heart and to his ability to receive. He is lost in projections that aren't there. All he needs to do is look around him. Think how ecstatic he would be if he only noticed the gift being delivered especially for him from above!
The Four of Cups urges you to accept, receive and open yourself to the good things being offered to you at this moment. If someone tries to do something nice for you say, "Thank you so much," not "No, no, you don't have to do that." Look around you right now. Do you see the colors surrounding you? Do you hear the sounds? Do you see light everywhere? Take a deep breath, let it in. What is wonderful right now about your life?
Open yourself to all the good that occurring. If you shift your focus to blessings, more will come.
*Four of Cups in a Love Reading
New Relationship
The Four of Cups can represent a desire for an emotionally unavailable person. There is a mutual attraction, and yet you seem to be hitting a ceiling with how much this person can give you. Do not take their behavior personally and assume it is a reflection of your quality as a partner. This card can also signify that you may be the one finding it difficult to be vulnerable.
Long Term Partnership
One partner could be emotionally shutting down. It can be difficult to connect with them as they retreat behind their walls. This card can also signify a relationship partner who feels taken for granted, unacknowledged, or underappreciated. The trust in this relationship has likely experienced some damage. Both partners must be open to repairing it.
Seeking Romance
The Four of Cups can signify that negative thinking about relationships could be getting in the way of finding one. This card can also represent an admirer that you are overlooking because they don’t seem like your usual “type.” Open yourself to the possibilities for happiness right in front of your nose.
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