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The Tarot Table is where we explore the mystical world of tarot, delve into the secrets of the cards, and talk about all things spiritual with a no-nonsense, no-BS lens.
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The podcast The Tarot Table with Miriam Rachel is created by Exploring the Mystical Tarot and Spiritual World in a No-Nonsense Way. The podcast and the artwork on this page are embedded on this page using the public podcast feed (RSS).
The Strength card represents my guest today on The Tarot Table. Strength in the tarot deck symbolizes inner strength, courage, and resilience.
It depicts a figure gently taming a lion, representing the ability to harness and channel powerful energies.
This card represents the transformation of personal power, from feeling overwhelmed and drained by empathic abilities to learning how to manage and utilize those energies in a positive and empowering way.
In the context of your journey, the Strength card signifies the shift from feeling depleted by absorbing and carrying the emotions and energies of others to developing a strong sense of self and boundaries.
It represents the realization that you have the inner strength and capacity to work with energy in a way that serves you and others.
The Strength card encourages you to embrace your empathic abilities and use them as a source of personal empowerment. It reminds you that you have the strength and resilience to face any challenges that come your way.
By balancing your empathic nature with self-care, boundaries, and proper energy management techniques, you can become an empowered energy worker who positively impacts others while maintaining your own well-being.
The Strength represents my guest, Melanie Sheree.
Who Is Melanie Sheree?
Melanie Sheree is a lifelong medium & spiritual teacher who is passionate about teaching highly sensitive souls how to go from- an exhausted empath to an empowered energy worker.
Melanie runs two psychic development programs, works one-on-one with clients, and has been in the field for the past 11 years.
Connect with Melanie at her website: https://melaniesheree.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_awakened.spirit/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@awakened.spirit
I will talk to you again next Friday and then chat with a guest represented by the World.
This guest is an Enneagram expert and she enlightens us all on how the Enneagram can help you truly understand who you are! If you want a reading, head over to https://creativetarot.net.
Follow me on Instagram at creativetarotinsights, and, of course, follow The Tarot Table Podcast. You can also join my list to get a week ahead tarot reading each Sunday so you know what energies you are facing at creativetarot.substack.com.
Judgement represents my guest onThe Tarot Table. The tarot card often associated with the angelic realm is the Judgement card (also known as The Last Judgement or simply Judgement) from the Major Arcana.
This card typically depicts angels blowing trumpets and people rising from their graves, symbolizing a spiritual awakening or a call to higher consciousness.
The Judgement card represents a transformative moment of self-reflection and spiritual rebirth. It signifies a time of making important decisions, releasing the past, and embracing a higher purpose.
The presence of angels in the card symbolizes divine guidance, protection, and the influence of higher realms. Judgement represents my guest, Caylen Dheviain.
Who Is Caylen Dheviain?
Meet Caylen Dheviain, a dedicated Angel Therapy Practitioner with an unwavering passion for helping individuals connect with the Angelic Realm to unlock daily guidance from the Angels.
With a deep-rooted love for working with people, Caylen is on a mission to assist them in discovering their true gifts and purpose in life.
As a certified Reiki Master, Angel Therapy Practitioner, and Energy Healer, Caylen helps individuals harness spiritual energy, intuition, and universal forces to transform their lives. Through one-on-one sessions, classes, workshops, and events, she facilitates healing, growth, and awakening.
Whether seeking personalized guidance, empowerment, or transformation, Caylen offers tailored support. She believes deeply in the power of spiritual and energetic connection for healing and alignment.
Her ability to guide and nurture others makes her a beacon of light for those on a journey of self-discovery and transformation.
Connect with Caylen on her website:https://yourinnerlight.ca Facebook: yourinnerlightca, Instagram: @caylendheviain
Next Friday and then chat with a guest represented by Strength. This guest is a lifelong medium and spiritual teacher dedicated to helping highly sensitive souls transform from exhausted empaths into empowered energy workers.
If you want a reading, head over to https://creativetarot.net. Follow me on Instagram atcreativetarotinsights, and, of course, followThe Tarot Table podcast. You can also join my list to get a week ahead tarot reading each Sunday so you know what energies you are facing atcreativetarot.substack.com.
The Queen of Wands represents my guest on The Tarot Table. She is portrayed as confident, charismatic, and ambitious. She possesses strong leadership qualities and is known for her ability to inspire and motivate others.
This Queen court card embodies the energy of empowerment, passion, and ambition, making it a fitting representation for a career and empowerment coach. The Queen of Wands is Dr. Rowena Winkler.
Who Is Dr. Rowena Winkler?
Dr. Rowena Winkler is a Career and empowerment Coach who uses the power of communication to help high achievers unlock their authentic genius and gain clarity in their jobs, businesses, and lives.
Her coaching method, which uses her Ph.D. in Communication and mystical modalities such as Astrology, Human Design, and the Tarot, enables clients to tap into self-love, build confidence, get unstuck, and make a change.
Connect with Rowena:
Website: https://www.rowenawinkler.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rbwinklerphd
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rbwinklerphd
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@rbwinklerphd
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rbwinklerphd
I will talk to you again next Friday and then chat with a guest represented by Judgement. This guest is a devoted Angel Therapy Practitioner who helps people connect with angels for daily guidance.
Follow The Tarot Table podcast. You can also join my list to get a week ahead of tarot reading each Sunday so you know what energies you face at creativetarot.substack.com.
The High Priestess represents my guest on The Tarot Table today. In many tarot decks, The High Priestess is depicted as a woman sitting between two pillars, representing the veil between the conscious and subconscious realms.
She is the bridge between the material and spiritual realms, embodying intuition, psychic abilities, and the connection to higher knowledge.
Mediumship involves communicating with spirits and connecting with the energy and messages of those who have passed on.
Similarly, The High Priestess represents the ability to access hidden knowledge and divine wisdom. She serves as a channel, tapping into the intuitive and spiritual realms to receive and interpret messages.
The High Priestess also symbolizes the importance of trusting one's intuition and listening to the inner voice. Mediumship requires a deep sense of intuition and the ability to discern and interpret the messages received from spirits.
This card encourages the development of psychic abilities, spiritual exploration, and the honoring of the unseen forces that guide and support us. The High Priestess is Ioanna Serpanos.
Who Is Ioanna Serpanos?
Ioanna Serpanos is a recognized and well-respected Psychic Medium reading for over twenty years. She is renowned for her accuracy, honesty, and integrity and delivers messages from Spirit with compassion, humility, and down-to-earth practicality.
An industry leader in the training and developing mediumship and spirituality, Ioanna has raised professional standards and delivers knowledge that will inspire you to achieve your mediumship goals.
As an Author, Ioanna has just published her book Giving Spirit A Voice, which is available on Amazon worldwide. Her new book is a practical manual that guides you through learning mediumship and suits the novice or professional medium alike.
Ioanna has communicated with Spirit from a very early age and is highly intuitive, connecting through all the psychic senses of seeing, hearing, feeling, knowing, and taste/smell.
She offers private readings on Mediumship (passing on messages from your loved ones in the world of Spirit), psychic readings (connecting to your Guides, Angels, Tarot, and Inspirers in Spirit), and Business Readings (Ioanna was trained initially as an engineer and knows the corporate world of business intimately).
You can connect with Ioanna through her website: https://www.ioannaserpanos.com and Instagram: https://instagram.com/ioannaserpanosmedium.
Grab Ioanna's book, Giving Spirit A Voice: The Mechanics of Mediumship.
I will talk to you again next Friday and then chat with a guest represented by the Queen of Wands, a Career & Empowerment Coach who helps high achievers unlock their authentic genius and gain clarity in their jobs, businesses, and lives through the power of communication.
Follow The Tarot Table podcast. You can also join my list to get a week ahead tarot reading each Sunday so you know what energies you are facing at creativetarot.substack.com.
The Temperance tarot card represents my guest on The Tarot Table today. This card symbolizes balance, moderation, and harmony. It encourages patience, self-restraint, and blending opposites to create unity.
Representing flow and adaptability, it urges you to find the middle path and align your inner and outer worlds. Temperance reminds us that equilibrium fosters growth and leads to fulfillment.
The Temperance represents my guest today, Jillian Rothschild-Scholar, who is coming on for the second time, as she was a guest on November 1st. This time, we will talk about what to expect during the year of the Snake.
Who Is Jillian Rothschild-Scholar?
Jillian helps ambitious individuals who sense that something in their life feels slightly “off” and seek to move forward with greater clarity, confidence, and ease.
As a Master of Feng Shui with classical training rooted in the 400-year-old Wu Chang Feng Shui Mastery lineage, Jillian draws on ancient wisdom as the foundation of her expertise.
She offers practical solutions tailored to modern lifestyles, using proven classical systems and approaches. By simplifying complex concepts, she empowers her clients to swiftly and effectively enhance their physical, emotional, and spiritual lives.
However, 2025 is the year of the Snake, beginning on January 29th, 2025. We discuss what this year will bring, so stay tuned for that.
Connect with Jillian:
Website: www.fsinmotion.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FengShuiJillian/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fengshuiinmotion/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fengshuiinmotion/
I will talk to you again next Friday and then chat with a guest represented by the High Priestess, a psychic medium. She teaches those interested in mediumship a practical way of going by it.
You can also join my list to get a week ahead tarot reading each Sunday so you know what energies you are facing at creativetarot.substack.com. New contact info is coming soon!
The Eight of Pentacles represents my guest today on The Tarot Table. The Eight of Pentacles is a tarot card representing dedication, skill-building, and craftsmanship. It often depicts a person diligently working on a task, focusing on the details, and honing their skills.
The card signifies a time of hard work, discipline, and commitment to one's craft or chosen path. It suggests that you put effort and energy into mastering your skills and developing a strong foundation. It can indicate a period of focused learning, apprenticeship, or professional development.
The Eight of Pentacles reminds us of the importance of persistence. It suggests that we can achieve success and mastery by putting in consistent effort and dedicating ourselves to our goals.
It encourages us to embrace a growth mindset and keep learning and improving.
This card can also signify the need for attention to detail and a focus on quality in your work. It may indicate a time of refining your skills, paying attention to the finer points, and striving for excellence in your endeavors.
In a broader sense, the Eight of Pentacles represents the value of hard work, diligence, and craftsmanship in any area of life. It highlights the rewards of investing time and energy into your passions or projects and the satisfaction of seeing your efforts pay off.
The Eight of Pentacles represents my guest, Mara Marchesi, The Intuition Queen.
Who Is Mara, the Intuitionon Queen?
Mara Marchesi, aka The Intuition Queen, is a transformative force that guides entrepreneurs and creative souls on a journey of empowerment, abundance, and self-discovery.
She is an intuitive and innovative coach, healer, and psychic. She is passionate about helping people release unconscious fears and blockages in their aura and energies so they can release all the reasons why they are not shining bright or moving to the next level.
She will tap into people's energy field and bring to the surface all the limitations, fears, and anything holding them back so they can become the most powerful and aligned version of themselves.
Website: https://www.theintuitionqueen.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_intuition_queen/
FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thesoulfulsuccesscommunity
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mara-marchesi-73191b2/
Next Friday, I am happy to announce that I will be bringing back Chinese Astrology and Feng Shui Master Jillian Rothschild-Scholar to discuss what to expect during the year of the snake, which begins on February 4th!
In the meantime, subscribe to https://creativetarot.substack.com to get your week-ahead tarot reading each Sunday. I am changing my branding with everything else, so stay tuned. Of course, follow The Tarot Table!
The Magician represents my guest today on The Tarot Table. This card embodies the power of transformation, manifestation, and the ability to manipulate one's reality.
In the context of a hypnotist, The Magician symbolizes their expertise in guiding individuals through altering their narrative and mindset.
The Magician is depicted as a figure standing at a table with various tools representing the four elements: a wand for fire, a cup for water, a sword for air, and a pentacle for earth.
This signifies the hypnotist's mastery over these elements and their ability to harness them to facilitate change.
The card also portrays the infinity symbol above the magician's head, representing the infinite possibilities available to the individual seeking transformation.
The magician's gesture of one hand pointing upward and the other downward symbolizes their ability to connect the spiritual realm with the physical world, bridging the gap between conscious and subconscious states of mind.
Furthermore, The Magician is associated with communication, persuasion, and the power of suggestion.
These qualities are essential in the work of a hypnotist who guides individuals toward new narratives and mindsets through words and techniques. The Magician represents my guest, Paul Wilson.
Who Is Paul Wilson?
Since 2018, Paul Wilson has been transforming personal growth by combining his expertise as a Hypnotherapist and Mindset
Coach with his unique brand of humor. His approach isn't just about shedding unwanted thoughts and behaviors—it's about empowering people to strive confidently in life and business.
Paul's journey in personal coaching has led him to collaborate with notable entrepreneurs like Lisa Johnson and Robin Waite, enhancing their events with his engaging talks and workshops.
He’s not just another speaker; he’s a highlight known for his dynamic one-on-one sessions and impactful group coaching.
Connect with Paul:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paulwilsonfolkestonehypnotherapy/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paulWcoaching
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulwilsoncoaching/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulwilsonhypnotherapistandcoach/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTnEs86PRmUTPjWzY3OqTkg
Website: https://www.ahappyhead.co.uk
I will talk to you again next Friday and then chat with a guest represented by the Eight of Pentacles. This guest
is a transformative force that guides entrepreneurs and creative souls on a journey of empowerment, abundance, and self-discovery.
Follow me on Instagram at miriamreadstarot, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com. And, of course, follow The Tarot Table podcast.
You can also join my list to get a week ahead tarot reading each Sunday so you know what energies you are facing at creativetarot.substack.com.
The Chariot represents my guest on The Tarot Table. This powerful, dynamic tarot card represents movement, control, and triumph.
In most tarot decks, The Chariot features a figure standing in or driving a chariot, often pulled by two contrasting animals. This imagery symbolizes the need for balance, control, and harnessing opposing forces to propel forward.
The Chariot embodies the energy of progress and taking charge of one's life's journey. It signifies a period of momentum, determination, and overcoming obstacles.
Just as charioteers must maintain control over their steeds, this card reminds us to stay focused, disciplined, and driven toward our goals.
The Chariot also represents the importance of balancing and harmony amidst opposing forces. The charioteer's ability to guide the two animals in unison signifies the need to integrate and harmonize different aspects of our lives, such as work and personal life, logic and intuition, or ambition and compassion.
Furthermore, The Chariot reminds us of the power of will, self-mastery, and confidence. It encourages us to tap into our inner strength and assertiveness to overcome challenges and move forward.
This card suggests that success and victory are within reach if we remain determined, focused, and willing to navigate through any obstacles that arise. This card represents my guest, Dani Rosenblad James.
Who Is Dani Rosenblad James? Dani Rosenblad James is a dynamic force, inspiring through sustainable travel, writing, and mind-body coaching. As the founder of Misfit Wanders, she shares the transformative power of nature.
Alongside her roles as an author and sustainable travel expert, Dani guides others on a journey of holistic well-being, drawing from her own experiences and resilience.
Her mission is to empower individuals to cultivate strength, vitality, and purpose.
Connect with Dani here:https://www.tiktok.com/@misfitwanders
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/misfitwanders
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/misfit_wanders/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/misfit-wanders/
Website: https://misfitwanders.com
I will talk to you again next Friday and then chat with a guest represented by the Magician. This guest is a Hypnotherapist and Mindset Coach who blends personal growth with humor, helping people shed limiting beliefs and confidently thrive in life and business. Follow me on Instagram at miriamreadstarot, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com. And, of course, follow The Tarot Table podcast. You can also join my list to get a week ahead tarot reading each Sunday so you know what energies you are facing at creativetarot.substack.com.
The Empress card represents my guest on The Tarot Table Podcast. She embodies nurturing, compassion, and a deep connection to nature and animals.
The card's lush garden imagery symbolizes abundance and harmony with the natural world. Often depicted surrounded by animals, the Empress represents care, protection, and reverence for all living beings.
As the Earth Mother archetype, this card highlights the interconnectedness of all life and the importance of empathy, love, and respect for the animal kingdom.
It reflects qualities often seen in those with a natural affinity for animals, such as understanding their needs and creating a safe, nurturing environment.
The Empress also signifies balance and harmony with nature, encouraging us to honor and protect the world around us.
For those who resonate with this card, it may reveal an innate ability to communicate with animals and foster a deeper bond with them. The Empress represents my guest, Denise Dunlavy.
Who Is Denise Dunlavy?
Denise Dunlavy is a bridge between worlds. As an animal communicator, she translates the thoughts and emotions of our furry companions, fostering deeper understanding and stronger bonds.
But Denise's talents extend beyond the animal kingdom. She also offers intuitive readings for people, tapping into their inner wisdom and providing guidance on life's path.
Passionate about empowerment, Denise is a dedicated teacher and mentor. Whether it's helping you unlock your connection with animals or delve into the fascinating realms of intuition and spiritual growth, Denise's engaging approach will inspire you to explore your unique gifts.
Connect with Denise:https://www.intuitivedenise.com
IG: https://instagram.com/intuitivedenise
FB: https://www.facebook.com/intuitivedenise/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@intuitivedenise
I will talk to you again next Friday and then chat with a guest represented by the Chariot. This guest healed from a traumatic brain injury. She discusses her journey of travelling, writing, and mind-body coaching.
Follow me on Instagram at miriamreadstarot, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com. And, of course, follow The Tarot Table Podcast. You can also join my list to get a week ahead tarot reading each Sunday so you know what energies you are facing at creativetarot.substack.com.
The Empress represents my guest on The Tarot Table Podcast. The Empress symbolizes creativity, nurturing, and abundance.
It signifies the power of creation and artistic expression, making it a fitting representation for art therapy, which uses artistic mediums to explore and heal emotions, traumas, and personal growth.
The card often depicts a woman surrounded by nature, emphasizing the connection between art, nature, and the nurturing qualities of the therapy process. The Empress represents my guest today, Susan Day.
Who Is Susan Day?
Susan Day is an art therapist, practitioner, author, and artist. She hosts her own podcast, facilitates creative art sessions, and has published more than five mindful art therapy books.
Susan is enthralled by the power of art and the written word to change people’s lives. When she’s not supporting clients or creating, she plans her next trip away in her campervan, walks her Border Collie, or vacuums up ‘fluffy-butt’ cat hair.
Connect with Susan at:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulartstherapy/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindfulartstherapy
Website: https://mindfulartstherapy.com.au/
I will talk to you again next Friday and then chat with a guest represented by the Chariot. This guest empowers others to embrace holistic well-being and discover strength, vitality, and purpose through her own resilience and experiences.
Follow me on Instagram at miriamreadstarot, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com. And, of course, follow The Tarot Table Podcast. You can also join my list to get a week ahead tarot reading each Sunday so you know what energies you are facing at miriamreadstarot.substack.com.
The High Priestess represents my guest on The Tarot Table Podcast today. This card symbolizes intuition, wisdom, and a deep connection to the spiritual realm.
As a psychic business coach, this card represents someone who utilizes their intuitive abilities and spiritual insights to guide their clients in their business endeavors.
The High Priestess encourages introspection, inner knowing, and access to the subconscious mind. A psychic business coach can tap into their intuition and provide clients with valuable insights and guidance that go beyond traditional business strategies.
They may use divination tools like tarot cards or other psychic methods to gain deeper insights into their client's business challenges and opportunities.
This card also signifies the importance of trust and listening to one's inner voice. A psychic business coach would encourage clients to trust their intuition and inner guidance when making business decisions.
They would help their clients connect with their own intuitive abilities, enhancing their decision-making process and aligning their actions with their higher purpose.
Furthermore, The High Priestess balances the conscious and subconscious mind. A psychic business coach would help clients tap into their hidden potential and uncover any limiting beliefs or blocks hindering their business success.
They would assist in aligning their clients' business goals with their authentic selves and higher spiritual purpose. The High Priestess represents my guest, Julie Chandler.
Who Is Julie Chandler?
Julie Chandler is the High Priestess. Psychic Business Coach Julie Chandler is leading the silent revolution of women, taking back their authenticity and power in business through spiritual connection and tools to help them grow businesses that help others.
Connect with Julie at https://www.juliechandler.co.uk, and listen to her podcast, The Intuitively Led.
I will talk to you again next Friday and then chat with a guest represented by the Empress. This guest is an art therapist and gives us some exciting tidbits, so let's see what she has in store for us next week.
Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, Instagram at miriamreadstarot, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com. And, of course, follow The Tarot Table Podcast.
You can also join my list to get a week ahead tarot reading each Sunday so you know what energies you are facing at miriamreadstarot.substack.com.
The Moon represents my guest today on The Tarot Table Podcast. The Moon card often depicts a moonlit landscape with a full moon shining overhead, casting a surreal glow.
This card symbolizes the hidden realms, psychic abilities, intuition, and the subconscious mind. It speaks to the presence of unseen energies and exploring the supernatural realm.
In the paranormal context, The Moon card signifies the need to delve into the depths of one's intuition and tap into the realm of the unseen.
It suggests there is more to reality than what meets the eye and encourages individuals to trust their instincts and explore the mysterious forces at play.
The Moon card also represents the presence of illusions, dreams, and the blurred boundaries between the conscious and unconscious mind.
It can indicate experiences of synchronicities, psychic phenomena, and heightened intuition. It reminds individuals to pay attention to their dreams, symbols, and subtle signs from the universe.
Furthermore, the Moon card reminds us to embrace the unknown and the journey of discovery. It encourages individuals to trust their inner guidance and navigate the shadows of uncertainty with courage and curiosity. The Moon represents my guest, Kari Pohar.
Who Is Kari Pohar?
Kari Pohar is a paranormal author who enjoys paranormal things: paranormal/true crime podcasts, ghost-hunting shows/ghost hunting, and tarot.
She has a paranormal novel, Chateau Merlot, which has been a dream come true to have published. She lives with her husband, two kids, a cat, and at least one ghost.
She’s been trying her hand at astral projection to somewhere tropical but has been unsuccessful thus far.
You can connect with Kari on TikTok @karipohar, Instagram, @karipoharYou can also connect with her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KariPoharAuthor/.
Next Friday and then chat with a guest represented by the High Priestess. This guest is a Psychic Business Coach leading women's silent revolution, taking back their authenticity and power in business through spiritual connection and tools to help them grow businesses that help others.
Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, Instagram at miriamreadstarot, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com.
And, of course, follow The Tarot Table Podcast. You can also join my list to get a week ahead tarot reading each Sunday so you know what energies you are facing at miriamreadstarot.substack.com.
The Star represents my guest today on The Tarot Table Podcast. The Star card is often associated with healing, renewal, and divine energy. It depicts a serene figure pouring water from two vessels into a pool and stars shining in the night sky.
The water represents the flow of healing energy, and the stars symbolize hope, inspiration, and spiritual guidance.
In the context of energy healing, The Star card signifies the power of healing and rejuvenation through the channeling and balancing of energy.
It represents the connection between the physical body, mind, and spirit, and the potential for healing on all levels.
The Star card encourages individuals to tap into their inner resources and access the universal energy that flows through them. It signifies restoring balance, releasing blockages, and promoting overall well-being.
It suggests that by aligning with divine energy and opening oneself to receive healing, one can experience profound transformation and renewal.
Furthermore, The Star card represents the healing journey as a process of self-discovery, self-acceptance, and spiritual growth. It invites individuals to have faith in their healing abilities and to trust in the inherent wisdom of their bodies and souls. The Star represents my guest today, Katya Martynova.
Who Is Katya Martynova?
Katya Martynova is a professionally trained life coach who has helped many people in various settings. She is also an energy healer trained in Reiki, Akashic Records, The Peace Process, and other techniques to help you create the life you imagine (and beyond) and renew your sense of self.
No problem is too big or small if it keeps you from living a happy life.Connect with Katya: https://www.heal.me/your_coach_katya. @your_coach_katya.
Next week, I will speak to a guest represented by the Moon. This guest is a paranormal author, and we delve into all paranormal topics. If that is your jam, you will enjoy this one.
Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, Instagram at miriamreadstarot, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com.
And, of course, follow The Tarot Table Podcast. You can also join my list to get a week ahead tarot reading each Sunday so you know what energies you are facing at miriamreadstarot.substack.com.
Today, my guest on The Tarot Table Podcast is represented by the Tower. The Tower is a highly impactful and intense tarot card representing sudden and disruptive change.
Depicted as a tower struck by lightning and engulfed in flames, this card signifies the breaking down of old structures, beliefs, and patterns to pave the way for transformation and growth.
The Tower card serves as a powerful wake-up call, shaking the foundations of our lives and forcing us to confront the aspects that no longer serve us. It represents the collapse of illusions, false foundations, and ego-driven structures.
It can be a challenging and unsettling experience, as it often involves unexpected events or revelations that disrupt our sense of stability and security.
However, while the Tower card may initially bring chaos and destruction, it also presents an opportunity for liberation and rebirth. It catalyzes necessary change and growth, clearing the way for new beginnings and a stronger foundation to be built upon.
The Tower card reminds us of surrendering control and embracing life's inevitable cycles. It teaches us the value of releasing attachments and outdated beliefs that hinder our personal development.
By dismantling the old, we can rebuild and create a more authentic and resilient self. Ultimately, the Tower card symbolizes transformation, resilience, and the potential for profound personal growth.
It urges us to embrace breaking down and rebuilding, knowing that we can rise stronger, wiser, and more aligned with our true purpose from the ashes of destruction. The Tower represents my guest, Tina Murphy.
Who Is Tina Murphy?
Tina Murphy is a money coach for widows. She suddenly lost her husband when she was 38, leaving her to raise her 2 boys, who were 6 and 9.
Even though she was a personal finance teacher for almost 20 years, her spending was out of control. Finding life coaching turned her healing and her spending completely around.
Now, she helps other widows make a financial game so they can feel better about their lives again.
Connect with Tina on her website, https://www.widowswallet.com, and her Instagram account, @widowswallet.
Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday and then chat with a guest represented by the Star. This guest is a professionally trained life coach and energy healer skilled in Reiki, Akashic Records, and other transformative techniques.
She is dedicated to helping clients overcome challenges, renew their sense of self, and create a fulfilling life. She discusses how she does that.
Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, Instagram at miriamreadstarot, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com. And, of course, follow The Tarot Table Podcast.
You can also join my list to get a week ahead of tarot reading each Sunday so you know what energies you face at miriamreadstarot.substack.co
The Magician represents my guest on The Taror Table Podcast. The tarot card The Magician, symbolizing empowerment through astrology, represents personal power, manifestation, and the ability to create change.
In astrology, understanding cosmic energies provides insight into one’s potential, helping individuals align actions with planetary influences and make empowered choices. The Magician is my guest, Abby Lewtas.
Who Is Abby Lewtas?
Astrologer Abby Lewtas uses this concept to help people connect to their higher selves.
With a unique background representing Australia in sports like Beach Sprinting, Bobsleigh, and elite Roller Derby, Abby later pursued a Master’s in Sports Business and worked in event management.
Seeking more, she traveled extensively, trained as a life coach, and began practicing astrology in 2019.
Abby’s work combines astrology and sky gazing to help others understand their strengths and potential, guiding them to unlock their abilities. Like The Magician’s, her journey is about self-discovery, transformation, and the pursuit of inner power.
Abby’s expertise enables others to embrace cosmic energies for personal growth and transformation, helping them shape their reality and deepen self-understanding.
Connect with Abby at her website, https://www.abbylewtas.com/. You can also connect with Abby on Instagram @starsbyabby, Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/starsbyabby, and TikTok @starsbyabby. Check out her podcast, https://open.spotify.com/show/3YjLBVIkxngmcMVh0CPVxyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/3YjLBVIkxngmcMVh0CPVxy.
Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday and then chat with a guest represented by the Tower. This guest is a money coach for widows and transformed her own life after losing her husband by using life coaching to regain financial control.
Now, she helps other widows create financial plans to rebuild confidence and stability in their lives. Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, Instagram at miriamreadstarot, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com. I am also back on TikTok, miriamracheltarot, and follow The Tarot Table Podcast.
You can also join my list to get a week ahead of tarot reading each Sunday so you know what energies you face at miriamreadstarot.substack.com.
The Strength card represents my guest today on The Tarot Table. It represents inner strength, courage, and self-control in facing challenges.
It signifies the ability to overcome obstacles and harness one's power.
The Strength card also represents compassion and the ability to support and guide others through their own struggles, offering encouragement, understanding, and support. It represents my guest, Heather LaFond.
Who Is Heather Lafond?
Heather LaFond is an inspiring thought leader dedicated to helping women stop playing small, crush limiting beliefs, and start leading empowered lives.
After conquering her own addiction to alcohol, overcoming emotional eating, and shedding 100 pounds, Heather awakened to her mission: lifting other women up.
She shares her journey and insights through her coaching business so women no longer have to struggle alone.
Known for her straightforward, no-nonsense approach, Heather has attracted speaking engagements worldwide, from podcast features to global events.
Her vision is to spark transformative change by motivating women to take bold action.
When we help women unleash their full potential, society changes for the better—no exceptions.
Heather’s mission is simple yet powerful: empower girls and women to stop settling, find their voices, and make an impact.
You can connect with Heather through her website, https://www.heatherlafond.com, and
Instagram, @heather_lafond_empoweress.
I will talk to you again next Friday and then chat with a guest represented by the Magician.
This guest uses astrology to help you understand yourself more deeply, unlocking your strengths and potential while guiding you on navigating and embracing the more sensitive parts of your spirit. More about that next week. Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, Instagram at miriamreadstarot, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com. I am also back on TikTok, miriamracheltarot, And, of course, follow The Tarot Table Podcast.
You can also join my list to get a week ahead tarot reading each Sunday so you know what energies you are facing at miriamreadstarot.substack.com.
The Temperance tarot card represents my guest on The Tarot Table Podcast. This card symbolizes balance, harmony, and the blending of opposites.
Depicting an angel or figure pouring water between cups, the card represents finding moderation, tempering extremes, and creating unity within ourselves and our relationships.
Temperance encourages integrating spiritual and practical aspects, emotions, and logic, fostering a balanced approach to life and decisions.
This card also highlights the importance of energetic flow, urging us to avoid stagnation or excess to support personal growth.
By practicing patience, self-control, and adaptability, we can achieve inner peace and face challenges with grace. The Temperance represents my guest, Jillian Rothschild-Scholar.
Who Is Jillian Rothschild-Scholar?
Jillian Rothschild-Scholar, a Master of feng shui trained in the Wu Chang Feng Shui Mastery lineage, helps ambitious individuals bring clarity and ease to their lives.
Through her expertise, she translates classical feng shui into practical solutions, allowing clients to improve their lives’ physical, emotional, and spiritual dimensions with actionable insights.
Connect with Jillian on the following:
Website: https://www.fsinmotion.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FengShuiJillian/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fengshuiinmotion/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fengshuiinmotion/
Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday and then chat with a guest represented by Strength.
This guest empowers women to overcome limiting beliefs and embrace their full potential, drawing from her own journey through addiction recovery and weight loss.
More about that next week. Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, Instagram at miriamreadstarot, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com. I am also back on TikTok, miriamracheltarot, And, of course, follow The Tarot Table Podcast.
You can also join my list to get a week ahead tarot reading each Sunday so you know what energies you are facing at miriamreadstarot.substack.com.
The Hierophant represents my guest on The Tarot Table Podcast today. This card represents wisdom, spiritual guidance, and the pursuit of knowledge in healing.
It symbolizes a mentor or teacher who offers sacred wisdom and guidance, especially in matters of health and well-being.
Often depicted in ceremonial robes, the Hierophant embodies authority in traditional practices and alternative healing modalities.
For a medical intuitive dietitian, this card highlights their ability to integrate conventional medical principles with energy healing. The Hierophant represents Tammy Russel.
Who Is Tammy Russel?
Tammy Russell, an integrative dietitian trained in functional medicine, has expanded her practice to include energy healing since 2009.
Specializing in gut health, autoimmune, and chronic conditions, she incorporates Pranic healing, BodyTalk, Accunect, and Reiki into her work.
During the pandemic, Tammy refined her skills in medical intuition, connecting deeply with her guides to reveal ancestral energies, emotional conflicts, and patterns affecting clients' well-being.
As a Reiki Master, Tammy helps clients break the cycles of illness through personalized healing, guiding them toward lasting health.
You can connect with Tammy on Instagram: @modern_intuitive_healing; her website, https://www.modernintuitivehealing.com; and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ModernIntuitiveHealing/.
Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday and then chat with a guest represented by Temperance. This guest is a feng shui master who shares fantastic tips to help you bring the most balance and abundance into your life. More about that next week.
Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, Instagram at miriamreadstarot, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com. I am also back on TikTok, miriamracheltarot, And, of course, follow The Tarot Table Podcast. You can also join my list to get a week ahead tarot reading each Sunday so you know what energies you are facing at miriamreadstarot.substack.com.
Today, my guest on The Tarot Table is represented by The Hierophant. The Hierophant Tarot card represents tradition, spirituality, and the pursuit of wisdom.
Often depicted as a spiritual figure, it symbolizes established belief systems, rituals, and societal values that provide structure. The Hierophant encourages spiritual growth and the exploration of personal beliefs, urging us to seek meaning through connection with something greater.
This card also highlights the role of a mentor or teacher who guides our intellectual and spiritual journeys. My guest is DeeAnna Merz Nagel.
Who Is DeeAnna Merz Nagel?
DeeAnna Merz Nagel is a licensed psychotherapist and board-certified coach. She teaches the ethical integration of alternative, metaphysical, and psychospiritual approaches for coaches and therapists.
DeeAnna holds several certifications in the healing arts, including Reiki and aromatherapy. Her doctoral studies focused on multifaith spiritual direction.
You can connect with DeeAnna on IG, @DeeAnnaNagel, and X at her website, https://deeannamerznagel.com.
Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday and then chat with a guest who is also represented by the Hierophant. This guest as a mission to uncover the patterns that keep clients trapped in cycles of illness and provide healing energy to guide them onto the path of true recovery.
More about that next week. Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, Instagram at miriamreadstarot, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com. I am also back on TikTok, miriamracheltarot, and follow The Tarot Table Podcast.
You can also join my list to get a week ahead tarot reading each Sunday so you know what energies you are facing at miriamreadstarot.substack.com.
Next week. Until then, see you next time, ciao for now.
My guest today on The Tarot Table Podcast is represented by the Six of Swords. The Six of Swords often illustrates a person in a boat, leaving turbulent waters for calmer shores, symbolizing a transition toward peace and balance.
This card suggests moving away from stressful situations and releasing burdens in healing and stress relief. It highlights the importance of letting go of old patterns or environments that no longer serve your well-being and seeking tranquility.
The card also emphasizes the need for guidance in healing. It encourages you to seek support from trusted individuals who can help you navigate challenges and restore balance. The Six of Swords represents my guest today, Sandie Gascon.
Who Is Sandie Gascon?
Sandie Gascon, an Integrative Healing Practitioner and author of Heal Yourself, understands this journey firsthand. After battling chronic migraines and being diagnosed with lupus, she shifted to natural healing.
Sandie developed a holistic approach that integrates mind, body, and spirit, supported by functional lab work to identify individual needs. She healed herself of multiple conditions and now educates others on rebuilding and rebalancing the body to heal naturally.
Through her Integrative Healing Academy, she teaches others to heal themselves and build their own practices. Sandie lives in Florida, enjoying life on her farm with her family, horses, and dogs, while helping others achieve holistic well-being.
You can connect with Sandie on IG @sandie.gascon, on her websites, www.sgintegrativehealing.com and www.integrativehealingacademy.com, and her Facebook group, Motivated 2 Heal Naturally.
Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday and then chat with a guest represented by the Hierophant. This guest teaches the ethical integration of alternative, metaphysical, and psychospiritual approaches for coaches and therapists.
More about that next week. Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, Instagram at miriamreadstarot, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com. I am also back on TikTok, miriamracheltarot, And, of course, follow The Tarot Table Podcast. You can also join my list to get a week ahead tarot reading each Sunday so you know what energies you are facing at miriamreadstarot.substack.com.
The World card represents my guest today on The Tarot Table Podcast, as it s about wholeness, completion, and a deep connection with the body, mind, and nature.
It symbolizes an individual dedicated to raising awareness about reconnecting with nature and physical well-being. This person would be multi-talented, using their skills in creative endeavors to inspire others to embrace a holistic lifestyle.
They promote unity, harmony, and sustainable living while encouraging mindful practices that honor both the body and the environment. The World represents my guest today, Monica Canducci.
Who Is Monica Canducci?
Monica Canducci embodies this symbolism as a multi-talented author, teacher, and coach. Combining science and spirituality, she has explored mindfulness, movement, and healing practices for decades.
Known for her Move-In Mind™ method, Monica integrates her knowledge in neuroscience, psychophysiology, and embodiment. As a certified coach, Astrologer, and HeartMath Practitioner, she helps others find balance in life through her courses and workshops.
Originally from Italy, Monica moved to Canada in 2012 and later to California, where she enjoys dancing among the redwoods. Her work leaves people feeling enlightened and transformed, earning her the affectionate titles of "Guiding Star" and "Dancing Fairy" by her followers.
Connect with Monica on her website: https://www.monica-canducci.com/You can connect with Monica on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/monica.canducci/.
Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday and then chat with a guest represented by the Six of Swords. This guest is an Integrative Healing Practitioner who found a way to transition herself out of chronic migraines, acne, and lupus, among other ailments. More about that next week.
Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, Instagram at miriamreadstarot, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com. And, of course, follow The Tarot Table Podcast.
You can also join my list to get a week ahead tarot reading each Sunday so you know what energies you are facing at miriamreadstarot.substack.com.
Next week. Until then, see you next time, ciao for now.
The High Priestess represents my guest on The Tarot Table Podcast. She symbolizes inner wisdom, intuition, and spiritual insight. She serves as a guide, helping individuals tap into their intuition and trust their inner voice.
The High Priestess is often depicted as a serene and mystical figure sitting between two pillars, representing the boundaries between the conscious and unconscious mind.
She holds a scroll of ancient wisdom and wears a veil that symbolizes hidden knowledge and secrets.
When this card appears in a tarot reading, it suggests that individuals should pay attention to their intuition and trust their inner guidance. The High Priestess encourages them to look beyond the surface and delve deeper into their subconscious mind to find the answers they seek.
In relationships, the High Priestess may represent a mentor, counselor, or spiritual guide encouraging others to listen to their inner voice and follow their instincts. This person may have a deep understanding of the mysteries of life and can offer support and guidance on a profound level.
The High Priestess emphasizes the importance of inner knowing and encourages individuals to trust their instincts, even when logic or external factors suggest otherwise.
She reminds us that there is wisdom within ourselves that can guide us in making decisions and navigating life's complexities. The High Priestess is Donna Wallace.
Who Is Donna Wallace?
Donna Wallace is a healer residing in Australia. She helps people heal emotionally so they overflow with love, become happier and happier, their light switches on, and they can follow their intuition.
She is also known for her second business, The House Of Orion, where she creates ‘custom made for the soul’ jewelry. Check out The House of Orion
Follow Donna through her Website, Instagram, and Facebook.
Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday and then chat with a guest represented by the World tarot card. This guest is a multi-talented individual committed to raising awareness about reconnecting with the body and nature.
More about that next week. Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, Instagram at miriamreadstarot, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com. And, of course, follow The Tarot Table Podcast.
You can also join my list to get a week ahead tarot reading each Sunday so you know what energies you are facing at miriamreadstarot.substack.com.
Next week. Until then, see you next time, ciao for now.
The High Priestess card represents my guest on The Tarot Table Podcast today. She is associated with intuition, inner wisdom, and deep spiritual connection.
She embodies the ability to tap into one's inner truth and align with one's authentic self. The High Priestess guides individuals in letting go of limiting beliefs and accessing their inner knowing, helping them to align their souls with their true purpose and path.
She encourages introspection, inner growth, and the exploration of one's spiritual journey. The High Priestess represents my guest, Rebecca Schlifer.
Who Is Rebecca Schlifer?
In a world constantly telling you "how to change," Rebecca began empowering herself by restoring her inner truths and natural rhythms.
Through her journey of self-discovery, she designed an entirely new way of journaling that allows for observation, documentation, and contemplation.
Within this framework, you can monitor your energy and how you translate your inner and outer reality. She is a Soul Alignment Coach who helps you to let go of the mindsets that compromise your sense of self and renew your soul's inner truth.
You can connect with Rebecca on Linked https://www.linkedin.com/in/rschliferawakening/.
Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday and then chat with a guest represented also by the High Priestess.
This guest specializes in helping people achieve emotional healing, enabling them to embrace love and happiness while following their intuition.
She also runs a business offering custom soul-inspired jewelry, and is eager to share her journey and inspire others to lead unique, soul-driven lives despite the challenges.
More about that next week. Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, Instagram at miriamreadstarot, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com. And, of course, follow The Tarot Table Podcast.
You can also join my list to get a week ahead tarot reading each Sunday so you know what energies you are facing at miriamreadstarot.substack.com.
Today, the Page of Cups represents my guest on The Tarot Table Podcast. It symbolizes creativity, inspiration, and emotional intelligence.
It is associated with artistic pursuits, intuition, and a deep connection to one's emotions. It signifies an imaginative, expressive person who can communicate complex ideas through various forms of art and education. That is what my guest, Guy Dazin, is all about.
Who Is Guy Dazin?
Guy Dazin is an academic, playwright, writer, poet, painter, educator, and podcaster. He holds two degrees in English Literature and Art History and teaches English in the preparatory school at the University of Bar-Ilan.
Guy has written several poetry books and plays, and I am currently exhibiting my paintings in two different exhibitions.
He has a deep affinity for esotericism and mysticism, from Kabbalah to Taoism, Freemasonry to Gnosticism. You can connect with Guy at https://linktr.ee/Guydazin.
Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday and then chat with a guest represented by the High Priestess. This guest is a Soul Alignment Coach who helps you let go of the mindsets that compromise your sense of self and renew your soul's inner truth.
More about that next week. Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, Instagram at miriamreadstarot, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com. And, of course, follow The Tarot Table Podcast.
You can also join my list to get a week ahead tarot reading each Sunday so you know what energies you are facing at miriamreadstarot.substack.com.
Next week. Until then, see you next time, ciao for now.
The Magician card represents my guest on The Tarot Table today. It represents manifestation, action, and the power to transform ideas into tangible results.
The card depicts a figure holding the tools of the four elements—a wand, a cup, a sword, and a pentacle—symbolizing the ability to harness and utilize the different aspects of life to create and manifest.
In the context of pragmatically turning your vision into reality, the Magician card signifies the need to take decisive action and effectively utilize your skills and resources.
It urges you to tap into your creative potential and apply practical strategies to bring your vision to life.
The Magician card reminds you that you have the power to manifest your desires through focused intention, clear communication, and practical planning.
It encourages you to combine your ideas and inspiration with practicality and resourcefulness. By aligning your thoughts, actions, and intentions, you can bring your vision into the physical realm in a grounded and pragmatic way.
This card also emphasizes the importance of confidence and self-belief. It encourages you to trust your abilities and take ownership of your vision.
By embracing your power and taking practical steps toward your goals, you can manifest your vision into reality in a sensible and achievable way.
The Magician represents my guest today, Ange de Lumiere.
Who Is Ange de Lumiere?
Ange de Lumiere is a spiritual lawyer here to help you light up your career or business and manifest the vision you are holding inside without sacrificing your health, relationship, or sanity.
All that with the power of your intuition, which you were gifted at birth. She hears your vision and sees it in the records of your soul. She can help bring that vision to life by breaking it down into doable steps and cheering you.
She was a lawyer for 15 years and can help you create your reality in a pragmatic way that does not feel like hard work.
You can connect with Ange on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SpiritualLawyer and her site at https://www.angedelumiere.biz.
Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday and then chat with a guest represented by the Page of Cups.
This guest is fascinating as he is an academic, playwright, writer, poet, painter, educator, and podcaster with a deep affinity for esotericism and mysticism, from Kabbalah to Taoism, Freemasonry to Gnosticism.
More about that next week. Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, Instagram at miriamreadstarot, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com. And, of course, follow The Tarot Table Podcast.
You can also join my list to receive a week-ahead tarot reading each Sunday, so you know what energies you are facing at miriamreadstarot.substack.com.
In today's episode of The Tarot Table, my guest is Temperance. In the traditional Rider-Waite Tarot deck, the Temperance card depicts an angel or divine figure pouring water between two cups, symbolizing the blending and balancing of energies.
The Temperance card embodies the concept of harmony, balance, and healing. It represents the ability to bring together different energies and elements, finding a middle ground and facilitating equilibrium. In the context of energy healing, this card signifies the practitioner's skill in balancing and harmonizing the energy systems of the body, mind, and spirit.
The card also conveys the idea of moderation and patience, suggesting that energy healing is a gradual and ongoing process. It encourages the practitioner to approach healing with a calm, balanced demeanor, combining intuition, compassion, and wisdom.
Furthermore, the Temperance card signifies the connection between the physical and spiritual realms. It represents the ability to access higher states of consciousness and divine guidance in the healing process. It suggests energy healing involves tapping into and channeling universal energies for the recipient's highest good. The Temperance represents my guest, Anna Barker.
Who Is Anna Barker?
As a certified energy healing practitioner, Anna is passionate about working with those ready to heal or on their own journey toward wholeness.
All our unprocessed experiences have an integral yet often hidden effect on our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.
Through energy healing techniques, Anna can help clients release their energetic and emotional imprints concurrently from the cellular level, the energy field, channels (nadis/meridians), and energy centers (chakras). Leading to the resolution of disruptions in their energy system.
Clearing the way to open the space to heal creates breakthroughs, removing obstacles to moving toward wholeness and inner transformation.
Anna’s role in this process is to support, assist, and remove the burden of the “dead” energetic weight accompanying our wounds and traumas.
Clearing the space for clients to awaken and activate their inborn healing potential. So that they may align with the innate wisdom of their body, mind, and spirit to heal.
Anna draws her experience firstly from her training and secondly through her journey recovering from chronic illness, grief, loss, and trauma. These have helped her gain deep insights into our obstacles on the healing and spiritual journey.
You can connect with Anna on her website:https://wholistichealing.co.nz. You can also connect with her on
Facebook, and follow her page: https://www.facebook.com/annawholistichealing.
Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday and then chat with a guest represented by the Magician. This guest can help you light up your career/business to manifest that vision you are holding inside without sacrificing your health, relationship, or sanity.
More about that next week. Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, Instagram at miriamreadstarot, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com. And, of course, follow The Tarot Table Podcast. You can also join my list to get a week ahead tarot reading each Sunday so you know what energies you are facing at miriamreadstarot.substack.com.
The Judgement tarot card represents my guest today on The Tarot Table Podcast. This card symbolizes a spiritual awakening, rebirth, and the opportunity for growth and transformation.
Past experiences and lessons from previous lifetimes may influence your current situation. It is a time to reflect on those past lives to gain insight and understanding.
The Judgement card encourages you to learn from the past and make choices that align with your higher purpose in this lifetime. Judgement represents my guest today, Leslie Zemenek.
Who Is Leslie Zemenek?
Leslie Zemenek is a Hand Analyst, Past Life Astrologer, and Life Purpose Guide. For over three decades, she has helped her clients heal past life patterns and awaken to divine purpose.
After identifying your unique soul mission, she provides a map for living in the light that can guide you for the rest of your life.
Connect with Leslie through her website, https://www.lesliezemenek.com. You can also connect with her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leslie.zemenek/. Also, she is on IG @leslie_zemenek and LinkedIn, too: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslie-zemenek/.
Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday and then chat with a guest represented by Temperance. This guest can help clients release their energetic and emotional imprints from the cellular level, energy field, channels, and energy centers, resolving disruptions in their energy system.
More about that next week. Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, Instagram at miriamreadstarot, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com. And, of course, follow The Tarot Table Podcast.
You can also join my list to get a week ahead tarot reading each Sunday so you know what energies you are facing at miriamreadstarot.substack.com.
Next week. Until then, see you next time, ciao for now.
The Death Tarot card represents today's guest on The Tarot Table Podcast. While this card may sound ominous, it signifies the ending of one phase of life and the beginning of another in tarot.
It represents profound transformation, growth, and personal evolution. A transformational coach helps individuals navigate significant changes, overcome obstacles, and achieve personal growth.
They guide their clients through shedding old patterns and beliefs, similar to the transformative energy depicted in the Death card.
This card symbolizes the coach's ability to facilitate deep and meaningful transformations in their clients' lives. And this coach is Tina C. Hines.
Who Is Tina C. Hines?
Tina C. Hines is a fifth-generation empath, intuitive clairvoyant, medium, and healer. She holds certification as a life and international transformation coach.
She dedicates her life to guiding emotionally wounded women on a transformative journey toward self-love, self-care, and self-worth.
With a wealth of experience, Tina has graced numerous podcasts and been featured on esteemed media platforms, including Good Morning America, The New York Times, The Tamron Hall Show, and Trenton Now.
Her influence extends across continents as she traverses the United States, Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean, hosting healing retreats that empower women to rediscover their happiness.
Tina's distinctive approach has established her as an authority in transformational coaching. Her vision is clear and profound: to encourage women to embrace unapologetic abundance, allowing them to craft the lives they truly desire.
Before embarking on her journey as a certified life coach, Tina spent an impressive three decades as an executive assistant in corporate America.
This extensive background enriches her coaching with a unique depth of insight and practical wisdom. Tina resides in the vibrant city of Marrakech, Morocco, alongside her cherished son.
Connect with Tina via her website, https://www.tinachines.com, and on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/TinaCHines. Also, connect with Tina on IG, @tinachines50, and on TikTok, @tinachines.
Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday and then chat with a guest represented by Judgement. This guest is a hand analyst, past-life astrologer, and life purpose guide who has helped her clients heal past-life patterns and awaken to divine purpose.
More about that next week. Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, Instagram at miriamreadstarot, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com. And, of course, follow The Tarot Table Podcast.
You can also join my list to get a week ahead tarot reading each Sunday so you know what energies you are facing at miriamreadstarot.substack.com.
Next week. Until then, see you next time, ciao for now.
The tarot card that represents my guest on The Tarot Table Podcast today is Death. It is about releasing old stuck energies and sources of pain, which is the Death card. Although the name may sound ominous, the Death card symbolizes transformation, letting go, and rebirth.
It signifies the end of a cycle or phase, allowing room for new beginnings. This card represents the release of old patterns, attachments, and sources of pain that no longer serve us. It encourages us to embrace change, surrender what no longer serves us, and make space for growth and transformation.
The Death card reminds us that releasing old energies can pave the way for healing, renewal, and a fresh start. It represents my guest today, Courtney Moore.
Who is Courtney Moore?
Courtney Moore is an intuitive healer with over 20 years of experience working with bodies in pain. Her practice has evolved from bodywork to acupuncture to psychic readings.
She maintains a clinic in San Francisco, California, and works with people remotely worldwide. Her passion is finding the emotional underpinnings of chronic pain and helping people finally release old, stuck energies to feel freedom and ease in their bodies.
You can connect with Courtney via her website, https://www.courtneymoorewellness.com, Instagram, @courtneymoorewellness, Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/courtneymoorewellness, and YouTube.
Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday and then chat with another one that the Death card represents. Twice in a row!
This guest dedicates her life to guiding emotionally wounded women on a transformative journey toward self-love, self-care, and self-worth, and she explains how she does that. More about that next week.
Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, Instagram at miriamreadstarot, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com.
And, of course, follow The Tarot Table Podcast. You can also join my list to get a week ahead tarot reading each Sunday so you know what energies you are facing at miriamreadstarot.substack.com.
Next week. Until then, see you next time, ciao for now.
Page of Cups represents my guest today on The Tarot Table. This card signifies a person who combines emotional sensitivity, intuition, and practicality in their approach to healing and guidance.
The Page of Cups represents someone empathetic, compassionate, and deeply understanding of emotions. They can provide practical advice and solutions while tapping into their intuitive insights to offer healing and support.
This card embodies the qualities of a coach who can help others navigate their emotional landscape and find practical, intuitive paths toward healing and growth. The Page of Cups is Margie Breault.
Who Is Margie Breault?
Margie Breault is an illuminator of paths, a mentor of transformation, and a guide to inner empowerment. With a deep-rooted passion for holistic well-being and personal growth, Margie has dedicated her life to helping individuals break free from limiting beliefs and step into their authentic selves.
As a medium, energy healer, flow coach, oral transmitter, and community leader, Margie brings her work a unique blend of spiritual wisdom and practical insights. Her journey has been one of profound self-discovery, marked by exploring natural law, embodiment practices, bio-scalar energy, and the transformative power of sound.
Through her work, she empowers others to trust their inner knowing, manifest their desires, and create a harmonious connection with themselves and the world around them.
Connect with Margie on IG @prismofbrilliance and her Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/Prismofbrilliance.
Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday and then chat with the person the Death card represents. My guest next week will explore the emotional underpinnings of chronic pain and help people finally release old, stuck energies to feel freedom and ease in their bodies.
I'll talk more about that next week. In the meantime, you can follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, Instagram at miriamreadstarot, and my site at miriamreadstarot.com. And, of course, follow The Tarot Table Podcast.
You can also join my list to receive a week-ahead tarot reading each Sunday so you know what energies you are facing at miriamreadstarot.substack.com.
Next week. Until then, see you next time, ciao for now.
The Magician represents my guest today on The Tarot Table, which focuses on numerology. This card symbolizes manifestation, power, and the ability to create one's reality.
The Magician is associated with the number 1 in numerology, representing individuality, leadership, and new beginnings.
This card represents someone who understands the power of numbers and their significance in shaping one's life.
The Magician is skilled in utilizing the energies of the different numbers to manifest their desires and align with their life purpose.
This card signifies someone who deeply understands numerology and uses it as a tool for self-discovery, personal growth, and manifestation. The Magician today is Jessica Cerato.
Who Is Jessica Cerato?
Former corporate executive turned intuitive mentor Jessica Cerato has been immersed in numbers for decades.
As a Professional Numerologist and Energy Strategist, she translates the energy of dates, numbers, and patterns into everyday language to help you feel more confidence and joy.
Jessica offers personal readings, numerology courses, and energy strategy to clients worldwide. When she’s not playing with numbers, you can find her with her family in the forest, by the ocean, or dancing in her kitchen in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Connect with Jessica through her site, www.jessicacerato.com. Also on IG @jessica.cerato. You can join her Facebook group, Numbers Don't Lie and follow her Facebook Page, https://www.facebook.com/jessicaceratonumerology.
Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday and then chat with the one the Page of Cups. This guest's work uniquely blends spiritual wisdom and practical insights. More about that next week.
Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, Instagram at miriamreadstarot, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com. And, of course, follow The Tarot Table Podcast. You can also join my list to get a week ahead tarot reading each Sunday so you know what energies you are facing at miriamreadstarot.substack.com.
The Seven of Swords represents my guest today on The Tarot Table. And you may be thinking, "Why would you have a guest that is cunning and sneaky?" You need to understand this card better if that is what you think.
Yes, the Seven of Swords represents cunning, but it also symbolizes mental agility and strategy. It suggests a mindset focused on finding innovative solutions, thinking outside the box, and being resourceful.
It represents a person constantly analyzing situations, adapting to challenges, and using their intellect to navigate various circumstances.
This card reminds us to be mindful of our thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes as they shape our mindset and influence our actions.
That is why this is the ideal representation of my guest today, Mama T.
Who Is Mama T?
Tiara, aka Mama T, is a Mindset Mastery, Spiritual Coach, and podcaster of the Coming Home With Mama T Podcast. Her work helps you define and align with a fulfilling life.
Mama T’s holistic approach to mentorship and holding space supports you in embodying the version of yourself you want to live out your best life.
Connect with Mama T on Instagram at @mamatenergy and on TikTok, @mamatenergy. Mama T is on YouTube as well,
She is also on Facebook, and her page is https://www.facebook.com/mamatenergy.
Don't forget to connect with her on her website: https://www.mamatenergy.com.
Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday and then chat with the one the Magician represents. She is a numerologist, and you will learn how numerology significantly impacts everything in your life.
Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, Instagram at miriamreadstarot, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com.
And, of course, follow The Tarot Table Podcast. You can also join my list to get a week ahead tarot reading each Sunday so you know what energies you are facing at miriamreadstarot.substack.com.
Next week. Until then, see you next time, ciao for now.
The Fool represents today's guest on The Tarot Table, and today's topic is narratology. It is the first card in the Major Arcana and symbolizes new beginnings, spontaneity, and the journey of self-discovery.
In narratology, storytelling explores characters, their experiences, and their personal growth throughout a narrative.
The Fool represents a story's protagonist or main character who embarks on a transformative journey, often with a sense of innocence and naivety.
This card signifies the beginning of a narrative, where the protagonist sets off on an adventure, stepping into the unknown with an open mind and heart.
Similarly, narratology analyzes how narratives are constructed, the different narrative techniques employed, and their impact on the reader or audience.
As a representation of storytelling, the Fool reminds us that narratives are about the result and the process of growth, learning, and self-discovery.
Furthermore, The Fool card encourages taking risks, embracing new experiences, and being open to unexpected twists and turns.
These elements align with the idea that narratology involves exploring various narrative possibilities, experimenting with different narrative techniques, and challenging traditional storytelling conventions.
Overall, The Fool tarot card represents the essence of narratology by embodying the spirit of storytelling, new beginnings, and the transformative journey that narratives take us on.
It signifies exploring characters, their development, and the narrative techniques shaping a story. Let's now introduce you to Isaac Phoenix.
Who Is Isaac Phoenix?
Today's guest is Isaac Phoenix, a transmedia director who created his own narrative structure and became a narratologist to study how he can apply this to mental health and many other fields.
He also spoke about studying tarot in his narrative studies, so we will discuss that. You can connect with Isaac on Facebook.
Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday and then chat with the one the Seven of Swords represents. Yes, the Seven of Swords represents cunning but symbolizes mental agility and strategy.
It suggests a mindset focused on finding innovative solutions, thinking outside the box, and being resourceful. I will interview a spiritual coach who helps her clients with that and discuss her fascinating method.
Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, Instagram at miriamreadstarot, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com. And, of course, follow The Tarot Table Podcast.
You can also join my list to get a week ahead tarot reading each Sunday so you know what energies you are facing at miriamreadstarot.substack.com.
The Chariot represents today's guest on The Tarot Table, and the main topic will be the SAF (Situation, Action, Feelings) method.
This powerful and dynamic card symbolizes taking control, making decisions, and moving forward with determination.
The SAF method is a problem-solving technique that involves analyzing a situation, identifying the desired actions, and acknowledging the associated feelings.
The Chariot reflects this process by embodying the qualities of assertiveness, drive, and focused action.
In the SAF method, the Situation stage involves assessing and understanding the current circumstances or issue.
The Chariot represents the need to take control of the situation, clearly understand the factors involved, and assert oneself to address the problem effectively.
The Action stage of the SAF method focuses on determining the appropriate actions to take.
The Chariot encourages decisiveness, determination, and the willingness to overcome obstacles to achieve the desired outcome. It signifies the need to move forward purposefully and take charge of the situation.
The Feelings stage of the SAF method involves acknowledging and understanding the emotions associated with the situation.
The Chariot reminds us of the importance of emotional control and discipline.
It encourages focusing on positive emotions such as confidence, motivation, and inner strength while recognizing and managing potential negative emotions.
Today's guest represented by the Chariot is Nic Scogna.
Who Is Nic Scogna?
Nic Scogna is the President of Life Energy Publications and founder of the Institute for Modern Holistic Alchemy, where he advances holistic wellness and stress processing through the SAF method.
He is passionate about empowering individuals to unlock their full potential and preserving the research and writing of Kathy and Joseph R. Scogna Jr.
He is dedicated to sharing insights on self-empowerment, holistic wellness, and overcoming trauma to foster connections and provide resources for those seeking a holistic approach to life.
Connect with Nic here:
https://facebook.com/lifeenergypublications https://facebook.com/holisticmonitor
https://instagram.com/lifeenergyresearch
https://instagram.com/holisticmonitor
https://YouTube.com/@holisticmonitor
https://YouTube.com/@SAFtraining
Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday and then chat with the one the Fool represents.
My guest will cover narratology as the main topic, as he is a transmedia director who created his narrative structure.
He became a narratologist to study how to apply this to mental health and many other fields.
Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, Instagram at miriamreadstarot, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com.
And, of course, follow The Tarot Table Podcast. You can also join my list to get a week ahead tarot reading each Sunday so you know what energies you are facing at miriamreadstarot.substack.com.
Next week. Until then, see you next time, ciao for now.
The Empress represents today's guest on The Tarot Table. The Empress is a powerful feminine energy, creativity, nurturing, and abundance archetype.
The Empress represents the strength and beauty of women, symbolizing their innate power and ability to create and nurture life. She embodies fertility, sensuality, and the nurturing qualities that empower women to embrace their true essence.
The Empress card encourages women to connect with their intuition, embrace their feminine energy, and honor their creative abilities. It represents self-care, self-love, and setting boundaries to protect one's energy.
This card also signifies the ability to manifest abundance and success through creative expression and nurturing endeavors. It reminds women of their natural ability to bring forth new ideas, projects, and life.
Moreover, The Empress encourages women to celebrate their bodies, embrace their sensuality, and honor their unique beauty. It signifies the importance of self-acceptance, self-confidence, and embracing one's authentic self.
The Empress tarot card embodies the power, strength, and divine feminine energy that empowers women to embrace their true selves, express their creativity, nurture their well-being, and manifest abundance in all areas of their lives. The Empress represents Kassandra Rietema, my guest today.
Who Is Kassandra Rietema? Kassandra is a Holistic Wellness Coach with expertise in Reiki and the Akashic Records. Over the last six years, Kassandra has been helping women step out of all the “should do’s” the holistic and modern wellness industry has been pushing at them.
Over the last year, she has been running an EmpowerHER program that guides women toward profoundly impacting their wellness and supporting them deep down to their core!
Connect with Kassandra on Instagram at @kassandra.intuitivewellness, and check out her blog.
Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday and then chat with the person the Chariot represents. My guest will cover the SAF (Situation, Action, Feelings) method.
I'm looking forward to that. Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, Instagram at miriamreadstarot, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com.
And, of course, follow The Tarot Table Podcast. You can also join my list to get a week ahead tarot reading each Sunday so you know what energies you are facing at miriamreadstarot.substack.com.
The Hierophant represents my guest today on The Tarot Table. This card embodies dedication to learning, studying, and preserving the knowledge and traditions of the past.
It represents the importance of education, mentorship, and the passing down of wisdom from one generation to another.
The Hierophant card often depicts a figure in a position of authority, such as a teacher or spiritual leader, holding a book or scroll.
This symbolizes the accumulation of knowledge and the role of the scholar in disseminating information and preserving cultural heritage.
As a scholar of folklore or history, The Hierophant reflects your commitment to understanding and uncovering the stories, beliefs, and traditions of the past.
It signifies your role in interpreting and sharing this knowledge with others, providing insights into these narratives' historical and cultural significance.
The Hierophant also represents the importance of structure and established systems of learning. It suggests that you approach your studies with discipline, respect for academic traditions, and a willingness to delve deep into the subject matter.
Furthermore, The Hierophant encourages you to seek guidance from mentors or teachers who can impart their wisdom and experience.
It emphasizes the value of learning from those who have dedicated their lives to studying folklore or history, allowing you to gain valuable insights and perspectives.
The Hierophant represents my guest today, Ben Stimpson.
Who Is Ben Stimpson?
Ben Stimpson, BA (Hons), MBACP (He/They/Them) is an integrative therapist, spiritual director, author, podcaster, and independent scholar of folklore and history.
A member of the modern NeoPagan and queer communities, Ben’s personal life helps to inform his professional and research work.
Ben holds a BA in Medieval, Classical, and Religious Studies from the University of Waterloo and a post-graduate Diploma in Spiritual Psychotherapy.
As a therapist, he excels in working with members of the queer community and other marginalized populations and ascribes to transpersonal, systemic, and narrative approaches to therapy.
He hosts the Essence podcast, a weekly show interviewing fellow authors and practitioners in alternative spirituality and therapy.
His debut title, Ancestral Whispers: A Guide to Developing Ancestral Veneration Practices, was released by Llewellyn Worldwide in 2023, and he is currently developing other projects for Crossed Crow Books.
You can connect with Ben on his site, https://www.benstimpson.com. He is also on Instagram, @benstimpsonauthor, Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/BenStimpsonAuthor, and YouTube.
Also, check out Ben's podcast, Essence with Ben Stimpson. Check his publications here!
Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday and next week and chat with the one the Empress represents.
My guest has been helping women step out of all the “should do’s” the holistic and modern wellness industry has been pushing at them.
And we will talk about how she does that. Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, Instagram at miriamreadstarot, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com.
And, of course, follow The Tarot Table Podcast. You can also join my list to get a week ahead tarot reading each Sunday so you know what energies you are facing at miriamreadstarot.substack.com.
Next week. Until then, see you next time, ciao for now.
The Eight of Swords represents my guest today on The Tarot Table. It typically depicts a woman blindfolded and bound, surrounded by eight swords forming a cage or barrier around her. The scene suggests a feeling of being trapped, restricted, or limited.
The blindfold represents a lack of clarity or insight, indicating that the woman may be unaware of her options or the potential solutions to her predicament.
The bound hands suggest a sense of powerlessness or feeling stuck. The swords surrounding her symbolize the mental and emotional barriers or challenges she perceives as obstacles to her freedom.
The Eight of Swords often represents a state of self-imposed limitations, fear, or feeling trapped by one's thoughts or circumstances.
It suggests a situation where one may feel helpless, overburdened, or unable to see a way forward. It can also signify a need to break free from self-imposed restrictions or negative thinking patterns.
The card highlights the importance of examining one's beliefs, perceptions, and thoughts. It encourages the individual to consider whether the perceived limitations are genuine or simply a product of one's mindset.
Shifting perspectives and challenging self-imposed restrictions can lead to liberation and empowerment.
The Eight of Swords reminds us that true freedom and empowerment come from within. It encourages self-reflection, self-awareness, and the recognition of personal agency.
By acknowledging the power to change one's thoughts and beliefs, individuals can find the strength to overcome obstacles and break free from self-imposed limitations. This card represents my guest today, Teresa Trieb.
Who Is Teresa Trieb?
Teresa Trieb is a trauma-informed somatic breathwork practitioner from Munich, Germany. Through transformational breathwork, she helps others access their subconscious mind, release trapped emotions, and rewire their brains.
She is a student of life who explores the connection between breathwork, emotion, somatics, and psychosomatics.
You can connect with Teresa at https://shebreath.com, and she is also on Instagram at @shebreath_official.
Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday and next week and chat with the one the Hierophant represents.
My guest next week is an integrative therapist, spiritual director, author, podcaster, and independent scholar of folklore and history who has a lot of interesting things to share.
There's something to look forward to. Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, Instagram at miriamreadstarot, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com.
And, of course, follow The Tarot Table Podcast. You can also join my list to get a week ahead tarot reading each Sunday so you know what energies you are facing at miriamreadstarot.substack.com.
Next week. Until then, see you next time, ciao for now.
Today, the Devil tarot card represents my guest on The Tarot Table.
The Devil tarot card is a powerful and complex symbol representing various aspects of human nature and the darker forces in our lives.
Depicted as a horned figure, often resembling the traditional image of Satan, the Devil card embodies themes of temptation, bondage, and the shadow self.
At its core, the Devil card speaks to the human desires and attachments that can lead us astray. It symbolizes the temptations and vices that can ensnare us, trapping us in unhealthy patterns or addictions.
It serves as a reminder to examine our fears, desires, and beliefs that may hold us back. The Devil card also represents the shadow self, the hidden aspects of our psyche that we may be reluctant to confront.
It invites us to confront our inner demons, fears, and insecurities. We can gain insight, understanding, and liberation by facing these darker parts of ourselves.
However, it's important to note that the Devil card is not purely negative. It reminds us that we have the power to break free from our self-imposed limitations and the chains that bind us.
It calls for self-awareness, self-discipline, and a willingness to confront our inner conflicts. The Devil tarot card serves as a mirror, reflecting our struggles and choices.
It urges us to examine our attachments, habits, and beliefs and question whether they serve our highest good. Doing so can help us overcome our limitations, transcend our shadow selves, and reclaim our power. My guest today is Gina Kunadian.
Who Is Gina Kunadian?
Gina Kunadian is a devoted wife, loving mother, certified massage therapist, and dedicated women’s alcohol-free sobriety coach.
Her life's mission revolves around guiding women to break free from the shackles of alcohol dependency, enabling them to realize and live their fullest potential. As the host of the podcast Shine Within, Gina shares inspiration and transformative insights that cultivate unwavering confidence, clarity, and vitality in her listeners. Having personally triumphed over alcoholism,
Gina is deeply passionate about championing others on their journey towards sobriety. Her unique Transformation SHINE Process provides steadfast support, illuminating the path of recovery and self-rediscovery for many.
Connect with Gina through her website, https://www.ginakunadian.com/.
Gina is also on Instagram at @shine_ginakunadian, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday and next week and chat with the one who the Eight of Swords represents. My guest next week is a trauma-informed somatic breathwork practitioner from Munich, Germany.
She helps others access their subconscious mind through transformational breathwork and release trapped emotions. There's something I can look forward to. Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, Instagram at miriamreadstarot, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com.
And, of course, follow The Tarot Table Podcast. You can also join my list to get a week ahead tarot reading each Sunday so you know what energies you face at miriamreadstarot.substack.com.
The Magician represents my guest today on The Tarot Table. The Magician tarot card depicts a figure standing at a table adorned with various tools and symbols.
With one hand pointing upwards and the other downwards, the Magician represents the connection between the spiritual and physical realms.
The number one at the top signifies new beginnings and potential. At the same time, the four elements defined by the tools (wand, cup, sword, and pentacle) symbolize creativity, emotions, intellect, and material resources.
The Magician's confident posture and focused gaze convey mastery and skill.
This card suggests harnessing one's creative abilities, utilizing resources, and manifesting ideas into reality through impeccable craftsmanship and ingenuity. The Magician today is Chris Lilly.
Who Is Chris Lilly?
Meet Chris Lilly, a Los Angeles-based Certified Tarot Advisor trained through the Biddy Tarot program.
At 'Flow Your MoJo,' Chris mentors screenwriters and authors, empowering them to tap into their intuition, boost self-confidence, increase writing speed, and achieve their creative aspirations.
With over 65 tarot decks, he facilitates a deeper connection with creativity, aiming for writers to remain in a flow state rather than experiencing the whiplash of sporadic inspirational bursts.
While his primary focus is assisting writers, Chris also offers personal readings, recognizing the transformative power they hold.
A decade ago, he created and wrote the YouTube web series Just Us Guys, which spotlighted the dynamic between a gay father and his straight son.
Chris is gearing up to self-publish new LGBTQ-led stories and projects slated for release in 2025.
You can connect with Chris through his website, https://www.chrislilly.tv/ as well as on Instagram, @chrislillytv, TikTok @chrislilly.tv, X, chrislillytv, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Facebook.
Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday and next week and chat with the one who the Devil represents.
My guest then is a dedicated women’s alcohol-free sobriety coach who struggled with alcohol and substance abuse for years until she had a tower moment to break out of it.
Now, her life's mission revolves around guiding women to break free from the shackles of alcohol dependency, enabling them to realize and live their fullest potential. There's something I can look forward to.
Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, Instagram at miriamreadstarot, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com. And, of course, follow The Tarot Table Podcast. You can also join my list to get a week ahead tarot reading each Sunday so you know what energies you are facing at miriamreadstarot.substack.com.
Next week. Until then, see you next time, ciao for now.
The High Priestess represents my guest on The Tarot Table today.
The High Priestess is the second card in the Major Arcana of the tarot deck, typically numbered as II. She represents intuition, mystery, and the unconscious mind.
The imagery on the card often includes a seated woman between two pillars: one black and one white, symbolizing duality and balance.
She usually holds a scroll or book, indicating hidden knowledge or wisdom, and wears a crown or headpiece that signifies her connection to the divine or the spiritual realm.
The High Priestess symbolizes inner knowledge and the power of the subconscious. She urges trusting instincts and listening to the inner voice.
This card often symbolizes hidden or unrevealed elements, indicating unknown factors or secrets that need to be uncovered.
The High Priestess is strongly connected to spiritual and esoteric knowledge, signifying a period of spiritual growth and exploration of more profound truths.
Often associated with the feminine aspect of the divine, she embodies qualities such as patience, receptivity, and reflection rather than action. She represents my guest today, Lauren Kester.
Lauren Kester is a mindset coach and astrologer. After working on high-profile television shows like 30 Rock, The Good Wife, & Saturday Night Live, she left the entertainment business to help driven women break free from fear and anxiety to create the lives they want using mindset work and astrology.
Connect with Lauren by going to her site, https://www.laurenkester.com/ and her Instagram @hello.its.lauren and don't forget to download her freebie, Change Your Thoughts.
Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday and next week and chat with one who the Magician represents.
My guest then is a certified tarot advisor who mentors screenwriters and authors, empowering them to tap into their intuition, boost self-confidence, increase writing speed, and achieve their creative aspirations. There's something I can look forward to.
Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, Instagram at miriamreadstarot, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com.
And, of course, follow The Tarot Table Podcast. You can also join my list to get a week-ahead tarot reading each Sunday, so you know what energies you face at miriamreadstarot.substack.com. Next week. Until then, see you next time, ciao for now.
The Page of Swords is associated with intellect, communication, and the power of words. This card often signifies the beginning stages of a new project or creative endeavor, including writing.
It encourages expression, clear communication, and the effective use of one's mental abilities to convey thoughts and ideas.
The Page of Swords can also symbolize curiosity, learning, and the exploration of new perspectives, all essential elements of the writing process. It represents my guest today, Elizabeth Wilson.
Who Is Elizabeth Wilson?
Elizabeth Wilson is co-founder of an online writing community, the Inspired Writer Collective, and host of its associated writing-focused podcast by the same name.
She is also editing her debut novel, a memoir about her struggles with loneliness and journey to cultivate self-love and true belonging.
When she is not working on her writing project, Elizabeth plays with her daughter, takes yoga classes, hikes in the mountains of Colorado, and helps other writers start writing their memoirs.
Check out Elizabeth's online writing community and podcast, Inspired Writing Collective, Instagram, @inspiredwritercollective/, TikTok @inspiredwriterllc, and YouTube.
Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday and next week and chat with one who the High Priestess represents. My guest then is a coach astrologer.
She left the entertainment industry after working on shows like 30 Rock, The Good Wife, and Saturday Night Live. Now, she uses mindset work and astrology to help women overcome fear and anxiety and create the lives they want. That's something I can look forward to.
Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, Instagram at miriamreadstarot, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com. And, of course, follow The Tarot Table Podcast.
You can join my list at miriamreadstarot.substack.com to get a week ahead of the tarot reading each Sunday, so you know what energies you face. Next week. Until then, see you next time, ciao for now.
The Hierophant is the tarot card representing a spiritual leader and an entrepreneur, as it represents my guest today. The Hierophant card is often associated with religious or spiritual authority, tradition, and guidance.
However, the Hierophant card represents the qualities of both a spiritual leader and an entrepreneur. It symbolizes spiritual authority, tradition, teaching, and mentorship while embodying an entrepreneurial mindset, business ethics, and the ability to build a community.
The Hierophant demonstrates the harmonious integration of spiritual wisdom and material success. The Hierophant today is Sonya Lee.
Who Is Sonya Lee?
Sonya Lee is a psychic medium, spiritual mentor, and entrepreneur with a unique blend of expertise in the tech corporate industry and spiritual practice.
With a background enriched by Buddhist teachings and extensive experience in product development, Sonya specializes in guiding successful leaders toward greater fulfillment and happiness by helping them tap into their highest frequency.
Her approach combines intuitive wisdom with practical strategies, focusing on energy healing, clairvoyance, and personal growth.
Sonya is passionate about empowering powerful beings to unlock their potential and manifest abundance in all areas of life.
When you enter her vortex, powerful miracles begin to manifest. You can find her
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/missmowie
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/sonyaleeofficial
TikTok: http://www.TikTok.com/@sonyaleeofficial
Or, join her thriving Facebook group for free mini-readings and spiritual lessons: http://www.facebook.com/groups/spiritualwoman
Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday and next week and chat with one who represents the Page of Swords.
This conversation is about how tarot and writing are intertwined as this writing coach helps clients write memoirs, and tarot is a part of it.
Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, Instagram at miriamreadstarot, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com.
Of course, follow The Tarot Table Podcast. You can also join my list to get a week-ahead tarot reading each Sunday, so you know what energies you are facing at miriamreadstarot.substack.com.
Next week. Until then, see you next time, ciao for now.
The Queen of Cups represents today's The Tarot Table guest. She is about emotional intelligence, intuition, and compassion. She is depicted as a regal figure sitting on a throne by the water, symbolizing her deep emotional connection and understanding.
The Queen of Cups is empathetic. She is often described as a nurturing and caring mother figure. She embodies love, kindness, and understanding and is always there to support others emotionally.
However, it is essential to note that the Queen of Cups also emphasizes self-care. She reminds us that to be a source of love and support for others, we must first take care of ourselves.
This card encourages setting healthy boundaries, practicing self-care, and listening to our emotional needs. The Queen of Cups represents my guest today, Katie Farinas.
Who Is Katie Farinas?
Katie Farinas is a mom, seasoned nurse, yoga teacher, and host of the Mom On The Verge podcast. Katie has been passionate about health and wellness from a young age.
However, after battling postpartum depression after the birth of her first child, becoming a chronic migraine sufferer in her mid 30’s, and parenting a teenager with significant mental and physical health struggles, she was forced to examine the impact our mental health has on our physical health and how intimately those two things are connected. Taking a deep dive into the mind-body connection.
Katie became a certified yoga teacher, a regular meditator, and a warrior for improving mental health.
She believes in the power of authentically sharing our truth to help heal ourselves and others, the importance of community, and how love and compassion can spread outward like ripples in a pond to create a kinder, safer, and more equitable world.
In her free time, Katie enjoys practicing yoga, hiking, traveling, doing everything spiritual, and hanging out with her kids and husband.
You can connect with Katie on Facebook and her site, Mom on the Verge, and access her podcast there. She is also on YouTube.
You can also join her Facebook group. Here is her LinkTree.
Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday and next week and chat with one who represents the Hierophant.
This guest specializes in guiding successful leaders towards greater fulfillment and happiness by helping them fascinatingly tap into their highest frequency.
Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, Instagram at miriamreadstarot, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com. And, of course, follow The Tarot Table Podcast.
You can join my list at miriamreadstarot.substack.com to get a week ahead of the tarot reading each Sunday, so you know what energies you face.
Next week. Until then, see you next time, ciao for now.
The tarot card that represents my guest today on The Tarot Table is the Four of Swords. The Four of Swords typically depicts a figure lying down and in a state of rest or meditation as my guest, and I discuss the importance of sleep.
This card symbolizes the need for rest, rejuvenation, and healing. It suggests finding a peaceful and quiet space to recharge your energy and restore balance in your life.
The Four of Swords reminds us of the importance of taking breaks, finding solace in stillness, and allowing ourselves to experience deep and restful sleep.
It is a gentle reminder to prioritize self-care and ensure we get the rest we need to maintain our overall well-being. As I said, the Four of Swords represents my guest, Heather Gray.
Who Is Heather Gray?
Heather Gray is a Functional Diagnostic Nutritionist and Bioenergetic Practitioner who supports clients with chronic and complex illnesses such as Lyme disease, Mold Toxicity, and Autoimmune diseases.
With over 32 years of personal experience, she understands the struggles of living with these conditions and is dedicated to helping others find relief.
Her personalized approach as a practitioner, podcast host, and author has helped countless clients reduce inflammation in the body and brain, improve gut health, and achieve optimal wellness.
She helps her clients address the root cause of their symptoms and take control of their health journey. Heather's approach is not only practical but also empowering.
Don't let chronic illness control your life. You can achieve the health and vitality you deserve. Our conversation focuses much on sleep!
You will be surprised to learn that you likely are not doing what you need to do to get the best sleep each night, as I was! You will want to catch this episode.
If you want to connect with Heather, visit her website: https://thelymeboss.com/. She is also on Instagram, @the_lyme_boss, Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/TheLymeBoss, YouTube, and listen to her podcast, The Lyme Boss: Surviving to Thriving.
Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday and next week and chat with one who represents the Queen of Cups as this guest speaks about the power of authentically sharing your truth and being vulnerable to help yourself and others.
So that’s something to look forward to. Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, Instagram at @miriamreadstarot, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com. And, of course, follow The Tarot Table Podcast. You can join my list for a week-ahead collective reading every Sunday.
Next week. Until then, see you next time, ciao for now.
The Magician tarot card represents manifestation, resourcefulness, and power. It symbolizes bringing ideas and desires into reality through focused intention and using one's skills and talents. The Magician card indicates a time of transformation and the potential to create positive change in one's life. It encourages individuals to tap into their inner strengths and take action to achieve their goals. And the Magician represents my guest today, Tash Lancaster.
After years of hating her corporate jobs, she finally left the PAYE world in 2017 and became self-employed. She set up a VA business and happily worked with some cool clients. But as much as she loved the clients, she didn’t love the work, and it all began to unravel. She tried to reinvent herself so many times that she lost count until she discovered Tarot.
It became her morning ritual – throwing three cards every morning. In April 2023, she started consistently throwing the Tower card, which she knew was telling her some significant change was coming. HUGE!
In July of that year, her biggest VA’ing client gave her a notice. As much as she was scared, she didn’t want to replace them or know what to do. In August, she signed up for a tarot course to help her understand the cards more deeply—just for fun.
Suddenly, all the stars aligned, and she knew that was what she wanted to do. Now, she is living her best life doing what she truly loves. Her days consist of reading tarot cards for business owners while her dog peacefully snores in her reading chair.
You can connect with Tash Lancaster via LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/natashalancaster Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday and next week and chat with one of the Four of Swords representates. This guest discusses why you need to get your sleep and rejuvenate yourself. You know that you hear that getting seven to eight hours of sleep is ideal, but this guest elaborates on so much more than that.
So that’s something to look forward to. Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, Instagram at miriamreadstarot, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com.
Next week. Until then, see you next time, ciao for now.
Today's guest on The Tarot Table is associated with the Queen of Pentacles. The Queen of Pentacles embodies stability, abundance, and a nurturing nature.
She is depicted as a woman surrounded by nature and material wealth, representing a grounded and practical approach to self-worth and body image.
The Queen of Pentacles encourages you to prioritize self-care and nourishment by valuing yourself and your body. She reminds you to honor your physical well-being, engage in healthy habits, and create a harmonious relationship with your body.
This card emphasizes the importance of self-worth, which is not solely dependent on external validation or material possessions.
The Queen of Pentacles encourages us to recognize our inherent worthiness and cultivate a sense of self-value that comes from within.
When the Queen of Pentacles appears in a tarot reading related to self-worth and body image, it reminds you to embrace your self-worth by nurturing and caring for your body.
It encourages you to find balance, appreciate physicality, and establish healthy life boundaries.
This card invites you to embody the qualities of the Queen of Pentacles, such as practicality, self-sufficiency, and self-love, to enhance your self-worth and cultivate a positive body image. The Queen of Pentacles represents my guest today, Andrea Troughton.
Andrea Troughton Represents the Queen of Pentacles
Andrea is an anti-diet coach who helps women build unshakeable self-worth by improving their relationships with food, movement, and bodies.
The Work of A.R.T. was created by Andrea Ruth Troughton in 2015 to help women feel better about themselves. Much has changed, but that mission remains more vital than ever.
Andrea struggled with her body image, self-confidence, and self-worth for most of her life. After working in the bar and restaurant industry for many years, she developed several poor coping mechanisms. Her lifestyle was not conducive to her physical or mental well-being.
After hiring a personal trainer and making some positive changes to her lifestyle, she noticed considerable improvements in how she felt. She was inspired to change careers and help other women like herself!
Andrea received diplomas with honors in personal fitness training and holistic nutrition and is a CSEP-certified personal trainer, NASM Corrective Exercise Specialist, and a CSNN-certified holistic nutrition consultant.
After six years of working with clients in the fitness and wellness industry and six years of personal and professional development, Andrea realized that an enormous gap exists between the tools of exercise and nutrition and lifelong healthy habits and body satisfaction. That gap lies with your self-worth.
You can get in touch with Andrea through her site, https://www.workofartcoaching.ca/ and she is also on Instagram, @workofartyeg and Facebook.
I apologize for the sound, as it was less than ideal today but I published it because it was an important topic to discuss.
Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday and next week and chat with one that the Magician represents once again, but different from the previous one.
This guest talks about how she reinvented herself regarding her business; it is fascinating. So that’s something to look forward to.
Don't forget to subscribe to my Substack! Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com.
Today's guest on The Tarot Table is closely related to the Magician card, which is associated with intellect, knowledge, creativity, and the power of manifestation.
It symbolizes the ability to harness the elements of the natural world and use them to create and transform.
This card has scientific elements to it, and it represents the power of the human mind and its ability to understand and manipulate the world through scientific inquiry.
Sabrina Scott is a magician, a no-BS spiritual teacher, and a tarot reader with a worldwide clientele.
She teaches magic, witchcraft, energy work, mediumship, and personal transformation.
She knows a thing or two about manifestation, and what makes Sabrina unique is that she does all of this while doing a Ph.D. in science.
Given that fact, she is the perfect one to help remove any woo-woo stigma that comes with her work.
The Truth About Manifestation, Spirituality, and Science
Sabrina and I discuss manifestation, witchcraft, tarot, and fraud in the New Age community.
We also elaborate on Sabrina's experiences as a witch while pursuing a Ph.D. in science and her frustrations with how many in the New Age community reject science and show their true colors during the pandemic.
I noticed the same at the time, angering me as their so-called "love and light" rhetoric didn't match their condemning comments towards those who took the pandemic seriously.
They also followed the typical conspiracy theories at that time, which was frustrating as Sabrina and I discussed them.
That is something that you do see often in the New Age community. After looking further into why the New Age community frequently rejects science, here are some factors.
The Rejection of the Mainstream
Some of those in the New Age movement reject mainstream institutions and beliefs, including science.
They may view science as a part of the established system they are trying to break away from.
This rejection can lead to distrusting scientific consensus and a willingness to entertain alternative explanations, including conspiracy theories.
Misunderstanding of Scientific Concepts
New Age beliefs often involve metaphysical and spiritual ideas that may not align with scientific principles.
This can lead to a misunderstanding of scientific concepts and a perception that science cannot explain or validate their experiences and beliefs.
As a result, they may reject science in favor of alternative explanations.
Confirmation Bias
Conspiracy theories often provide a sense of empowerment and certainty in an uncertain world.
Some individuals in the New Age community may be drawn to conspiracy theories that align with their beliefs or confirm their suspicions about hidden truths.
This confirmation bias can reinforce their rejection of scientific explanations and make them more susceptible to conspiracy thinking.
Alternative Sources of Knowledge
The New Age movement emphasizes personal experiences, intuition, and esoteric teachings as sources of knowledge.
This can lead to a preference for alternative sources of information, such as spiritual gurus or self-proclaimed experts, over scientific research and evidence.
Conspiracy theories provide hidden knowledge or secret truths that challenge mainstream scientific understanding.
If you want to contact Sabrina, she is on Substack . You can also get in contact with her on her website, https://www.sabrinamscott.com/, Instagram @sabrinamscott, and her podcast, The Claim Your Magic Podcast.
Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday and next week and chat with one represented by the Queen of Pentacles.
We will explore aspects of nourishment, diet culture, and self-care. So that’s something to look forward to.
Don't forget to subscribe to my Substack! Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com.
Next week. Until then, see you next time, ciao for now.
Miriam Reads Tarot is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Today's guest on The Tarot Table is associated with two reversed tarot cards. Not all tarot readers subscribe to reversals, but this guest represents both the Empress and Queen of Swords reversed.
When these cards appear in a reading, they can indicate a controlling, manipulative, or emotionally distant mother. She may use sharp words and criticism to assert dominance and lacks compassion and nurturing qualities.
This card suggests a negative or unhealthy relationship with the mother figure and represents my guest, Geraldine Crane.
Geraldine Crane is a Serene Spiritual Empowerment Guide. She works with women who have had a problematic, harmful, or toxic relationship with their mothers to realize their worth, find peace, and develop a loving relationship with themselves.
In doing so, she helps them create happier, healthier relationships in all areas of their lives. Geraldine uses Serene Spiritual Coaching and Hypnotherapy to help them reconnect with their true selves, inner divinity, inner resilience, and the love of their Spirit Guides.
More About Geraldine
Geraldine embarked on her spiritual journey two decades ago, sparked by a lifelong interest in spirituality.
However, when she wasn't in a spiritual development group at 19, she unearthed her innate ability to commune with spirit guides.
While engaged in this group, Geraldine encountered extraordinary spiritual phenomena, yet her connection deepened significantly at 39 when she pursued hypnotherapy training.
At this juncture, her professional trajectory as a probation officer, substance misuse worker, and, later, a domestic abuse recovery worker intertwined with her narrative of navigating a profoundly challenging relationship with her mother, from whom she distanced herself five years ago.
This convergence of professional expertise, personal growth, and spiritual insight led to her Serene Spiritual approach.
Through the fusion of hypnotherapy, coaching, and mentoring, Geraldine endeavors to aid women in healing their "mother wounds" by harnessing" the boundless" love of the Universe.
Her mission is to facilitate their connection with their inner divinity and spiritual guides, angels, and departed loved ones, empowering them to recognize their inherent worth and embark on a journey of self-love and acceptance.
Passionately dedicated to her work, Geraldine has amassed a wealth of extraordinary spiritual experiences along her path, which she eagerly shares with others.
Her profound commitment to guiding individuals toward healing and self-discovery underscores her unwavering devotion to the Serene Spiritual methodology. However, let's discuss the hallmarks of a toxic mother, as today's episode covers this topic.
What Are the Signs of a Toxic Mother?
The signs of a toxic mother do vary. I talk about my issues as well, though; luckily, things are better on that front as I talk about it with Geraldine in the podcast episode. I will now list the common signs of a toxic mother.
* Lack of Empathy: A toxic mother may struggle to understand or show empathy towards her children's feelings and experiences. She may dismiss or minimize their emotions, making them feel invalidated or unheard.
* Manipulative Behavior: Toxic mothers may use manipulation tactics to control their children. This can include guilt-tripping, emotional blackmail, or gaslighting, where they distort reality to make their children doubt their perceptions or memories.
* Constant Criticism: Toxic mothers may engage in frequent criticism and put-downs, often focusing on their children's flaws or mistakes rather than offering support or encouragement. This can lead to low self-esteem and feelings of inadequacy in their children.
* Emotional Instability: A toxic mother may have unpredictable mood swings or intense emotional reactions. This can create an unstable and chaotic environment, leaving children anxious and uncertain about how their mother will react.
* Boundary Violations: Boundaries are essential for healthy relationships, but a toxic mother may have difficulty respecting her children's boundaries. She may intrude on their personal space, invade their privacy, or fail to respect their autonomy and individuality.
* Favoritism or Scapegoating: Some toxic mothers may show favoritism towards one child while scapegoating another. This can create a dynamic where one child is consistently praised and supported while the other is constantly criticized or blamed for family issues.
* Emotional or Physical Abuse: In extreme cases, a toxic mother may engage in emotional or physical abuse towards her children. This can include verbal insults, physical violence, or neglecting their basic needs.
Again, if you think you have a mother like this, she does not necessarily have to have all these signs. But a few are red flags. Geraldine can be of great help if you are struggling with its effects.
If you want to connect, visit her site at https://geraldinecrane.com/ or email her at hello [at] geraldine dot com. Connect with her on Instagram, @geraldinecrane_serene, Facebook, and on LinkedIn.
Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday and next week, where I will chat with one represented by the Magician!
A witch pursuing her Ph.D. in science talks about the magic of creation and manifestation through a spiritual and scientific lens.
So that’s something to look forward to. Don't forget to subscribe to my Substack! Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com. I am also on Instagram @miriamreadstarot.
Miriam Reads Tarot is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
The Judgment card represents my guest today on The Tarot Table. It is a powerful and transformative card representing rebirth, awakening, and spiritual growth.
The Judgment card often depicts an angel or figure blowing a trumpet, symbolizing a call to awaken and rise to a higher level of consciousness.
Getting the Judgment card in a tarot reading often indicates a significant turning point or a moment of awakening.
It suggests that you are being called to embrace change, let go of the past, and step into a new phase of personal growth and spiritual evolution.
It encourages you to trust the transformation process and trust your inner guidance.
Today's guest is what the Judgement card represents.
Genevieve (Gen) Edwards is my guest today. She is a psychic healer based in Leeds and helps people worldwide with remote psychic energy healing.
She uses her own lived experience of release from trauma and limiting beliefs to help you release old, emotional baggage that never served you and that may be contributing to your emotional, mental, and physical symptoms.
More About Gen Edwards
Gen uses simple energy tools to overcome emotional blocks that were holding her back as she was adopted at birth into a wonderful family who loved her unconditionally.
However, she struggled to believe she was good enough until she was in her mid-50s as she wondered why her birth mother gave her up. She thought she was unlovable.
And that manifested as her playing up and mixing with the "wrong crowd" in her teens.
She struggled with low self-esteem all of her life and could not reach out for what she wanted in life. She struggled to attract money and abundance.
However, in her mid-50s, she met a kinesiologist whom a financial advisor referred.
She did incredible work, so she wanted to begin doing it herself. Now, at 66, she is as happy entering year four as the full-time owner of a global energy healing business, where she helps women with physical, mental, and emotional illnesses.
You can connect with Gen Edwards through her site, https://www.genedwards.com/. She is also on Instagram at genergyheal, Facebook at GenEdwardsBodyCode, and YouTube.
I will talk to you again next Friday and next week, where I will chat with one represented by two reversed tarot cards, one being the Empress and the other Queen of Swords, as it will be a heavy one about having a toxic relationship with their mother, which so many can relate to.
So that’s something to look forward to. Don't forget to subscribe to my Substack! Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com and Instagram, miriamreadstarot.
Miriam Reads Tarot is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
The High Priestess represents today's guest on The Tarot Table.
This card represents intuition, inner wisdom, and deep understanding.
The High Priestess encourages us to trust our instincts and listen to our inner voice.
She reminds us to be present and aware of our thoughts, emotions, and surroundings.
The High Priestess teaches us the importance of quiet reflection and inner stillness to cultivate mindful awareness. Today's guest is Dr. Rita Louise.
Who Is Dr. Rita Louise?
Dr. Rita Louise founded the Institute of Applied Energetics and is the former host of Just Energy Radio.
She is a Naturopathic Physician and a 20-year veteran in the Human Potential Field.
Her unique gift as a medical intuitive and clairvoyant illuminates and enlivens her work.
She is the author of many books, including one that just came out, Dang! It Was Me All Along?
We chatted throughout the podcast about finding out why you may be attracted to toxic people, and there were plenty of conversations about narcissism. It was about mindful awareness in a nutshell.
Dr. Rita talked about what she went through to find herself, which led her to where she is today, and her new book highlights her experiences that so many others share.
Why You May Want to Check Out Dang! It Was Me All Along
Dang! It Was Me All Along slices through complex psychological theories to demonstrate how one can uncover inner tranquility and satisfaction.
Dr. Rita elucidates the art of introspection to revolutionize yourself from within.
This book blends scientific findings with engaging anecdotes and candid reflections from Dr. Rita's quest for happiness, offering moments of humor, contemplation, and personal growth.
While you can't alter your past, the principles outlined in this book empower you to shape a brighter future and transform your life.
From the first sentence, you'll be engrossed. Each chapter offers practical steps to guide you along your path. By the end of the journey, you might not even recognize your former self.
Are you prepared to take up the challenge and declare, "I am determined to find happiness!" and indeed mean it?
If you want to connect with Dr. Rita Louise, visit https://soulhealer.com/, https://medical-intuitives.com/, or https://appliedenergeticsinstitute.com/.
And grab your copy of Dang! It Was Me All Along.
Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday and next week when I chat with one represented by Judgment.
You will be amazed at her story of transformation. So that’s something to look forward to.
Don't forget to subscribe to my Substack! Follow me on IG, miriamreadstarot, Medium at msmir.medium.com, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com.
Next week. Until then, see you next time, ciao for now.
Miriam Reads Tarot is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
The Eight of Swords best represents today's guest on The Tarot Table. This card in the Tarot deck represents feelings of being trapped or restricted.
In the traditional Rider-Waite deck, the card depicts a woman blindfolded and bound, surrounded by eight swords.
The swords form a barrier around her, symbolizing her limitations and obstacles.
The Eight of Swords often signifies a situation where one feels trapped by one's thoughts, fears, or circumstances.
It suggests a state of mental or emotional paralysis, where one feels powerless to make decisions or take action.
The blindfold represents a lack of clarity or understanding, while the bound hands symbolize a sense of helplessness.
However, it's important to note that the Eight of Swords also carries a message of hope.
The woman in the card is not physically restrained, and the swords do not form a complete enclosure.
This suggests that the limitations are self-imposed and can be overcome with a change in perspective or mindset.
And my guest today, Stepanka Kuralova is fitting with this card.
Who Is Stepanka Kuralova?
Stepanka Kuralova, a clinical hypnotherapist, coach, certified EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) practitioner, writer, and host of the Inner Glow Podcast, dedicates herself to empowering ambitious women, creatives, and entrepreneurs globally.
Her mission is to help them break through self-sabotage, unlock their true potential, and demolish the glass ceiling hindering their growth in life, business, and career.
As a mindset and energy alchemist, Stepanka skillfully guides her clients through transforming challenges into exciting opportunities.
Her approach involves replacing self-doubt with unshakeable confidence and faith while imparting lessons on emotional intelligence and assisting clients in manifesting their deepest desires.
Stepanka's journey into the realm of hypnosis commenced at 19, sparking a profound exploration of self-discovery and passion.
Having triumphed over her mysterious health issues, she embarked on an unwavering quest to unveil the immense power of the human mind.
Although originally from the Czech Republic, Stepanka proudly calls Devon, England, her home, drawing inspiration from the serene coastal surroundings.
Connect with Stepanka on her website, Instagram, newearthwoman, join her Facebook group, New Earth Women, and Pinterest.
Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday and next week, where I will chat with one represented by the High Priestess.
This woman channeled her clairvoyant gifts and became a medical intuitive, so it will be fascinating to delve into that conversation. So that’s something to look forward to.
Don't forget to subscribe to my Substack! Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, Instagram at miriamreadstarot, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com.
Miriam Reads Tarot is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Today's guest on The Tarot Table is represented Empress. The Empress is often associated with abundance, fertility, and creativity.
She symbolizes femininity's nurturing and creative aspects and represents the power of artistic expression and creation.
This card signifies a deep connection to one's artistic abilities and the ability to bring beauty and harmony into the world through artistic endeavors.
The Empress encourages you to tap into your creative energy and embrace your artistic talents. Today's Empress is Jennifer Faye Colombo.
Jennifer Faye Colombo As the Empress
Jennifer Faye Colombo is an artist and creative guide who loves supporting others in creating part of their legacy with card decks and journals.
She co-creates with her clients to pair their wisdom and intentions with her art to develop personal growth tools aligned with their businesses.
In this podcast, we discuss all the things someone needs to know: WHY one would create one, setting intentions, the process Jennifer uses for herself and with her clients to create a deck.
She goes over some simple tips to get started if you want to create one, how to use card decks, the difference between tarot and other types of decks.
It is a fascinating process that Jennifer does for her clients.
You can connect with Jennifer through her site,
jencolombo.com as well as on Instagram, jenfayeart or oilaffirmationguide. You can also connect with her on Facebook, jenniferfayecolomboart or oilaffirmationguide.
Now you have it!
I will talk to you again next Friday and next week, where I dig deep as the Eight of Swords represent my guest, so you already know this will be a heavy discussion.
Spoiler alert as we will delve into aspects of tarot journaling.
So that’s something to look forward to.
So that’s something to look forward to.
Don't forget to subscribe to my Substack!
Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, my Instagram at miriamreadstarot, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com.
Miriam Reads Tarot is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Today's guest on The Tarot Table is represented not only by the Queen of Wands but she is also by the Queen of Wands.
The Queen of Wands is depicted as a confident, charismatic woman sitting on a throne. She holds a wand in one hand, symbolizing her power and authority.
She is surrounded by sunflowers, which represent abundance and vitality.
The Queen of Wands embodies the qualities of a natural leader. She is passionate, courageous, and determined.
She is not afraid to take risks and pursue her goals with enthusiasm. She is also highly creative and has a strong sense of self-expression.
Today's guest, Denise Petry, is The Tarot Bridge's chief tarot officer or CTO. She has been a psychic tarot card reader for over 40 years and was inspired to build the tarot bridge using the expertise and experience that she developed over that time.
She discusses why The Tarot Bridge platform is one of the most innovative psychic platforms. It launched in April 2023, and very slowly, it is growing.
What Is The Tarot Bridge?
The Tarot Bridge is a video-based tarot platform for readers to make extra income, and astrologers, mediums, and other psychics can also do readings there.
The one thing about these psychic hotlines that are so bad is that they utilize the pay-by-the-minute model.
That may sound like it could be a big money-maker for the reader, but make sure to let that fool you.
It might be the case if the reader was on the hotline from morning until late at night because most of these hotlines, at best, pay you 50 percent of what they charge the customer per minute.
This model is cruel to the customer (sure, they like it that way because it makes these companies rich) as it is easy for them to lose track of their spending and end up with huge credit card bills.
Therefore, The Tarot Bridge does not utilize this pay-by-the-minute model because they understand that customers who want readings don't have endless amounts of cash and do not want to be the reason they end up in debt.
That alone shows that they care about their readers and the customers!
Readers Can Set Their Fees on the Tarot Bridge
Another great thing about The Tarot Bridge is that readers can set their fees for 15-minute, half-hour, 45-minute, and one-hour-long live video readings.
The only things that The Tarot Bridge sets are a fee of $10 for a three-minute quick video reading and $24 for a ten-minute video reading.
Those readings are not live; they are video readings the reader creates to deliver to the customer within 24 hours.
However, the reader can also charge what they choose for their live video readings, within reason!
Most of these psychic hotlines do not allow readers to set their fees, as they have their crappy prices set from which the reader receives a pittance.
The Tarot Bridge Charges The Lowest Fees
Most of these hotlines charge the reader at least half of what they make (per minute).
However, The Tarot Bridge only takes 30 percent of what the reader makes, which means the reader keeps 70 percent of their earnings.
That is more than fair. The Tarot Bridge also needs to cut the work because they are marketing and maintaining the platform, which can be tiresome.
However, you can go right with that, as you can do very well on this platform as a reader and keep most of what you earn.
They Have a Great Circle Community
Some of these hotlines may have private Facebook groups, but that is the exception, not the rule.
Most of these psychic hotlines are not interested in creating a community; they are only interested in taking advantage of their readers and making money.
However, The Tarot Bridge has a lovely circle community where you can do daily readings. You can also find other gems, such as coupons, as Denise creates coupons and deals often.
There are also places to chat and share personal things and your pets. You can also find some excellent resources.
I also have an area where I blog, but I have yet to have a chance to get to it! I will do that more once I have some time.
Most of these hotlines could not give a crap about their readers and even their customers. However, that is not the case regarding The Tarot Bridge.
Denise is always around when you have a question or need to address a problem. The Tarot Bridge tech guy, Jason, is also quite helpful and responsive if you have an issue with the site.
Knowing you will be safe and dry if you encounter a problem comforts readers and customers.
I was so down on all psychic platforms as they are notorious for taking advantage of readers and their customers, as they do not have your best interest at heart.
However, my views changed when I discovered The Tarot Bridge. If you are a reader looking for another way to monetize your services, you can apply to The Tarot Bridge.
If you would like to hire me for reading there, you can do so here!
If you want to follow and connect with Denise, head over to Link Tree here.
https://linktr.ee/Queenofwands20
Follow The Tarot Bridge on Instagram.
Follow Denise on TikTok.
Now you have it!
I will talk to you again next Friday, and next week, I have another one who the Empress represents as she is an artist and creative guide who loves supporting others in creating part of their legacy with card decks and journals which will be a fascinating talk.
So that’s something to look forward to.
Don't forget to subscribe to my Substack! Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, my Instagram at miriamreadstarot, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com.
Miriam Reads Tarot is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Welcome to another episode of The Tarot Table. My guest today, Shauna Gourley, represents the Death Tarot card.
The Death card in tarot does not represent literal physical death. Instead, it symbolizes transformation, endings, and new beginnings.
It signifies the end of a phase or a situation in your life and the start of something new.
The Death card encourages you to let go of the old and embrace change. It can also represent the need for personal growth and the shedding of old beliefs or patterns that no longer serve you.
This card is often associated with transformation, rebirth, and the opportunity for positive change.
It reminds you that sometimes endings are necessary for new and better things to come into your life.
Let's talk about Shauna Gourley, who represents the Death card on many levels.
Shauna’s Transformative Journey
Shauna's journey into the healing arts is not uncommon. After having her second child at 39, she never fully recovered.
By the time she was 41, she was navigating through what she can only describe as "hormone hell," alongside the trauma of being gaslit by physicians who made her feel as if the symptoms were all in her head.
Sleepless nights and anxiety-filled days had her searching for answers, which, under the current system, were limited to prescriptions of antidepressant meds, sleep meds, and a host of misdiagnoses like IBS, fibromyalgia, and "PMS B***h."
Frustrated, she took her health into her own hands and returned to school.
Over the last 13 years, she has been certified in holistic nutrition, functional diagnostic nutrition, clinical methylation, and nutrigenomics, as well as human potential coaching.
She eventually got to the bottom of her physical health challenges, which turned out to be a very sick thyroid and the sex hormone profile of a 90-year-old woman.
It was also during this time that her 16-year marriage dissolved, and she was thrust into her new identity as an unsupported, single mother.
After much self-reflection and research, Shauna also discovered she was an empath and tended to attract narcissistic personality types.
During that time, she went through the Dark Night of the Soul.
This series of adversities, however, led her on a profound spiritual journey and, ultimately, to the healing power of plant medicine.
In 2018, she flew to Costa Rica, where she legally and safely participated in four shaman-led plant medicine ceremonies.
While she could speak about this transformative experience for hours, the short story is that this master of plant medicine confirmed to her that she was more than her physical body.
"She" also showed her from where she came to where she would return, purging past traumas and healing her broken heart.
Alongside her ongoing healing with functional medicine, she tried other plant medicines, and in 2022, she was guided to complete her training in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy.
This advanced training has given her the profound privilege of providing a safe space for people to experience their inner healing and assist them in integrating the deep work with these medicines into their daily lives.
Wellness, and ultimately wholeness, is a journey, and it is her heartfelt intention to provide the opportunity for people to find their medicine.
Whether you're looking for functional lab testing and personalized protocols and coaching to start healing your physical body, or you're ready to take a deep dive into the inner workings of your subconscious mind, or maybe a combination of both (magical), it is her honor to be your guide.
You can reach Shauna Gourley at https://shaunagourley.com.
Miriam Reads Tarot is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
My guest today on The Tarot Table represents The Empress tarot card. The Empress is a tarot card representing femininity, fertility, and abundance.
It symbolizes the nurturing and creative aspects of life.
The Empress is often associated with motherhood, nature, and the power of creation. It signifies a time of growth, abundance, and nurturing relationships.
In a reading, the Empress card suggests that you are in a period of abundance and creativity and can manifest your desires.
It encourages you to embrace your feminine energy and tap into your nurturing and creative abilities.
That is why the Empress is an excellent representation of my guest today, Jillian Ribbons, as she has a very nurturing role as she helps those manifest their desires.
Spiritual Nurture with Jillian Ribbons
Jillian is a lightworker and Akashic records practitioner who blends her unique perspective of emotional alchemy through sound with acupuncture and osteopathic principles to help spiritual entrepreneurs connect with their highest timeline so they can manifest an abundant flow of bliss.
We discuss her unique ways of helping to nurture others so they can reach their potential spiritually, and some of the things discussed during the podcast are quite fascinating.
Be sure to connect with Jillian through her website, joypointclinic.com.
You will definitely want to square in some time to have a listen.
Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday and bring on an awesome guest who aligns with the Death card.
So you know this is intense
and has an enlightening story, which is why this is the best card fitting for her. Don't forget to subscribe to my Substack! Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com.
Next week. Until then, see you next time, ciao for now.
Miriam Reads Tarot is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
I am so excited to interview my first guest on The Tarot Table. But before I get into it, I want to talk about the Justice card as there is relevance to it regarding my guest.
Justice represents karma, cause and effect, balance, and fairness.
It symbolizes the consequences of your actions and the need to take responsibility for your choices.
In karma, the Justice card reminds you that your actions have repercussions and that you will experience the effects of your deeds, whether positive or negative.
It encourages you to make ethical decisions and consider our long-term consequences.
The Justice card also reminds you to seek balance and fairness and treat others with integrity and respect. And this is why Justice best represents my guest today, Laura Ordile.
Laura Ordile and Karmic Astrology
Laura Ordile, from Montana, is a Master Hypnotist specializing in Anxiety and Confidence as well as trauma, including PTSD and CPTSD, in her programs.
She is certified in several areas, including hypnotherapy, neurolinguistic programming, color coaching, life coaching, and more. She is also a professional astrologer.
Today's focus will be on how astrology is indicative of karma that you are facing today from past lives, which is why you have sure gifts and lessons and are on the path you are on. I will be digging into that.
Laura talks about what led her to her career path and interest in astrology today.
She talks about the karmic indicators in your natal chart. Many people familiar with karmic indicators think about the north and south nodes.
However, there are more karmic indicators in your natal chart, which can explain why you have the experiences you do, as they can result from your previous lives, positive or negative.
It was an enjoyable interview, and if you want to connect with Laura Ordile, go to:
Laura's podcast, The Change Gang Podcast https://changegang.libsyn.com/
Laura's Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lauraordile/
Laura's Facebook https://www.facebook.com/LauraOrdile777
Laura's Facebook group, The Change Gang http://changeganggroup.com
Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday, and I will be bringing on an awesome guest who aligns with the Empress as she is an Akashic records practitioner.
She will enlighten you with so many fascinating topics.
Don't forget to subscribe to my Substack! Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com.
Miriam Reads Tarot is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Welcome to The Tarot Table, the podcast where we explore the mystical world of tarot, delve into the secrets of the cards, and talk about all things spiritual with a no-nonsense, no-BS lens.
I'm your host, Miriam Rachel, psychic medium and tarot reader, author of Overcoming Echoism with Tarot: Using Tarot for Boundary Setting and Stopping People-Pleasing, and freelance writer.
I am so glad you are here. Here is a question for you. What questions do you ask if you have gone for a tarot reading?
Chances are you ask questions involving money, career, relationships, or family. That is all good.
Conversely, how many memorable questions have you gotten if you are a tarot reader? I bet there are too many to count, right? Yeah, well, me too.
First, I want to say that there are never dumb questions because you have a legitimate reason for asking any question you may have, no matter how strange it may be to someone else.
However, if you are trolling or being silly, then that is another story.
Many people who reach out to tarot readers need intuitive and psychic insight.
Sometimes, they will ask these readers questions that may be off-limits or may sound strange because answers to those questions are what they need.
But here is the problem. There are some questions you cannot ask the tarot if you want to get an accurate or meaningful answer.
Reputable tarot readers need to be upfront about that fact because not many people will know that, and there needs to be more education.
If you are looking for the best type of questions to ask, the tarot, I wrote a piece on my Tarot Talk publication on Medium and will link it to where this episode is here. It is "What Are The Best Questions To Ask The Tarot Cards?"
The truth is, the tarot cannot answer every question you have. And you are better off doing a Google search on them to get the answer you need from a reputable source.
Some questions are off-limits to ask the tarot, as I previously wrote, "What Are The 10 Questions To Not Ask The Tarot?" from my Tarot Talk publication.
There was an old Business Insider article going over some of the funniest questions that people had asked tarot readers, as well as some shared on the Tarot Forum, and I will go over five of them so I can add my commentary.
1. How Will the Weather Be?
The tarot is not a weather reporter or a meteorologist. Check your local news, or download some weather apps to know the weather forecast the next day.
You will get a much more accurate answer through those than you would from the tarot (though sometimes meteorologists get it completely wrong, you are still much better off with that source).
However, if you want to ask the tarot a weather-related question, check the weather first and then ask, “What can I do to make the most of this sunny/cloudy/cold/snowy/rainy day?” You may get some good insight there.
2. Will I be Physically Satisfied?
Can you elaborate on what you mean by that?
Are you looking to have a fun, intimate time with someone, or are you looking to indulge in some chocolates or fried foods? Either way, the tarot cannot help you.
It is up to you if you want to be physically satisfied, depending on your wants.
You can always go on Bumble or Tinder to enjoy a one-night stand or go to the best buffet in town.
There is too much free will on your part for the tarot to give you any proper guidance or answer.
If you want insight into why you have such an intense need to be physically satisfied, whether you want sex, food, or whatever, then the tarot can help.
Therefore, you can ask, “Why do I have this intense need for physical pleasures from food/fun time in bed/booze?” (or whatever it may be) This could be a good opportunity for some shadow work.
3. Will I be Able to Lose Weight or Not?
Once again, that is not a question the tarot can answer. The first thing you need to do is if you want to lose weight, talk to your doctor, not the tarot.
Secondly, look for reputable sources such as a free calorie calculator by the Mayo Clinic.
Look for articles from medical sources about the best foods to eat to help support your weight loss and keep you full.
If you want to involve the tarot in this, you can ask What I should do to maximize my weight loss efforts.
Again, only the doctor can give you the best answer, but gaining some insight in non-medical terms does not hurt, such as doing some activities you may have yet to think of, which can help.
4. Is My Mother-In-Law Docile?
That is another question the tarot cannot answer.
And you are also going into third-party reading territory there, where you are asking the cards about someone else that has nothing to do with you.
You cannot tap into someone's energy without gaining their permission.
However, I understand the need to ask this question as someone with a Monster-in-Law, now deceased.
If the MIL is unreasonable and challenging, a better question to ask the tarot is, “What can I do not allow my MIL to get to me so much?” Then, you may get some good insight.
5. Will My Husband Become a Millionaire in a Year?
Another third-party reading, and secondly, that is not an appropriate question to ask the tarot, especially if the partner is not aiming to become wealthy. That is a money-grubbing question.
However, if you and your partner are on board to increasing your wealth, that is a different story.
You can always ask the tarot: What steps should my partner and I take to increase our wealth?
You may get better insight and use it to explore options you may not even know exist to help you get there.
There are so many more silly questions that people have asked tarot readers, but I would have to write a long novel to get through more of them.
Either way, I hope your face does not hurt from all the face-palming you have done from listening to this.
The gist is that people must learn the proper etiquette when asking tarot questions and understand how to frame questions to get the necessary answers.
Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday, as this is my last solo podcast.
My first guest next week is great, as the Justice Tarot card represents her. I am looking forward to you meeting her as we delve into the karmic aspects of astrology.
Don't forget to subscribe to my Substack! Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com.
Next week. Until then, see you next time, ciao for now.
Miriam Reads Tarot is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Welcome to The Tarot Table, the podcast where we explore the mystical world of tarot, delve into the secrets of the cards, and talk about all things spiritual with a no-nonsense, no-BS lens.
I'm your host, Miriam Rachel, psychic medium and tarot reader, author of Overcoming Echoism with Tarot: Using Tarot for Boundary Setting and Stopping People-Pleasing, and freelance writer.
I am so glad you are here. Here is a question for you. Do you think there are other purposes for tarot other than divination?
I am here to tell you that you can use tarot to promote your creativity, especially if you are a writer.
That is good news for you. If you don’t feel comfortable with divination, that is okay.
You can still use tarot cards for creativity. Here is the thing: if you use tarot cards for creative writing, it can be fun and inspiring to spark your imagination and explore new ideas.
Are you ready to learn more about how you can incorporate tarot cards into your creative writing process? Okay, let’s go!
Set the Intention
Before you begin, set the intention to use the tarot cards as a creative tool. Clarify that you’re seeking inspiration and guidance for your writing project.
You are not using these cards for divination, only for creativity.
Therefore, if you are not open to divination and feel nervous about having a deck of tarot cards in your hands, remind yourself why you are using them.
You are doing it to stimulate your creative side so you can begin to do some creative writing.
Select a Tarot Card
Shuffle the tarot deck and select a card randomly.
Trust your intuition or use a specific spread, such as a single-card draw or a three-card spread, for past, present, and future influences.
It is up to you how you want to use it, as there are no rules for tarot, especially when using it for creative writing.
Some may find enough inspiration from drawing one card, and others may want to do a ten-card spread. You do what feels right to you.
Study Each Card
Briefly study the card’s imagery, colors, symbols, and overall mood. As you observe the card, pay attention to any emotions or thoughts.
And if you decide to pull a few cards to inspire you, study each card individually.
Take a pad of paper and pen, and write down all your thoughts and emotions when you look at each card. And there are no right or wrong answers to this.
Reflect on the Card’s Meaning
Consider the traditional meanings associated with the card, but also trust your interpretation and intuition.
Reflect on how the card’s themes, symbols, or energy resonate with your writing project or the specific aspect you’re focusing on.
For instance, the Six of Pentacles is a card that represents giving and receiving something physical, whether it has to do with money or materials.
But my interpretation of that card is giving and receiving energy and time.
Energy and time are physical anyway, but you never hear traditional tarot resources say that about the Six of Pentacles.
Start Writing
Start writing freely, allowing the card’s energy and symbolism to guide your words.
Write without judgment or self-editing, letting your thoughts flow naturally.
You can write a scene, a character description, a dialogue, or even a poem inspired by the card. It does not matter.
For example, if you pull the Three of Swords, Two of Cups, and Fool, you can write a sob-worthy story of how a couple who loved one another ended up breaking up and going their separate ways.
Once they went their different ways, they began to explore aspects of themselves that they never knew they had, which meant they went on exciting travel adventures or did some experimenting in other ways.
Explore Themes and Symbolism
Delve deeper into the card’s themes and symbolism. Consider how they can be incorporated into your writing project.
Explore how the card’s energy can influence your characters, plot, or setting.
By the way, here is what I do. I use the court cards and the Major Arcana cards to create characters and their personalities.
The Fool can represent someone who enjoys going on one adventure after another and is not afraid to push their comfort zone.
The Queen of Cups can be someone in the story which is always there for everyone else, supporting them emotionally but tends to forget about her needs.
The Minor Arcana cards can reflect on aspects of their personalities or experiences.
They can also serve as events that take place in the story.
For example, if you pull the Three of Cups, you can include a part of the story about friends going out and having fun, or you can write about a couple having a baby.
That all depends on what you want for your story. The Minor Arcana cards are also suitable for setting the plot.
You can repeat the process with additional cards to explore different aspects of your writing project or gain further inspiration.
You can draw multiple cards and weave their meanings together in your writing.
After your writing session, take some time to reflect on what you’ve written and how the tarot cards have influenced your creative process. Look for connections, insights, or new ideas from this exercise.
Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday.
Don't forget to subscribe to my Substack! Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com.
Next week, let's laugh as I will go over some of the silliest questions that were asked of tarot readers.
There are no dumb questions, but these are definitely silly.
This will be my last solo show, and as of February, I will be beginning to host guests.
That will be exciting, as I have some lined up already. And stay tuned for that announcement. Until then, see you next time. Ciao for now.
Miriam Reads Tarot is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Welcome to The Tarot Table, the podcast where we explore the mystical world of tarot, delve into the secrets of the cards, and talk about all things spiritual with a no-nonsense, no-BS lens.
I'm your host, Miriam Rachel, psychic medium and tarot reader, author of Overcoming Echoism with Tarot: Using Tarot for Boundary Setting and Stopping People-Pleasing, and freelance writer.
I am so glad you are here. Here is a question for you. When you pull a card for yourself each morning or evening, or if you have a reading done and you get the Sun, do you always get excited since the Sun is supposedly the brightest card in the deck?
And, of course, you would get excited since the Sun is known for representing success, warmth, fun, positivity, and vitality, especially if it is the outcome card for a reading.
But I will ask this as well. Do you ever look beyond the excitement and ask yourself what message this card could have for you?
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the Sun is not always the best card to get. You already know there are no "good or bad cards."
The Sun has many dark aspects, but no one likes to discuss them. And that is what I am doing right now.
I will reveal so much about the Sun that will make you rethink the excitement you get when you do a daily pull, and that card comes up.
Before delving right into that, here is something else to consider. When the Sun tarot card falls into a position in a spread that represents obstacles or challenges, what are your thoughts then?
Or, what happens if it happens to be your shadow card, which is the card at the bottom of the deck? That is when you will begin to learn about the shadow side of the Sun tarot card.
There are several meanings behind the Sun's shadow side, and let's begin to delve into them.
Toxic Positivity
The Sun can also represent toxic positivity, and it does not always have to be in the reversed position if you read reversals.
For example, if you are doing a reading about someone and the Sun comes up as their negative trait, that can represent that they are likely the type that would toss toxic positivity at you.
Other cards in the spread would have to support that, especially if the Moon and the Seven of Swords, which both represent dishonesty and hiding things, are in that spread. Toxic positivity is highly invalidating.
Unrealistic Optimism
The Sun can also represent unrealistic optimism or magical thinking. If you are going for a tarot reading about love, and the Sun is in a position where a challenge or an obstacle can come up, that could mean some idealism and magical thinking involved.
That is when you would believe that a prince or princess charming would unexpectedly appear at your door.
But let's be honest; there is no such thing, and what are the odds of that happening?
If the Knight of Cups, upright or reversed, is in the same spread, which is the idealistic romantic, then that supports that magical thinking issue.
What happens to you when you look directly at the Sun? It will blind you, as magical thinking does from reality.
The solution to the challenge is a card from the Pentacles suit tied to the earth element, hence highly practical, such as the Two or Queen of Pentacles, which would bring you back to Earth.
Too Much Ego
The Sun could come up in a reading about an individual's negative personality aspect, and aside from tossing toxic positivity, the Sun could represent having too much ego.
But, of course, that would be upright or reversed, depending on the spread. Again, think about the solar system, as the Sun is in the center as the planets orbit around it.
Also, think of the dark side of Leo, which the Sun rules, and that is being egotistical. Hence, it is unsurprising that the Sun would also represent someone with an entitlement complex.
Exhaustion And Burnout
You would not think of the Sun representing burnout and exhaustion, as that is a card represented by the Nine and Ten of Wands.
However, it can, because when you think of how being out in the Sun too much as you exert yourself would burn you out and leave you exhausted.
For example, if you were to have a reading about why you cannot complete a task you want to do and the Sun shows up in a challenging position, it can mean that you are exhausted and burned out — which also depends on the surrounding cards if the Nine of Ten of Wands is in that spread somewhere, that supports that reason.
Getting Burned
Consider what happens when overexposed to the Sun, even if you have applied sunscreen with a 60 SPF. First, you will get sunburn because even the best sunscreen will not prevent it.
Therefore, you could get burned if you are overexposed to something better for you, especially if you put too much trust in something or someone who severely lets you down.
Solar Storm
What happens when there is a solar storm? Once a solar flare reaches the area around Earth, it can heat the ionosphere where the Earth's atmosphere ends — hence the reason for the gorgeous auroras that are usually seen in the polar regions or areas with higher latitudes.
However, if the solar storm is out of control, it can hit the Earth's power grids and cause widespread power outages and communication-device issues. Therefore, in this case, the Sun tarot card can represent anything out of control in your life.
If there is chaos in your life, and you find a tarot spread that includes a position representing the cause for chaos, and the Sun shows up, that is what is happening.
There is a "solar storm" that has gotten out of control happening around you. It is time to firm up some boundaries.
Drought
The Sun without rain causes drought. The specific meaning behind the Sun tarot card is vitality, but it can represent the opposite of that.
For example, suppose you feel unmotivated and stuck, and the Sun tarot card comes up as the position in a reading representing the cause.
In that case, you are facing a drought of your own, which can highlight the area shown by the surrounding cards where you are not getting enough "water" in your life to nurture it.
Therefore, you must add something to your life to help you thrive.
Now you see how the Sun tarot card is only sometimes the most positive in the deck.
But remember, even the "worst" tarot cards have some upsides. There are times when it is exciting to see the Sun tarot card come up in a reading, but there are other times when it reveals that you must address a significant obstacle or challenge.
Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday. Remember to subscribe to my Substack! Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com.
Next week, I want to discuss using tarot cards to stimulate your creativity. This episode may be helpful if you are a writer because tarot can be a fantastic tool for stimulating creativity.
I will also be hosting guests in February, as I have a few lined up already, so stay tuned for that announcement. Until then, see you next time, ciao for now.
Welcome to The Tarot Table, the podcast where we explore the mystical world of tarot, delve into the secrets of the cards, and talk about all things spiritual with a no-nonsense, no-BS lens.
I'm your host, Miriam Rachel, psychic medium and tarot reader, author of Overcoming Echoism with Tarot: Using Tarot for Boundary Setting and Stopping People-Pleasing, and freelance writer.
I am so glad you are here. Here is a question for you. When the Death card comes up in a reading, how do you feel? Before I ask that, what do you know about the Death tarot card?
Suppose you knew a little tarot before you knew the true meaning behind the Death card. In that case, you may have feared it because, understandably, you would have associated it with physical death (and if you don't know much about tarot, you are learning something new and essential now).
However, it is rare for the Death tarot card to represent a visit from the Reaper, except if it pertains to someone terminally ill and about to cross over.
I have written many articles about this topic before, but I want to touch on another aspect of the Death Tarot card that people fear.
The Death Tarot Card Represents Change.. Which Is What Scares Everyone Sh*tless
Everyone has a fear of change, even those who are adventurous. That may be hard to believe, but there would be no comfort zone if fear of change did not exist. Some may embrace change more than others, but even those who do struggle to some degree with a fear of change.
Others fear change so much that they have a phobia of it, known as metathesiophobia.
However, life is full of changes, and unexpected changes occur. Something as simple as the changing of the seasons also represents change.
Think about when winter finally ends, and then spring takes its place. And there are many seasonal changes even in a warm climate.
For example, you may get a lot of rain instead of snow during the winter. And with the seasons changing, you may suddenly get drier and hotter periods.
Every time you have a birthday, you have to face another change. But the impact of it may not be significant if you are not hitting a milestone birthday.
If you hit the big 4–0 or even more so, the big 5–0, that scares you because it reminds you that you are getting older and there is nothing you can do about it. Middle age is a scary stage for this reason.
You are forced to deal with the inevitable change, which is aging. You get the idea. Now, let's talk about why change is something that people fear.
What Is So Scary About Change?
There are several reasons that so many people fear change. First, after researching this, I found that there is a similar feeling to the unknown of failure, and everyone also fears failure. You are no exception.
Think about it. If you are challenged to try something new, you will have a lot of fear washing over you. The fear of failure is a component of that fear, in addition to the unknown.
There is also that fear of losing control. When you approach the unknown, you will feel vulnerable, and no one wants to feel that way. Everyone wants to be in control, no matter what.
I'll be vulnerable and tell you that I am emetophobic, as I am phobic of vomiting, as it has been years since I did it. But when I look into what is behind the phobia, there is a significant aspect of control. When you get sick, you lose control. That scares me.
Aside from that, unfortunately, there are many times when you have no choice but to make a sudden change, such as unexpectedly being laid off from your job or finding out you have a medical condition that will force you to change your lifestyle.
What do you do when you cannot ease yourself out of your comfort zone? First, you must go through the fearful emotions and some grief and talk to yourself to know that you need to take that plunge to make that change since delaying the inevitable would be worse.
In other words, you know that the sooner you brush up on your resume and start job hunting, the better you will be.
Or, the sooner you learn more about your condition and make an appointment with a specialist to talk about changing your lifestyle, the better you will be.
Oh, and the pandemic was when the change was forced upon you! I don't need to elaborate on that. But, for one reason or another, 2020 was one of the most brutal years for people, even if they did not experience loss by losing loved ones, friends, or their jobs or businesses.
You get the idea of how the average individual reacts to change. Lots of fear. Some embrace it more.
Others struggle with metathesiophobia, which will require a lot of therapy because, as I said, you cannot avoid change.
How Do You Handle The Reality of Change Upon You?
Whatever change you are facing, you know you cannot escape it. Aside from being emetophobic, I am one of those people who genuinely dislike change, but I embrace it more than my husband does. So, unfortunately, I have had to be the one to force him to make changes.
So, this is what has helped me cope.
Deal With The Change Bit By Bit
Even though I said you might be forced with some change, like suddenly losing your job overnight, it is never a good idea to plunge into it.
You need time to process it, so if you don't immediately start brushing up your resume, for example, that is fine. But you know you have to face it, so that is when you need to ease out of your comfort zone and deal with it bit by bit.
Hope For The Best, But Plan For The Worst
The truth is if you are always catastrophizing the worst-case scenario, that can cause you a lot of anxiety and harm your mental health.
However, at the same time, you cannot be mindlessly optimistic that everything will stay the same. Being delusional will only make matters so much worse.
You must prepare for the worst, such as losing your job or ending up with a crime problem in your neighborhood that will cause you to move, even if that is not what you envision yourself doing.
That way, you can mentally prepare yourself for any potential change, good or bad.
If You Know You Need To Make A Change, Determine Your Why
Sometimes, you may be forced to change even if outside forces are not doing it for you.
For example, you are being mistreated at work and growing tired of it to an intense desire to quit and find another job.
Or, your clothes no longer fit you properly, and you are constantly out of breath. You know you need to lose some pounds to feel better, but changing your lifestyle scares you.
Those are situations where you are facing negative consequences from the sameness, and the only way to break it is if you are the one to make that change. That is scary, even though you are in control this time.
In that situation, you must determine why you are making a change. Then, when you do, you can start making the change slowly and keep building upon it.
Reward Yourself When You Get Through The Change
Rewarding yourself can mean anything attainable, such as buying a new pair of shoes, a trip to the spa, or something else that does not involve money.
However, each time you get through a change that scares you, the best thing you can do is reward yourself for getting through it.
You will also have something to look forward to as you go through the change, which will motivate you to push through your fears.
Get Support
The best thing you can do is get support. Whether it is from online support groups or if you have a friend you can talk to about what you are facing, get emotional support.
If you can talk to someone about how this change affects you mentally and your fears about it, it will make it easier to face.
Changing is hard enough, but it is hell if you have to go through it alone.
The next time you go for a tarot reading and the Death card shows up, yes, there is some change you will face, but at least you will have the time to prepare for it ahead of time, making it easier for you to face when it does happen.
Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday. Don't forget to subscribe to my Substack! Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com.
Next week, I want to discuss another card many love: the Sun. Do you get excited every time that card emerges?
Maybe you will want to hold in your excitement the next time you pull the Sun during your morning tarot card pull routine; if that is what you do, find out the dark aspects of this seemingly extremely positive tarot card.
I will shed some light on that! Until then, see you next time, ciao for now.
Welcome to The Tarot Table, the podcast where we explore the mystical world of tarot, delve into the secrets of the cards, and talk about all things spiritual with a no-nonsense, no-BS lens.
I'm your host, Miriam Rachel, psychic medium and tarot reader, author of Overcoming Echoism with Tarot: Using Tarot for Boundary Setting and Stopping People-Pleasing, and freelance writer.
I am so glad you are here. Here is a question for you. What is your first thought when you think about the Tower tarot card?
Do you shake yourself crapless when you get the card in a reading, or if you pull a card during your morning ritual and you get the Tower?
Here is a spoiler alert. If you get the Tower in a reading, it can be the best card you can get.
The Tower is associated with sudden destruction, cataclysm, and immediate shock.
You have to remember that the purpose of the Tower is to destroy what is no longer helpful to you so you can make room for the new, but that is never pleasant.
Sometimes, it can mean pure shock and destruction, like how the COVID-19 pandemic suddenly appeared to wreak havoc on people's lives.
However, other meanings behind the Tower go beyond that. Let's go over seven of them now.
A Big Eureka Moment
The worst thing is when you think you have an idea for something, and you cannot break through the barrier of the thought behind it, which means it won't be fruitful.
For example, you develop an idea for a blogging strategy, but suddenly, there are blocks around it that only frustrate you.
But suddenly, you end up with an ah-ha moment around it, the big eureka moment that helps you work with your original idea.
That means you now have a robust strategy because of that eureka moment. The Tower can represent something as simple as that.
Shaking Up Your Routine
You need a routine that can help you stay organized and secure. It is also essential for parents of young kids to keep their kids on routines.
However, the issue with routines is that there is a risk that they can turn into boredom and apathy. Get up for work, wash up, have breakfast, fight traffic for your 9 to 5, fight traffic heading back home, have dinner, watch TV, get ready for bed, rinse, and repeat the next day.
There is no excitement there at all, which is risky for you to develop an 'I don't give a crap" attitude because it is so dull.
That is why you will want to shake up your routine. Think of getting a pet or breaking up your day if that is not an option for you in some way.
During your lunch break, do something different, such as a short workout or something you have not done before once you return home from work. Again, the Tower can mean that your routine needs a shake-up.
Freedom After Going Through Pain Or Discomfort
Yes, the Tower represents the destruction of something that no longer works. And ouch, that hurts.
You will want to focus on the other side of pain: freedom. Think about how the Tower is a welcome card if you are in a situation where you feel trapped, such as being in a bad marriage or in a lousy job that you did not think you could escape from.
Still, the Tower can lead you to freedom on the other side of whatever it is that is trapping you.
However, remember that to get to that freedom on the other side, you must go through a grueling process, such as leaving a bad marriage.
The Tower can signify that you will finally get out of hell.
Being Proactive To Prevent A Problem
You will see the Tower card come up as a warning that a problem could happen if you are not proactive in preventing it.
For example, if the weather forecast appears that there will be a storm so bad that it will cause power outages, you will want to stock up on non-perishables before the storm so you are not stuck without having food to eat when and if it happens.
In my case, I will talk about my Tower moment in this regard. I have yo-yo'ed my life with dieting, and I have gotten tired of it, but because of heart disease and diabetes in my genetics, I knew it was time to end this lunacy and get some help.
So, I heard a lot about Ozempic and went to my doctor in January to inquire about it. The doctor checked my sugars, and as it turned out, they were high.
Yikes! So, since then, I have been on Ozempic to help me lose weight and control my sugars, and I am being monitored. It could have ended up badly if I did not make this inquiry.
I am 40 lbs down now but still have more to go.
Cleansing And Purging
The Tower can mean you must cleanse and purge what is no longer working for you, such as a cluttered home causing distractions.
Therefore, if the Tower comes up, it does not always mean something bad or a shock is on the horizon.
It can be a message to cleanse and purge your office, home, and mind. It is an excellent time to do that spring or fall cleaning.
A Breakthrough
You already know that the Tower can represent a eureka moment. It can also present breakthroughs in other ways.
Think about a teacher trying to work with a student struggling to grasp a math problem they are working on.
However, the teacher presents the students with a method that can help them figure out the math problem, and that method helps them solve it.
That is a breakthrough, and the Tower can represent that.
Developing A Thick Skin
The Tower can signify that if someone has been taking advantage of you, being unkind, and gaslighting you, it is time to end it and stand up for yourself.
The Tower moment would be to the one abusing you, seeing that you are no longer taking their crap.
That is shocking to them. I will say that the Tower got me out of echoism. You will know what I am talking about if you have read my book.
Now, you can see that whenever the Tower pops up for you, it does not necessarily mean that something unexpected will ruin you!
The context of the tarot reading means everything, which is what you must look at when the Tower shows.
Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday. Don't forget to subscribe to my Substack! Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com.
Next week, I want to discuss another card many fear: Death. I think enough people who know some things about tarot realize that Death does not usually mean physical death, but there is one aspect of the card that they fear, which has nothing to do with physical death.
I will shed some light on that! Until then, see you next time, ciao for now.
Welcome to The Tarot Table, the podcast where we explore the mystical world of tarot, delve into the secrets of the cards, and talk about all things spiritual with a no-nonsense, no-BS lens.
I'm your host, Miriam Rachel, psychic medium and tarot reader, author of Overcoming Echoism with Tarot: Using Tarot for Boundary Setting and Stopping People-Pleasing, and freelance writer.
I am so glad you are here. I have a question for you. How often do you cleanse your tarot cards? If you never do, and you find that your readings are crappy, then it is time to listen up because you need to cleanse your cards.
When you consider that tarot cards are only 78 pieces of beautiful cardboard, you may wonder why it is necessary to cleanse them.
Nevertheless, if you are truly getting into the craft, you will see that these cards have more meaning than just being 78 pieces of cardboard.
It is essential to do that when it comes to cleansing these cards; it is a great self-help tool for divination and spurring creativity.
Cleansing Tarot Cards: Why Should You Do It?
Everything is energy, and everything you touch is where your energy is transferred.
You want to ensure that your frequency is high when reading tarot, whether for a client, a friend, or yourself, so you get a precise reading.
A stagnant or polluted energy will taint the cards and affect the reading negatively. You want to practice your best spiritual hygiene, so cleansing your cards is essential.
The Effects of Not Cleansing Them
Would you want to wear a shirt every day that is full of sweat, dead skin cells, and food crumbs that you have eaten even if you can’t see them?
You are practicing poor physical hygiene unless you cleanse your cards every time.
I hate to say this, but it is not really any different from not washing your hands after using the toilet. And yes, I am making that comparison.
Your cards may not smell bad if you don’t cleanse them, but you might feel stagnant energy and pull up either readings with bad outcomes or readings that don’t make sense if you don’t cleanse them. I mean, It makes sense to clean your tarot cards.
Consistently cleaning your cards is similar to regularly doing laundry or showering. The things you do cannot be imagined without them. Because otherwise, ewww gross.
You may wonder how often or when to cleanse your cards. Let’s discuss that.
How Often Should Tarot Cards Be Cleansed
You don’t have to cleanse your cards at any particular time or frequency. When cleaning your cards, you should use your intuition.
If you feel stagnant or unhealthy energy around them and don’t remember when you cleaned them last, it is overdue and time to cleanse them.
You don’t have to cleanse a deck of cards if you don’t use them too often and feel their energy is fresh each time you use them.
You decide how often and when to cleanse them. When you start a new deck, you must first cleanse it to know what energies surround it.
You must know the energies surrounding the manufacturer's printer if you purchase a brand-new tarot deck from Amazon, Etsy, or a shop.
Negativity could rub off onto your new deck if negativity existed around the printer.
You don't want to read a deck that has the energies of someone that has been having a crappy day, right? You should cleanse the new deck as soon as you receive it or before you use it.
Also, cleaning your cards is a good idea if you have done plenty of emotional readings for friends or clients.
No matter how many positive readings you have done, your cards must be cleansed.
You should keep cleansing your cards as long as you are using them. You are entirely responsible for determining how often to cleanse your cards. You may now be wondering how to cleanse your cards.
Are you washing them? You can do that if the cards are laminated, or you could ruin them. I mean, that is not rocket science.
How Can Tarot Cards Be Cleansed?
There are several ways to cleanse your tarot cards. Choosing a way that resonates with you is essential.
Put A Crystal On The Deck
You can cleanse your deck by absorbing its energies, such as clear quartz, selenite, or black tourmaline, by placing a crystal on the deck.
To absorb negativity and stagnant energies from the deck, place the cleansing and protective crystal on it overnight.
The crystal can be placed on the deck for an hour if you want to do a light cleanse due to reading for several clients in one day.
Cleanse with Sacred Smoke
Use sage, lavender, palo santo, cedar, or dried rosemary to cleanse your deck. During the burning of the herbs, you will place the deck near the smoke with the other hand so that the smoke will surround the cards and remove negativity or stagnant energy.
Ensure that all corners and sides of the deck of cards are in contact with the smoke so you are effectively cleaning it.
The cards can be purified by placing them in a bowl of sea salt. Salt is known to be very cleansing, so you can cleanse your cards effectively by placing the cards in the bowl and allowing them to absorb their energies.
Obviously, you should ensure that humidity levels are manageable when cleansing them this way. Having clumped salt stuck on your cards will ruin them and your mood.
Allow Sunlight To Cleanse The Cards
The cards can always be placed on the window sill during the day to be cleaned by the sunlight. Keep your cards away from the sun for too long, or they may warp.
Negative and stagnant energies can be washed away by sunlight, however. If kept too long in the sun, the art can be damaged, so you should keep them there for only a few hours at most during the day.
To soak up the moonlight, place the cards on the window sill overnight: If you are concerned that sunlight could warp your cards, you can always put them overnight so they can soak up the moonlight even if you don’t want to place them on the window sill during the day.
Cards can be cleansed at any time, not just during full moons. Nevertheless, you would not achieve anything with a New Moon, as there would be no moonlight. Some may argue with that, but I have found that the New Moon energy does not cleanse the cards.
The cleansing process may be interfered with if the cards are placed during a lunar eclipse.
Shuffle Chaotically
Arrange the cards chaotically on the floor. You can also use that method to purge the cards of stagnant or negative energies. It may be an excellent way to get rid of it quickly if you read for clients.
These are the main methods of cleansing cards; however, you choose to cleanse them is up to you! Don’t hesitate to follow your instincts.
How To Clean Tarot Cards The Right Way
When cleaning your tarot cards, there is no right or wrong way. However, you should be responsible for how you do it. What I mean is to use common sense.
If you put your cards on the window sill, they could warp and ruin the cards, and, at the very least, the artwork may be destroyed if they are left there for over five hours.
Cards should be cleansed using alternative methods if humidity levels are high instead of salt, as I already discussed.
To avoid readings with old energies tainted by your cards, you must cleanse them in the ways mentioned. Whether you received the cards directly from the manufacturer, were given them as a gift, or used them for some time, it doesn’t matter.
Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday. Don't forget to subscribe to my Substack! Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com.
Next week, I want to talk about one of the cards that scare people, the Tower, and explain why it may be one of the best cards to get in a reading. Until then, see you next time, ciao for now.
Welcome to The Tarot Table, the podcast where we explore the mystical world of tarot, delve into the secrets of the cards, and talk about all things spiritual with a no-nonsense, no-BS lens.
I'm your host, Miriam Rachel, psychic medium and tarot reader, author of Overcoming Echoism with Tarot: Using Tarot for Boundary Setting and Stopping People-Pleasing, and freelance writer.
I am so glad you are here. Today, I will discuss why specific tarot cards keep appearing repeatedly.
Whenever you do a tarot reading, it can happen when one card keeps appearing… like a bad penny.
Tarot readings can be done for anyone, whether for yourself or someone else. But that particular tarot card will always follow you. In your tarot community, you might have asked questions about it.
They may tell you to journal or meditate to figure it out. Maybe they give you other suggestions. Yet, despite everything you try to make sense of, the card doesn’t let go of you. This type of card is called a stalker card.
Why Is The Stalker Card Relevant?
Whether you read for yourself or others, it can happen when a tarot card shows up in your readings, taunting you with its message.
As the stalker card has a message for the querent, it may not be relevant for you when reading for others. Nevertheless, the card still appears for you as the reader.
Stalker cards usually stop appearing once you understand what they are trying to say. It took me almost two years to realize how traumatized I was during one of the COVID-19 lockdowns.
My mind was a wild mess after that. I was stalked by the Tower, of course. As a result, I only thought about how the crap would keep hitting the fan in my presence. And it did.
As a result, I assumed I was doomed. It wasn’t a pleasant experience, to put it lightly.
Nevertheless, the message was clear, and I received it in a calmer state. Without the right help for my issues, I would continue to face destructive situations without even realizing I was the cause.
Once I returned to therapy (reluctantly, I will admit, yes, I was pretty feral), The Tower stopped stalking me.
I’ve Been Stalked By A Tarot Card For Other Reasons Lately
I’ve been getting a stalker recently. The Emperor keeps appearing; sometimes, it is upright, and sometimes reversed. As a result of my trauma, I became an echoist due to a perpetual fawn response.
Having done the unthinkable (to society, at least), I began saying “no” more often, redefining my boundaries, and speaking up for myself.
My room is a mess, but I’m developing self-discipline by slowly organizing it, so I don’t want the Emperor breathing down my neck about how to set boundaries and create order.
The thing is, however. Someone recently mentioned that they kept coming across stalker cards because they were relevant to their past lives.
It’s interesting, that’s for sure. I had several past life regressions, and based on what I learned, it does resonate, especially with how the Emperor sometimes goes the other way.
Tarot Card Stalker Reflects Past Lives
Here’s the thing. Over the past while, I have wondered how such an old soul (well, I am an older mature soul, but it is up to my soul, not my ego) was thrust into an environment with so many new baby souls.
New souls pick up on your sensitivities and differences and will prey on them. Of course, it is also true that older souls have more complicated lives and deal with traumatic experiences, but you cannot plan your traumas before birth!
I believe you are born with lessons to learn; some lessons are big ones, and trauma is a risk, but you don’t plan for it! Others misusing their free will and you being caught in the crossfire is what often happens, which can become very traumatic.
Victims and survivors of bullying and abuse are usually told that they planned it by many mediums that perpetrate victim-shaming. People seem to eat it up, and it’s sad!
Nevertheless, I know I was highly narcissistic during Victorian times, and I looked down on less fortunate others. Shaming people was something I did. As a wealthy woman in England, I abused my power to order maids around the mansion or estate.
Guess what? With many social stigmas attached, I was the ultimate outcast, the bullied one. Having abused others, I had to feel what they felt. That makes sense to me.
When I consider that I did not receive a lot of kindness during my life, it is sad that so many people say I am amazing for being kind to others.
I’ve said many times that everyone is responsible for their behavior and actions, regardless of their trauma. I’m trying to balance my karma here, so I’m not so “amazing.”
Apparently, the Emperor stalks me (in reverse at times) to remind me of my previous life when I was in a position of power in an abusive way. As a helpless echoist in this life, I also lacked power for a long time.
However, now that I have regained my power and using it better, that’s where it sits. Hopefully, I have figured this out; I won’t see the Emperor as much! I will now ask you.
Are you finding that you have a tarot card that stalks you? And if you have any awareness of your previous lives, do you feel it may have to do with a lesson you need to learn from any of those lives? There is something to think about for the time being.
Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday. Don't forget to subscribe to my Substack! Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com and my Instagram.
Next week, I will cover the importance of cleansing your tarot cards, how to do them, and how often, as this is a question that many tarot readers have. Let's answer this next time! See you next time, ciao for now.
Welcome to The Tarot Table, the podcast where we explore the mystical world of tarot, delve into the secrets of the cards, and talk about all things spiritual with a no-nonsense, no-BS lens.
I'm your host, Miriam Rachel, psychic medium and tarot reader, author of Overcoming Echoism with Tarot: Using Tarot for Boundary Setting and Stopping People-Pleasing, and freelance writer.
I am so glad you are here. Today, I will discuss some of the tarot cards that mean something similar yet have subtle differences with one another.
I wanted to cover this because there are plenty of discussions about that among tarot readers and those studying the tarot.
There are 78 cards in the tarot deck, and you will find several cards with similar meanings, whether part of the Major or Minor Arcana.
But, again, the cards’ appearance is different; they are of other suits and may be part of the Major or Minor Arcana, but they have similar meanings with subtle differences.
The cards’ differences will impact the tarot reading and interpretation of that card. Now, let’s go over some tarot cards that have similar meanings but are also different.
Devil And Eight of Swords
The Devil and the Eight of Swords both represent entrapment. However, the Devil means you have physical desires trapping you, which can also represent addictions or a need for decadence.
The Eight of Swords represents your negative mind, keeping you trapped, which can sometimes mean literal entrapment.
That depends on the reading. Let’s go over an example. You have a mother who cannot stop eating, as she is addicted to food. She keeps ordering takeout and runs to the store to get junk food.
The Devil represents her addiction to food, but the Eight of Swords represents her belief that she cannot get out of the addiction, so she keeps herself trapped even though help is out there.
She may also feel trapped by caring for her kids while having no life. There are other cards with similar yet different meanings.
Death And Tower
Death and Tower both represent transformations and endings that are life-changing and shocking.
The Death card represents an ending and transformation while you are emotionally going through it, whereas the Tower represents sudden endings or transformations without any emotional preparation.
I will go over another example. Being a first-time mom means both. Death represents the woman becoming a mom for the first time, and there is a lot of emotional preparation during the pregnancy or adoption process.
However, the Tower represents the unprepared upheavals of being a first-time mom, as suddenly, the needs are no longer about the woman! That is a shock.
Lovers And Two of Cups
Lovers and Two of Cups can represent a union or a marriage. The Lovers is about the spiritual connection and commitment from making a choice, and The Two of Cups is about the emotional relationship between two people.
The Two of Cups indicates marriage is happening because two people are in love.
Still, the Lovers is not about emotional attachment but about making a spiritual commitment after choosing to be together.
Think about an arranged marriage that lacks the Two of Cups aspect but is all about the Lovers. If the couple falls in love with one another, that would fit the Two of Cups.
Four of Swords And Hermit
Four of Swords and Hermit are about seclusion but have different meanings. The Four of Swords means resting and recovering after being hurt, or it can mean sleeping, which you need to do since your body goes through a “beating” each day that comes from simply being alive.
The Hermit represents pulling back from society to understand life better. Talking to a coach, psychic, or therapist counts. You usually go into hermit mode after dealing with a blow from life.
However, if you go through a blast from life, you must rest to process and recover from it, which is the Four of Swords. Then, you will examine what happened, which the Hermit represents.
Four of Wands And Three of Cups
You may think the Four of Wands and Three of Cups are interchangeable because both mean having a good time with friends.
However, the Four of Wands is a passionate celebration or gathering with friends, whereas the Three of Cups is an emotional gathering.
For example, you may have a party to celebrate a milestone, as passion would drive you to have the party and to have some fun at it.
However, the Three of Cups represents connecting with friends on an emotional level, such as enjoying the company of your friends while going out for dinner or having a get-together.
Ten of Cups And Ten of Pentacles
Many people get confused with these cards. The Ten of Cups represents an emotional connection to a family (or it could be friends that you consider family as family is not always blood).
The Ten of Pentacles is strictly wealth and material abundance. The Ten of Pentacles has no emotional tie, as it can represent inheritances.
Still, there is no material wealth with the Ten of Cups, which means an entire and supportive family.
Ace of Pentacles And Six of Pentacles
The Ace of Pentacles and Six of Pentacles can represent getting money. However, the Ace of Pentacles is a small amount of money that is coming to you that you earned or through a bonus.
The Six of Pentacles can represent money you are getting as a gift, donation, lottery, money someone owed you, or through other means that had nothing to do with you earning it.
For instance, if you successfully raise a GoFundMe cause, the Six of Pentacles represents that. If you end up with a work bonus, the Ace of Pentacles means that.
Six of Swords And Eight of Cups
Six of Swords and Eight of Cups represent walking away from a triggering, stressful, or harmful source to get a fresh start.
However, the Six of Swords represents moving forward with your emotional baggage and grief, whereas the Eight of Cups can sometimes mean escaping something stressing you.
Both cards can, for example, represent a residential move. However, with the Eight of Cups, you are moving because your neighborhood has become more of a jungle, and crime rates are higher, or others are gossiping about you because of some misunderstanding, and they are cruel, so you need to escape that.
When it comes to the Six of Swords and making a residential move, you are moving because you lost a loved one who lived with you or in your neighborhood, and the grief is too much for you to bear to stay where you are. So even though you make the physical move, the grief and emotional baggage follow.
Justice And Two of Swords
Justice and Two of Swords are cards that represent decision-making. Justice means making a conscious decision while undertaking cause and effect.
The Two of Swords goes deeper than that, as yes, you have to decide based on weighing the pros and cons, but there is an intuitive factor with the Two of Swords where it is more of a subconscious decision you make.
There may be other sets of cards with similarities and subtle differences that I have not covered. With that said, if you know of a set of cards that are like that, please let me know.
Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday. Don't forget to subscribe to my Substack! Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com.
Next week, I will cover stalker cards. Why do some tarot cards stalk you? Maybe it is a past-life issue? Who knows, but that is something I will cover next week! See you next time, ciao for now.
Welcome to The Tarot Table, the podcast where we explore the mystical world of tarot, delve into the secrets of the cards, and talk about all things spiritual with a no-nonsense, no-BS lens.
I'm your host, Miriam Rachel, psychic medium and tarot reader, author of Overcoming Echoism with Tarot: Using Tarot for Boundary Setting and Stopping People-Pleasing, and freelance writer. I am so glad you are here as you are listening to the pilot episode!
What to Expect From the Tarot Table
What will you expect from The Tarot Table? Well, I have a lot of cool stuff planned. You know you will get so many goods on tarot!
Yes, I will sometimes talk about individual tarot cards, but not in order, and they will be randomly chosen based on significant events or life themes that are relevant at a time.
So, I will not discuss all 78 cards for 78 weeks in their order. So, don't expect me to talk about the Fool next week, the Magician the week after, and so on.
I will, however, be writing about that on my Substack soon, which I will announce at the end. I will also cover a lot of mystical content, in general, and I will constantly point out the problems with the New Age community, the harsh realities of spiritual bypassing, and toxic positivity.
Oh yes, and I will also talk a lot about mental health! Because that is one topic that needs to come up often nowadays, the stigma of mental illness keeps getting smashed. Eventually, likely not long after the New Year, I will start interviewing awesome guests while tying their connection to the tarot card that best fits them!
Like anything else, this podcast will evolve the way it is meant to evolve over time, which will be exciting to see!Now that I have that covered, why should you even listen to anything I say? Hey, you don't have to listen to a thing I say! That is your choice.
Only know I am the Queen of Swords because I tell you how it is! I don't tell you what you want to hear.
As I said, I only share a no-BS approach to spirituality. As someone who has faced a lot of scapegoating, bullying, and other trauma throughout most of my life, I have been forced to dig within and stop people-pleasing and become authentic.
A Little About Me
I came into this world with a lot of karma to balance, and I see that now, but the energy I came into this world was highly sensitive, and that is why I was a bully and scapegoating target.
Because of that, I became an echoist, which is a pathological people-pleaser. I explain much of that in my book, but I did reach a point where I had no choice but to shed my echoism.
And here I am, speaking the truth and calling out the BS that needs to be called out in the New Age community regarding societal problems. However, I have always been drawn to life's spiritual aspects and mysteries. After the birth of my daughter in 2002, I began learning astrology and tarot, and it all grew from there!
In 2006, I received my astrology certification through Samuel F. Reynolds, who has an astrology school. However, I do fewer astrology readings today than I did back then.
Though, at times, over the years, due to burnout and poor mental health, I did break from it, it is very much a part of me now. Now you know a little bit about what to expect with this podcast and a little bit about me, let's dig into the world of tarot! Since this is the pilot, let's go over the history!
The History of Tarot
Did you know the tarot started in 15th-century Europe, mainly Italy and France? Theories suggest that tarot cards were initially used as playing cards in various card games.
The earliest known tarot decks were hand-painted and consisted of four suits, similar to modern playing cards, with additional trump cards.
These trump cards eventually evolved into the major arcana, the most recognizable and symbolic cards in a tarot deck.However, from their inception around the 17th century in France, tarot cards were used for divination purposes.
It is believed that the cards were used by fortune-tellers and occult practitioners to gain insight into the future or to provide guidance and advice.In the late 18th century, tarot cards gained popularity among occultists and esoteric societies, such as the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn.
These groups developed elaborate systems of interpretation and symbolism for the tarot cards, greatly influencing the modern understanding and use of tarot.During the 20th century, tarot cards became more widely known and used for divination and self-reflection.
The Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck, created by Arthur Edward Waite and Pamela Colman Smith in 1909, is one of today's most influential and widely used tarot decks. This deck introduced new imagery and symbolism, becoming standard in many tarot decks.Since then, tarot has continued to evolve and gain popularity, with countless variations and interpretations of the cards.
I have my Penguin deck based on Rider-Waite, which I created in 2020 since I have always loved penguins. Today, tarot is widely used for self-reflection, personal growth, creativity, and divination by individuals from various spiritual and esoteric backgrounds.Now you have it! I will talk to you again next Friday. Don't forget to subscribe to my Substack! Follow me on Medium at msmir.medium.com, and check out my site at miriamreadstarot.com and my Instagram.
Next week, I will discuss tarot cards with similar meanings but subtle differences, such as Lovers and Two of Cups! I will have you thinking of that one! Until then, ciao for now.
The Six of Cups is a gentle card that represents nostalgia, basking in childhood memories and joy and innocence.
The memories you fondly remember do not have to be from your childhood.
It can be from when you were a teenager to when you were a younger adult, especially during simpler times.
Let's go over the appearance and history of this card.
The History And Appearance Of The Six of Cups
The Six of Cups first appeared in a deck of tarot cards known as the Visconti-Sforza tarot deck.
This deck was created in the 15th century for Duke Francesco Sforza and his wife, Bianca Maria Visconti.
The Six of Cups is believed to represent their six children.
The Six of Cups has changed over the years, but the card's meaning has remained the same.
This card is still associated with happiness, nostalgia, and innocence.
It is a reminder to cherish the good times and the people who have been a part of our lives.
When you look at this card from the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, you will see a young boy leaning down.
He is passing over a cup with flowers to a little girl, and she looks at him with respect and admiration.
The kids represent childhood memories and innocence, and you see an older gentleman walking in the background.
The vibe you get from that is that he says you no longer have to worry about adult issues.
You also see the kids standing in a courtyard of a home that looks like an estate home representing security and safety.
Now, let's go over what it means to get the Six of Cups in a reading.
What It Means To Get The Six of Cups In A Reading
The Six of Cups is generally associated with nostalgia and looking back on happy memories.
It can represent a time when things were simpler and more innocent.
This card can also suggest that you take a break from your current situation and focus on what's important to you.
The Six of Cups suggest that things are going well if you're currently in a relationship.
You and your partner will likely have a strong connection and share many happy memories.
However, this card can also indicate that you may be longing for a time when things were simpler.
If you're feeling this way, it's essential to communicate with your partner and ensure you're both on the same page.
If you're single, the Six of Cups can indicate that you're ready to find love.
This is an excellent time to put yourself out there and meet new people.
You may find yourself attracted to someone who reminds you of a past love.
However, it's important to stay open-minded and remember that not every relationship has to be perfect.
When this card comes up, something from your past emerges in your life.
For example, it could signify that a childhood friend will suddenly appear in your life.
Perhaps you have been invited to a high school reunion (not me, no way, as I hated high school).
Whether the memories from high school were happy depends on the other cards in the spread.
But it is something from your past that is coming into your life.
Usually, this card represents happy memories from the past unless it is reversed.
You may also come across an item that you had as a child packed away, which will bring back memories.
As you may go through your old things in a box.
Sometimes when this card comes up, it indicates that you need to do inner child work.
But, once again, that depends on the spread.
Now, let's go back to some numerology.
After the chaos and upheaval that comes with five, balance, cooperation, and communication come with six.
And now, onto the storytelling.
So that new mom became a new mom indicated by the Three of Cups.
However, she became bored and dissatisfied with having to deal with the new mom duties indicated by the Four of Cups.
And the guilt came up onto her, and she was going through a hard time navigating motherhood as she was constantly down and crying indicated by the Five of Cups.
However, she is beginning to appreciate things more, and as she takes her new baby to programs, she can find some hobbies that bring her back to the simpler times, as indicated by the Six of Cups.
Now, let's go over the Six of Cups reversed.
Six Of Cups Reversed
When the Six of Cups shows up in reverse, it is indicative that you are living in the past and unable to get into the present.
This can be due to focusing on either positive or negative memories.
You may have also lost touch with your inner child, which means your life is not fun in any way at all.
If you are bogged down by too many responsibilities and have no time for fun, this is what happens, and you need a balance.
And the Six of Cups, in reverse, will lead to poor mental health, either way.
Focusing on too many bad memories will bring you down, and if you don't allow yourself to free yourself from too many responsibilities, that leads to burnout, and neither is pretty.
You can also say that the Six of Cups reversed can also represent C-PTSD for self-explanatory reasons.
It is extremely hard to live in the present when you have horrid memories from the past plaguing you.
And even if you can live in the present, you can come into triggers that will bring you back emotionally.
Now you know what the Six of Cups reversed represents, let's talk about how you can apply this card upright in your life.
How To Incorporate The Six of Cups Into Your Life
You want to do this in an upright fashion.
When you want to enjoy yourself and return to a hobby, you enjoyed as a child, such as drawing or painting, that is the card to focus on.
Life is not supposed to be only full of work and responsibility.
You can go and play and have a bit of fun.
Anyway, I have decided to end the podcast, and I know that the Cups suit is not finished, and there is the Pentacles, but I am too busy as I have a lot of client writing work to focus on and also have an upcoming job which I am very much looking forward to.
However, I will finish the series in written form, so I will not leave you hanging without covering the Pentacles suit.
All you have to do is subscribe to https://miriamreadstarot.substack.com, and you can read about the rest of the cards.
I will write about the Seven of Cups next.
The Five of Cups represents disappointment, pessimism, having plenty of regrets, and failure.
And when this card shows up, that means you have been wallowing in self-pity and are having a hard time getting past the disappointments that have happened.
It can represent a period of mourning or sorrow, but it can also mean a time of hope and renewal.
Let's talk more about when this card shows up in a reading a bit later, and now let's go over the history and appearance of the Five of Cups.
The History And Appearance Of The Five of Cups
The Five of Cups first appeared in Europe in the late 14th century, during the height of the Renaissance.
At this time, tarot cards were used primarily for entertainment and gambling.
However, the Five of Cups began to take on a more symbolic meaning over the next few centuries.
Some believe that the Five of Cups is derived from the five senses, which were thought to be the key to understanding the world.
Others believe the card represents the five elements of water, fire, earth, air, and spirit.
It likely also represented the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.
When you look at the Five of Cups in the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, you see a man wearing a long cloak looking down on knocked over three cups, representing his failures and disappointments.
There are two upright cups behind him, representing opportunities for fresh starts.
However, he is so fixed on the three cups that fell over that he does not see those opportunities.
If you look at the background, you will see a bridge that crosses over a river that goes to the castle, which shows that if he could look past the disappointments, he could move through the bridge to move past it.
So let's discuss what it means to get the Five of Cups in a reading.
What It Means To Get The Five of Cups In A Reading
The Five of Cups shows up when you are sad and depressed over something that went wrong.
You had high hopes for something that did not end up working out, and now you are indulging in your sadness over it.
For instance, you may have had high hopes for getting a job that you had applied for, and you did what you could to present yourself well.
You created an awe-inspiring portfolio and resume.
But you did not get the job.
Another applicant was chosen over you despite how well you prepared for the interview and the work you put into your resume.
You feel like a failure, wallowing in self-pity, and you don't think you will ever get a job again.
It is self-explanatory when the Five of Cups shows up in a similar situation.
It can also represent a setback or regression in progress that you were making.
However, sometimes the Five of Cups can represent that you are ready to let go of the disappointment and look into new opportunities after your fair share of mourning.
It comes to a point where you need to allow the feelings of disappointment to run their course, move back on, and try again.
That all depends on the position and the spread.
If you remember, five numerologically mean change, upheaval, and chaos.
Let's go over that new mom that just had the baby represented by the Three of Cups.
She began to experience boredom and dissatisfaction with being a mom represented by the Four of Cups.
Now, it is hitting her.
She was looking forward to having her own family, and now that she is a mom, she is disappointed that she is not enjoying motherhood as much as she would have hoped.
She cries about it and feels guilty for feeling that way. The Five of Cups represents that stage of her life.
Those who struggle with mental illness, regardless of what it is, have many Five of Cups moments.
No, I am not talking only about the nature of the illness.
I am talking about regressing after doing well with treatment.
It is easy to get angry with yourself for having that kind of setback, but unfortunately, that is the nature of mental or even a physical illness.
Setbacks are often inevitable.
A disappointment or devastation in life can do it, or sometimes the course of treatment stops working.
Either way, it is terrible. Now, let's go over the Five of Cups reversed.
Five Of Cups In Reverse
The Five of Cups shows up in reverse and has two meanings.
One is that you are not just depressed over something going wrong but blaming yourself for it.
This is because you are dealing with a personal setback.
Again, when you struggle with mental illness, you will have those moments a lot.
When you also have C-PTSD, you will blame yourself for allowing yourself to endure the trauma you endured.
And I admit I still kick myself for being an echoist.
However, I realize logically that it is silly to blame myself for something that I did not know, nor not having the guts and strength at the time to stand up for myself.
I know I would be a lot easier on myself if those bad decisions I made by being an echoist did not impact me today.
That is because I do as I lost so much as I look back.
Sure, I can move forward, which I am working on, but the dreams that I lost out on because of allowing myself to please others are gone for good, and it is not like I can easily pick up and make them happen now.
But, maybe, eventually, I can. It is more that I am mourning over losing a big chunk of my life.
The other is that you can finally move on because you are done with having a pity party.
Like me, I had a bit of a pity party over losing out on so many things because I am a people-pleaser with no boundaries, and it is time to stop swimming in it.
I will always grieve for those lost dreams and miss out on many other things. But life goes on.
And that is something I need to remind myself daily.
How To Apply The Five of Cups To Your Life
Well, this is where I need to take my advice.
I think we all get down on ourselves for missing out and can get lost with having so many regrets in life.
Therefore, when something goes wrong, and you are disappointed over something, you need that time to throw a bit of a pity party because that is the only way to process your emotions and move forward and go after new opportunities.
Therefore, when something disappointing happens, such as not getting the job you wanted or your crush rejecting you, feel the emotions, have a pity party, and then know that the world did not end.
Therefore, look for other opportunities. When you are in that state, pull this card out and look at it to remind you that it is necessary to go through the emotions you need but don't sit there.
I will go over the Six of Cups next.
The Four of Cups has several meanings.
This card represents saying ‘no’ to opportunities presented to you for various reasons.
It also can mean boredom, apathy, contemplation, and meditation.
There would be various reasons you would decline opportunities presented to you.
Firstly, you don’t feel the chances are right for you, so you say ‘no.’
You want to make sure that you have room for opportunities in the future that could be meaningful to you.
Or perhaps your plate is complete, so you cannot take anything else on, no matter how enticing it appears.
Or maybe you are afraid to take on anything since you have been hurt or scammed in the past.
Whatever the reason, you are declining an opportunity being presented to you.
The Four of Cups may also mean you are bored and dissatisfied with your current life and position.
You may struggle with motivation and apathy, especially if you are going through the motions in life.
And finally, it may represent meditation and contemplation.
You are going inward to get more clarity as you shut the world off around you.
You may be in a position where you have to retreat.
Before getting into more of the Four of Cups, let's go over the history and appearance of the card.
The History And Appearance of the Four of Cups
The Four of Cups is a tarot card that has been around for centuries.
Its origins are unknown, but it is believed to date back to the 15th century.
When you look at the Four of Cups tarot card in the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, you will see a young man sitting beneath a tree as he crosses his arms, and you see he is contemplating and meditating.
He is also lost in his thoughts and does not notice someone offering him a cup.
There are three cups at his feet, but he is so lost in his thoughts that he does not even acknowledge them.
Those cups represent opportunities, but he is not paying attention to them because he either doesn't care or doesn't feel he is the right fit for them.
Now, let's discuss the meaning of the Four of Cups in a reading.
The Four of Cups In A Reading
The Four of Cups is a tarot card that typically indicates a time of introspection or boredom.
You may be feeling disconnected from your current situation or like you're in a rut.
This isn't necessarily a bad thing - it can be a sign that you need to take time to figure out what you really want.
If you get that card in a reading, then that is what it could mean.
Getting the Four of Cups in a reading can also signify that you are missing out on something or that you need to pay more attention to your spiritual side.
Either way, the Four of Cups reminds you to stop and take stock of your life and ensure that you are on the right path.
This card can also suggest that you have been neglecting your own needs, and it's time to start paying attention to them again.
Finally, getting the Four of Cups in a reading can also indicate a need for more rest - you may have been pushing yourself too hard recently, and you need to take some time to recharge your batteries.
It can also suggest that you feel lonely or isolated, and it's time to reach out to others.
The Four of Cups can also signify that you are feeling overwhelmed by your current situation, and you need to take a step back and reassess your options.
And finally, this card can indicate that you are bored with your current situation and are ready for something new.
Let's go back to some storytelling.
The four represent stability, manifestation, and structure.
Let's review the new mother who had her baby, representing the Three of Cups.
However, the new mom feels stuck, bored, and tired of having to tend to the baby and misses her work.
That does not mean she does not love her baby.
But if you are a parent, you know that caring for infants is exhausting and not stimulating, and you need outside stimulation.
Others may even offer to help, but she may decline because she believes she has to do everything since she is now a mom!
That is the Four of Cups right there.
And the thing is, many of these moms suffer in silence because they fear others will judge them.
And the danger of keeping those emotions in and not accepting help is that it can increase the chances of postpartum depression.
Now, let's go over the Four of Cups in reverse.
Four of Cups Reversed
The Four of Cups, in reverse, shows that you are retreating due to life being difficult around you and avoiding problems.
You are in denial that there are issues, but the thing is, you cannot ignore them too much.
Those issues will still be there.
Personally, the way I see the Four of Cups in reverse is when you are struggling with a mental illness, and you are keeping it quiet within.
I said I would not talk about Risa Green anymore, but I can't help but think of her when I envision the Four of Cups reversed.
Between unmanaged trauma and depression, not only was she in denial that she had some significant problems, but she retreated.
You can say that the upright Four of Cups resonated with her, too, since she was apathetic and bored, but she made it clear she would rather stay there than do anything about it.
However, if you struggle with any mental illness and are having some challenges at a certain point, you will resonate with the card position-wise.
So let's talk about how to apply the Four of Cups to your life.
How To Apply The Four of Cups To Your Life
It seems strange to want to apply this type of card to your life, but really it is one where you need to sit back and be contemplative.
You need to think about some opportunities headed your way, and you have the urge to pass them up.
Why are you passing them up? Is it fear behind it?
Because that is the most common reason to pass up that comes your way.
Of course, if the opportunity legitimately does not interest you because it does not align with your what you want, that is one thing.
However, if you pass up the opportunity because you don't know if you should take it, you are allowing anxiety and fear to take over.
Even though you are at a job you don't like, the Four of Cups will help you pinpoint why you fear taking it as you must pull back and be contemplative.
Leaving your comfort zone can be scary. I understand that.
But that will hurt you in the long run if you don't go for it. That is one example of how to use this card in your life.
The next card I will go over is the Five of Cups.
The Three of Cups is a social card in the Minor Arcana.
This card rules celebration with a group of friends, collaborations, and creativity involving others.
It can also be a card representing a new family, whereas the Two of Cups represent marriage or union; the Three of Cups can be a new baby.
But, of course, that would also highly depend on the spread.
And the type of collaborations that are represented by the Three of Cups would be creative such as starting a new art project with a group of friends.
Or it can mean creative outlets enjoyed with a group of friends, such as taking an art or sculpting class.
So this card represents friendship in general. But, first, let's go over the Three of Cups' history and appearance.
The History And Appearance Of The Three of Cups
The Three of Cups has been a popular tarot card since its inception in the 15th century.
Originally called the “ Triple Goddess” or the “Fates,” the Three of Cups represented the three aspects of womanhood – mother, maiden, and crone.
Over time, the card came to represent fertility and abundance and is now often associated with celebrations and joyous occasions.
When you look at the Three of Cups in the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, you will see three young women having fun and dancing with one another.
They dance in a circle as they raise their cups, celebrating.
As they look at one another, they have an emotional connection as they see one another with appreciation and respect.
They define the best example of friendship.
You also see on the ground a pumpkin, fruit, and flowers symbolize fertility and abundance.
Let's go over what it means to get the Three of Cups in a reading.
What The Three of Cups Means In A Reading
When this card comes up, it encourages you to get together with a group of friends and have some fun. Indulge in some laughter.
This is a pleasant card and when this card comes up significantly during times of stress and being overworked, take its advice.
Go and have some fun with a group of friends and take a break. It would help if you had it to balance your life.
Additionally, when the Three of Cups appears in a reading, it is often a sign that good things are on the horizon.
This card is all about celebrating, after all.
Whether you're getting engaged, having a baby, or simply enjoying some well-deserved time off, the Three of Cups reminds you to take a moment to enjoy life's successes.
In addition, this is a card of togetherness so that you may spend more time with friends and family.
This card can also represent creation. It has similarities to the Empress.
Therefore, if you are in a creative mode and looking to create a masterpiece, and if this card comes up, you need to make that masterpiece.
Speaking of which, I would love to shout out to Tonya Morton, who owns the newsletter, Juke!
That is her Three of Cups right there!
Juke readers enjoy the unusual. In the twice-weekly emails, they have heard underwater jazz from an Alabama wildlife lover.
And they've read the understated philosophy of a poet from his home by the Norwegian Sea.
An ode to yellow bodega (cannot pronounce that word, sorry) awnings from a New York City photographer.
A new improvisational painting style from an artist in Montana.
Some weeks Juke tells a simple story, honestly.
Other weeks, it's a painful memory confessed with a laugh.
Juke is a sandbox, but it reads like an art journal.
It's an open exchange of creativity assembled by publisher Tonya Morton as she sifts through the best work of her friends and favorite collaborators.
To join the conversation, hit subscribe at https://Juke.substack.com.
Finally, this card also has a sense of abundance so that you may feel more financially secure.
You see, this is an excellent card to see in a reading.
And now, onto some storytelling here, but before that, let's review the following:
Aces are new beginnings, and twos are duality or partnership. Threes are creation, groups, and growth.
Therefore, the Ace of Cups represents a woman in love with her boyfriend, and then the Two of Cups represents the couple getting engaged and married.
Now, the Three of Cups means them having a baby.
They created a family. Still not particularly interesting, I know, but trust me, the next one will be a lot more relatable in many ways to so many new parents.
For now, the focus is on the Three of Cups.
What about when the Three of Cups is in reverse?
Three of Cups Reversed
When the Three of Cups shows up in reverse, it can indicate preferring to celebrate anything by yourself.
It also represents the need for alone time or being at the other end of the spectrum, partying too much to the point of destruction.
For example, if you celebrate weight loss success, you may not necessarily want to celebrate your success with others.
On the other hand, if you hit a milestone, you may celebrate by buying yourself a pair of shoes or a new purse.
The same applies if you are making progress with managing your mental health as you work with your therapist.
Again, that is not something you will necessarily want to celebrate with others, but that is a personal win for you.
You may like to share your success with others on your social media sites.
However, that is not the same as physically celebrating with them.
It is still a Three of Cups reverse situation.
And now let's talk about partying too much to the point of destruction.
Again, you see parallels between the Three of Cups reverse and the Devil.
That card represents obsession and unhealthy addictions.
It can mean indulgence too.
Therefore, if you go and celebrate too much to the point of consuming too much booze to the end where you are dealing with an awful hangover or 10,000 calories at a buffet, you will not feel good.
Therefore, that is a Three of Cups reverse situation.
Let's now talk about how to apply the Three of Cups to your daily life.
How To Apply The Three of Cups To Your Daily Life
There are several ways to do that, and you can apply it in reverse, too, when it comes to celebrating personal wins.
Maybe if you are trying to do better with self-care and acknowledging small accomplishments such as working on getting organized, weight loss, as mentioned, or anything else you are working to improve.
If you accomplish something, take this card and remind yourself that you deserve to pat yourself on the back.
Acknowledge those wins.
Also, if you are struggling with your mental health and want to isolate yourself, think of the Three of Cups and realize that the worst thing you can do is isolate yourself.
Even if you don't have any true friends to call, it can encourage you to join some support groups and to reach out to others who can empathize and get what you are enduring.
You can also take the Three of Cups for inspiration if you want to create something new!
Those are the few ways to apply the Three of Cups.
The next card I will talk about is the Four of Cups.
The Two of Cups is the card that represents unified love, mutual attraction, and a partnership.
The Ace of Cups is when the feelings for someone starts and begins.
This card shows that the other feels the same way which is how a partnership started.
It can also represent an excellent strong friendship or partnership as well.
When the relationship manifests, this card indicates that you begin to feel giddy and happy, and it feels just right.
You sense the strong connection that is both physical and spiritual.
You and your partner can bring out the best in one another regardless of the relationship type.
It does not just have to refer to new lovers.
It can indicate a business relationship that connects well, and both parties can work very well together, which increases the chances for success.
First, let's talk about the history and appearance of the Two of Cups.
History And Appearance Of The Two of Cups
The Two of Cups tarot card originated in ancient Egypt and was used by the Egyptians to represent two gods in love.
The card was later adopted by the Greeks and Romans, who used it to represent two lovers united in marriage.
The Two of Cups eventually made its way to Europe, becoming a popular symbol of love and romance.
When you look at the Two of Cups tarot card from the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, you see a young man and woman who pledge their love for each other as they exchange cups.
Next, as you can see above them, is the winged staff wrapped with two snakes, the Caduceus of Hermes.
That is the ancient symbol of trade, exchange, and commerce.
Finally, the lion's head on top represents passion and heat, representing their intimacy.
Now, let's go over what it means to get the Two of Cups in a reading.
When You Get The Two of Cups In A Reading
If you see the Two of Cups in a reading, it is a positive sign indicating that two people are coming together in harmony.
This can be a new relationship or a rekindling of an old one.
Whatever the case, the Two of Cups is a positive sign indicating that two people are coming together and finding common ground.
When this card comes up if you are already in a strong relationship, it can also be indicative of a marriage proposal on the way or an engagement.
The Two of Cups can also indicate a business partnership which was briefly mentioned.
In this case, two people are working together towards a common goal.
This partnership is based on mutual respect and understanding, and it will be successful.
Therefore, if this card comes up in a business reading, that is what it means. Consequently, it can represent a joint venture.
As you know, the Ace in each suit represents new beginnings or the start of something.
The twos are all about duality, partnerships, and balance.
Let's go over that woman in love with her boyfriend, as indicated by the Ace of Cups. He expresses his love for her, and they become engaged and married.
That is the Two of Cups. That is an easy one to picture.
I promise this will become more interesting as I further move into the Cups suit.
I want to mention, however, that the Two of Cups does not mean you are falling in love with a new interest or hobby.
This card only represents two living beings that are unified.
It can even represent a friendship that moved from being an ordinary friendship to being best friends.
But what happens when any of that falls apart?
Let's talk about the Two of Cups reversed.
Two Of Cups Reversed
When the Two of Cups are in reverse, it signifies disharmony between partners or a breakup.
It can also indicate not being enough, lacking trust in the relationship, or being self-centered.
I don't have to tell you how fake people can be because, sadly, I have to say, I don't trust a lot of people.
I don't like being that way, but I have broken too many friendships because they are two-faced.
I am not going to pretend I am perfect because I am not.
I have done things I am not proud of, but I have had many Two of Cups reversed situations regarding friendships.
So I am very selective with who I hang with from now on.
I admit it gets lonely, but you know what?
I just said something on my Facebook status regarding how it is better to be alone than to be friends with a bunch of fakes who will stab you in the back.
I will tell you a story about a Two of Cups reversed situation involving an ex-best friend who hurt me in ways I cannot talk about in detail.
However, I was friends with this woman for 18 years on and off. She has schizophrenia but was usually doing well as she was on her medications.
However, she had to be hospitalized when the medications no longer worked. I always visited her during those times.
But when she was on the right medication dosage, she was fine.
However, to make a long story short, her husband was jealous of me, and he once took advantage of her being in a low moment, convincing her that I was evil and no good.
She ran with it and started accusing me of things I never imagined she would do.
I won't go into details, but she and her husband were harassing me to the point that I had to get the cops involved.
They fortunately never bothered me again since this was over ten years ago.
I get a strong sense at some point, she wanted to talk to me and apologize and make up but she must have been intuitive, too, because I would not have ever accepted her back.
I also would not even accept an apology from her since she went too far.
But now that I am on this topic, let's go over how you can use this card in your daily life, upright.
How To Use The Two of Cups In Your Life
There are several ways to use this card.
If you have a friend with whom you had a spat and care more about the friendship than the spat, this is the card to look at to remind you why you have this friend and why this friend is important.
Unfortunately, that will never happen with my ex-best friend as that will be Two of Cups reversed forever.
You can also use this card if you want to manifest a relationship.
You can meditate on the Two of Cups while you look for your dream guy or gal.
I believe there is truth to manifestation and the Law of Attraction, but you have to be realistic about what to expect.
So this is a great card to use for manifesting a good and strong relationship.
The next card I will go over is the Three of Cups!
The Cups suit in the Minor Arcana is linked to the water element.
This means aspects of relationships, emotions, feelings, and processing pain are what this suit represents.
The zodiac signs associated with water are Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces, which is what you think of when you think of the Cups suit.
Therefore, the first card in this suit is the Ace of Cups, and that is what I am going over today.
The Ace of Cups tarot card represents new love or a brand new relationship.
It is also a card that represents creativity as well as compassion.
You are ready to take on a new creative opportunity as this is when you may be inclined to start an art or creative writing project.
This is when you may take on a creative class, such as a dance or art class.
Whatever it is, it is something that will stimulate your creative juices.
Let's go over the history and appearance of the Ace of Cups tarot card.
The History And Appearance Of The Ace of Cups Tarot Card
.The history of the Ace of Cups tarot card can be traced back to the early days of tarot.
The first recorded use of tarot cards was in Italy in the 1430s, and the Ace of Cups was likely one of the first cards created.
This card has also been linked to the concept of 'the cup of life,' which contains all our good and bad experiences.
The Ace of Cups represents an opportunity to drink from this cup and understand the interconnectedness of all things.
When you look at the Ace of Cups in the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck, you will see an overflowing chalice containing five water streams as the cup is the vessel to your subconscious mind.
The five streams are your five senses in addition to your intuition and emotions.
The hand that holds the cup is the symbol of your spiritual awareness and influence.
If you look underneath the hand, you will see lotus blossoms on the sea, which signifies a spiritual awakening.
Finally, the dove goes down towards the cup, a sign of love through the subconscious to the conscious.
Now, let's go over what the Ace of Cups means in a reading.
What It Means When You Get The Ace of Cups In A Reading
In a reading, the Ace of Cups can indicate that you are about to experience a deep and meaningful connection with someone.
This connection could be romantic, platonic, or even spiritual.
If you are currently single, the Ace of Cups suggests that you soon meet someone special who will change your life for the better.
The Ace of Cups indicates that your bond will grow stronger and more fulfilling if you are in a relationship.
The meaning of the Ace of Cups tarot card can also extend to other areas of your life besides relationships.
If you feel lost or disconnected from yourself, the Ace of Cups suggests that you will soon find your way back to your true path.
This can be a time of great creativity, self-discovery, and spiritual growth.
Trust your intuition and allow yourself to be open to new possibilities.
No matter what situation you find yourself in, the Ace of Cups is a positive sign that suggests good things are on the horizon.
If you have been dealing with difficult circumstances, know they will soon end. An influx of love and positivity is headed your way.
Embrace it with open arms!
Let's get back to some storytelling.
Before I get into this, I have to be frank about something.
I will no longer be doing storytelling regarding Risa Green.
Even though my life experiences are not nearly as extreme as hers, there are plenty of parallels, which have been difficult for me to think about.
And besides, I am not sure if readers and listeners are enjoying it. Well, I don't blame them if that is the case.
But I don't regret adding the story to these podcasts, as there needs to be more awareness about trauma and mental health.
But I can use better examples of it. So I will do that from here on.
So, Ace as you know represents new beginnings and fresh starts.
The story I will use for the Cups suit is about a woman getting married and becoming a mom who wants to start a home-based business.
This woman ends up falling in love with her new boyfriend, and she may have concerns that he does not love her the way she loves him.
And that type of anxiety when relationships begin to strengthen is typical. So that is all there is to the Ace of Cups.
I promise the story will become more interesting as I get further along in the Cups suit.
Now, let's go over the Ace of Cups reversed.
Ace of Cups Reversed
When the Ace of Cups is in reverse, it can indicate intuition that you may not accept, repressed emotions, suppressed creativity, or being self-centered.
And this is what unprocessed trauma can do to you.
It can cause you to doubt yourself, and therefore, you may question your intuition.
Additionally, you do not want to accept your emotions, so you may end up eating, drinking, or smoking them away.
Or gambling them away. And it can also cause creativity blocks.
However, sometimes a poor night's sleep can do all of that too.
And I also think of the Ace of Cups reversed when there are writing blocks.
But there are methods to bring the Ace upright again.
Now, let's talk about how the Ace of Cups can help you.
How To Implement The Ace Of Cups To Your Life
If you need some help with creativity, regardless of what it is you want to use it for, then that is when you need to apply the Ace of Cups to your life.
Whether you want to be creative for the sake of blogging or coming up with out-of-the-box methods for cleaning or organizing.
This card can be a big help in so many areas of your life.
Also, if you doubt your intuition, you will want to meditate on this card to get a clearer picture of what you are getting.
To sum up, any help you need with intuition and creativity, this is an excellent card to focus on.
The next card I will talk about is the Two of Cups.
Now, let's talk about the final court card in the Swords suit: the King of Swords.
This king can also represent someone who is quick-thinking and decisive, able to see both sides of an argument and make a judgment swiftly.
He is not afraid to speak his mind or stand up for his beliefs.
The king can be an excellent leader, but he can also be inflexible and domineering.
Let's review the history and appearance of the King of Swords tarot card.
The History And Appearance Of The King of Swords
The King of Swords is one of the most recognizable tarot cards.
Its image is that of a regal figure seated on a throne, holding a sword in one hand.
The card has been used for centuries to divinate the future, and its meaning has varied depending on the culture and era in which it was used.
The earliest known use of the King of Swords tarot card was in Italy during the 15th century.
At this time, the card was known as il re di spade, or "the king of swords."
It was used as part of a game called trionfi, similar to modern-day tarot games.
In this game, players would use cards to predict each other's futures.
In some cultures, the King of Swords tarot card has also been associated with the Devil.
This is likely because the king is often shown holding a sword, symbolizing power and authority.
In addition, in some decks, the king is shown with horns, another sign of the Devil.
When you look at the King of Swords tarot card in the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, you see the king sitting on his throne, looking forward as he is ready to take on any new challenges.
His sword is in his right hand, which is the hand that represents the rational mind and consciousness.
However, he points the sword to the left in an upright position which means the subconscious mind and intuition.
Therefore, it shows that he is decisive and flexible, but at the same time, he leans on his intuitive side as well.
In addition, the king wears a blue tunic which means he wants to gain spiritual knowledge, along with a purple cape, as it shows that he is compassionate and intellectual.
On his throne in the back area is an angel and crescent moons, as you see it near his left ear, which will guide him intuitively.
He has clouds settling behind him, showing stability as the winds have died down. The trees are standing still, too.
Let's now go over what the King of Swords means in a reading.
What It Means When You Get The King of Swords In A Reading
The King of Swords is one of the most powerful cards in the tarot deck. He represents authority, knowledge, and justice.
When this card appears in a reading, it indicates a situation where these qualities are needed.
The king can be a positive or negative force, depending on the context of the reading.
He is a fair and unbiased ruler, but he can also be ruthless and unmerciful.
It is up to the reader to interpret the king's meaning in each specific instance.
Seeing this card in a reading may also signify that you need to use your head rather than your heart.
Trust your intuition, but don't be afraid to do some research and get all the facts before making any decisions.
This is a time for clear thinking and logical solutions.
Keep your cool, and don't let anyone take advantage of you.
When you think of the King of Swords regarding an occupation, you may think of someone professional, a lawyer, a surgeon, or a chef.
The King of Swords is not charismatic and optimistic in the same way as the King of Wands.
They are known to be serious.
However, they are leaders who possess a lot of intellect and use their minds and research to inspire others.
You can immediately think of that business or science professor who may not have been the most charming or charismatic, but you saw him as a brilliant and resourceful man.
He was generous when sharing his knowledge and a perfect planner. There is a geeky side to this King.
However, the King of Swords has a strict side and will deliver constructive criticism when necessary.
He is disciplined and will be the type to discipline others. But he has morals and integrity.
That is not the case with the King of Swords in reverse.
Now, let's talk more about the King of Swords reversed.
King of Swords Reversed
When the King of Swords shows up in reverse, it can represent the abuse of power or manipulation.
It can also mean being too quiet even when in a powerful position and withholding the truth.
But when you think of this card reversed, you picture the one who is that ruthless dictator.
He comes off as oppressive, cold, dishonest, and very irrational.
Chances are everyone has a teacher or professor who fits that description, whether a man or a woman.
You can imagine that Risa Green's mother, in particular, possesses those qualities in addition to the Queen of Swords reversed.
But that was not the case when she was with her sister.
You see a lot of that kind of thing in toxic families such as her family.
Growing up, having a parent treat you that way will cause you a lot of trauma, which is what has happened to Risa.
And that is the case as well with her father, as he never did anything to intervene.
Now, let's talk about how you can apply this card upright in your life.
How To Apply The King of Swords To Your Life
The time to apply this tarot card to your life is when you are in a situation where you are in position where you need to hear both sides of a story.
For instance, you have two friends that got into a spat and are no longer talking to one another.
You like both of these friends, and you don't want to have to pick sides.
Therefore, one friend tells you everything that happened with the other, and vice versa.
However, you do not know which story is true. Consequently, you will want to call upon the King of Swords to help you listen to both sides of the story without being judgemental.
And the other way the king can help you is by offering both of them solutions to find a way to repair their friendship.
The King of Swords applies, too, when you are in a situation where you have to make a quick decision after having to make some careful evaluations.
For example, if you end up with two different job opportunities, you will have to decide to take one quickly, or you may not take either of them.
But you will have to do something after careful evaluation and consideration. If you are in a position like that, then this card can help.
This concludes the swords suit, and the subsequent suit I will go over is the Cups suit, starting with the Ace of Cups.
If you're looking for a no-nonsense woman who speaks her mind, the Queen of Swords is your lady.
She's the queen of the tarot deck, and she knows what she wants.
She's usually depicted as a regal queen holding a sword, symbolizing her straightforwardness and ability to cut through BS.
The queen is a master of communication and isn't afraid to tell it like it is.
She's also a gifted strategist who can see both sides of any issue.
This makes her an excellent advisor or mentor.
If you're feeling lost or confused, the Queen of Swords can help you find your way.
She'll give you the straight talk you need to hear, even if it isn't what you want to hear.
But she always has your best interests at heart.
So if you're looking for some honest advice, seek out the Queen of Swords.
She's wise, witty, and always ready to help—enough of that.
First, let's go over the history and appearance of the Queen of Swords.
The History And Appearance Of The Queen Of Swords Tarot Card
The Queen of Swords has always been an influential figure in history.
The Queen of Swords is known for being a powerful and formidable ruler.
She has a long and storied history, dating back to the days of ancient Greece.
In those days, she was known as Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war.
She was a fierce warrior and an unbeatable strategist, always leading her armies to victory.
She was a queen who ruled with an iron fist and was known for her wisdom and strength.
She was a force to be reckoned with, and her legacy remains.
If you look at the Queen of Swords tarot card from the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, you see the queen sitting on a cherub-decorated stone throne.
The cherub shows that the queen does have a softer side despite her hardcore personality, and some butterflies represent transformation.
She is lifting her left hand, which shows that she is open to receiving, and her right hand is lifting the sword, pointing up, which means she wants to find the truth.
There are also clouds in the background forming, which once again means there are changes.
Let's now go over what the Queen of Swords means in a reading.
What The Queen of Swords Means In A Reading
In a reading, she can guide how to use your power and knowledge to achieve your goals.
As you know, the Queen of Swords is often associated with the air element, representing the mind and intellectual pursuits.
She is a logical thinker who can see both sides of every issue.
This makes her an excellent advisor, as she can help you to weigh your options and make the best decision for your situation.
She is also an influential teacher.
If you are seeking knowledge, she can help you to find the answers you need.
She is also associated with the tarot card of the same name, which represents change and new beginnings.
So if you are at a crossroads in your life, the queen of swords can help you to make the right choice and start fresh.
In a reading, the Queen of Swords can represent several different things.
If you are looking for advice, she can offer you her wisdom and help you to find the best course of action.
If you are seeking knowledge, she can guide you to the right sources of information.
And if you are at a crossroads in your life, she can help you to make the best decision for your future.
Whatever you need, the Queen of Swords is a powerful ally who can help you to achieve your goals.
Let's talk about who the Queen of Swords is like as a person.
The Queen of Swords does lack the charisma that the Queen of Wands possesses, but she is cordial.
However, she is someone who you could trust and count on.
She would be able to help you navigate through tricky situations.
The Queen of Swords does not judge you and is the type to be entirely objective.
She is intelligent and knows how to solve complex problems.
Count on her to help you make difficult decisions.
When you think of the Queen of Swords, you could think of the helpful therapist you have that may not be overly warm but always comes from a place of understanding and nonjudgement.
She will provide you with constructive criticism and say it in a way that will not hurt your feelings but still be truthful.
You can also think of that friend who doesn’t show emotions but knows how to help you cope with difficult situations as she listens to you and makes constructive suggestions.
She is quite resourceful as well. She is that advisor that you can trust.
However, when the Queen of Swords is in reverse, she is not a nice person at all.
The Queen of Swords upright isn’t known to be warm but cordial; a good listener advises you on what to do and will provide constructive criticism.
On the other hand, the Queen of Swords is downright mean.
She is malicious, cruel, will say hurtful things to you, manipulative, as well as deceitful.
You can think of a true narcissist or just a mean girl bully you had to encounter at high school or work.
However, she can also be a true pessimist.
Let's talk a bit about the Queen of Swords in reverse in a moment and go over what she represents regarding a career.
The Queen of Swords can be compared to a manager, a professor, or any type of lecturer.
And now onto the reversed Queen of Swords.
Queen of Swords Reversed
You learned a little bit of what she is like in reverse, and she is not a nice person.
But she may not necessarily be that way.
One is that she becomes nasty and cold-hearted.
And the other is that she is too emotional and can be influenced easily.
Risa Green has been dealing with many like the Queen of Swords reversed.
Her mother, her sister, and all those bullies who made her life difficult match that description.
Think about the mean girls that you once knew.
Those mean girls from high school or college are like the Queen of Swords reversed with some gossip on the side.
But since Risa's neighbor is friendly to her face, she does not match the Queen of Swords reversed as she is more of a pure Seven of Swords type.
You can also say the Queen of Swords reversed is an echoist, as she does not speak up and goes out of her way to please you.
That is Risa Green. So how can you use the Queen of Swords in your life?
How To Apply The Queen of Swords To Your Life
This is simple yet so difficult.
All you need to do is to speak the truth.
Speak up and say what is on your mind because that is what the Queen of Swords would do. She would do it in a heartbeat.
Therefore, if you need to say something to someone, and you are procrastinating on telling them because it makes you uncomfortable -
then pull out the Queen of Swords to remind you to speak your truth and let them know what you want them to know.
Applying this card in your daily life is also essential to get what you need.
When you are an echoist, you don't speak up and don't get your needs met.
And if you are trying to change that for the better, this card is a reminder to carry with you.
The next card I will discuss is the King of Swords, the last card of the Swords suit.
The Knight of Swords tarot card is about energy, action, and movement.
This card represents someone who is always on the go and ready for action.
If you feel stuck or stagnant in your life, this card can signify that it's time to get moving and take decisive action.
The Knight of Swords can also represent challenges or obstacles you will need to overcome.
Whatever the case may be, this card is a reminder that you have the power within you to make things happen.
Let's see the history of the Knight of Swords as well as its appearance.
Knight of Swords History And Appearance
The Knight of Swords first appeared in Europe during the 14th century.
It was initially known as the "mounted warrior" or "cavalier."
People often used this card in games like chess and tarot to represent a strong and brave fighter.
During the Renaissance, the Knight of Swords became associated with chivalry and honor.
This was when knights were often seen as symbols of heroism and bravery.
The knight of swords represented these qualities in the tarot deck.
When you look at this card in the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, you will see a knight with armor who is energetic as he charges ahead.
He has his sword high up in the air, indicating that he is on a mission.
Additionally, he is on a white horse representing the purity of the intellectual stimulation that inspires the knight to move forward.
If you look at the background, you will see that clouds are forming, and there are strong winds as they are blowing the trees around.
However, a storm on the horizon does not stop the knight from completing his mission, even though he moves right into it.
Now, let's talk about what the Knight of Swords means in a reading.
What The Knight of Swords Means In A Reading
Regarding the Knight of Swords tarot card, there are a few key things to know.
First, this card is all about forward momentum and taking decisive action.
If you're feeling stuck in a rut, the Knight of Swords can indicate that it's time to make a change and get things moving again.
This may be when you feel like you need to make a move, but you're not sure what that move should be.
This card can also represent someone who is headstrong and fearless.
However, they may also be aggressive, impulsive, and quick to act.
This person may be rushing into things without thinking them through first.
They may also be acting out of anger or frustration. It can also represent someone causing upheaval or chaos.
If you are dealing with the knight of swords in a reading, it is essential to stay calm and level-headed.
Try not to get caught up in the knight's chaos. Instead, focus on making a plan and taking action.
If you're encountering difficulties or opposition, the Knight of Swords suggests that you stand your ground and fight for what you believe in.
Whether your interpretation is literal or metaphorical, the Knight of Swords encourages you to take bold action and confidently move forward.
You may think that the Knight of Swords is not any different from the Knight of Wands.
However, the Knight of Swords differs significantly from the Knight of Wands.
The Knight of Wands may be part of the popular crowd, and the Knight of Swords may be the geeky teen digging up facts.
They are the brainiacs or straight-A students.
However, they also would not be the geeks known to be bullied by the cool crowd.
They are quick-witted and will hurl brilliant comebacks at you if you attempt to pick on them.
Their retorts can be sharp as well. They are fantastic communicators and rapid thinkers.
You can picture the Knight of Swords as the bright teenager in science class, exploring interesting causes and effects, and will write a detailed report on what they find.
These Knights have a strong knack for learning and communication.
The Swords is an air sign so imagine mixing fire and air, as both elements complement one another.
You have a powerful communicator and learner.
However, when the Knight of Swords is reversed, you can envision a teenager with these traits, but they are unfocused and highly scattered.
They are restless, and even with brilliant ideas, they can deliver them unfocused and scattered.
They can quickly burn out as well. Imagine the teen that pulls three all-nighters in a row and passes out from exhaustion in the end.
If you think about the Knight of Swords occupation, you may think of someone who is a game developer, a computer or web developer, a hacker, a doctor, or a career in the military.
Nothing comparable involving this card to Risa Green's situation, but the Knight of Swords reversed does.
So let's go more into that.
Knight of Swords Reversed
When the Knight of Swords comes in reverse, it represents being unfocused with your plan and impulsive without planning at all.
It can mean restlessness as well as burnout.
You know Risa Green is burned out; I do not need to rehash why that is.
With that said, everyone has been in that situation.
You can think of a job situation where you were unhappy.
You are so unhappy that you are restless all of the time, and you will end up seeing your unhappiness in the job situation leading you to burnout.
You don't have the energy to face anything else because of being so tapped out from being very unhappy with your job situation.
When you envision that scenario, you can think about the Knight of Swords reversed.
And if you are at a job you cannot stand because you are being underpaid, overworked, and taken advantage of, then you know it is time to start looking for another job.
Let's briefly discuss how you can apply the Knight of Swords to your life.
How To Apply The Knight of Swords To Your Life
The Knight of Swords is an excellent reminder to stop procrastinating and do what you must to make something happen.
For example, if you are a student and leave studying for your exam at the last minute, then you know that will do much more harm than good.
However, you don't want to pull a Knight of Swords reversed, so if you are not in the mood to study, but you know you need to, then take out this card, and that will bring you the reminder to get cracking on it, so you are well prepared instead of cramming it in for one night.
And the risk with that is you will probably not remember too much of it either.
In other words, if there is something you need to stop procrastinating with, then the Knight of Swords will help.
The next card I will go over is the Queen of Swords, and she happens to be my favorite one in the deck!
Now, onto the court cards in the Swords suit. The first court card is the Page of Swords.
The Page of Swords is one of the more curious cards in the tarot deck.
Often regarded as a harbinger of bad news, but not always.
This card can represent several things depending on its position in a reading.
The card can simply mean it is a messenger, whether through social media or other forms of media.
The Page of Swords can also mean communication in new ways and learning.
Pages are enthusiastic, and even the Page of Swords shares that trait.
So let's take a closer look at the appearance and learn about its history.
The Appearance And History Of Page of Swords
The Page of Swords is a tarot card that has been associated with young people for centuries, though its origin is unknown.
The Page is often depicted as a messenger, and the swords represent young people's many challenges.
For example, when you look at the Page of Swords from the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, you see a young man standing with his sword pointing up as his body and sword lean in a direction.
However, he looks elsewhere to see what is happening around him.
A breeze is blowing through his hair as the clouds begin to disappear.
When you look at the ground where the Page stands, it is green, which means the Page's ideas may bring some significant changes.
Now, let's go over what the Page of Swords means in a reading.
What The Page Of Swords Means In A Reading
This card is often seen as a warning of some kind, and it can represent difficult news or challenges ahead.
However, the Page of Swords can also indicate that someone feels restless or uneasy. This may be due to an upcoming event or change in their life.
The key here is to pay attention to the other cards around the Page of Swords.
If the surrounding cards are positive, then the Page of Swords may be a reminder that change is coming and preparing for it.
However, the Page may indicate more difficult times ahead if the other cards are primarily negative.
In a reading, the Page of Swords can often represent someone feeling lost or confused.
This may be due to a recent event or change in their life.
But, on the other hand, the Page may tell them they need time to figure out what they want and where they are going.
The key here is to listen to your intuition and follow your heart.
The Page of Swords can also represent a need for change.
This may be something as simple as a change in routine or a more significant life change.
The Page is telling you that it's time to make a change and that you should go after what you want.
Finally, the Page of Swords can represent a need for vigilance.
This may be a warning about someone or something in your life.
The Page tells you to be careful and pay attention to what is happening around you.
Whatever the Page of Swords means for you, remember that this card is often a reminder to stay alert and be prepared for whatever comes your way.
So please pay attention to the other cards around it in your reading to better understand what the Page of Swords is trying to tell you.
Let's discuss how you can easily view the Page of Swords now.
You know that familiar question of what drunk people and young children have in common?
They both have no filter.
They tell the truth and nothing but the unpleasant truth.
However, even though kids have no filter, they would not necessarily be cruel about what they say.
They may ask questions that may be somewhat difficult to answer or about things that are considered taboo, which many times they should not be at all.
An example of that they will understandably ask someone who has a disfigurement due to a disease why they appear the way they do in a curious way.
However, they don't ask that question with malice.
The Page of Swords will ask plenty of questions, be very chatty, and be highly observant and alert as this card is tied to the element of air.
When this Page is in reverse, they will deliberately say cruel things or use sarcasm and gossip.
The Page of Swords, in reverse, can also be disorganized and forgetful.
When you think about careers or occupations related to the Page of Swords, you can think about anything you do where it requires you to use the skills and talents you learned when you were a child.
It can also represent information and communication jobs, telesales, and private investigation.
So let's discuss the Page of Swords in reverse a little more.
Page of Swords Reversed
When the Page of Swords shows up in reverse, it can mean two things.
Firstly, it can represent acting without thinking and haste.
However, it can also mean that there is all talk and no action.
It is easy to talk and not implement your plans.
However, it can become overwhelming when it boils down to executing your goal.
As mentioned, it can also mean cruel things, such as what Risa Green has endured throughout her life.
She dealt with plenty of bullies growing up, and she has her neighbor, who she goes out of her way to help to say not-so-nice things about Risa.
The Page of Swords reversed can also relate to Risa because it is possible that she at one time talked about how she would improve her life but never got around to it.
And when you are struggling with your mental health, you either don't care about much, or you say you will get around to something, but you never do—a lot of self-sabotage results in all talk and any action when it comes to self-improvement in any way.
So there is that belief, that subconscious belief of "I am not good enough," which is why that happens.
That is undoubtedly a Page of Swords reversed situation.
Let's now talk about how to use this card upright in your life.
Apply The Page of Swords In Your Life
There are several ways to apply this card to your life.
If you want inspiration when it comes to either learning new skills or honing your ones, you can look at this card for inspiration.
There are so many good courses on platforms such as Udemy.
Also, you may want to use this card to walk your talk.
You do not want to think about making some plans to improve a part of your life and only speak about it.
Even though this card has nothing to do with taking action, it can remind you of the types of improvements you want to make, and you can then have the inspiration to start implementing them.
Therefore, this is an excellent card for inspiration for learning and thinking about how you can make your life better.
The next card I will go over is the Knight of Swords.
The Ten of Swords tarot card is often considered one of the most negative in the tarot deck.
It represents complete and utter defeat and indicates that someone feels hopeless and trapped.
It also means endings, as in whatever is over, is truly over.
There is no going back.
However, it's important to remember that the Ten of Swords can also represent a turning point.
This card can symbolize an end to a difficult situation and a new beginning.
So if you're facing challenges in your life, know that the ten of swords can represent a fresh start.
Before getting into the meat and potatoes of the Ten of Swords, which may not be a good way to put it because that sounds rotten, let's go over the appearance and history of this card.
The History And Appearance of The Ten of Swords
The Ten of Swords tarot card has been around for centuries and is used by many cultures to represent various concepts.
In some cases, the Ten of Swords represented death, while in others, it signified victory.
It was also sometimes seen as a representation of the ten plagues that afflicted Egypt in the Bible.
Today, the Ten of Swords is still seen as a powerful symbol, but its meaning has shifted somewhat.
While it can still represent endings and significant changes, it is also often seen as a sign of hope and rebirth.
This card reminds us that even the darkest times can lead to something better.
Let's now go over the appearance of this card in the Rider-Waite-Smith deck.
As you can see in the card, a dead man is lying on the ground with ten swords on his back as he is bleeding.
A red cape on the lower half of his body represents that he left dignity to the world.
You can see the sky as it is dark and looks gloomy, but if you look at the horizon, the sun is there, which represents a new sense of hope and new starts are on the way.
There is also a serene sea in the background, which means a sense of peace even during dark times.
Now, let's go over what it means to get the Ten of Swords in a reading.
What It Means When You Get The Ten of Swords In A Reading
As mentioned, the Ten of Swords is often considered one of the most negative cards in the tarot deck.
This is because it can represent defeat, failure, and betrayal.
Therefore, if you get this card in a reading, it's essential to understand what it means and how to interpret it.
The Ten of Swords usually signify the end of a difficult situation or cycle.
It can indicate that you have come to the end of your rope and need to make some significant changes.
This card can also suggest that you are facing severe challenges that will require all your strength and courage to overcome.
If you draw the Ten of Swords in a reading, it's essential to consider the other cards around it.
The ten of swords can sometimes be mitigated by positive influences, indicating that things may not be as bad as they seem.
However, if other negative cards surround the Ten of Swords, whatever situation you're facing will likely be pretty difficult.
There are a few different ways to interpret the Ten of Swords, but one common thread is that it signifies the end of something.
This could be the end of a relationship, a job, or even the end of your life as you know it.
I will stress that I do not mean that literally because we don't go there.
Instead, it's a card that suggests that something is coming to an abrupt and final close.
If you're facing significant changes in your life, the Ten of Swords can signify that it's time to let go of what's no longer working and move on to something new.
It can be a difficult card to interpret, but ultimately it's a reminder that change is inevitable and that sometimes endings are necessary for new beginnings.
And let me tell you.
Once I remember doing a reading for a woman who was in a very abusive relationship.
This was not recent, but when I pulled the Ten of Swords as the outcome of her bad relationship, she cried happy tears.
And it did end, from what I remember. And she was finally free.
Now let's go over some numerology.
You learned that nine means attainment and fulfillment.
Ten represents the completion of a cycle and renewal.
Let's talk about that aspiring writer.
They were anxious about the whole thing regarding publishing even blog posts or putting out any content that the Nine of Swords represented because they did not think anyone would take them seriously.
That was represented by the Eight of Swords with the belief that no one would take them seriously and nothing could be done with that.
Finally, however, the writer simply throws their hands up and gives up.
That is the Ten of Swords.
They do not want to go back and will decide to become a Starbucks barista because writing is not their thing, or so they believe.
But it is a moot point since they have given up. Instead, they'd serve customers coffee, specialty drinks, food, and desserts as writing from home to make a living puts them off.
What about Risa Green and the Ten of Swords?
You can say that she was never able to make much of her life, so she missed many opportunities that could have been presented to her.
You can say that she can never get those times back when she could have created a better life for herself.
And you can say that about anyone.
Knowing this fact can cause many regrets. That can be one reason why so many go through midlife crises.
It is never too late to create a better life, as many seniors, let alone someone middle-aged like her, can do that.
However, since Risa has given up and is going through the motions unless something causes her to make some change for the better, any opportunity she could take to improve her life is gone.
Based on her feelings, she may think her life is over since she missed out on many things and believes that the Ten of Swords defines her on almost every level.
Sadly, anyone with unmanaged mental illness and trauma will think that way.
I used to think that way too. But is her life truly over?
It does not have to be. But since this is a subconscious choice she has made, then it is.
Let's go over what the Ten of Swords means in reverse.
Ten of Swords Reversed
When the Ten of Swords comes in reverse, it can mean two things.
One thing it can represent is that there is recovery after loss.
It can indicate regeneration after a loss. It means you have moved on and do not want to look back.
However, it can also be indicative of not wanting to accept an ending that is happening, such as trying to hang onto a relationship that is dead.
Think about someone obsessed with a partner who wants to become an ex but will not let them go.
That can be scary for the partner who wants to end it because that may not always end well.
Anyway, how can you use this card in your life?
How To Apply The Ten of Swords To Your Life?
You may wonder why you want to apply the Ten of Swords to your life.
But aren't there things you want to see gone from your life?
For example, if you have a toxic family member who you want to cut out of your life but are unsure how to do it, you should get some help from a therapist because that can be complex.
But each time you waver whether or not you want to make such a difficult decision, take the Ten of Swords and meditate on it for a bit.
That will help ease you into making this hard decision because of the benefits you will reap.
That is one example of using this card for your benefit.
Everyone has something in their lives they would love not to have to face anymore.
Some things you may be stuck with for a while but for those things you are not, this card comes in handy.
That concludes the numbered cards in the Swords suit, and the court cards are next.
The next card I will go over is the Page of Swords.
The Nine of Swords is the nightmare card.
This card shows up when you have anxiety or are dealing with a lot of worry, fear, and nightmares.
There is also a sign of depression when this card comes up.
And when this card appears, it is indicative of you worrying a lot about any situation and allowing your negative thoughts to take over.
This card is indicative that you are allowing your fears and worries to get the best of you, and you are obsessing about them.
You cannot stop thinking about the worst possible case happening.
And you are associating with your fears a lot, and one negative thought you have easily led to another.
These thoughts are overwhelming you and keeping you awake at night.
Before getting into the nitty-gritty of this card, let's go over its history and appearance.
The History And Appearance of the Nine of Swords
The Nine of Swords is one of the most well-known tarot cards and has been popular for centuries.
Its history is full of mystery and intrigue, and it has been used by everyone, from kings and queens to commoners.
The Nine of Swords first appeared in Europe in the 14th century and was quickly adopted by the upper classes.
It was used to divinate the future and was often consulted before making important decisions.
The Nine of Swords became so popular that it was soon being used by everyone from merchants to peasants.
If you look at the Nine of Swords from the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, a woman is sitting up in her bed, appearing frightened as she is holding her head with her hands as if she is dreading something.
She may have had a nightmare that has left her upset and frightened.
Looking at the wall behind her, you see nine swords hanging, representing her fearful and negative thoughts weighing on her.
If you look at the base of her bed, there is a carving of one individual defeating another as well as roses and astrology symbols on her blanket.
Now, let's go over what the Nine of Swords means in a reading.
What The Nine of Swords Means Tarot Card Means In A Reading
Getting the Nine of Swords tarot card in a reading usually means facing some tough times.
This card often appears when someone is dealing with stress, anxiety, or fear.
So if you've been feeling overwhelmed lately, the Nine of Swords has likely shown up for you.
While the Nine of Swords can indicate some negative things, it's important to remember that this is just a card.
It's not a prediction of your future, and it doesn't have to mean that you're doomed.
Instead, this card can be a sign that you need to take some time to focus on your mental health and wellbeing.
If you've been feeling down but not seriously down, try to do things that make you happy and relax.
Spend time with loved ones, get outside in nature, or do whatever you enjoy.
Though if your mental health is really in a dire situation, then it is a sign that you need to get some professional help.
Now, let's go over some numerology.
So as you remember, eight numerologically means action, mastery, and achievement, whereas the nine means fulfillment and attainment.
Remember, the aspiring writer was dealing with disappointment regarding their manuscript and suddenly started believing that they should quit trying to look for other ways to publish it.
That was represented by the Eight of Swords.
You would say the Nine of Swords would express the aspiring writer developing fears about the whole thing.
If they ever did decide to publish their manuscript anywhere, they could face ridicule, or what if what they had written hurt their reputation, which would hurt their chances at future employment?
Do you see where these anxious and negative thoughts are taking over the writer's mind?
That indicates the Nine of Swords.
What about the Nine of Swords in Risa Green's case?
It is not a stretch to believe that she is anxious about many things in her life.
She may appear apathetic because of being so burned out, but that does not mean she may also lose a lot of sleep because of anxiety.
She worries about her son with good reason, she worries about finances, and she worries about how she will make it.
But her apathetic nature is why Risa has also given up believing that there is no hope for anything.
If she were not so burned out, she likely would be a lot more anxious and be more willing to make a change for the better, but unfortunately, in her case, she did not take advantage of the opportunity when she could have done so.
It is not too late, but since she is so numb, she is less likely to make any changes unless something forces her.
Now, let's go over the Nine of Swords in reverse.
Nine of Swords Reversed
The Nine of Swords, in reverse, can mean two different things.
One meaning is that you can release your worries.
The other is that you are dealing with the inner turmoil you keep secretive.
You have a brave and bold face, and no one would know what is happening within, but the deep-seated fears are there.
You could be the type that appears to have it all together on the outside.
You could appear highly organized and neat, and you could also appear that you have plenty of people helping you out.
You may have a job that you enjoy.
But deep down, you are terrified and dealing with many fears taking over your life.
But, again, no one would know by looking at you.
Now, how do you apply the Nine of Swords to your life?
How To Apply The Nine of Swords Tarot Card To Your Life
You have to remember that the Nine of Swords represents fear and worry, which does not mean that the worst-case scenario has happened.
If you feel extremely worried about something, such as not hearing from an employer that you applied to weeks ago, you may want to look at the Nine of Swords card because it will remind you that you are worrying about something for no reason.
That is not to invalidate your fears and worries.
However, it is to remind you that unless you are given bad news about something, there is no sense in wasting energy worrying about it because it will not change anything.
By the way, this advice is not meant for someone who has an anxiety disorder.
No, not at all.
This is intended for those who do not struggle with uncontrollable anxiety but worry about a situation that has not happened or may never happen.
It only makes you feel much worse.
The next card I will go over is the Ten of Swords, the last numbered card in the Swords suits before getting to the court cards.
When the Eight of Swords shows up, this is a sign that you are having too many negative thoughts to the point that you are holding your mind and yourself captive.
This is also a sign of having a victim mentality, and you think there is no way out of a terrible situation.
However, the reality is you can get yourself out of it even though it seems impossible.
It may not be easy to do, but it is doable.
By the way, I want to stress that struggling with trauma or having a horrible time because your mental illness is not balanced correctly is not being in the victim mentality.
Some, times are very hard, and most of those who struggle with mental illness are doing their best.
For example, sometimes getting out of bed alone is an achievement, so never confuse someone unable to work because of their mental illness with being in the victim mentality.
I just wanted to stress that. Before getting into it too much, let's go over the history and the appearance of the Eight of Swords tarot card.
The History And Appearance of The Eight of Swords Tarot Card
The Eight of Swords is a tarot card that has been used for centuries to represent many things.
It can mean a journey, an obstacle, or a challenge.
It can also represent a lost person who needs help finding their way.
The history of the Eight of Swords is full of mystery and intrigue.
The Eight of Swords first appeared in Europe during the 14th century.
It was often used as a symbol of death or bad luck.
The Eight of Swords was also associated with the eight deadly sins: Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy, Pride, and Covetousness.
However, over time the meaning of the Eight of Swords changed, and it came to represent more positive things.
During the 15th century, the Eight of Swords began to be associated with change and transformation.
It was seen as a symbol of new beginnings and growth.
The Eight of Swords also came to represent wisdom and knowledge.
Now, if you look at the card in the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, you see a blindfolded and trapped woman with eight swords surrounding her.
Those swords surrounding her represent her limiting thoughts and beliefs, which prevent her from moving forward with her life.
However, you see that she can always remove her blindfold, which would help her see more clearly, such as finding a method to break away from those limiting thoughts and beliefs.
She also has water pooled around her feet, which represents her intuition, as she should go with what she feels deep down instead of what she can only see.
Now, let's talk about what it means to get the Eight of Swords in a reading.
The Eight of Swords Tarot Card In A Reading
Getting the Eight of Swords tarot card in a reading typically means feeling trapped or restricted.
The Eight of Swords can represent feeling hemmed in by your circumstances, or it can indicate that you're unable to make any progress.
This card can also suggest that you are stuck in a negative thought pattern and that it's time to break free.
If you face any challenges in your life, the Eight of Swords suggests that it's time to take action and make some changes.
Trust your intuition, and don't be afraid to take risks - this is the only way to move forward.
Even though letting go of the past is highly challenging if you have C-PTSD or PTSD, the best advice I need to take myself is to keep it compartmentalized as you do your day-to-day stuff and do your best to make the most of what you have and what you can.
I will never be the one to tell you to let go of the past because, as I said, as someone who has C-PTSD, that advice sounds like nothing more than toxic positivity.
If those who have the condition could, they would.
So the next best thing is to focus on what you want and need and keep everything else compartmentalized.
And if you have to find a therapist to help you do that, then that is the best thing to do.
Now, let's go over some numerology here. Seven is about being creative, making assessments, and problem-solving.
The eight is about action, accomplishment, and mastery.
I am reminding you now if you don't remember that from the Eight of Wands episode. Now, about that aspiring writer.
They might have thought about thinking outside of the box regarding how they would deliver their message if they could not publish the book represented by the Seven of Swords.
Or maybe they thought about finding a method to convince a publisher to take them.
However, suddenly it hits the writer.
If their manuscript was rejected and their friend did not like it, they start crying because they don't think they'll ever be successful with getting their message out, so their thought is, "what is the point?".
That is the Eight of Swords. They are giving up before even trying other methods.
And I don't even have to look too deeply at how this card relates to Risa Green's life.
She feels as if she is permanently in victim mode and trapped.
But once again, is she truly not able to change her situation?
We have been through this before.
She has the power to make those changes in her life, but she is so profoundly in the victim mindset that she will keep staying that way unless she hits her breaking point.
And I will say this.
She is a victim of abuse and bullying and is a victim of not getting the proper support she needs.
So that is where she is a victim, the same way I was in similar cases.
But here is the thing. There are options, and some may be harder to find than others, but there is help out there.
And you have to go after it, which is how I broke out of my echoism.
I was in a desperate situation and did everything I could to seek a solution for what I had previously dealt with.
But at the same token, I reject terms such as "warrior" and "survivor" because I also think those terms can place us on a high pedestal the same way being told you are strong does.
And I know I am not the only one who feels that way.
Why do you have to be either a victim, survivor, or warrior, though?
When you think about it, are those labels truly necessary?
I think it does a lot more harm than good to someone battling mental health and trauma who is doing their best to get through each day.
So that is my take on it. And let's now look at the Eight of Swords reversed.
Eight Of Swords Reversed
When the Eight of Swords is in reverse, it can mean that you have finally released those negative thoughts and victim mentality.
It can also mean that you are open to new perspectives, but you have an inner critic deep down in your subconscious even though you don't realize it.
So therefore, when you finally have had enough of being trapped in a situation where you no longer need to be trapped, and you are going out there searching frantically for a solution, that is the Eight of Swords reversed.
However, if your inner critic is the reason you are not getting out of the victim mode, then that is also the Eight of Swords reversed.
That would be Risa's situation, which was my situation for a long time.
So how can you apply this card to your life?
How To Apply The Eight of Swords To Your Life
You are probably asking why you would want to apply this card to your life since it represents being trapped.
Of course, you can apply it in reverse, but this card will help remind you that if you think you are in a terrible situation that you cannot get out of, it is a reminder to you to look for solutions.
An example is feeling trapped in a job you hate.
Do you need to be stuck there? You may have to make some sacrifices to find a new job, such as a longer commute from home or a bit of a pay cut.
However, if your current job situation is so bad, this card will remind you that it is time to start looking for a solution.
The next card I will go over is the nightmare card, the Nine of Swords.
Now, we are halfway through the Swords suit.
The Seven of Swords is a card representing deception, betrayal, and trickery.
It also can signify that you are acting strategically to go after something that will benefit you or someone is doing that to you.
It can also be the card that shows someone getting away with something they should not have.
Before getting into the nitty-gritty of the meaning of this card, let's go over the history and appearance of the Seven of Swords.
The History And Appearance Of Seven of Swords Tarot Card
The Seven of Swords has its origins in Italian tarot decks, where it was known as Il Traditore – The Traitor.
This name reflects the card's traditional meaning of someone about to betray their trust.
So, if you look at the Seven of Swords tarot card in the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, you will see a man with a grin slowly inching away from the military as he holds five swords, as he is sneaky about it.
As he looks over his shoulder, he sees two swords left behind.
He is happy because he snuck away, and no one noticed him.
Let's now talk about what it means to get the Seven of Swords in a reading.
What It Means To Get The Seven Of Swords In A Reading
This card is often interpreted as meaning someone is about to make a significant decision with far-reaching consequences.
It can also indicate that someone is feeling overwhelmed by choices or options.
In a reading, the Seven of Swords can represent a need to make a difficult choice or to take a risk.
This card can also indicate that someone feels conflicted or torn in different directions.
The Seven of Swords can represent different parts of the self that are warring with each other or different aspects of a situation that are in conflict.
The Seven of Swords can also mean a person being pulled in different directions by competing interests.
In a reading, the Seven of Swords can suggest that it's time to take a step back and assess all of your options before making any decisions.
It's essential to be thoughtful and consider all possible outcomes before taking action.
This card can also indicate that some deception or trickery is going on.
Be careful of people who may not have your best interests at heart.
It could represent a friend who is not truly a friend.
They are two-faced, and the rest of the cards in a spread indicate that.
Interestingly, the Seven of Swords can also be seen as a positive card, representing ingenuity and resourcefulness.
In this context, it suggests that even when the odds are against you, it is possible to come out on top.
Well, seven is traditionally a number associated with good luck.
So, in this case, the seven swords represent seven opportunities for success.
But there's a catch: these opportunities won't be easy to seize.
You'll have to be brave and clever to take advantage of them.
However, as you remember, the six is about restoring balance and harmony after dealing with the upheavals and chaos from the five.
Seven is about being creative and using your individuality to conquer anything else that disrupts the peace that the six represents.
Seven is also a number of reflection.
So if you think back to the aspiring writer, you will see that after disappointment with the manuscript being rejected.
The writer giving up their dream of being a writer, you can say that the Seven of Swords moment would be when the writer looks into other ways to get their message out even if they don't write a book.
They can think of capturing the attention of others by getting their message out there in other ways through blogging, video blogging, or creating audiobooks.
Or, they may look into submitting their manuscript to another publisher but look into ways to manipulate them into accepting or looking at methods outside the box, even if it seems deceptive.
The gist is that the writer will have to do some problem-solving to increase the chances of making something they put out work.
What about Risa Green and this card? She may make her husband Ron think everything is okay in their marriage, but she could be thinking about leaving him without even warning him.
Or, even if she isn't, she could be faking all is well when the reality is, she is miserable. Ron probably is too, but he doesn't say anything.
So, therefore, there is a lot of dishonesty even though no one is having an affair.
Another Seven of Swords situation in Risa's life is her neighbor who pretends to be her friend.
However, the neighbor only goes to Risa to gain something from her. She uses her and gossips about her after.
But Risa thinks her neighbor is her friend, so she goes out of her way to help her.
Remember, she is the ultimate people-pleaser and is desperate for anyone to like her. Her neighbor saw that and is taking full advantage of it.
Another Seven of Swords' potential situation for Risa is that perhaps her parents promised to leave Risa something, but only if she helped care for them and run errands for them.
Since the parents favor her sister Tamara, who is to say that her parents will not end up leaving Risa with little or nothing and giving Tamara everything after they pass?
Risa would have an excellent reason to contest that will if that does happen, but sadly, because of her echoism, she likely won't.
That is unless something breaks her out of it. Now, let's take a look and see the Seven of Swords reversed.
Seven of Swords Reversed
When the Seven of Swords shows up in reverse, it can mean self-deceit or lying to yourself, or indicative of imposter syndrome.
Risa Green fits this position, too, as she is always deceiving herself.
She has her head in the sand about her life.
But unfortunately, she also has her head in the sand about her physical and mental health, and there is only so long you can stay in denial.
However, the sad thing is, perhaps she was in denial about her life and health at one time, but now, she knows how bad off she is and has gone from being in denial to being apathetic.
And let's move away from Risa and let's talk a bit about imposter syndrome. Those extremely confident or narcissistic probably would not struggle with that too much, if at all.
But for those that are empathetic and don't like to take credit for being extremely good at something. I admit it.
Whenever someone says I am a good writer or tarot reader, I think there are plenty of others who are better than I am and struggle to accept that.
I deal with it too. Now, let's see how you can implement this card in your life.
How To Apply The Seven of Swords To Your Life
If you must be in a situation where you need to do some problem-solving to get it, then this is the perfect card to meditate on.
You will be thrown into cases where you will need to problem-solve to get the upper hand. That also means connecting with those who can help you.
For example, you want a particular job, and you want to be the one who someone can recommend that you get it.
You also know you have a higher chance of getting the job if you have a connection to it because nepotism works well in anyone's favor.
But simultaneously, you do not want to use the individual and toss them away.
What you can do, though, is befriend the individual and develop a rapport with them, and at the right time, you can tell them how much you would love the get the job that they have connections to, and likely they will be able to help you.
But here is the thing, once they help you, don't toss the friendship away unless you find that you have nothing in common.
And if that is the case, thank them for helping you, express your appreciation, and let things take their course.
So for the next card, I will go over the Eight of Swords.
The Six of Swords tarot card is all about moving on from difficult times.
It represents a time of transition when you are leaving behind the pain and struggles of the past and embarking on a new journey.
This card can also indicate that you are ready to let go of old baggage and unhealthy patterns in your life.
The Six of Swords can also represent a period of processing trauma after a traumatic experience.
If you have been through something difficult, this card suggests that you are now ready to start rebuilding your life.
It signifies hope and renewal and indicates that better times are ahead.
Before getting into this further, let's go over the history and appearance of the Six of Swords.
The History And Appearance Of The Six of Swords
The history of the Six of Swords tarot card is full of mystery and intrigue.
It is believed that Egyptians first used the Six of Swords in Egypt, which was used as a way to help people make decisions about their future.
Europeans during the medieval times also used the Six of Swords in medieval Europe, which was used to help people make decisions about war and peace.
If you look at the Six of Swords in the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, there is a woman with her child rowing across the water to land nearby.
There is a covering over her head which is suggestive of a loss and grief for moving away from something she was involved with in the past.
She has a child that is staying close to her to feel comforted, and there are six swords in the boat.
Those swords represent the emotional baggage that the mother and child are carrying.
Looking at the water at the right of the boat, you see it is choppy, but the water ahead is calm.
That represents they got out of a chaotic situation, but the sea forward represents a place of tranquility.
So let's look and see what the card means in a reading.
What It Means When You Get The Six of Swords In A Reading
If you get the Six of Swords in a reading, it can mean several things.
First, if you are facing a difficult situation, the Six of Swords suggests that you will be able to overcome it.
This card symbolizes hope and resilience, reminding you that you can do it.
This card can also suggest that you need to take some time for yourself to rest and recover.
If you have been pushing yourself too hard, the Six of Swords indicates that it is time to take a break. This is not a time for action but reflection.
The Six of Swords can also represent a need to let go of something - a person, a situation, or an emotion.
Whatever it is, it's time to move on and leave it behind. This can be a complex process, but know it's for the best.
This card may also tell you that it's time to seek help if you're going through some tough times.
So don't be afraid to reach out, whether talking to a therapist or confiding in a friend.
In a more general sense, the Six of Swords can indicate a literal and figurative journey.
If you've been feeling stuck, this card may be telling you that it's time to make a move.
Trust your instincts and go with the flow.
Change can be scary, but it can also be enriching.
And it can also represent travel by water, like a cruise.
Therefore, if you are thinking of traveling sometime soon and this card comes up, perhaps a cruise is something to consider.
Now, let's look at the numerological aspect of six, which I covered during the Six of Wands episode.
After the chaos and upheaval that comes with five, balance, cooperation, and communication come with six.
So, let's go back to the writer's situation.
The Five of Swords situation happened when the writer's friend said their manuscript was terrible, and that led to a fight which left the writer feeling very defeated.
And perhaps that ended the friendship.
So, the Six of Swords moment for the writer was when they reflected and realized maybe the timing to write the book was wrong, or maybe that the book was not meant to be a success for the writer.
As a result, the writer may have been tempted to let go of the dream.
Still, perhaps before throwing in the towel completely, they needed to reflect on many things why it was important for them to publish this particular manuscript or if there could be something else in the cards instead of publishing this book.
Once again, a break after that argument may be in need as so many emotions were evoked.
How does the Six of Swords relate to Risa Green's life?
Perhaps it really does not because she has not truly moved on from her sadness. She has not moved on from anything, and when you are struggling with C-PTSD or depression, that makes it a significant challenge.
Even though I do not like the term healing from trauma, you can develop skills to work through it and move forward even if you still have it.
You can improve and become healthier.
And I know many people disagree with me on my beliefs but I am big on semantics so that is just me.
Keep that in mind. Anyway, Risa has a lot of unhealthy habits and patterns she is engaging with in her life.
Therefore, this card does not relate to her, upright as it is. But Six of Swords reversed is more fitting for her.
Six of Swords Reversed
When this card is reversed, it can mean you are going through a personal transition where the changes are happening within instead of around you.
Also, it can mean you are resisting change or there is business that needs finishing.
The latter fits Risa. She is resisting opportunities around her that can help her evolve and change for the better.
But who is to say that one day she won't say that she has had more than enough and that will be the final motivator she needs to have this card in the upright position be more fitting for her.
More often than not, that kind of thing does happen. Eventually, you just have had enough, as I did!
Now, let's see how you can apply this card in your life.
How To Apply The Six of Swords Tarot Card To Your Life
I would say this is a good card to reflect on when you are attempting to kick a bad habit or move forward from the pain from a breakup or the end of a friendship or something of that nature.
The Six of Swords is there to remind you to honor your feelings and emotions but also at the same time find a way to move forward from them once and for all.
And kicking bad habits can be a difficult thing, and that is why it is best to do it slowly instead of cold turkey.
For example, if your bad habit is eating a bag of potato chips each night, you will end up having withdrawals if you stop cold turkey.
Start with a half of a bag, and eventually a quarter of a bag, then a handful, then you will find it easier than to stop.
And if that is a bad habit you want to kick, that is an easier thing to do than to stop cold turkey and reflect on this card as you do it.
The next card I will go over will be the Seven of Swords, which will mark us halfway through the Swords suit.
The Five of Swords is often seen as a negative card in tarot readings, but that doesn't mean it can't have some positive aspects.
Here's what you need to know about the Five of Swords.
The Five of Swords typically represent conflict or disharmony.
It can also indicate that someone is feeling overwhelmed or outnumbered.
However, the card can also suggest that a person is ready to move on from a difficult situation.
Let's go over the history and appearance of the Five of Swords.
The History And Appearance Of Five of Swords
The Five of Swords is a tarot card that has been associated with loss and defeat for centuries.
It is often seen as a symbol of bad luck and is often interpreted as a warning against taking risks or engaging in conflict.
The card has its roots in medieval Europe, where it was used to warn knights about the dangers of going to war.
The card was often seen as a sign of death or destruction and was used to caution people against unnecessary risks.
In more recent times, this card has been used in tarot readings to indicate a time of difficulty or hardship.
It can represent feelings of defeat, failure, and disappointment.
However, it can also suggest that you can overcome these difficulties with time and effort.
In the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, you will see a man who looks deceitful and grabs three swords from the ground.
And then, as he looks over his shoulder, two other guys are walking away, appearing as if they are defeated.
You see on the grass there are two other swords on there which shows that the battle he had was lost, and the grey clouds in the background provide a gloomy atmosphere even though the battle is over.
So let's look and see what it means when the Five of Swords is in a reading.
What The Five of Swords Means In A Reading
In a tarot reading, the Five of Swords can signify that it's time to let go of something that's causing you pain.
It may also be a warning to watch out for people who might take advantage of you.
The Five of Swords tarot card is often associated with conflict, disharmony, and difficult choices.
This card can represent the querent's current struggles and challenges in a reading.
The Five of Swords can also indicate that the querent feels overwhelmed or outnumbered.
If this is the case, the querent will need to find a way to regroup and refocus to overcome their obstacles.
In some readings, the Five of Swords can suggest that the querent is in danger of losing something important.
This could be a relationship, a job, or even their sense of self. If this card comes up in a reading, it's essential to consider the other cards surrounding it.
These cards will give clues as to what the querent needs to do to avoid losing something important.
The Five of Swords can also indicate that the querent is feeling defeated.
This doesn't necessarily mean they are about to lose something, but they feel like they have already lost.
This could be due to a recent setback or failure. If this is the case, the querent will need to find a way to pick themselves back up and continue moving forward.
In some cases, this card can represent actual physical conflict.
This could be a fight, a battle, or even a disagreement.
If this is the case, paying attention to the other cards in the reading is essential.
These cards will explain how the conflict will play out and what the querent can do to resolve it.
The Five of Swords can be a difficult card to interpret, but it's important to remember that it doesn't always indicate negative things.
In some cases, this card can represent necessary change or growth.
It can also suggest that the querent is about to overcome a difficult challenge.
No matter what, the Five of Swords is a reminder that even the darkest moments can eventually lead to something positive.
If you remember that five numerologically mean change, upheaval, and chaos, let's review how the Five of Swords plays a role in the aspiring writer's situation.
So, as you can remember, the writer is heartbroken over the rejection of the manuscript representing the Three of Swords.
Then after having an emotional time with that, the writer decided to rest and recharge, which you need to do after dealing with heavy emotions, representing the Four of Swords.
Then, the writer chose to have a friend look over the manuscript to get an opinion. And guess what.
The friend said it was horrible to the writer.
That ended up being a significant Five of Swords situation.
First, there were hurt feelings, and then an argument happened over it. And the writer felt even more defeated.
And you know how well the Five of Swords plays a role in Risa Green's life.
She feels utterly and sadly defeated in so many ways.
Her life is a loss. She never had a family that loved her.
She does not know what it is like to raise a typical child.
She does not know what it is like to have a true friend.
Poor mental health and C-PTSD are also liabilities.
However, since this card again says that changes for the better are in dire need to be made, then the Five of Swords does indicate that for Risa Green too.
And the biggest one is for her to overcome her echoism by setting boundaries, cutting off her parents, sending her son to a care facility, cutting off her neighbor, and assessing her marriage while indulging in some serious self-care.
The question is, will that ever happen?
Anyway, let's go over what the Five of Swords reversed represents.
Five of Swords Reversed
When the Five of Swords appear in reverse, it can be positive as it can represent a friendship reconciled after an argument and making amends.
However, at times it can mean inner conflict, which also applies to Risa Green and those who struggle with poor mental health.
I think of echoism, where you go out of your way to please others by removing any boundaries you would have, is a perfect example.
There is so much inner conflict because that happens when you continuously put your needs to please others.
It is a common thing, more than one would think, but it is a terrible way to be.
Now, let's talk about how you can apply this card to your life.
How To Apply The Five of Swords Tarot Card To Your Life
That sounds counterintuitive because why would you want to apply a card representing conflict and defeat to your life?
Instead, this is the perfect card to remind you to pick or choose your battles.
Some battles are worth having, and others are not.
For example, if you feel your needs are being neglected, that is a battle to pick.
However, if you are upset with your partner because they are constantly moving too slowly or they smack their lips when they eat, then it is best to bite your tongue and put in ear plugs when it comes to the latter.
You can get some good-quality ones at Walmart or the drugstore.
You get the idea. Some battles are not worth it.
Next, I will go over the Six of Swords.
The Four of Swords tarot card is associated with rest and recovery.
This card suggests that you take a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and focus on taking care of yourself.
The four swords represent the four elements of earth, air, fire, and water.
These elements are in balance, suggesting that you are in a state of harmony.
This is an excellent time to reflect on your life and make any necessary changes.
The History And Appearance Of The Four of Swords
The history of the Four of Swords tarot card is fascinating.
It is believed to have originated in Italy during the 15th century.
The cards' four swords were initially meant to represent four different suits of playing cards.
Over time, the card's meaning evolved to become associated with rest and recovery.
If you look at the Four of Swords tarot card from the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, you will see that there is a knight on top of a tomb, lying there horizontally.
As you can see, the knight is resting in full armor, and his hands are in a prayer position.
As you can see, a sword underneath him represents focus, and three other swords are hanging and pointing down towards him.
Those are the things that he cannot focus on right now.
Additionally, if you look above him, you see a stained-glass window with a mother and child.
Now, let's go over what the Four of Swords means in a reading.
What The Four of Swords Means In A Reading
The Four of Swords tarot card indicates a period of introspection and solitude.
If you get this card in a reading, there are things to know.
This is a time to reflect on your life and make any necessary changes.
The card represents the four elements of earth, air, fire, and water.
These elements are in balance, suggesting that you are in a state of harmony.
This is an excellent time to focus on your personal relationships and ensure they are healthy and supportive.
If you are facing a challenging situation, the Four of Swords tarot card suggests that you consider your options before taking action.
This is not a time to act rashly or impulsively. Instead, it is a time to be thoughtful and deliberate in your efforts.
The Four of Swords can also suggest that you need to take a break from all areas of your life in order to recover fully.
This is a time to focus on your own needs and not try to do too much.
You may need to say no to some obligations in order to take care of yourself.
Now, let's go over what four means again.
If you don't remember from the Four of Wands, four represents stability, manifestation, and structure.
And now, let's review the situation with the writer.
The Ace of Swords moment was when the writer wrote the book.
The Two of Swords moment is when they did not know whether or not to go the traditional way when it comes to publishing or the self-publishing route.
They decided to try going down the traditional route, but they were rejected. That was a Three of Swords moment because that was difficult to handle.
They were heartbroken.
However, now, the Four of Swords moment is to rest and not focus on the book because they need to recharge after facing the devastation of being rejected by the publisher.
Think about it. The only way to recover from such disappointment and devastation is if you have time to rest and use the time to sleep as much as you can.
Sleep is necessary to help you bounce back from anything that disrupted you.
You need sleep to heal from illness, and you need rest to help you develop the energy to manage what issues you are facing.
When you think about it, sleep is everything! If you don't get enough, you will not function, which is a fact!
Even when you do not deal with anything devastating and disappointing per se, you need rest because every day is taxing for one reason or another.
And many cultures realize this, which is why they implement a siesta time during the mid-day for employers.
However, you don't see that in North America; in North America, you are seen as lazy if you take a nap during the day.
So perhaps if North America implemented the mid-day siesta for workers, the overall attitude around working would be better.
People are understandably tired, and many people also don't sleep very well as it is.
Look at Risa Green. When does she get her Four of Swords moments?
She has to not only care for her son but also rush over to help her parents and her ungrateful neighbor.
That also explains her burnout. And it is not a surprise either.
If you do not get enough rest, the risk for burnout is much higher. And what happens when you are burned out?
You will risk facing many health challenges, physical and mental.
And Risa's mental and physical health is likely suffering even more because she does not get enough rest based on all of the responsibilities she places on herself.
And she can delegate a lot of that so she can not only get rest but get the care she needs.
So let's take a look at the Four of Swords reversed.
Four of Swords Reversed
When the Four of Swords shows up in reverse, it can mean you are very deep in contemplation or have not rested enough.
This is when it shows that you are burned out and exhausted.
It can also represent resting too long or too much to the point of stagnation.
And as you can see, Risa is burned out, so again, the Four of Swords reversed plays a more prominent role in her life. She is burned out. I
t is as simple as that.
Here is an interesting thought too.
Did you know that getting too much sleep is just as detrimental to your health as not getting enough?
In fact, according to Medical News Today, researchers say that getting too much sleep may even be worse than not getting enough.
Of course, it is ideal for getting seven to eight hours of sleep per night, but you can get by on six or nine.
But if you consistently sleep for more than nine hours or less than six hours, you will run into problems.
So let's talk about applying the Four of Swords to your life.
How To Apply The Four of Swords To Your Life
This one is simple, but it may not be too easy, especially if you have an extremely full schedule that involves work, kids, family, or other responsibilities.
However, you do know that if you do not take time to rest, you will have problems.
You have to schedule a time to relax, and you also have to schedule time for self-care, which is rest.
You don't necessarily have to sleep during that time.
But think about taking a half-hour to yourself with no distractions and reading your favorite book, taking a bubble bath, or doing something you like that will help you recharge.
You must do that because you will burn out.
So if you feel like you are close to the edge because you have no time to yourself, this is the perfect time to apply this card to your life.
You need R&R, and the next card I will go over is the Five of Swords, which will disrupt your Four of Swords moments, unfortunately.
The Three of Swords is often associated with heartbreak, betrayal, and sorrow. However, it can also represent strength in the face of adversity.
The three swords can represent the three stages of grief: denial, anger, and acceptance.
The Three of Swords is not necessarily a bad omen despite its negative connotations.
It can simply indicate that something problematic is happening in your life.
The three swords can also represent the three aspects of yourself that you need to work on: your mind, body, and spirit.
Before getting into the nitty-gritty of this card, let's go over its history and appearance first.
The History And Appearance Of Three of Swords
The Three of Swords is a tarot card that has been around for centuries.
Its origins are unknown, but it is believed to date back to the Middle Ages.
The three swords on the card represent three different aspects of life: love, loss, and pain.
The three swords can also be interpreted as mind, body, and spirit.
When you look at the Three of Swords tarot card from the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, you will see a heart with three swords piercing it.
That represents words and actions inflicting pain upon someone.
You also see dark clouds in the background mirror as that means heartache, but there is one thing to remember about storm clouds.
They dissipate, and the initial blow of heartbreak does too. But here is the thing. Storm clouds come and go, and so do pain and grief.
Some types of pain are easier to overcome than others.
And some pain never entirely goes away, especially when it comes to the effects of trauma.
Let's now go over what it means to get the Three of Swords in a reading.
When You Get The Three of Swords In A Reading
You should know a few things about the Three of Swords tarot card. First, this card is all about heartbreak, pain, and sorrow.
If you see this card in a reading, these themes will likely be present in your life.
The Three of Swords can indicate that you're going through a tough time or about to experience some heartache.
It's essential to be prepared for this so that you can handle it in the best way possible.
Remember that this too shall pass, and try to stay positive despite the hardships.
If you're facing difficulties in your relationship, the Three of Swords can indicate that there may be some problems ahead.
However, it's important to remember that all relationships go through ups and downs.
So this card can also suggest that it's time to let go of someone causing you pain.
The Three of Swords reminds us that life is full of ups and downs.
It's important to stay strong during the tough times and cherish the good times.
Remember that this too shall pass, and eventually, you'll come out the other side.
If you are going through a tough time, the Three of Swords can be a reminder that you are not alone.
Many people have gone through similar experiences, and knowing that should help you realize you are not alone.
Lean on your friends and family for support, and trust that things will eventually get better.
Now, let's review.
Aces are new beginnings, and twos are duality or partnership. Threes are creation, groups, and growth.
So first, let's talk about that writer who had the idea to write the novel and did it, the Ace of Swords.
Then after cleaning it up, they had to make a difficult decision to either go the traditional route when it comes to publishing the book or self-publishing, which is a hard choice to make.
The Two of Swords represented that situation.
So the writer decided to go down the traditional route, but since the publisher rejected them, that was a Three of Swords moment.
That caused a lot of devastation, heartbreak, and sadness.
They don't know why their work was not worthy of acceptance, and that rejection became very heavy on their heart.
And it is not hard to see how the Three of Swords plays a role in Risa Green's life.
All of the trauma she endured caused so much heartache in her life.
She is always understandably heartbroken.
In addition, having a child with significant special needs who is her only child brings out a lot of grief.
There will never be milestones she will be able to celebrate, such as experiencing life involving dating, driving, graduation, and working.
There will never be marriage in the cards, no grandchildren for her to enjoy, etc.
It is safe to say that Risa is extremely heartbroken over so many things in her life.
When you have depression or C-PTSD, this card is constantly present in your life, even if nothing devastating has happened in your life recently.
And this is honestly why it gets to me when others say that happiness is a choice because I feel that is a toxic positive statement.
When you are working hard at managing your depression or trauma and having a tough day, the only thing you should focus on during those moments is surviving.
So telling someone in that situation that happiness is a choice is highly invalidating.
So now, let's talk about the Three of Swords reversed.
Three of Swords Reversed
When the Three of Swords shows up in reverse, it can mean two things.
First, it can mean holding in pain and negatively talking about yourself.
Or, it can be a sign that you are moving past the pain and being more optimistic.
Perhaps you have forgiven the one who hurt your feelings.
Though from personal experience, this is a very touchy subject for me.
I know this is a very touchy subject to many who have experienced trauma.
However, forgiveness is not necessary to move on, as I think the best thing to do, for me anyway, is to work on pretending that the one who hurt you no longer exists.
The best thing to do when it comes to pain is to find a way to cope with it.
And if you find something that works, whether it is forgiveness or not, that represents this card in reverse.
Now, how do you apply the Three of Swords in your life?
How To Apply Three of Swords In Your Life?
It sounds counterintuitive to apply a card of this nature to your life, upright anyway, and I will not even recommend using this card reversed.
The reason is that this card is a reminder to you that your emotions are valid!
If something very upsetting happens to you, even if you think it is minor compared to what happens to other people, such as not getting the job you wanted, you may try to stuff your feelings.
The Three of Swords is reminding you not to do that!
You have to feel your feelings, no matter how ugly they are.
Because they are valid, and if you don't feel them, they fester, and you will have a much harder time working through them.
It is important to feel those emotions and let them process through you so you can move forward.
And hey, if someone throws toxic positivity at you by telling you only to think positive after something upsetting happened to you, ignore them and remember that your pain and sadness are valid.
And it is essential to let those feelings move through you.
The next card I will go over is the Four of Swords, a respite card.
The Two of Swords is the card in the Minor Arcana that represents having to make a difficult decision and not being sure what path to take.
It is essential to weigh the pros and cons when making the decision, and this is a decision you do not want to make because it is hard.
You may be tempted to avoid it, but you know that you have to move forward.
Sometimes, the Two of Swords can represent balance and indicate a situation where two people are evenly matched and must find a way to compromise.
First, let's go over the history and appearance of the Two of Swords.
The History And Appearance Of The Two Swords
The Two of Swords is a tarot card that has been used for centuries to help people make decisions.
The Two of Swords represents two sides of an issue or two possible outcomes.
It can be seen as a symbol of balance, as it is often used to describe two opposing forces.
The history of the Two of Swords is full of symbolism and meaning.
The Two of Swords first appeared in Europe during the 14th century.
The card was initially known as "The Peace Maker" and represented two different armies coming together to make peace.
The cards later became known as "The Two Paths" and symbolized choosing between two different life paths.
Finally, in the 18th century, the two Swords were given the name "The Two of Balance" and were used to symbolize two different sides coming together in equilibrium.
When you look at the Two of Swords tarot card from the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, you will see a woman wearing a blindfold.
She is also wearing a white robe with two swords crossing each other.
The blindfold represents her confusion, as she cannot see the problem or the solution.
Therefore, she cannot access relevant information that can help her make a decision.
However, those swords she is holding are in balance as she weighs her thoughts and looks at both sides of the predicament so she can come up with a solution.
Let's now take a look and see what the Two of Swords means in a reading.
What The Two of Swords Means In A Reading
In a reading, this card can suggest several things.
The Two of Swords can also be interpreted as a warning against making hasty decisions or acting impulsively.
This is a time to think things through carefully before taking any action.
If you are facing a difficult choice, this card suggests that you take the time to weigh your options before deciding and weighing the pros and cons.
Trust your intuition, and don't be afraid to listen to your gut.
The Two of Swords also reminds you that the best course of action is sometimes no action at all. In other words, know when to pick your battles.
If you are having trouble seeing both sides of an argument or feel like you are stuck in a stalemate, the Two of Swords can offer some guidance.
This card asks you to look at the situation from all angles and consider all possible outcomes.
Only by truly understanding all aspects of a problem can we hope to find a resolution.
With the help of the Two of Swords, you can learn to find peace through balance and make decisions with a clear and level head.
So, when you look at two numerologically, that is the number of duality or partnership.
And with the Ace of Swords, you can easily make a decision, or you have a moment of clarity, or a breakthrough, you could end up with another brilliant idea that will cause you to become confused about which decision to make and which thought to carry.
So therefore, that is why the Two of Swords represents being in a difficult position to make a hard decision.
Let's go over the Ace of Swords representing that writer who wrote the manuscript because that was their eureka moment, writing that book.
Now, there are several options on how to publish the book.
First, they will wonder whether it is best to self-publish or go down the traditional way.
And that is a big decision to make and not an easy one to make either, representing the Two of Swords in this. So that is all about weighing the pros and cons.
How does the Two of Swords apply to Risa Green's life? You never know that she could be living through it all of the time.
On the surface, she appears to be there for everyone and neglects her needs to avoid conflict and for her to win the approval of others.
But what if she wants to start standing up for herself? What if she wants to go no contact with her abusive parents?
What if she wants to have that difficult conversation with Ron about the state of their marriage?
What if she wants to look into sending her son to a care facility? What if she wants to tell her neighbor off?
For all we know, she could be wrestling with those thoughts.
That is a Two of Swords situation if that is the case.
But on the other hand, is it really?
Maybe not, as perhaps she unconsciously chose to avoid conflict because of fear of rocking the boat and to keep being a people-pleaser because she desperately wants others to like her.
That is very common for those who have C-PTSD, unfortunately.
So now, let's go over the Two of Swords reversed.
Two of Swords Reversed
When this card shows up in reverse is indicative that you are literally stuck between a rock and a hard place.
You are frozen as you feel you cannot decide at all. But, unfortunately, that is more accurate when it comes to Risa Green.
She is frozen when it comes to choosing whether to begin to create boundaries, take care of herself, and keep doing what she is doing.
Another example of Two fo Swords reversed is when you are overloaded with information or have reached a stalemate.
If the other party involves in the decision-making refuses to compromise, and you refuse to compromise, you are butting heads.
For example, if you and a friend want to go away somewhere for a weekend, but you want to go to place A, and they want to go to place B, and neither of you will compromise on another place, that is an example of that.
Now, let's go over how you can use the Two of Swords in your life.
How To Apply The Two of Swords To Your Life
The time to apply this card to your life is only when you are in a position where you need to make a difficult decision.
Of course, it is always hard to put emotions to the side when it comes to making hard decisions.
But as you look at the card, you will know that you need to do that as you weigh the pros and cons of each choice to make.
Of course, you will want to get the opinions of others to help you make the decision too.
Eventually, you will decide what to do, but the Two of Swords is there to remind you not to put it off.
Unfortunately, you have to make some very difficult and even heart-wrenching decisions in life.
Therefore, the next card becomes more fitting with the Swords suit, the Three of Swords.
The Swords suit in the Minor Arcana of the tarot is the one that rules thoughts, intellect, the mind, conflicts, and struggles.
This is linked to the air element associated with the astrological signs Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius.
And the first card I will go over is the Ace of Swords is one of the most powerful cards in the tarot deck, and it can represent several different things.
It can be a symbol of intellectual power or new beginnings.
It can also indicate the beginning of a journey, a new life phase, or success and victory.
Finally, it can also represent a breakthrough or a Eureka moment.
However, before delivering too deep into the meaning, let's go over the history and appearance of the Ace of Swords.
The History And Appearance Of The Ace of Swords
The Ace of Swords is one of the most iconic tarot cards and has a long and rich history.
The Ace of swords first appeared in Italy in the early 15th century, and it quickly became popular all over Europe.
The Ace was traditionally associated with great power and strength, and the Sword was often seen as a symbol of justice.
Therefore, many times the card represented legal matters. And in many ways, it still does.
Therefore, as you can see, the card has been used in many different ways over the years, but its meaning remains essentially unchanged.
Let's go over the appearance of the Ace of Swords in the Rider-Waite-Smith deck.
First, if you see the white cloud, a hand appears from it, representing the Higher Power.
Next, the hand holds a sword that means smarts and your mind, and you will see a wreath wrapped at the tip of the sword, representing victory.
However, when you look at the background, you will see mountains that illustrate the challenges ahead of you.
So you will need to be up to par mentally to handle the path forward.
Now, let's go over what the Ace of Swords means in a reading.
What It Means To Get The Ace of Swords In A Reading
This card is often seen as a positive sign, representing the potential for success.
However, it can also be a warning sign, indicating that you must make difficult decisions.
The Ace of Swords can be a difficult card to interpret, but it is always important to remember that its meaning will depend on the context in which it appears.
If you get this card in a reading, it could mean that you're about to have a breakthrough in your life.
It could also represent someone coming into your life who will be very important. This person could be a teacher or mentor.
The Ace of Swords can also indicate a time of significant change.
If you've been feeling stuck, this card suggests that things are about to start moving for you.
So, if you get the Ace of Swords, be prepared for some significant changes coming your way!
I will do more storytelling with this as I did with the Wands suit.
The story in the Wands suit that I used was related to a host's party, which represented the Four of Wands.
I did not do any storytelling aside from the one I used for Risa Green's story in the prior cards in the Wands suit.
However, let's compare the Ace of Swords to an aspiring writer.
The Ace of Swords represents an idea about this writer wanting to write a book to tell their story to help bring awareness about something they are facing.
The writer landed on this idea, and the Ace means they are going with it.
The Ace is associated with the number one, which represents new beginnings, and the writer is beginning to write their story.
I will tell you something else very interesting about the Ace of Swords regarding mental health.
As you can imagine, you will not operate with a clear mind if your mental illness, regardless of what it is, is not appropriately managed.
However, once it is, the mind becomes very clear, which also means a lot of new ideas are swimming around.
That is why so many people with mental illnesses are pretty creative and analytical.
That is why so many of them become authors and write about their experiences and what works for them when helping mental health.
You can say that my starting this podcast was due to an Ace of Swords moment.
I would share my views on mental health while comparing it to each card of the tarot and some storytelling to help others who have an interest in tarot relate to it better.
So it is not hard to see how, once you can manage the junk in your mind, and once you end up with a clear head, you will have plenty of Ace of Sword moments.
What about Risa Green and the Ace of Swords?
You once again cannot expect her to have a clear head since she allows her illnesses and trauma to take over her and will enable others to take advantage of her.
But does that mean she will never have an Ace of Swords moment? Absolutely not.
What if she once and for all is pushed past her breaking point as I had experienced? She will end up with lots of eureka moments.
She will realize she can help improve her life if she stops allowing everyone to take advantage of her and make better decisions for her life moving forward.
However, she is not there, so she does not have a clear mind to do that.
Let's now talk about the Ace of Swords reversed.
Ace of Swords Reversed
When The Ace of Swords shows up in reverse, it signifies you are changing your mind over something.
You are giving something a second thought, or it can represent clouded judgment, as Risa Green continues to experience.
In reverse, the saying from this card is 'I don't know, or 'I need to think about this again.
This is because you are not confident in a decision you once made.
When it comes to the Ace of Swords in reverse, because of second-guessing yourself, you may have likely been influenced by another source to second-guess yourself, which means you never were confident in making that decision.
For example, you thought about applying for a job at a company that sounded good.
And you finally decided to apply to the company.
However, once you have heard from several sources that the company is not good, you would second-guess your actions.
You would then decline the interview if you were asked to have one. That is an Ace of Swords reversed moment.
So let's look at what you need to do to apply the Ace of Swords to your life.
How To Apply The Ace of Swords To Your Life
When you are not clear on what you want, but when you think you know what you want, you will want to take the Ace of Swords and ask yourself what it is that you want.
Also, if you know what you want, but you are unsure how you will make it work in your life, the Ace of Swords can help you.
Take a pad of paper and pen and begin writing down each word that comes to your mind when you think about what you want in life, whether it is a new job, a new relationship, or what you want when decorating your home.
It can be anything because everything you do in life results in you deciding to start something.
For example, you want to adopt a dog, but you do not know how you will effectively be the best pet parent because you are busy with work, kids, and other responsibilities, and you do want to travel from time to time.
You can take the pen and paper and write down every thought that comes into your mind about how you can manage to have a dog while not neglecting anything else in your life.
Eventually, you will come up with a eureka moment and realize that you can find a way to have that dog and not have to compromise anything else in your life.
Next, I will talk about the Two of Swords.
The King of Wands is the tarot card representing confidence, ambition, and leadership.
If you're looking for a clear path to success, this is your card.
The King of Wands is all about taking charge and making things happen.
He's the CEO of the tarot deck, and he knows what it takes to get to the top.
If you're feeling lost or stuck, this card can provide some much-needed direction. Trust your instincts and go after what you want - the King of Wands will help you make it happen.
Let's go over the history and the appearance of this card.
The Appearance And History Of The King of Wands
The King of Wands is a tarot card that has been around for centuries.
Its origins are unknown, but it is believed to date back to the Renaissance era.
The card is traditionally associated with strength, power, and authority.
When you look at the King of Wands in the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, you see a man sitting on a throne.
He holds a wand with blossoms on it, representing creativity and life.
If you look at the cape and upholstery on the throne, there are patterns of salamanders and lions, which represent strength, passion, and determination to keep pushing forward.
Let's now go over what it means to get the King of Wands in a reading.
What The King of Wands Means In A Reading
The King of Wands is the tarot card representing confidence, passion, and ambition.
When this card appears in a reading, it indicates that these qualities are coming to the fore and will be important in achieving success.
The king is also a symbol of leadership, so this may be a time when you are called upon to take charge and inspire others.
This positive card suggests progress and achievement, but it also warns against being too impulsive or reckless.
Use your head as well as your heart to achieve the best results.
This card often indicates a solid and authoritative figure who can take charge and get things done.
This person is usually successful and has a lot of confidence.
They may also be creative and have a lot of energy. The King of Wands can also indicate a situation where you need to take action and be assertive.
This card can also warn to beware of someone who may be manipulative or overly controlling.
Therefore, it can signify someone you know with this personality or someone who reminds you of the King of Wands in general.
It could be even an aspect of yourself.
You will see the significance of why this card is showing up based on the spread.
So when you think of someone in a leadership position in a private enterprise or finance, you can think of the King of Wands.
And here is the thing.
If you know of a male business owner who seems soft, quiet, and introverted, he is still associated with the King of Wands because he is a business owner.
He may be introverted and quiet, but the truth is, if you are going to be a business owner, you have to have the fire, determination, and will to go down that route.
You know that saying what seems is not often the case.
Therefore, don't assume only because someone appears quiet and timid that they are genuinely that way.
When you think about Risa Green's life, the only man who would match the King of Wands could be her father.
He is a business lawyer, and you have to have that type of fire within to have an occupation like that, even if you are not a business owner.
However, he was hardly home and likely enabled Risa's mother to treat her the way she did.
Therefore, he may have had a King of Wands personality business-wise, but otherwise, he did not.
He may have been legitimately working often as that career demands much attention.
However, if he were the true King of Wands, he would have stepped in and interfered with how the mother bullied Risa.
A true King of Wands type would not allow any kind of abuse to happen.
And this type of thing does happen often.
That is why I am hesitant to say a CEO is a true King of Wands if he is enabled by an abusive spouse and does not stand up for himself or his kids.
I also want to add that Risa would have never gone for the King of Wands type.
Ron, her husband, is a follower, not a leader, and he is not confident at all.
That is because someone with that personality would have scared her, and she also did not think she was good enough for that type.
And someone with very little or no self-esteem would choose someone to marry who is a follower like Ron if they want to get married.
So now, let's look at the King of Wands reversed.
The King of Wands Reversed
The King of Wands, in reverse, represents being ruthless and disrespectful with followers, as well as being impulsive and haste.
There are also high and unrealistic expectations.
You can definitely think of a narcissistic business owner or CEO or someone with a high-ranking career.
You can think of that CEO from hell who has unrealistic standards regarding their employees.
That is the CEO that pays almost minimum wage to workers who work extremely hard and for long hours.
That is the boss that everyone hates because of being so abusive.
And with bosses like that, they will struggle to find workers because their employees will keep leaving.
Still, they will also struggle to maintain a positive reputation because the ex-employees would have tarnished it.
Okay, now let's look and see how you can apply the King of Wands to your life.
How To Apply The King of Wands To Your Life
I have to say that the King of Wands is very similar to the Emperor.
The Emperor is all about order, discipline, and leadership.
It is one of the most masculine tarot cards.
It is up to you if you prefer the King of Wands over the Emperor or if that card resonates with you more.
But you can use this card to create some order and discipline in your life.
For example, if you want to stick to a healthier regimen, you can use this card for inspiration.
If you're going to exercise some self-control and self-discipline, this is an excellent card.
That is how you can use this card for inspiration if you prefer it over the Emperor.
This concludes the Wands suit, and the subsequent suit I will go over is the Swords suit, which is tied to the air element.
Next time, I will talk more about it as I start the next episode with the Ace of Swords.
The Queen of Wands tarot card is about passion, enthusiasm, and creativity.
As a fire sign, she is constantly in motion, striving to achieve her goals.
She is confident, independent, and self-assured, and her energy is infectious.
Her ruling planet is the Sun, which symbolizes vitality and strength.
The Queen of Wands has always represented the feminine principle in tarot.
She is the counterpart to the king of wands, who means the masculine principle, which I will talk about in the next episode, which is the last of the Wands suit.
Together, they represent the perfect balance of yin and yang.
The queen is often associated with the element of fire, which is said to express her passion and intensity.
Before delving too much into the Queen of Wands' meanings, let's go over the history and appearance.
The History And Appearance Of The Queen of Wands
Historically, the queen of wands has been associated with many goddesses, including Isis, Hathor, and Sekhmet.
She is also often associated with the Queen of Cups.
In some decks, she is represented by a lioness, representing her power and ferocity.
She is also sometimes linked to the Virgin Mary. In more recent years, she has come to be seen as a powerful businesswoman or entrepreneur.
When you look at the Queen of Wands in the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, you will see the woman on a throne with lion patterns on her clothing.
The lions represent strength and fire, and these lions are facing themselves in opposite directions.
You will also see sunflowers, which mean happiness, life, and fertility, behind her crown and left hand.
She has a wand with a sprout representing life on her right hand.
If you look at her feet, you will see a black cat which means she is not afraid to be in touch with her dark side or shadow self that you may not even think of when you envision the Queen of Wands.
But like anyone else, she has a shadow side.
And let's go over what it means when you get the Queen of Wands in a reading.
What It Means When You Get The Queen of Wands In A Reading
The Queen of Wands is an excellent card for anyone pursuing a creative endeavor.
She will guide and inspire you, whether you're starting a new business, embarking on a new relationship, or simply trying to bring more creativity into your life.
So trust your instincts and follow your heart - success is sure to follow.
If you see the Queen of Wands in your reading, you are full of energy and ready to take on whatever challenges come your way.
This is a time of great vitality and strength.
Now is the time to go after your goals with passion and determination.
The Queen of Wands encourages you to follow your dreams and pursue your passions.
Trust your intuition and let your creativity shine.
It can also represent a woman in your life who has this energy, or an aspect of someone's personality, which may be yours in a situation that is relevant to the reading.
When you think of the Queen of Wands and a career, you may think of an inspiring teacher, a motivational speaker, an entrepreneur, or a coach.
If you can think of a woman who inspired you somehow, chances are she had the Queen of Wand's energy.
However, not always. That is not always the case.
And I can tell you, if you look at the Queen of Wands through the eyes of Risa Green, this is someone she would be jealous of because she represents everything that Risa wishes she had.
Full of fire and energy, popular, successful, and someone who has a true zest for life.
And I can guarantee you, if someone with that energy came up to Risa and befriended her, Risa would reject her.
Those dealing with that level of depression do not want those who have this energy around them.
And the ironic thing is that plenty of people have depression that comes off as having that type of energy.
They do what they can to hide it. Therefore, they go out of their way to appear as if they are full of zest and passion and are friendly and charismatic.
Yet they suffer within. What does it mean when the Queen of Wands is reversed?
Queen of Wands Reversed
The Queen of Wands reversed can mean two things. Either you have reached a level of confidence that you are not bothered by the opinions of others.
You know your truth. Or, it can represent the traits of the upright card, such as being determined but is not nearly as engaging.
There is introversion in the picture.
Therefore, you can imagine someone who is shy and quiet on the outside, but when they have close friends, they are the same as the Queen of Wands upright.
I should add that someone like this could also be full of passion and energy online and have a large following.
But that does not mean they are that way in public, which also does not mean they are sociable in real life.
They may decide to go for dinner or a coffee with a close friend or two once in a while.
Therefore, the Queen of Wands reversed may appear fiery and passionate online and may receive a lot of engagement.
However, the reality is that she prefers to work from home, and her idea of fun is lying on the sofa, watching a movie, and having her dog beside her.
She would do that on any day over hanging out with a group of friends or doing a public speaking engagement.
She may do a virtual live stream, however. Now, let's talk about applying this card to your life.
How To Apply The Queen of Wands To Your Life
When you are dealing with some adversity, such as business competition, for example, then the Queen of Wands is there to remind you to kick butt and to be bold in your actions and undertakings.
She is there to remind you to believe in yourself so you can conquer what you can.
If you need some support from the Queen of Wands, you can take the card and use it as a reminder to use your power and strength to get through what you need to get through.
You can see it as a Seven of Wands or a Nine of Wands type of thing. But she is there to support you.
You can also think of someone you find inspiring and who has that Queen of Wands energy.
Focus on how they overcame something and how successful they became. That alone will help you with your challenges.
Lean on them if you are fortunate enough to have a friend who matches this energy.
The next card I will go over is the King of Wands, which will conclude the Wands suit.
The Knight of Wands is the tarot card associated with energy, enthusiasm, and courage and has an association with adolescence.
This knight is always on the move and loves to take risks. He is a go-getter who knows what he wants and goes after it with his heart.
He is courageous and confident but can also be impulsive and reckless.
Before delving more into what it means when you get the Knight of Wands in a reading, let's go over the history and appearance of the card.
The History And Appearance Of The Knight of Wands
The Knight of Wands tarot card has a long and storied history. It is one of the oldest tarot cards, dating back to the 15th century.
The Knight of Wands was initially known as the "Knight of Cups" and was associated with the medieval knightly class.
As you know, there is a Knight of Cups, but it is different, and I will go over that one when I get to the Cups suit.
The card represented chivalry, honor, and valor. In the 18th century, the Knight of Wands became known as the "Knight of Swords" and was associated with warfare and conflict.
As you also know, there is a Knight of Swords which is different now, and the Swords suit will be the next one I will cover after this.
The 20th century saw a return to the Knight of Wands' original meaning, with the card once again representing chivalry and honor.
Today, the Knight of Wands is still considered a powerful and positive tarot card, signifying strength, courage, and determination.
Now, let's talk about the appearance of the Knight of Wands card in the Rider-Waite-Smith deck.
The knight is wearing armor wearing a yellow robe with salamanders as patterns representing the fire element and a helmet.
He is sitting on a horse with red plumes behind him. He has a wand in his right hand, representing his enthusiasm, and the horse is rising, which means he is ready to take off.
However, there is a dry and mountainous land in the background, and the knight sees the potential to do something to change that.
Let's now look and see what it means when you get the Knight of Wands in a reading.
What It Means To Get The Knight of Wands In A Reading
The Knight of Wands is a highly energetic and passionate card associated with movement, adventure, and risk-taking.
If you get this card in a reading, it suggests that you are about to embark on a new journey or phase in your life.
This may be a physical journey, such as moving to a new location, or a symbolic one, like starting a new relationship or beginning a new project.
Whatever it is, the Knight of Wands urges you to seize the opportunity and go for it.
This card can also indicate that you are feeling restless and antsy like you need to make a change in your life.
If you have been feeling stuck in a rut, the Knight of Wands suggests that it's time to take action and shake things up.
This isn't a card for sitting around and waiting for something to happen - it's time to get out there and make them happen.
The Knight of Wands can also represent someone in your life who is coming into your life or who is already a part of it.
This person is likely to be high-energy, passionate, and exciting.
They may also be impulsive and reckless, so beware of getting swept up in their drama.
However, they can also be a force for good in your life, encouraging you to take risks and live life to the fullest.
It can also represent an enthusiastic teenager on the go in your life, or it could be an aspect of someone’s personality who you know, or yourself.
And this teen or individual who has this personality is full of so many creative ideas and wants to execute them as quickly as possible.
They are so charismatic; they are the cool guys or gals of the crows, full of energy, and do not want to sit around.
They want to get things done.
So either you present an idea to them, and they like it and don’t want to wait to turn the concept into reality, or they have a great idea that they turn into reality themselves.
For instance, the Knight of Wands will be the one to come up with planning a surprise birthday party for their good friend.
And not only do they come up with the idea, but they will take action on it. They will call caterers, and party stores, send invitations, and so on.
The Knight of Wands will not wait on this.
They also may end up spending more money than they have in their budget as well. Oops.
When you think of careers associated with the Knight of Wands, you may think of someone specializing in competitive jobs, outdoor work, driving, travel, or being an ambulance driver or a firefighter.
Someone with this personality would scare off some people, especially those such as Risa Green.
The last thing she wants to be around is someone full of fire, enthusiastic, and part of the popular crowd that she never was.
Well, I was not either, but the difference is, I don't care now, unlike how I did back then. And here is the thing.
Many of those who struggle with depression can have Knight of Wands energy, and that is when you would be surprised to learn that they have depression.
But unfortunately, these individuals hide their depression well, which always comes as a shock to others when something about the reality of their depression is revealed.
However, as you know, Risa Green does not have an ounce of enthusiasm in her as she is not only burned out from having to care for everyone's needs.
And her mental state and unprocessed trauma are burning her out. And that is also why she would not want that type of energy around her.
She would shut down, quite likely. She would tune them out if they enthusiastically told her to take action on something.
So now, let's go over what the Knight of Wands reversed means.
Knight of Wands Reversed
The Knight of Wands reversed indicates that there is just as much passion as it appears in the card upright. But there is no direction or organization.
The approach is scattered, and there is no planning.
There are also delays and frustration over it.
Or, even with the passion and enthusiasm, there is so much fear that nothing gets done at all.
Think about how someone is enthusiastic about speaking about what they love in public.
However, once they are ready to speak, they freeze up and bail out at the last minute.
That is one example of the Knight of Wands in reverse. Now, how can you apply the Knight of Wands to your life?
How To Apply The Knight of Wands To Your Life
I would say this is a good card to focus on if you do want to do some type of physical activity.
If you are attempting to find the drive to go for that run, brisk walk, swim or do your aerobics workout.
And this is also a good card to focus on if you have an idea already in place, inspired by the Page of Wands, so you can take action on it.
It does not matter if it is a novel you want to write, an art piece you want to create, or anything.
The Knight of Wands wants you to take action and just do it. The next card I will go over is the Queen of Wands.
We are on our first court card in the series, the Page of Wands.
The court cards, the Pages, Knights, Queens, and Kings of each of the Minor Arcana suits, represent people or aspects of your personality.
However, they can also convey messages you need to know or aspects of life that affect you right now.
The Page of Wands is a Minor Arcana tarot card representing new beginnings, inspiration, and young people with lots of energy, creativity, and enthusiasm.
This card indicates that you are ready to take on new challenges and embark on new journeys.
You are filled with energy and excitement, and your creative juices are flowing.
Before getting into too much of this card, let's go over the history and appearance of the Page of Wands.
The History And Appearance Of The Page of Wands
The Page of Wands is a tarot card that has been around for centuries.
Its origins are unknown, but it is thought to date back to the 15th century.
When you look at the Page of Wands from the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, you see a young man holding a long stick.
He is curious about the green leaves that are beginning to sprout, and the tunic has salamanders which represent changes and transformation.
So you can see that he is standing very still and has the stick on the ground as it is not moving.
That may mean he is inspired by what the stick and the sprouting leaves represent, but he is unwilling to do anything.
When you look at the background, you see a mountainous and dry landscape which means the Page can find fertile land there.
In other words, he can potentially find growth in places that are not likely to support it.
He believes that anything can happen regardless of his circumstances shows how much enthusiasm he has.
Now, let's go over what the Page of Wands may mean in a reading.
What It Means When You Get The Page of Wands In A Reading
The Page of Wands suggests that it is time to start something new, whether a project, a business venture, or a personal relationship.
This is a time of endless possibilities, so go out there and seize them!
The Page of Wands can also represent immaturity or recklessness.
If you act impulsively without thinking things through, the Page of Wands warns you to slow down and be more mindful.
This is not a time to act on impulse or take unnecessary risks.
Instead, think things through before you make any decisions, as you may regret them later.
If you are drawn to the Page of Wands, it may indicate that you are ready for change and new beginnings.
Alternatively, this card may be a warning to slow down and be more cautious in your actions.
The last thing you want to do is bite off more than you can chew!
Instead, listen to your intuition and stay true to yourself.
Whatever message the Page of Wands has for you, know that it is coming from a place of truth.
It can also mean that there is someone in the picture in your life who has the Page of Wands personality.
For example, it may literally represent an enthusiastic child or someone who has that personality, which may also be yours!
Think about a creative child full of so many new unique ideas.
The child explores their creative side and wants to think differently or think outside of the box.
They have so many exciting ideas and present them energetically.
This is the one that is highly fearless and has the characteristic of being extroverted.
For example, if you ask a child what kind of birthday party they want, they will immediately tell you in an exciting way that they want their birthday party at Disney World and want to have Mickey and Minnie Mouse joining them at the party.
They will imagine having a tall chocolate cake that goes up to the ceiling.
Will any of this turn into reality? Maybe, and maybe not.
That depends on the financial situation of the parents in addition to their responsibilities.
Also, when you think of this card, you may think about those in careers involving activism, creative work, community projects, and working with children, particularly in the arts.
So, how does this card apply to Risa Green's situation? The sad thing is that it doesn't, even if at one time it did when she was a child.
The Page of Wands represents any child free of trauma as they can express their enthusiasm.
However, you will assume that at one time, she did, and unfortunately, it did not last because her parents stomped it out of her.
And those who experienced similar types of traumas growing up will relate to that so well.
It takes a lot of work and processing to get to a healthier state when it comes to trauma, and you are not going to be ready to do that until you know it is the right time for that.
And once you do begin to do the work, you will start experiencing more of a Page of Wands energy again, and it could take a while, depending on the severity of the trauma.
And when it comes to mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety, that can also challenge that energy for obvious reasons.
That is why it is essential to get the help and treatment for it, increasing the odds of experiencing more of a Page of Wands energy.
But in every case, it doesn't necessarily happen.
It depends on the degree of it and other factors playing into it. So let's now look at the Page of Wands reversed and what that means.
Page of Wands Reversed
The Page of Wands reversed means lack of direction, self-limiting beliefs, or having different ideas.
The reversed position can show the negative side of the upright card.
That can include tantrums and too much distraction to the point that everything imagined would stay like that, imagination or fantasy.
It can also mean a child lacks exciting and fun ideas or impatience.
And if you have kids, you will deal with so much of that as it is! Some people are also dreamers who talk about fun ideas but never intend to act on them.
The Page of Wands is not a card representing action, but if the idea never turns into anything and it is all just talk, and this idea has been talked about for a while, then the upright card reverses.
So let's talk about how you can apply the Page of Wands to your life.
How To Apply The Page of Wands To Your Life
This is a great card to look at when trying to find some inspiration.
The Page of Wands is not necessarily an excellent motivational card for doing physical work or anything like that.
I personally like to use this card if I am already working on a project and not feeling too inspired to continue, and I use this card as a source to help me find some inspiration to add more creativity and work to a project.
It is good for writing or art or looking for some inspiration to do any kind of creative work. That is my take on it.
The next card I will go over will be the Knight of Wands.
Pexels: Ketut Subiyanto
The Ten of Wands tarot card is all about burdens and responsibility.
This card can represent feeling weighed down by obligations or indicate that you are shouldering too much.
It's essential to find a balance in your life and lighten your load if necessary.
The ten of wands can also represent success, especially if you have persevered through difficult times.
This card suggests that your hard work will pay off in the end.
The History And Appearance Of The Ten of Wands
The Ten of Wands can trace its origins back to early 15th century Italy, where it was known as the "Tyrant's Card."
At that time, the Ten of Wands was associated with oppression, cruelty, and injustice.
As a result, the card was often used to warn against the dangers of giving too much power to one person.
The Ten of Wands began to take on a more positive connotation as the years went on.
By the late 15th century, the card was associated with responsibility and burdens.
This meaning carried through to the early 20th century when the ten of wands became known as the "Card of Burden."
When you look at this card from the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, you see a man carrying a lot of sticks towards a small hamlet that is not far away.
The sticks are weighing him down as he has back strain.
However, because he is nearby the small town, he knows he will be able to get rid of the load he is carrying.
Now, let's look and see what the Ten of Wands means in a reading.'
What It Means When You Get The Ten of Wands In A Reading
The Ten of Wands tarot card is all about burdens and responsibilities.
This card can represent feeling weighed down by obligations or the challenges that come with success.
If you feel overwhelmed, the Ten of Wands suggests taking a break and reassessing your commitments when getting that card in a reading.
This card can also indicate that you are shouldering more than your fair share and need some help if you get that card in a reading.
Don't be afraid to ask for assistance when needed.
When you also see this card in a reading, it can mean self-imposed pressure or unrealistic expectations.
The Ten of Wands can represent feeling overwhelmed by responsibility or feeling like you have too much on your plate.
The Ten of Wands can also be a warning against taking on more than you can handle.
That means it may be time to take a step back and assess your current situation.
On the flip side, the Ten of Wands can also suggest that you are up for the challenge.
This is an excellent time to go after your goals with determination and tenacity. You have the strength and fortitude to see things through to the end.
Whatever the Ten of Wands represents for you, know that it is a temporary situation.
You will eventually be able to lighten your load and move on to better things.
You learned during the Nine of Wands episode that nine means attainment and fulfillment. Ten represents the completion of a cycle and renewal.
Therefore, going back to the party example, the Eight of Wands indicated the party host wanted to set up an impromptu party.
The Nine of Wands indicated that there was more work than they anticipated but had the determination to get that party up and running.
And the Ten of Wands suggests that perhaps the party host did bite off more than they were able to chew.
Between arranging the catering, setting up the decorations, sending out invitations, etc.
The determination is there to get it done, but the host clearly needs help.
That means the host will have to appoint responsibilities to some of the friends they are inviting to pick up the food perhaps, set the tables, put up the decorations, and anything else that the host does not have to do themselves.
And that is the thing with the Ten of Wands.
It is a sign that you need to delegate responsibilities that you do not need to do so you can cope. Being overwhelmed is no good.
You can think of many situations where the Ten of Wands applies.
For example, working overtime because you are incredibly busy can create a Ten of Wands situation.
That is because work is not the only thing you have to face. You have responsibilities at home too! And if you have kids, it makes it that much harder.
Having kids alone can create some Ten of Wands situations, especially if they are young or have special needs.
That is why it is essential to have a village, though I did not have one and lived in a Ten of Wands situation for over a decade.
The poor mental health that I was not able to manage at the time added to that too. It was hell. I will be frank about that.
And when you are so overwhelmed to that degree that you do not have help, you will get sick.
You will end up with high levels of cortisol which can not only cause obesity but it can increase your chances of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
I battle my weight, but I am fortunate that I don't have any of those issues.
First, however, let's take a look at Risa Green's situation.
You can say that the Ten of Wands matches Risa Green.
Let's see. She has to care for her elderly abusive parents while also caring for her autistic son.
She also helps her neighbor. She works and struggles financially.
Her unhappiness in her marriage and life adds to the stress.
The mental illnesses that she cannot manage and the trauma she lives with adds to her stress.
You can imagine she is full of cortisol and is already showing signs of health problems.
What is the solution, then? Let's go over that in the Ten of Wands reversed section.
Ten of Wands Reversed
When the Ten of Wands is reversed, it can mean two different things.
Either you are shouldering all of the responsibility to the point that it will make you ill, or you have delegated some of that responsibility.
The reversal can also be indicative of the burdensome time being completed.
Therefore, you can look at how Risa Green could end up with a heart attack or other health crisis if she does not stop shouldering all of the responsibility.
Or, if she finally gets past her breaking point, she will delegate or stop caring for everyone once and for all.
For example, she could say “no” to her parents and send her son to a care facility.
She could stop helping her neighbor. She could delegate these responsibilities and, therefore, would complete the burdensome situation.
And if you are in a situation similar to Risa Green, get help and reach out to those who may have resources in your area.
Caregiving is extremely stressful, and if it does not come naturally to you, it makes it that much harder.
So how can you use the Ten of Wands in your life?
How To Use The Ten of Wands In Your Life
You don't want to use this card in your life in an upright position.
If you are overly stressed, whether you are in a caregiver situation, having to work overtime while dealing with your family, or if you are struggling with your parenting duties, flip this card around.
Call for help. Call your local place of worship if you belong to one, or go on local apps such as Nextdoor, which someone can provide you with the resources you will need.
Facebook groups in your area can bring you some leads.
Don't get to the point where you will be so overloaded that you will get sick.
Help is out there, especially now with all of these local apps.
It was harder to find help when I struggled because the technology was not so advanced.
And the next card I will go over is the Page of Wands as we are now heading to the court cards series!
Pixabay: RyanMcGuire
The Nine of Wands tarot card is all about perseverance and determination.
This card represents someone facing challenges and obstacles but who is determined to overcome them.
This person has the strength and willpower to keep going, even when things are tough.
They are fighters who never give up and always find a way to prevail.
If you face difficulties in your life, the Nine of Wands suggests that you have what it takes to overcome them.
Before getting into the nitty-gritty of this card, let's go over its appearance and history.
The History And Appearance Of The Nine of Wands
The Nine of Wands tarot card has a long and storied history.
First appearing in the early 15th century, the nine of wands was one of the original 22 tarot cards.
It is thought to represent courage and strength in the face of adversity.
The Nine of Wands is often associated with the Greek mythological figure Hercules.
Hercules was known for his great strength and courage and was often depicted carrying a club or staff.
This connection is thought to be due to the similarity between the Nine of Wands and the club suit in playing cards.
Over the centuries, the Nine of Wands have been interpreted differently.
Some believe it represents willpower and determination, while others see it as a sign of caution and self-protection.
When you look at the card in the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, you will see a man who is hurt as he clutches over a wand.
He sees eight wands looming over him as he looks over his shoulder.
This man is worn down and exhausted and feels as if he has been through some tough battles.
Though his challenges are not completed yet, he knows that.
What It Means When You Get The Nine of Wands In A Reading
The Nine of Wands tarot card is traditionally associated with strength and determination.
This card can represent the querent's inner strength and fortitude in a reading.
It can also indicate that the querent may have to overcome some challenges in their life.
Finally, the card can also signify that the querent is nearing the end of a difficult journey.
Some other possible meanings of the Nine of Wands tarot card include feeling overwhelmed or bogged down by a situation, being in the midst of a challenging time, and feeling like you're about to give up.
On the other hand, it indicates that you need to muster up some inner strength.
It may also suggest that you are at a crossroads in your life and may face a difficult decision.
The Nine of Wands can also have different meanings depending on the position it appears in a reading.
For example, if the Nine of Wands is in the past position, it might represent something that the querent has had to overcome in their life.
On the other hand, if it's in the future position, it might indicate that the querent will need to be strong and determined to reach their goals.
Ultimately, the Nine of Wands tarot card reminds you that you have the strength to make it through even when things are tough.
This card encourages you to tap into your inner reserves of strength and determination.
There are a lot of similarities between the Nine of Wands and the Chariot.
Though the Chariot is part of the Major Arcana, there are many parallels as both cards are about determination and not allowing anything to get in the way of attaining a goal.
So as you remember, eight numerologically speaking means action, mastery, and achievement, whereas the nine is fulfillment and attainment.
But at that time, when you attain something, you have the last set of obstacles to encounter, which is exhausting.
So let's quickly go over that party example that I have used throughout most of this suit, starting from the Four of Wands, which represented the party.
I won't go over much of the story again because you know enough of it.
However, the Eight of Wands represented that impromptu party that the host set up.
And the Nine of Wands would represent the exhaustion that comes with setting up a party at the last minute.
It takes a lot of time and energy to send out invitations.
Getting the party supplies and food is tiring, and it is exhausting to set up a party schedule. However, the determination that this host has is to have this party.
Therefore, they are willing to go through the work to make it happen.
What about the situation regarding Risa Green?
You could say that Risa is determined not to rock the boat and get into any conflicts, so she agrees to keep helping out with her parents while caring for her son.
That is also why she keeps jumping to the neighbor each time they ask her to help with something.
Remember, Risa works too, so she has no time for self-care, and she doesn't believe she deserves it anyway because that is what her parents drilled into her head as she was growing up with them.
And unfortunately, those who deal with trauma have that belief for that reason. In a sad way, it is incredible what you are willing to do for the sake of seeking peace and avoiding conflict, which is a trauma response.
In Risa's case, it is, and the Nine of Wands would represent that.
All I can say is that type of determination would create a lot of stress within the body, and I will cover more of that in the following podcast, which will cover the Ten of Wands.
However, that will be for next time. Let's now go over what Nine of Wands reversed means.
Nine of Wands Reversed
When the Nine of Wands appears in reverse, you have given up due to being overwhelmed by the struggle.
In fact, instead of fighting, you become defensive, and there could be paranoia as well. Sometimes the Nine of Wands reversed is not a bad thing.
If you want to attain a goal that you no longer want, and the work you have to do to get it costs your physical and mental health, then giving up is the best option.
Let's go over an example. You desire to get into one of the best drama courses because you think you may want to go into acting.
However, the work it takes to audition to get into this course is causing you a lot of stress and worry.
You cannot concentrate, you cannot sleep, and you are not able to eat.
You also begin to wonder if it is worth going through all of this trouble to get into acting, which may or may not bring you success.
You are starting to see the cons more than the pros when going through the trouble to get into this course.
When that happens, it may be a good idea to give up and evaluate what you genuinely want to do in life since you don't think acting will be it for you.
And besides, the trouble that you are going through to audition for this course is not worth it as you see it costs your wellbeing.
So that is an example of when giving up is the best option. So now, let's see how you can apply this card upright to your life.
How To Apply The Nine Wands To Your Life
When it comes to applying this card to your life, you want a reminder that if something is so essential to you, it is worth going through a lot of trouble to get it.
For example, if you are determined to find the perfect home in an area you love, you know it will take a lot of work to attain it.
You first have to sell your home, which takes a lot of work, and then find the right home to buy, which means visiting a lot of homes for sale.
And that means having to stay up very late to negotiate a price you and the sellers can agree upon with the help of an agent.
If you want something so badly, you will need to find it within you to muster up the strength to attain it.
And the Nine of Wands is a good reminder that you need to work hard and fight obstacles to achieving what you want in life.
Again, you have to want it badly to make it worth it!
The next card I will discuss is the Ten of Wands, which will complete this suit before getting into the court cards.
Pixabay: LN_Photoart
The Eight of Wands is a tarot card that symbolizes progress, movement, change, and new beginnings.
This card suggests that you are about to embark on a new journey or phase in your life.
Things are moving quickly, and you will need to be adaptable and flexible as you navigate this new terrain.
The card can also indicate air travel, which means if you are planning to go on a trip that requires air travel, then this card would most definitely show up in a reading.
But, before delving into this card, let's go over its history and appearance.
The Eight of Wands History And Appearance
The Eight of Wands' history can be traced back to early tarot decks, where it often appeared as a symbol of travel or messages being carried from one place to another.
When you look at this tarot card in the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, you will quickly see eight wands flying in the air.
They are flying in clear air, and you also see in the landscape in the background that there is a flowing river that represents movement with ease.
Now, let's go over what the Eight of Wands means in a reading.
What The Eight of Wands Means In A Reading
This card can represent new beginnings, fresh starts, and exciting changes.
If you see the Eight of Wands in a reading, it may be telling you that it's time to take some risks and go after your goals.
However, the Eight of Wands can also be a warning to beware of impulsiveness and rash decisions, which also depend on the other cards around it.
For example, if the Tower follows the Eight of Wands in a reading, or Death, then you will see the impulsive action would lead to destruction, loss, and unpleasant surprises.
However, if you are facing a decision or challenge, the Eight of Wands suggests that now is the time to take action and make a choice.
Trust in your instincts and have faith that everything will work out for the best. Whatever lies ahead, know that you have what it takes to succeed.
The card can also be a sign of good news, and whatever stagnation you endured will finally end.
I also believe that when you see the Eight of Wands, it is a sign that not only does a stagnating period end, but it is a sign that when it rains, it pours.
I can recall the day when I was fed up with not being able to find too many writing jobs several years ago.
I was getting worried as some clients no longer needed me.
Therefore, I needed to find other writing clients to replace those who no longer needed my services.
So I pulled the Eight of Wands one morning, and then I had about five different writing opportunities presented to me.
That right there shows that when it rains, it pours, and I was able to pick up more work.
Let's quickly review the numerological aspect of the previous numbers.
One or the Ace is the beginning. Two is balance or duality, three is growth, groups or creativity, and four is stability and structure.
And when you hit five, that represents chaos and upheaval, but six is about balance and harmony.
Seven is about being creative, making assessments, and problem-solving.
Now, the eight is about action, accomplishment, and mastery.
Let's now talk about this party situation that I mentioned before, starting with the Four of Wands episode.
Here is a recap. The Four of Wands represented the party.
The Five of Wands represented the disgruntled acquaintance who was not invited to crash it.
The Six of Wands meant removing the party-crasher and receiving support so that the party could resume.
Finally, the Seven of Wands represented the disgruntled acquaintance bumping into the host somewhere, warning them they would not hesitate to crash their future parties.
And therefore, the host felt the pressure to develop creative methods not to allow that to happen again.
Finally, the Eight of Wands in this situation represents the host of the party suddenly deciding to have an impromptu party again as they gathered up the party supplies in one shot.
Perhaps the motivation behind that was to have a sudden party where the buzz about it would not likely reach the disgruntled acquaintance they did not invite again.
Yep, what a party animal, right? That is a complete contrast to the life that Risa Green lives.
I cannot match this card to what Risa Green's life situation currently entails.
But that does not mean it won't happen if she is pushed enough to make some sudden changes.
For example, she could suddenly go no contact with her abusive and controlling parents or stop helping her neighbor out of the blue.
She could suddenly place her son, who she cannot take care of properly, in a care facility.
She could run to the lawyer to draw up divorce papers and finally leave Ron because neither of them is happy with one another.
They are married out of convenience.
Or, Risa could end up with a better job opportunity out of the blue, but that is not likely to happen.
So you have to look around for better opportunities for something like that to happen.
Also, Risa could suddenly realize that she had had enough of allowing her trauma and mental health issues to take over and begin to get therapy again.
She could suddenly start taking care of her physical health. There is no end to it in her case.
That is why Risa's situation matches the Eight of Wands in reverse.
Eight of Wands Reversed
When the Eight of Wands comes up in reverse, it can indicate encountering a delay that causes plenty of frustration.
You may also be resisting change that is inevitable to happen, but your resistance is causing delays.
There is a lack of forwarding movement. As you can see, that is Risa's situation. She is stagnating.
She does not go for help with her issues. Instead, she allows her family to take advantage of her.
She may have been presented when she should make some changes, but she refuses to do anything. She ignores the advice.
Therefore, she struggles and stagnates in her life, mainly by choice—you get the idea.
Now, let's go over how you can apply the Eight of Wands upright to your life.
How To Apply The Eight Of Wands Tarot Card To Your Life
This is an excellent motivational card to focus on if you are struggling to get started with something you have been putting off, or it can also help convince you to get some physical activity.
That is what I do. If I don't want to take my morning walk and get the dog out, all I do is look at this card, which is enough to convince me to get going.
So I would say this is an excellent card to look at if you need a kick in the tuchus. I find that for myself anyway.
Wouldn't it be funny if you had an Eight of Wands alarm clock, yeah, just what you need first thing in the morning? Nah! I don't think I would like that.
I need to wake up on my terms, within reason, of course, and I don't want to know from this card until I have had my coffee.
Next, I will go over the next card, the Nine of Wands, as that is a heavy card.
The Seven of Wands tarot card is a powerful and dynamic depiction of strength, determination, and success.
This card represents confidence in one's abilities and perseverance in the face of adversity.
Whether you face challenges in your personal or professional life, the Seven of Wands reminds you to remain steadfast and fight for what you believe in.
To draw on the energy of this card, it is crucial to maintain a positive outlook and stay focused on your goals.
With strength, courage, and conviction, anything is possible! Before getting into more detail about this tarot card, let's talk about its history and appearance.
The History And Appearance Of The Seven of Wands
The Seven of Wands has a long and rich history.
This card is thought to date back to the early 15th century.
It is believed to be derived from the game of chess.
The Seven of Wands is thought to represent the king's pawn. In chess, the king's pawn is the most powerful piece on the board.
This is symbolic of the seven of wands tarot card meaning. Now, let's talk about the card's appearance from the Rider-Waite-Smith deck.
You see a man on the hilltop with a wand in his hands as he fights off six other wands.
He is defending himself and his area and his achievements.
However, he is wearing two different shoes, which may mean he did not foresee the challenge he is now facing.
Now, let's talk about what this tarot card means when you get it in a reading.
What It Means To Get The Seven of Wands In A Reading
The Seven of Wands tarot card symbolizes strength, courage, and determination.
This card often represents situations where you must stand up for yourself or assert your beliefs despite opposition or adversity.
To truly harness the power of this card, you must have the confidence and conviction to face your challenges head-on and emerge victoriously.
Whether it's a professional rivalry or personal battle, the Seven of Wands remind you that we can overcome any obstacle in your path with hard work and unwavering perseverance.
Therefore, if you get the Seven of Wands tarot card in a reading, expect that there will be obstacles and challenges in your path.
The card can also indicate that whatever situation you are in will likely manifest as struggles and disagreements or tests and trials meant to help you grow and learn.
However, it also indicates that you have the strength and determination necessary to overcome these challenges.
If you keep your focus and stay true to your goals, you will ultimately emerge victorious from this period of adversity.
As you remember, the six is about restoring balance and harmony after dealing with the upheavals and chaos from the five.
Seven is about being creative and using your individuality to conquer anything else that disrupts the peace that the six represents.
Let's go back to that example of that party that someone was throwing which was indicated by the Four of Wands.
Then, that disgruntled acquaintance crashed it, shown by the Five of Wands. However, the Six of Wands represented the host and the guests, successfully getting rid of that acquaintance and even getting the cops involved.
Sure, that is a victory for them as they could restore that party. But, where does the Seven of Wands come into that?
Perhaps the party host bumped into the disgruntled acquaintance who threatened them they would do it again in a heartbeat.
Therefore, that makes the host mindful and even paranoid that they will have to face that again if they throw another party.
That means the host will have to create measures to ensure that does not happen again, including problem-solving and creativity.
The easiest thing to do would be to make sure that a future party announcement is discreet and find a creative way to do that, but word always gets around, which is why it is essential to create backup plans.
Now, let's see where Risa Green fits into that. Once again, Seven of Wands reversed is what represents Risa a lot more than upright, which I will get into in a bit.
She has no fight left in her, as you can see as she goes through the motions and allows others to walk on her.
Will she begin to once and for all advocate for herself? Will she be able to stand up for herself, rock the boat, and start breaking out of her echoism?
If she can do that, this card's position would represent her.
All I know is that when I advocate for myself and mental illness and the effects of trauma, I have had attacks of toxic positivity platitudes and judgment thrown at me.
And I cannot let it get to me, and I have to keep advocating.
Otherwise, the stigma regarding mental illness will never be broken, and I don't think it will ever completely disappear, unfortunately.
But it is softer than it used to be, which is good because it shows that so many people advocating for mental health do help.
In addition, there are more and more creative ways people do it, for example, through fun creative plays mental health advocates do on TikTok using songs and skits to send the message.
So now, let's talk about the Seven of Wands in reverse.
Seven of Wands Reversed
When the Seven of Wands comes up in reverse, it is a sign that you have given up.
You are exhausted. You have thrown in the towel because you are overwhelmed.
Often, that is a mistake, but there are other times when it is the best thing to do. Again, it depends on the situation you are facing.
As for the issue regarding Risa Green, you know that she gave up a long time ago fighting any fights.
She goes through the motions, and because of this, she has no hope of conquering anything in her life and enjoying anything at all.
She will keep struggling with her parents, her neighbor, and her son, not having a meaningful marriage, and working at an unsatisfying job that does not pay well.
That is because she has allowed her trauma and depression to take over, so she has no more fight in her. Now, let's talk about how you can apply this card in your life.
How To Apply The Seven of Wands To Your Life
The best thing to do is to think about what matters most in your life and expect that you will face some difficulties along the way as you fight for it.
And when you expect that, you can come up with solutions that can help you get through it and even win.
So, for example, if you are looking for a new job and you know that the role you want is competitive, you have to expect that you may not get the first job that you apply to for that reason.
And also, not to get down because you know there are many other positions to apply for, and you will find the right fit.
Therefore, when you know this is inevitable, you will need to find many resources that can help you excel at your job search and find methods to help you differentiate yourself from those competing with you, which are the other applicants.
The more you can do that, the higher the odds are that you will find a suitable position that is right for you.
However, you know there will be obstacles along the way, and as long as you expect that, you won't feel too defeated when you do not get the position you wanted, though disappointment is natural.
But you have to keep going regardless. Therefore, the next card to talk about will be the Eight of Wands!
Pixabay: AndrzejRembowski
The Six of Wands tarot card is all about victory and triumph.
This card represents a time when everything is coming together, and you can achieve your goals.
This is a great time to take risks and go after what you want, as you are likely successful.
Things are moving forward in a positive direction, so enjoy this time of success.
This is known as the victory card. Before delving too much into it, let's go over the appearance and history of the Six of Wands.
The Appearance And History Of The Six of Wands
This card traces its roots back to the early days of the tarot.
The Six of Wands was initially known as the "victory" card, as it still is, and it was used to represent the successful conclusion of a quest or journey.
However, over time, the Six of Wands came to be seen as a symbol of success in all areas of life, even if you did not necessarily win a game or conquer a quest.
When you look at the Six of Wands tarot card in the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, you will see a man wearing a victory wreath on his head.
He is also riding a white horse with decorations on it, and people are surrounding him cheering him on as they represent the public recognition by giving him accolades.
That horse he rides represents success, purity, determination, and strength.
As you can see, he is holding a wand with a wreath surrounding it to show how much he has achieved and how successful he was.
And he is proud to show others his accomplishments. Now, let's talk about what the Six of Wands means in a reading.
What It Means When You Get Six of Wands In A Reading
The Six of Wands tarot card is all about triumph and victory.
This card represents somebody who has overcome challenges and can now enjoy the fruits of their success.
If you see this card in a reading, good things are on the horizon for you.
For example, you may be about to achieve a long-term goal or complete a significant project.
Alternatively, the Six of Wands can indicate that you are about to receive some well-deserved recognition.
This could come in the form of a promotion at work or an award for your achievements.
Whatever the case, the Six of Wands is a positive sign that great things are coming your way.
It is a great card to see in a reading.
The Five of Wands is all about fights and chaos, and the Six of Wands is all about victory and success.
Remember that fives represent chaos and upheaval, and six represents harmony, equilibrium, and balance.
Do you remember the example of the disgruntled acquaintance who the host of the party did not invite crashing it during the Five of Wands episode?
Well, you could say that the Six of Wands could represent the host calling the cops on the one who crashed the party, and the cops took them away.
Additionally, the host of the party got a lot of support from their guests who helped to clean up any messes that happened during the incident.
There is a lot of satisfaction that comes with that part of the scenario.
That is because the gist of it is that the Six of Wands is all about winning the fight that the Five of Wands represented.
You could also say that the Six of Wands can also represent you acing a test that you thought you would fail.
Or, it could also represent you scoring a date with your crush. Whatever you consider being victorious is what this card represents.
And I will tell you, after breaking out of my echoism, and being able to start setting boundaries can feel victorious at times.
I am quite sure Risa Green would feel that way as well if she is able to find it within her to start setting them.
But I cannot think of any true examples of her relating to the Six of Wands at all since she does not believe she does anything right.
But who is to say it has never happened.
I am sure she has aced tests in her life.
And even though her marriage to Ron is not healthy, I am sure initially she was ecstatic to the point that anyone showed interest in her at all.
That was Ron who married her, as that would have made her feel victorious considering that she likely feared she would be alone, living with her parents for the rest of her life.
She also did move to her own home with Ron, which probably made her feel good at the time.
Therefore, if you wondered what you won in life too, chances are if you look deep within, you will find examples of where you did pretty well.
What about the Six of Wands reversed?
Six of Wands Reversed
When the Six of Wands is in reverse, it can mean falling from grace or allowing your ego to get in the way.
However, it can also mean achieving something you worked hard for such as a weight loss goal, and celebrating it privately.
You don’t want the world to know about it. You also have your definition of success.
Therefore, it is not all bad. But my favorite example of the former is a high school bully who believed that they were too good for anyone and failed badly in life. They never got a job other than working at a fast-food joint.
They could only afford a run-down apartment and often needed financial help from their family. I am not looking down at anyone who is in that situation, by the way.
Please do not think that I am. I know that times are tough for a lot of people and they may be in situations such as that because of it.
I am only using that as an example for someone who was a bully who thought they would be better than anyone else because of their ego getting in the way. And then, that ends up happening to them.
Now, let's go over how to apply this card to your life.
How To Apply The Six of Wands To Your Life
There is one easy way to apply this card to your life and that is by focusing on something that you want to achieve.
It can be a weight loss goal, or it can be you scoring the job you want, or scoring a date with someone who you had your eyes on for a long time.
The next time you are feeling down or unmotivated, take this card and have a good look at it, and remind yourself why you are going after these things.
You want to feel victorious. You want to win, and you want it to work out, but it takes effort to make those things happen.
You can also spend a few moments looking at the Six of Wands the next time you are wondering what you truly achieved in life because everyone needs those reminders from time to time.
The next card I will go over in the next episode is one that challenges this card, and that is the Seven of Wands, which means we will be halfway through this Minor Arcana suit!
Pixabay: Farmgirlmiriam
The Five of Wands tarot card represents conflict and struggle.
It often appears when you are faced with challenges or obstacles that require you to put in a lot of effort and energy to overcome.
However, these struggles can also be opportunities for growth and personal development, so it is essential not to give up or become discouraged during these times.
To navigate the Five of Wands successfully, staying focused on your goals and remaining confident in your abilities is essential.
With perseverance and determination, you can overcome any obstacles that come your way.
Before getting into more of the Five of Wands' meanings, let's go over the history and appearance of the card.
The History And Appearance of the Five of Wands
The Five of Wands appeared in the tarot cards in the 15th century, but the card's origins have not been known.
The card has been associated with conflict, competition, and struggle over time.
When you look at the Five of Wands tarot card from the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, you will see that five men are fighting with one another as they use their weapons and wands.
But you also see that the weapons and wands are not harming others.
The picture speaks of chaos as there is no purpose in the fight.
You see the men wearing different clothing representing their diverse backgrounds and beliefs.
Because of that, they cannot find common ground or a compromise.
That is a card of strife, as you know, and let's talk about what it means when you get this card in a reading.
What It Means When You Get The Five of Wands In A Reading
The Five of Wands tarot card is all about conflict and competition.
If you get this card in a reading, it indicates that there may be some unrest or disagreements in your near future.
This can be anything from a simple argument with a friend to a more serious dispute at work or in your personal life.
However, the Five of Wands also suggests that this discord is not necessarily bad.
On the contrary, it can often be a sign of progress.
After all, no one ever achieved anything significant without encountering a little bit of opposition.
So if you're currently facing some challenges, take heart, knowing that they could be leading you to something even better.
This card can also appear in a reading when you are experiencing a challenging situation or challenge that requires you to draw on your inner strength and resilience at the moment.
It is a reminder to dig into your resources and get some support to face it.
Despite its associations with strife and discord, many readers see the Five of Wands as a symbol of creativity and growth.
It can serve as an inspiration to keep moving forward in difficult times, no matter what obstacles lie in your path.
But, of course, that also depends on how you define it.
But most readers do see this card as all about discord and strife.
Here is an easy thing to envision.
You enjoy a dinner party, and everyone else around you is having so much fun. The Four of Wands represents that for all you know.
But then, a disgruntled acquaintance who is offended that the host did not invite them to that party shows up and crashes it.
That creates a lot of disharmony, strife, and anger.
That is the Five of Wands right there.
The four is about stability, and the five is about change and upheaval, which applies to all of the suits.
The chances are that almost everyone has been in a situation like that, as I was when a disgruntled frenemy crashed my engagement party. Oh yes, good times.
However, even though Risa Green can relate to the Five of Wands, since she has never had a real party, even her wedding was a small and quiet one, she does not know what it is like to anyone crash a party.
Perhaps she dreams about crashing parties.
She probably fantasizes about crashing her sister's parties since her sister has the upper hand compared to her.
Anyway, Risa knows all about strife and conflict.
When she explodes when her parents are pushing her, her mother hits her with a wooden spoon to stop her is an example of a Five of Wands scenario.
When she fights with her son while dressing or bathing him, that is also a Five of Wands scenario.
Risa is not only used to conflict, but she expects it, and that is also why she struggles the way she does.
Some aspects of the Five of Wands reversed also apply to Risa. Let's talk about the Five of Wands reversed.
Five of Wands Reversed
When the Five of Wands is in reverse, it indicates inner conflict, or it can mean that you are avoiding potential conflict.
It can also mean that you are releasing tension that has been built up once and for all.
The latter does not match Risa's situation at all.
But the former is true. She struggles with many inner conflicts, as anyone with mental illnesses or trauma-related disorders does.
Deep down, Risa knows that she should stand up for herself and stop allowing herself to let others cross whatever boundaries she has.
Perhaps she knows she needs to create more boundaries and clean up her life.
But at the same time, Risa has given up, which is why she has this inner conflict.
And that once again can be the case with anyone who struggles with mental illness.
I am also familiar with it, even in some cases like now.
Now, let's talk about how you can apply this card to your life for a good purpose.
How To Apply The Five Of Wands To Your Life
The best thing to do is to think about what battles to pick, and that is the best way to apply this card to your life.
Some battles are not worth it, and the ones that are, pursue them.
For example, if you have a friend or a partner who has a good heart but you find them a little too picky, it may get on your nerves, but as long as they are not being judgmental towards you in any way, it is best to not fight with them about their picky behavior.
Also, as mentioned, this card can be used to ignite your creative and passionate sides.
Of course, there are plenty of other tarot cards that can do that, such as the Ace of Wands.
However, this one will do. You may find this card more motivating in that case, but that is an idea for you.
Sometimes we need something to help us see the creative and passionate parts of us, and this card can help with that.
It may be better to use this card if you are going through a challenging time. Perhaps you need some creativity for problem-solving.
It gets you moving. The next card is a 180 from this one, which is the Six of Wands, and I will talk about that one next time!
Pixabay: vilandrra
The Four of Wands tarot is a representation of stability and security.
It suggests that you have everything you need to feel safe and secure.
This is a time of celebration and happiness, as you have achieved a sense of balance in your life.
The four wands also represent the four elements (fire, air, water, and earth), which means this is a time of harmonious energy flow.
Things are going well for you right now, so enjoy it!
First, let's talk about the history and appearance of this tarot card before delving into anything else about it.
The History And Appearance Of The Four Of Wands Tarot Card
The earliest known tarot deck was created in Italy in the 15th century, and the Four of Wands was one of the original tarot cards.
The tarot card has remained unchanged over the centuries, except for a few minor details here and there.
When you look at the tarot card, you see two happy people who are dancing, and they are celebrating.
They hold flowers, and you will see a lovely wreath with flowers and grapes connected to the four wands.
Those elements indicate your happiness once you achieve a significant milestone or accomplishment.
In the background of this card, you will see a family in front of a castle that represents the comfort and safety you have at home.
Now, let's go over what it means when you get the Four of Wands in a reading.
When You Get The Four Of Wands In A Reading
As you know, the Four of Wands tarot card represents a time of celebration, success, and happiness.
This is a time to enjoy the fruits of your labors and to revel in your accomplishments.
A special event or milestone may be celebrated, such as a wedding, graduation, promotion, or another significant achievement.
Whatever the case, this is a time to enjoy yourself and savor your good fortune.
Other people may play an essential role in your celebrations, whether friends, family, or colleagues.
The Four of Wands can also indicate a new beginning or phase in your life.
This may be moving to a new house or city, starting a new job or relationship, or simply starting a new adventure.
Whatever the case, you are ready to embrace change and start fresh.
The Four of Wands tarot card can also represent harmony and balance in your life.
This is when everything seems to be working out for you, and you can enjoy a sense of stability and peace.
Your relationships are strong, your finances are in order, and you generally feel good about yourself and your place in the world.
The Four of Wands tarot card can signify that things are finally looking up for you if you have been through a difficult period.
You may still have some challenges ahead of you, but you now have the strength and support to overcome them.
In a reading, the Four of Wands tarot card can indicate that you are about to experience a time of good fortune and happiness.
This is a time to enjoy your success and to celebrate your achievements.
You may be embarking on a new phase in your life, such as starting a new job or relationship.
Whatever the case, this is a time of positive change and growth.
When you have a mental illness or are struggling due to trauma, you are not going to see any Four of Wands stuff in your life.
So what is there is celebrate? What is stable? Where is the peace that you crave?
Those are the things that you may ask. And that is definitely the case with Risa Green.
If you were to ask her what she finds worth celebrating in her life, she would not know what to answer.
She thinks her life is one colossal failure.
But here is the thing, for you to move onto different areas of life, you have to achieve milestones, and she is no different.
I had said this before when I talked about her not thinking she had made any progress with anything in her life in other episodes.
However, if anyone moves away from home, and gets a job, regardless of whether or not they like it, those are milestones.
So, therefore, the Four of Wands would apply to those things.
Risa did attain those. She also married and had one child, and regardless of her mental health, no one can take that away from her.
So, even though her family situation is less than ideal, it does not matter. Those are milestones.
I do want to clarify that you do not need to get married and have kids to achieve a milestone to celebrate, as that is not what everyone wants to do.
Many people who choose to live a childfree or single life are fortunate enough to travel the world, as that is a significant thing to be proud of, and that makes me envious to think about lol.
Maybe one day I will reach such a significant milestone myself too. Only time will determine that.
Either way, if you had a large celebration such as a Sweet 16, 21st birthday party, engagement party, wedding, baby shower, 50th birthday bash, and you name it - or if you have been to those events, then you have related to this tarot card one way or another.
What about when the Four of Wands is reversed? Does that mean disappointment in those areas?
Not necessarily, and let's talk about that.
Four of Wands Reversed
The Reversed Four of Wands has several reasons, which are positive, negative, and neutral.
This card may represent that you want to have a personal or private celebration to reach a personal milestone such as a weight loss goal you attained.
You would not likely want to celebrate that with others.
Instead, you will just reward yourself, by buying a new pair of shoes, for instance.
This card's position can indicate also finding inner peace and self-acceptance after doing soul searching.
It can also mean a transition phase, such as moving to a different home or a new job.
But it can also mean there are conflicts with family members and friends, and you are keeping away from them.
Everyone has had this situation happen, some more than others.
I am not going to bore you with my experiences among those, but sometimes you cannot resolve those conflicts.
I will elaborate on that more when I talk about the next tarot card, but before that, let's talk about how you can apply the Four of Wands to your life.
How To Apply The Four of Wands To Your Life
I would say this is an excellent card to look at when you need some encouragement when it comes to you going after a goal such as weight loss.
It does not have to be in the reverse position.
You want to reach this milestone, and perhaps it can give you a bit of motivation, especially if you are tempted to indulge at a time when you are not planning it.
It can remind you to stay on course.
Also, if you need a reminder of the things you accomplished in life if you feel like a failure, this is an excellent card to grab and think deeply about all of the things you accomplished in your life, no matter how small they seem.
That can motivate you to do more in the future too.
Next, I will go over the next card which is pretty much all about the disruption of the Four of Wands, and that is the Five of Wands.
Pixabay: kinkate
The Three of Wands in the Minor Arcana is the card that rules expansion and foresight, and progress with the plan you had in place that you had made indicated by the Two of Wands.
However, there is also a consideration of more opportunities that can help with the expansion of the strategy that is current.
And then this has a better chance to reach the goal you had in mind, to attain.
Personally, I do not find this card particularly interesting or one that evokes emotions, but I will talk about it anyway.
So let's now talk about the history and appearance of the Three of Wands.
The History And Appearance Of The Three Of Wands
The history of the Three of Wands tarot card is fascinating.
It is believed to have originated in Italy during the Renaissance when tarot cards were first used for divination purposes.
At this time, the Three of Wands was known as the "Knight of Wands" and represented a young man embarking on a journey or quest.
Over time, the meaning of the Three of Wands has evolved to encompass more than just physical travel.
It now also represents inner journeys and personal growth.
So now, let's talk about the appearance of this card in the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck.
You see a man wearing red and green robes as is on a cliff.
His back is turned back, and he has these three wands anchoring in the ground, representing that he is committing to his plans.
He left the castle, which was his comfort zone, meaning he ventured out of it, which you saw in the Two of Wands.
He sees that three ships are sailing, which represents forward movement.
He looks at the sea and mountains, which represent the obstacles but opportunities coming his way.
Now, let's talk about what it means when you get the Three of Wands in a reading.
What It Means To Get The Three Of Wands In A Reading
The Three of Wands tarot card is all about potential and possibility.
This card suggests that you can achieve great things, but it will take some effort on your part.
The Three of Wands also indicate that you may need to take some risks to achieve your goals.
This is not a card that means you will automatically succeed, but it does mean that you have the potential to achieve success if you are willing to put in the work.
If you are currently facing challenges, the Three of Wands tarot card suggests that now is the time to focus on your goals and put forth the effort required to achieve them.
This is an optimistic card, so believe in yourself and your abilities and you will be able to achieve great things.
Another meaning of the Three of Wands tarot card is that it is often associated with exploration and adventure.
The three wands represent three different paths that can be taken in life, and the card usually signifies a time of choice and decisions.
So if you go back to the moving example spoken about in the Two of Wands episode, you will see that was the time to plan, but with the Three of Wands, you are actively selling and looking for a place to live simultaneously.
You have your real estate agent, they are showing your home, and at the same time, you are using their help, or the help of another agent to find a place to live.
And let's go to the mental health example.
You know that your mental health has not been great which is why you know it is the time to talk to your therapist with an action plan on how to manage your mental health indicated by the Two of Wands.
The Three of Wands is when you actively work on that plan as the objective is to achieve a better way to manage your mental health.
Risa Green briefly got to that point during the times when she was seeing her therapist but it did not stick around.
As usual, the Three of Wands reversed seems to be her life story.
Three of Wands Reversed
When the Three of Wands is reversed, it is indicative that the opportunities are still there for you, but you are not taking advantage of them because you are limiting yourself.
Maybe you don’t think you are capable of more than you can do. But you are losing out.
For example, you may be experiencing blockages in your creativity, which means your planning is halted, or there may be unexpected delays, which means it will take longer for you to attain your goal.
You have to wonder how often Risa made plans to do something, but because she does not believe in herself, she did not go through it.
I know during my echoist days, I did the same thing.
I would see opportunities to grab, but I backed away when it was time to take action.
At times when I started my freelance writing business, I thought about creating products, and even made plans to do so with potential joint venture partners.
However, when it was time to start taking action, I found excuses not to go ahead with them.
That is definitely a Three of Wands reversed type of situation.
How can you apply the Three of Wands to your life?
How To Apply The Three of Wands To Your Life
The gist of it is not to do what I did out of fear.
When you are in the planning stage indicated by the Two of Wands, then take full of advantage of turning it into something by taking action shown by the Three of Wands.
Therefore, the best thing you can do is not hesitate to take action and go past the planning stage of anything.
Or, if there is a particular path you want to take, but you fear it because you don't know if others around you will approve, then you know this is your life.
Keep this card with you to remind you to take the path you want to take, such as a religious or spiritual path.
One that you did not grow up with, as you know that your family would disapprove if you took a different direction.
Those are the main ways to apply the Three of Wands to your life.
The next card I find more interesting is the Four of Wands, which I will discuss next time!
Pixabay: Pexels
The Two of Wands in the Minor Arcana of the tarot brings the creative idea from the Ace of Wands to create an action plan.
You are at a phase where you must figure out how to carry out your plan. This means you have to make many decisions along the way and plan for the future.
As you do your planning, you will make discoveries that will help you know exactly what you want to manifest.
Let's now go over the history and the appearance of the Two of Wands tarot card.
History And Appearance Of The Two Of Wands
The history of the Two of Wands tarot card is believed to date back to the 15th century when it first appeared in tarot decks.
The card was initially known as The Lord of Dominion, representing someone in charge of their own life.
In the 18th century, the card's meaning began to change, and it came to represent change itself.
The Two Wands in the card were seen as two different paths that a person could take, and the figure in the card was seen as someone who was choosing between those two paths.
Today, the Two of Wands is still seen as a card representing change, but it's also seen as a card representing two different aspects of our lives coming together.
When you look at the Two of Wands from the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, you see a man wearing a red robe and a hat holding a tiny globe.
That means the world is in his hands, so that means he has the potential to do great things, but he has to manifest that.
He is in his castle, and even though the world is in his hands, he is in his court because he is not quite ready to leave his comfort zone.
That means he is still planning what he wants to do. His hand is on a wand, and the other rod is tied to the castle wall, which means he is not ready to expand his horizons.
But you can see in the background that there is a fertile land even though it has a rocky appearance.
It shows his potential to do well even with the obstacles that may come his way. So let's see what getting the Two of Wands tarot card in a reading means.
What The Two Of Wands Means In A Reading
When it comes to the Two of Wands tarot, there are a few things that you should know.
For starters, this card is all about balance and cooperation. In a reading, the Two of Wands can represent any partnership - whether it be business, romantic, or platonic.
Therefore, this card encourages you to find harmony in your relationships and to work together towards common goals.
The Two of Wands can also suggest that you are at a crossroads in your life and must make an important decision.
This is a card of choices and consequences - whatever you decide. You must be sure that you are ready to face the repercussions.
The Two of Wands reminds you that you are the masters of your destiny and must be confident in your abilities if you want to achieve success.
If you see the Two of Wands in a reading, it is a sign that you are currently in power.
You can make your dreams a reality - but you must be willing to put in the hard work. This is a time to seize the opportunity and to take risks.
Trust your instincts, and go after what you want. The Two of Wands is a reminder that you are capable of great things - so don't be afraid to reach for the stars.
The gist of it is that the Two of Wands is a card where you need to make decisions and do some planning, but you are not ready to take action yet.
For example, you are thinking of moving because you feel it is time to move into a larger home or move to a new location.
Although, after all, there may be more opportunities there, then the Two of Wands thing to do is to not jump into it but to begin exploring what is involved in making a huge commitment.
You will talk to real estate agents about your options and if moving is genuinely the correct thing for you to do.
You will go with the real estate agent you trust the most as developing a relationship with the right one is the key to taking the next step of action, which is moving.
That means it would be the time to stage your home to do showings, and eventually, the right individual will buy your home, and then you will be ready to take some next steps.
And you have to remember, if you pull the Two of Wands, you can plan all you want.
It does not mean that the plan will pan out or manifest the way you want. But you are closer to taking action with this card than with the Ace of Wands.
And you can look at this card from a mental health perspective. For example, suppose you are not managing your mental illness, such as depression or anxiety, as it gets the best of you.
However, you feel there is motivation to handle it, which would have been indicated through the Ace of Wands.
In that case, the Two of Wands thing to do is to make that difficult decision to talk to your care provider and create a treatment plan of action.
Therefore, when you look at an example regarding Risa Green, when she was in college, a counselor told her they were concerned about her mental health.
That is when they said to her that she needed therapy. So even though Risa was not the one to initiate going to therapy herself, she did agree to do it as that is never an easy choice to make.
So that is one example of how the Two of Wands played a role in her life. However, she did not stick with therapy and did not continue to take the prescribed medication for depression.
But her agreeing to go is an example of this card. But you can see, as usual, that the Two of Wands, in many ways, represents Risa's life more often than not.
Two of Wands Reversed
When the Two of Wands is in reverse, it indicates the fear of the unknown, so, therefore, you are at a standstill because fear paralyzes you.
That is even though you have your new idea. You may also be rushing to go after your goal without the proper planning needed for it to pan out.
The former part of this card's position's meaning fits Risa a lot more.
She does not do anything to help her marriage, stand up to her parents, stand up to her neighbor, and do anything about her son's future care because the fear of the unknown paralyzes her.
She probably knows, deep down, that she must do these things, but her echoism is so strong as her traumatic past takes over to the point that she has no clue how to respond in other ways than using the fawn response.
However, aside from that, if you think you want to do something, and you don't do enough planning and take immediate action, that is another way that the Two of Wands reversed comes up.
That can mean that you take on a job that would be the wrong fit because the idea of it sounds exciting.
That also means you do not read the contract carefully, but you sign it anyway, and then once you are in it, you regret every bit of it! You did not read the agreement carefully, and you did not think it through since you jumped in too soon.
Either scenario fits the Two of Wands in reverse, and you do not want to do that. So how can you apply the Two of Wands upright to your life?
Applying The Two Of Wands To Your Life
The bottom line is that applying this tarot card means you need to plan for something you want to do very carefully, make an important decision, or develop more of a report with someone.
When you want to apply this card to your life, you want to ensure that you do not go reverse.
That means never sign anything before reading it over carefully. If the plan you want to make involves a large life tan enormous or investment such as moving, you want to avoid rushing into it and carefully plan for all of it.
The card is also an excellent reminder to not become paralyzed in fear if you're going to do something, but fear prevents you from doing it.
For example, if you want to begin writing a novel, commit to starting if that is what you genuinely want to do.
Plan for a start date, and begin to brainstorm some ideas. If you feel that fear is holding you back from any of that, take the Two of Wands card and keep it with you to remind you to plan to take action on this!
The next card I will go over will take things a step further: the Three of Wands!
Pixabay: Katya_Ershova
The Minor Arcana represent the mundane, day-to-day aspects of life. There are four suits: Wands, Swords, Cups, and Pentacles.
The first suit that I will cover is the Wands suit. Wands are associated with the fire element, and this is what rules passion, energy, creativity, and motivation.
The Ace of Wands is a tarot card that symbolizes new beginnings, creativity, and endless potential.
This is a card of inspiration, enthusiasm, and determination. If you are stuck in a rut, the ace of wands suggests it's time to take some risks and venture out into the unknown.
This is a card of courage and adventure. Now, let's go over the history and appearance of the Ace of Wands.
The History And Appearance Of The Ace Of Wands
The Ace of Wands first appeared in tarot decks in the 15th century. The Ace of Wands was often associated with nature, fertility, and new life.
Later on, the Ace of Wands came to be seen as a more general symbol of hope and potential.
For example, if you look at the Ace of Wands tarot card from the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, you will see a hand holding a wand, and you see it extending to the cloud, which represents a new opportunity on the horizon.
You also see the landscape around it that shows the growth potential. And there is a castle in the distance on the left, which shows the potential for new opportunities.
But if you see the mountains, you will know that they are there are they indicate that there will always be obstacles.
However, you can conquer them with a plan and with effort. Now, let's talk about what it means when you get the Ace of Wands in a reading.
What It Means When You Get The Ace Of Wands In A Reading
If you get this card in a reading, you have the power to create your reality. You can use your creativity to manifest your desires and bring about positive change in your life.
The Ace of Wands also suggests that now is the time to take action on your dreams and goals.
Trust your intuition and go after what you want. It would be best if you pursue your goals with confidence and vigor.
You may find that the ideas are flowing into you when it comes to creating something new, and you feel inspired to start something brand new.
And if you happen to be wanting to begin something, but you are feeling doubtful whether or not you should, this card is a sure sign that you should go for it.
But, of course, you can always start small. You can always make adjustments on the way.
For example, perhaps you feel now is a good time to write a novel. And maybe this is something you have been thinking of doing for a long time.
But you may not know how to start or what you should do to begin. So if this card comes up, it is a sign that you need to go for it, and now is the time to do that.
And remember something. If you are unsure how to begin, there are online writing courses to take that can help you move along your path.
However, there is something to remember. Just because the Ace of Wands tells you that this is an excellent time to begin something, it will not be guaranteed to succeed.
You may start writing the novel, but you may find that you lose your mojo along the way, for example.
Or, you may find that you don't think about how the novel manifests, so you may want to redo it.
The Ace of Wands is that spark! That spark to start something or an opportunity is coming your way. But there is enthusiasm tied to this card.
Since this card has to do with energy, passion, and sparking your enthusiasm, you may think that Risa Green has never had Ace of Wands moments.
She may be struggling with her mental health, burnout, and life in general, but that does not mean she has never had moments relevant to this card.
First, you have to have some degree of motivation to go to college as she did.
You have to have some motivation and inspiration to find a partner to marry, as she did, and start a family.
If you feel you are in a similar situation as Risa and you question whether or not you have ever had that kind of motivation and inspiration that the Ace of Wands represents, chances are you have.
Otherwise, you would have never worked. You would have never gone to get a post-secondary education or even had the desire to go right to work if you skipped that part.
In addition, you would have never lived on your own or away from home.
So there have definitely been times when this card has influenced everyone at one time or another, even if you feel like you can't find your mojo now.
At times, you may feel that the Ace of Wands in reverse is more fitting to you when you struggle to find the motivation to do anything.
Ace Of Wands In Reverse
When the Ace of Wands comes up in reverse, it can represent that you have a new idea.
However, there is no direction with it. It is emerging, but you cannot figure out what you can do with it.
It can also represent a new idea you like, but you are too distracted to focus.
Or you may have a creative idea, but you cannot act on it due to delays.
Perhaps you just struggle to get motivated. Everyone can relate to the Ace of Wands in reverse at one time or another.
And that is not only the case with those who struggle with mental illnesses, as that can definitely cause you to struggle to get motivated.
Anyone can. If you are not feeling particularly inspired for whatever reason, that is what this card position represents.
You may really want to do something, and let's go back to the novel example. You may want to write a novel, but you can't bring yourself to take action on it.
I have to say I am feeling that right now too. I have some things I want to create, but right now, I don't have the energy for them.
I am chalking it up to the fact that the timing is not right yet. So let's see how you can use the Ace of Wands in your life.
How To Apply The Ace Of Wands In Your Life
I would not suggest doing so if there is something you want to do, but you don't have the wrong desire or drive to do it.
I would say focus on that when you are truly ready. That is why I am not focusing on creating anything new right now.
However, if there is something you do what to start or go after, and you do have the motivation to start, but fear may be holding you back, then that is the time to apply that card.
Maybe take the Ace of Wands each morning, focus on it, and think about the things you want to start so you can get the inspiration.
For example, perhaps you want to start a new eating lifestyle, and you may feel you need some more motivation to start.
Maybe you want to create a new art project or even look for a new job that could bring you more opportunities.
Those are the times to focus on that card. Next, I will go over the Two of Wands!
Pixabay: WikiImages
The World is a tarot card that symbolizes completion, success, and accomplishment.
This card can represent the outcome of a situation or the journey's end.
It can also indicate that you have reached a point of knowledge and understanding.
It is the highest point in the Major Arcana and suggests that you have got a significant milestone in your journey.
This card signifies that you have achieved all you set out to do and are now ready to move on to new challenges.
The History And Appearance Of The World Tarot Card
The World is a tarot card that has been used for centuries to tell the future.
The origins of the World tarot card are unclear, but it is believed to date back to ancient Egypt.
The World tarot card is often used in divination and fortune-telling, and it can represent several different things depending on the context in which it is read.
When you look at the World tarot card from the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, you see a naked woman dancing in a large laurel wreath with a purple cloth.
She is looking behind her, representing her past as she physically moves forward, defining her future.
She has two wands in her hands, as it is the same one that the Magician holds.
That symbolizes the creation she made, shown by the Magician, is now completed.
The wreath symbolizes the cycle, and as she steps through the wreath, she completes the cycle and is ready to start a new one.
As you can see, the creatures surrounding the wreath, a lion, a cherub, a bull, and an eagle, represent the four fixed signs, Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius.
These are the exact figures on the Wheel of Fortune tarot card. Both cards represent cycles, and those figures represent the four seasons, four compass points, and the corners of the Universe.
What The World Tarot Card Means In A Reading
The World tarot card can be positive or negative depending on the context in which it appears.
It is good if the World tarot card appears in a reading with other positive cards.
However, if the world tarot card appears with other negative cards, it may indicate problems or difficulties ahead.
The World tarot card can also represent new beginnings, as it signals a time of transition and change.
This is a time to celebrate your accomplishments and start fresh with new goals.
Trust that you have the strength and knowledge to achieve anything you set your mind to.
Whether you see the World tarot card as a sign of success or a new beginning, it is a promising card that heralds good fortune as long as the surrounding cards support that.
So embrace the change and growth coming your way, and have faith in your ability to create the life you desire.
The World tarot card can also suggest that you are coming to terms with something.
It is a reminder to stay optimistic, even when things seem harsh.
The World tarot card signifies that good things are ahead as long as the surrounding cards support that, so long as you maintain your faith and keep moving forward.
Finally, the World tarot card can represent a turning point if you have been going through a tough time.
This is a sign that things are about to get better and that you will soon be able to put your struggles behind you.
Have hope that better days are on the horizon, and trust that you have the strength to make it through to the other side.
And here is the thing regarding this tarot card and those who struggle with low-self esteem.
Those who struggle with low self-esteem don't think they accomplish anything. But here is the thing, they do it because everyone does in one way or another.
And those who have low self-esteem because of trauma or any other mental illness lose sight of that.
They think they don't accomplish anything because they are not happy with their lives.
However, graduating from high school and going to college right after is an example of the World.
Even if you did not graduate from high school or go to college, the World also applies to going straight to work and skipping college altogether.
It is all about ending cycles and starting new ones. That is an example.
Everyone can think of things in their lives that they have accomplished if they look deeply into them.
I don't particularly appreciate how a lot of my life turned out either, but that does not mean I did not accomplish other things and move on to the following cycles.
That even applies to Risa Green. It is not like she did not finish school, stayed home to live with her parents, never got married, had her own family, and didn't work.
She still did achieve those things, so the World tarot card does apply to her.
However, she is undoubtedly unhappy with how her life has turned out even though she is not making changes to it.
And that is the truth with those who often have untreated mental illnesses. So the World in reverse does tend to fit in as well.
The World Tarot Card In Reverse
When the World tarot card appears reversed, it may suggest that you are not seeing the big picture.
For example, you may be feeling lost or confused.
Alternatively, the reversed world tarot card may represent a situation that is not yet complete or even a failure.
Everyone has had to deal with the World in reverse at some point in their lives because if you have never failed anything, you clearly are not human.
But so many are lost and confused and cannot see the big picture, especially when they are disappointed with how something turned out.
again, many of those who struggle with mental illnesses will, unfortunately, see life through that lens.
So how can you apply the World tarot card to your life?
Applying The World Tarot Card To Your Life
There are two things you can do.
First, the next time you doubt how much you have accomplished in life, take the World card, focus on it, and think about what you graduated from or completed.
Start with elementary school, then high school, driving school, and finishing those cycles and getting a job, leaving a job, and starting a new one.
Then you will see what you have accomplished and completed.
Also, if you want to complete something and start something new, such as a course you are taking that you are not fond of but need to take to get onto the next level - take the World tarot card with you and focus on that.
Also, know that you will complete that course or a phase of your life to move on to the next one.
The World tarot card will serve as a good reminder that you will finish up a course, a phase, or something else you don't like as it will not go on forever as nothing does.
And a new phase will begin when it is time. That completes the World and the Major Arcana.
A Quick Introduction To The Minor Arcana
A tarot deck has 78 cards which consist of the Major and Minor Arcana cards.
While the 22 cards in the Major Arcana represent significant events in one's life, the 56 Minor Arcana cards reveal everyday difficulties or joyful or neutral moments in life.
The 56 cards of the Minor Arcana have four suits: the Pentacles, Cups, Wands, and Swords.
Each suit is represented by graphics symbolizing the four elements of nature - air, earth, fire, and water.
Here is some information on Tarot card individual meanings, specifically the Minor Arcana cards.
This will help you gain some knowledge of this fascinating subject and learn more about yourself.
Let's start with the Wands suit. This suit is associated with fire and represents growth, glory, enterprise, energy, and animation.
The greenwood with a few live twigs, as seen in the illustration on the cards of this suit, signifies growth.
The Wands can be interpreted as staff carrying the victor's crown or as clubs used in combat. Wands also represent concepts, creation, and agriculture.
The club suit in today's playing cards owes its origin to the wands.
Now, let's talk about the Swords suit. The Tarot card's meanings represented by the Swords suit are aggression, ambition, courage, misfortune, and force.
This can be interpreted by the illustrations showing people in combat or with heads bowed down in adversity.
The Swords also represent action, both good and bad. This suit is associated with air and is the forerunner of the spade suit in today's playing cards.
Then there is a Cups suit. Cards in this suit represent water and reveal happiness, emotions, beauty, and fertility.
The Tarot card's meanings defined by the Cups can also reveal aspects of the subconscious mind and human instinct, not the conscious mind and reasoning.
Finally, the heart suit owes its origin to the cups in a standard deck of playing cards.
Finally, there is the Pentacles suit, which represents material gain.
Money and industry are defined by this suit and associated with the earth.
The Pentacles are the coin-like discs that carry pentagram inscriptions seen as the five-pointed stars in the cards.
Except for the Five Pentacles, the cards in this suit show people reaping the fruits of their labor.
In ancient times, people wore pentagrams to protect themselves from evil. The diamond suit of today's playing cards has evolved from the pentacles.
The next step in this podcast is to begin going over the Wands suit in the Minor Arcana, and the next episode will be covering the Ace of Wands.
Pixabay: Kareni
The Judgment tarot card is one of the most powerful cards in the tarot deck. It represents rebirth, new beginnings, your inner calling, and absolution.
You can interpret this tarot card differently, but it always points to a significant life event or change.
Also, the Judgment tarot card is all about making decisions and taking action.
This card represents the need to make a choice or take action to move forward.
Now, let's talk about the image and the history of the card.
The History And Image Of Judgment
There is the belief that the Judgment tarot card originated in the 15th century, a game of minchiate, which is a sister to the tarot.
In this deck, a trump card had an angel playing the trumpet.
Also, instead of the mountains in the background, there was a cityscape instead.
The card represented fame at the time, but over the centuries, features of that card evolved into the Judgment card in different decks, including the Marseille tarot, Golden Dawn, and eventually the Rider-Waite-Smith deck.
The main image on the Judgment card in the Rider-Waite-Smith deck shows an angel blowing a trumpet, a symbol of announcing something important.
In addition, the people in the picture are rising from their graves, representing the need to face the past to move forward into the future.
The landscape has mountains that represent hardships and obstacles.
Therefore, the dead are coming back to face troubles from the past to put them behind them and move forward.
Now, let's go over what it means when you get the Judgment tarot card in a reading.
What It Means When You Get The Judgment Tarot Card In A Reading
If you see the Judgment tarot card in a reading, it indicates that something significant is about to happen in your life.
This could be a joyous event, such as a promotion or the birth of a child.
Or, it could be an adverse event, such as the loss of a job or the end of a relationship.
Either way, the Judgment tarot card suggests that you will be facing a significant life change.
But, of course, what will happen depends on the surrounding cards.
The Judgment tarot card can also represent coming to terms with a past event.
For example, if you have been through a traumatic experience, such as a divorce or the death of a loved one, the Judgment tarot card suggests that you are finally ready to move on.
If you see the Judgment tarot card in a reading, it is crucial to listen to your intuition.
The decisions you make at this time will have a significant impact on your future. So trust your gut and follow your heart.
The Judgment tarot card suggests that you are about to embark on a new chapter in your life.
It means to go with your calling, as your intuition will lead you to that.
Here is an example of the Judgment coming through for someone struggling with mental health issues and addictions.
When you hit rock bottom, whether you have lost everything because of an out-of-hand addiction or realize that you have hit rock bottom because you lost your friends, your family has left you.
You have nothing left. Then the Judgment will come to you screaming. You have nowhere to go but up.
Then you will know you have to reach out for help.
It is scary, but the only way to control it is to reach out.
The same goes if you have a mental illness to the point it is taking over your life, such as depression.
If your depression is not controllable and you have lost your job, you cannot pay your bills, and you struggle to get out of bed to go to the bathroom, you will have the Judgment coming to you telling you that you need to do something to get it under control.
When you realize you have hit rock bottom and know you must do the scary thing to reach out, it is the only way you can get your life back and work to manage your depression.
So, knowing that you have hit rock bottom and want to do something to climb up is the Judgement.
Another example of the Judgment card is when someone used to bully others back in their youth but ended up having a child bullied all of the time.
That individual will experience a significant ah-ha moment realizing that they used to do horrible things to others the same way that horrendous things are being done to their kid.
Therefore, they may become an advocate against bullying.
Personally, even though I am not saying this kind of thing is not possible, I have not seen it.
Yet, I know that those bullies I knew have not changed.
I still hear something through the grapevine. Anyway, I am not going to get into that.
But I just thought of an example of the Judgment coming through to someone.
Do you remember that minister who was once a KKK Imperial Wizard?
Johnny Lee Clary. He had some awakening and went from a KKK leader to an advocate against racism and discrimination.
Unfortunately, he passed away years ago, but he used to travel worldwide to do anti-racism and pro-love and acceptance speeches.
So, therefore, when you think of the Judgment tarot card, you can picture Johnny Lee Clary.
And as you know, Risa Green, based on how poorly she is handling her trauma and depression, her inability to stand up for herself and get honest and authentic with her marriage indicates Judgment has not come to her.
Let's not forget to add that she is not planning for her son's care and does not take care of her health are other signs.
You would think that she has hit rock bottom based on how severely burned out she is while she keeps sacrificing her well-being to serve others who do not appreciate her.
And the thing is, with some people, Judgment never enters their lives, even if you think they have hit rock bottom.
Perhaps if Risa develops significant health issues, that may do it? It is hard to say. She represents Judgment in reverse.
Judgment In Reverse
The Judgment in reverse can represent stagnation, which is Risa's case.
It can also represent poor judgment that could also be hasty and self-doubt.
It can also mean being illogical. Judgment in reverse can also describe a love-is-blind situation where you are in love with someone who is up to no good and someone who abuses you.
Everyone else around you sees that your partner is abusing you and is not a nice person.
But you don't, because love is blind, right?
The Judgment card goes upright in situations such as that when the blinders come off.
Sometimes spending time away from the partner will cause that to happen, or the partner will do something so heinous that it forces the blinders off.
So many people understand how that is.
So let's talk about how you can use Judgment in your life.
How You Can Apply Judgment In Your Life
Firstly, that is hard to do because the one thing to do when you apply this card is to pay attention to your calling.
It may not necessarily be career-related.
Perhaps you know intuitively that you need to change an aspect of your life that will potentially strain your relationships.
However, if you know that you want to change a habit because you want to be a better mom or spouse, your friends will not accept it if you do.
So you have to prepare yourself for being alone for a while until you can meet some like-minded people to support you in your new journey.
For example, perhaps you realized that you need to change your eating habits because your parent, who ate the same way you do, ended up having a heart attack.
You will realize that the chances of that happening to you could be higher since it is not only likely genetic, but you don't eat well, so you want to be around for your kids and your spouse.
In addition, if you change yourself to adopt healthier habits, you will likely lose some friends.
They won't understand why you won't hang with them for dinner outings as much, and it may bug them that you are choosing health over them.
That is one way to apply this card to your life.
But more often than not, when you do use it, for whatever reason, you will find out who your true friends are.
Prepare yourself that you may be alone for some time when you start making significant changes to the point you are transforming.
In the next one, I will be talking about the last Major Arcana card, the World or the Universe.
I also plan to talk a little about the Minor Arcana and start with the Wands suit. I will elaborate more on that next time.
Pixabay: andalusian
The Sun is the 19th tarot card associated with happiness, vitality, and optimism.
This card is often interpreted as a sign of good things, such as success, new opportunities, and positive change.
It can also represent self-confidence, courage, and determination.
The Sun symbolizes growth, life, and energy, so the sun tarot card can also indicate that you are about to embark on a new phase in your life.
Now, let's talk about the history and appearance of the Sun card.
The History And Appearance of The Sun Tarot Card
The Sun first appears in tarot decks during the Renaissance. At this time, the Sun was seen as a powerful symbol of the divine.
Therefore, the sun card was often used to represent God, or the sun god, Apollo.
The Sun card has undergone many changes over the years.
Today, it is often seen as an optimistic card.In the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck, you will see that the card depicts a scene of a nude child riding a white horse while carrying a red flag.
The child and white horse represent happiness, purity, and innocence.
The Sun shines brightly in the sky behind them, representing the dawn of a new day or a new beginning.
However, it also means life on earth, and you will see that four sunflowers are growing above the brick wall underneath the Sun.
Those sunflowers represent the suits in the Minor Arcana and the elements that tie to them.
The Minor Arcana consists of the Swords suit, which correlates with the air element, Cups, which links with water, Wands associated with fire, and Pentacles connected with earth.
Now, let's talk about what it means when the Sun card comes up in a reading.
What It Means When The Sun Tarot Card Comes Up In A Reading
If you are experiencing a difficult time, the Sun tarot card can signify that better days are on the horizon.
This is a card of hope and happiness, so trust that things will eventually get better.
Have faith in yourself and your ability to overcome any obstacle.
The Sun tarot card is a reminder that you have the power to create your happiness.
When the Sun tarot card appears in a reading, it is often a sign that your hard work will pay off.
You may have been through a challenging time recently, but things are finally starting to look up.
This is a time to celebrate your accomplishments and enjoy the fruits of your labor.
The Sun tarot card is a reminder to savor the good times, as they will eventually end.
The Sun tarot card can signify that things will eventually get better if you go through a tough time.
This is a card of hope and happiness, so trust that things will improve.
Have faith in yourself and your ability to overcome any obstacle.
The Sun tarot card is a reminder that you have the power to create your happiness.
Things may be tough now, but better days are on the horizon.
Here is the thing, for those who struggle with depression, whether it is Major Depressive Disorder, Situational Depression, or what have you, it is hard to see that the Sun will ever come up.
And that is also accurate with Seasonal Affective Disorder which primarily affects those in the winter who live in colder climates because that is when the Sun is present.
The Sun does help your mental health. Then again, I have heard of some people experiencing depression during the summer.
According to WebMD, it is pretty common, and Dr. Ian Cook, the director of the Depression Research Program at UCLA, said a biological cause for depression in some people.
And for others who struggle during the hottest and sunniest time of the year, the stresses that come with summer can add to that.
So even though the sun shining can be good for your mental health, other aspects of the summer can cause depression in some people.
However, aside from that, those who struggle with depression struggle to see that the Sun will ever come up for them.
And you can say that is the case with Risa Green. Aside from the trauma, she struggles with.
She struggles with depression. Perhaps that is why she does not even want to attempt to work on managing her trauma and improving her life.
She does not see the point. The Sun is absent in her life.
She had a chance to improve her life, stick with her therapy, and keep taking her medication, which may have given her a few rays of sunshine.
However, she made it clear she was not interested.
And that is the thing with so many people who struggle with depression.
The motivation to look at silver linings and do something to help alleviate depressive symptoms, such as exercising, eating healthy food, limiting processed food such as sugar, and limiting the booze intake, is nonexistent.
When it comes to depression, there has to be a reason for someone who suffers from it to find it within them to become motivated.
Burnout and trauma will hinder that. That is the case for Risa, which was the case for me when I was at the height of my burnout.
And those who struggle with depression, including Risa, fit with the Sun in reverse as they do not resonate with the upright position.
Sun In Reverse
When the Sun comes in reverse, it indicates low vitality, false impressions, lack of clarity, disappointment, and sadness.
Something that appeared promising turned out to be disappointing.
As you can see, that fits Risa Green well and anyone who struggles with depression.
I also think of the Sun in reverse as being sleep-deprived as that will suck the life of you if you go so long without getting enough sleep.
That can also be a symptom of depression, and not getting enough sleep can cause depression or worsen it.
And everyone is going to have days when the Sun is in reverse.
Even the most upbeat people will have days like that because it is very human to experience that.
So now, let's talk about applying the Sun to your life.
How To Apply The Sun Tarot Card To Your Life
I am not here to tell you to use the Sun card when grieving or in one of those moods because you need to process those emotions before doing so.
But here is the thing. If there is something that you want to achieve, and you know in your heart that you will get it, then I would say look at the Sun card daily to remind yourself that as long as you keep working at whatever it is that you want, then you will get it.
Also, if you are in a mood but want to raise your spirits, that is the card to look at, which is something that I do from time to time.
Sometimes it helps. Other times, not so much.
And when it doesn't help, you should not force it and keep allowing yourself to feel what you need to feel!
Next, I will go over the second last card in the Major Arcana, another card that can be confusing to people, which is Judgment.
Pixabay: photo-graphe
The Moon tarot card is the 18th card of the Major Arcana. It signifies intuition, dreams, and imagination.
This card can represent fear or insecurity, indicating potential growth.
However, it can also mean dishonesty, illusions, and things not as they seem.
It can also describe everything hidden, as well as your shadow self.
It is one of the most confusing cards in Major Arcana.
Let's go over the appearance and history of the Moon tarot card before delving into it further.
The History And Appearance Of The Moon Tarot Card
The Moon card has been around for centuries, and its history is steeped in legend and mythology.One of the earliest references to the Moon tarot card is found in a book called The Key of Solomon, which was written in the 1400s.
The Moon card is referred to as the Sister of the Sun and is associated with creativity, intuition, and deception in the book.
If you look at the Moon tarot card in the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck, you see a Full Moon in the sky in the background.
The Moon is between two tall towers as the Moon symbolizes intuition and anything in the subconscious, including dreams.
Since the light of the Moon is dim compared to the Sun, it only lights up the path between the two towers a little.The ground contains a tiny pool representing the subconscious mind and a crayfish coming out, which means the conscious is beginning to unfold.
There is also a dog and a wolf standing in the grassy area, representing aspects of your mind that are tame and wild.
Now, let's look and see what the Moon means in a reading.
The Moon Tarot Card In A Reading
In a reading, The Moon can suggest that it's time to listen to your intuition and trust in your instincts.
You may be experiencing some emotional turbulence, but this is only a temporary phase.
Trust that things will eventually calm down, and you'll find your way again.
The Moon is also a sign of transformation, so be prepared for some changes in your life. These may not be comfortable or easy, but they will lead to growth in the long run.
It also can mean that issues from the past are clouding your present life, and there is a lot of fear causing you not to do things in the present that stem from the past.
But, again, that is because of all the negative stuff from trauma and negative past experiences, causing fear to get in the way.
This is a card that you would associate with PTSD and C-PTSD, as you would be fearful of doing so many things if it brings you back so many traumatic memories.If you have childhood trauma or any trauma, I don't have to tell you that even after one incident.
And there is a lot to talk about regarding Risa Green and the Moon, but before I get into that, I will go over other scenarios where the Moon tarot card comes in.The Moon is associated with illusions and anything fake or not what it seems. It is related to something too good to be true.
For example, you can imagine this being the case when it comes to catfishing.
You are ready to go out there and begin dating, and when you join a dating app and create a profile.
You find someone on there who looks like a potential match for you.
You talk to that individual, and they seem pretty good, and they are really good-looking.They show a lot of interest in you, share fascinating things about themselves, and want to learn more about you.
However, each time you talk about meeting, that individual finds excuses not to meet you.
So think about it, if someone shows interest but does not want to meet you, that is a significant red flag.
That person may be catfishing you. And you have to go with your intuition in situations like that.
If it seems too good to be true, then it is.The Moon also represents what is in your dreams, which is your subconscious attempting to tell you what is going on that you need to know within yourself.
That is why it is always a good idea to keep a dream journal by your bedside, as dreams are full of symbolism that you need to pay attention to, as those are messages from your subconscious.
You will want to jot it down after waking up, or else as the day progresses, your conscious mind will cloud it, and you will forget your dream.
So that is another aspect of the Moon.Now, let's talk about how the Moon plays a role in Risa Green's life. And it plays a significant role, unfortunately.
As you know, she is highly self-conscious and has allowed her shadow self to take over.
She is very self-deceptive, which means she knows deep down that she has some significant problems in her life, but she denies it.
She is another example of how trauma has caused her to behave the way she does, as she has many childhood wounds and unprocessed trauma that are taking over her life.
But she does not acknowledge any of it.Another way that the Moon relates to Risa is because she appears on the outside like she is the kindest soul without any agendas.
She makes herself look good by giving money to the homeless and appearing to be there for everyone. She seems that she is too lovely.
But the reality is, no one is too nice, as no one should be too nice! The truth is, she is an echoist who does not have a voice of her own.
She appears sweet on the outside but is full of anger, rage, and resentment on the inside. Therefore, she is not nearly as lovely as she seems.What about the Moon in reverse? Let's go over that now.
Moon In Reverse
When the Moon is in reverse, it can either mean releasing fear, unveiling mysteries, or being in a prolonged period of unhappiness.
It can also represent insomnia or having unusual dreams.
Everyone has related to the Moon in reverse the same way as they have with the Moon upright for one reason or another.
Getting out of your comfort zone is an example of the Moon in reverse, as it can mean you are releasing fear.It can also represent the truth, which falls into the same area as unveiling mysteries.
Again, think back to the example I provided about the catfisher.
Imagine you find out that charming individual who you found on the dating profile was not anything like they claimed to be.
Maybe they used an old picture of themselves when they were younger and better-looking or a picture of someone else, but you found out now that they look nothing like how they presented themselves.
That is a Moon in the reverse situation. When that happens, it is always disheartening.Going back to Risa, the Moon in reverse fits when it comes to being perpetually unhappy.
Yes, she has depression, but she does not do anything to help it. Instead, she allows herself to stay low and keeps herself in sad situations.
And when depression is taking over like that, that is a Moon in the reverse situation regardless.
So now you have a good understanding of the Moon upright and reversed.
Let's talk about how you can apply the Moon in your life.
How To Apply The Moon To Your Life
The Moon reminds you to stay grounded in your intuition and imagination, even when things are tough.
That is the best way to apply the card to your day-to-day stuff.
Always trust the feelings you have deep down, which is your intuition, and it is easy not to do that if you are emotionally attached to something.
Still, you cannot avoid your intuition and only focus on your emotions, or it will blow up and hurt you in the end.
Intuition is that feeling you get deep down with no emotional attachment, so when that happens, you have to go with it.
Also, you can apply the Moon card when it comes to you stirring your creativity if you want to write a blog post, do some art, or even do a bit of problem-solving.
You can take the Moon card and meditate with it if that helps stir up your imagination.
That is how you apply the Moon card in your life.
The next card is the Sun, and there is only one more week of going over the Major Arcana cards after this!
I hope you have been enjoying this journey as I have!
The Star is the card in the Major Arcana of the tarot, representing inspiration, a renewal of faith and hope, brand new opportunities, spirituality, and being blessed.
Good health is another thing it means. It can also represent astronomy as the card is the Star.
However, it represents having a good reason to be hopeful more often than not. There is a reason that the Star card came after the Tower.
The Tower represents sudden destruction that leaves you feeling hopeless and confused.
But, the Star is there to tell you that everything will be okay.
There is a reason to be hopeful and to have faith.
You have a reason to hang onto optimism. Things will get better.
Now, let's go over the history and appearance of this card.
The History And Appearance Of The Star Tarot Card
The history of the star tarot card is a little messy, but the earliest known reference to it comes from the 15th-century book Le Monde Primitif.
This book describes the Star as a sign of good luck and divine intervention.The Star card continued to be popular throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, and it began to be associated with astrology and other mystical practices.
The star card was often used as a signifier of hope and guidance in times of darkness.
When you look at the card from the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, you see a naked woman bending down near the pool's edge as she has two water containers.Her left hand carrying the container represents her subconscious, and her right hand bearing the cup represents her conscious.
She is pouring out the water onto the ground to nourish the earth and pours the water onto dry land.
She also has one foot in the ground, which means she is grounded, and the other foot is in the water representing intuition.
She is naked because she shows her vulnerable side as there is also the starry sky in the background.
You will see in the background that there is a giant star and seven smaller ones that represent the chakras, as there are seven of them.
Now, let's talk about what the Star card means in a reading.
The Star Tarot In A Reading
The Star often appears when you're going through a difficult time and need some hope and guidance.
It symbolizes the light at the end of the tunnel and encourages you to keep moving forward despite your troubles.
It is always a great card to see when you are having a reading, particularly if you are having a difficult time.
This card can also represent dreams or aspirations and encourages you to reach for the stars!
If The Star appears in your reading, it's a sign that you should stay positive and have faith that things will turn out for the best.
If you're looking for some guidance on your path, The Star is a great card to consult.
It reminds you that there is always light at the end of the tunnel and that you should never give up hope.
Another thing that the Star tarot card is also associated with is creativity, inspiration, and motivation.
So if you are feeling stuck creatively or need some extra inspiration, this card may appear for you.
It's also a sign that your hard work is starting to pay off.
How does the Star tarot card relate to Risa's situation?
Unfortunately, it doesn't because she has lost all hope for a better future, and she has lost all hope for anything changing for the better.
And that is unfortunate. She is going through the motions, and you can envision it.
Risa takes care of everyone without acknowledging her wants and needs and is burned out.
She does not believe anything will get better. She has no hope.
The Star card does not exist in her perspective, but that is untrue.
The Star card can certainly apply to her, but she will never believe it, and that is the case for those who give up in general.
Unfortunately, many people with mental illnesses share the same perspective regarding the Star as Risa does, as they do not believe in hope.
And that has even been the case, more so during the pandemic.
However, those who struggle with mental illness that feels that the Star tarot card applies to them will be the ones to actively seek out therapy and other ways to manage their mental illnesses or trauma so they can live decent lives.
The same applies to anyone who struggles with physical illnesses, regardless of whether or not there is a cure on the horizon.
As long as they see even a flicker of light at the end of the tunnel, then that will motivate people to find a way to make themselves better.
What about the Star in reverse?
Star In Reverse
The Star in reverse represents missed opportunities. It can mean delays in anything you are looking forward to, despair, and disappointments.
It can also be indicative of illness. Sadly, that applies more to Risa's situation as she not only lost hope but sabotaged herself from improving her life, such as quitting therapy.
And everyone has experienced Star in reverse cases in their lives at one point or another.
An example is someone who keeps applying to one job after another and keeps facing one rejection after another.
Finally, that individual will get to a point where they cannot keep applying to different jobs, and then they are resigned to staying in the job they do not like.
Another example of the Star in reverse has been how the pandemic has evolved.
When you think we are entering the endemic phase, a new variant of concern comes up and then blows everything up again.
But here is the thing to remember, all pandemics do end, and this one will too.
Eventually, we will end up in the endemic phase, and it will stay that way, but it has been disheartening to watch how long this has been going on.
So, how can you apply the Star in your life?
How To Apply The Star In Your Life
There are several ways to do this. The Star is associated with creativity, so you can find creative ways to deal with problems.
Anyone can come up with solutions unless they don't have the cognitive function to do so.
Not all issues can disappear, unfortunately, but there are ways you can work around them the best way you can.
And, if you happen to encounter a Tower situation where something terrible and unexpected happened, such as getting into a car accident, that is the time to apply the Star card after going through the emotions of shock.
What can you do to create a hopeful situation in the end?
You will need support. You cannot do it alone.
But that is when you will need to figure out how you can somewhat bounce back from it in the best way you can.
And finally, if you are struggling with mental health issues, keep reaching out for support, and you do have to accept that if the condition severely impacts you, you will face the issue for life.
But you can manage it with the proper support and help and have the hope that you can live a decent life despite that being the case.
So the next card I will go over will be the Moon, and we are almost done with the Major Arcana series.
From Pxhere: Nikolay Kondev
The Tower tarot card is one of the most well-known and widely recognized. It is often associated with significant life changes, upheaval, and chaos.
The Tower itself symbolizes strength and stability and destruction and chaos.
This card can represent both positive and negative aspects of change, depending on the context in which it is drawn.
Let's go over the history of the Tower.
The History And Appearance Of The Tower Tarot Card
The Tower first appeared in tarot decks in the 15th century and has been a part of tarot ever since.
The Tower is usually depicted as a tall, imposing structure, with a few people falling from the top.
This image is often interpreted as a symbol of the dangers of ambition or hubris.
That is in almost all tarot decks, but with the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, the Tower tarot card shows the lightning striking the Tower on top of the mountain, and two people jump from the windows as their heads come out first, stretching their arms.
The Tower is a substantial building, but the thing is, since it was built on an unstable foundation, one lightning bolt is enough to take it down, which means that the goals you were setting were not made for legitimate reasons.
The lightning is the thing that causes you to become enlightened, which is what it symbolizes on this card.
Now you know why this card appears the way it does. Now, let's talk about what it means if you get the Tower tarot card in a reading.
What It Means If You Get The Tower Tarot Card In A Reading
You can interpret the tower card in several ways, but one of the most common interpretations is that it represents a time of change.
This change can be external, like a significant life event, or internal, like a shift in your belief system.
The Tower card often appears when we are going through an effective transition in our lives.
This transition can be positive or negative, but it is likely to be a time of upheaval.
It can be a time when you are forced to let go of things you thought were stable and secure.On the positive side, the Tower can represent a time of great opportunity and growth.
It can be when you can let go of outdated beliefs or patterns that no longer serve you.
The Tower can also be a symbol of protection, offering a haven during times of turmoil.
That all depends on the nature of the spread or the cards surrounding it.But when you think about the Tower, you will also think about something unexpected that can shake you up to the core.
Think about COVID-19. In 2019, no one would have ever imagined that 2020 would be a Tower year.
People went about their business and assumed things would keep going the way they were.
Then suddenly, around the New Year, there was news about a dangerous respiratory virus that no one knew about circulating in China.
However, there were concerns at that time, but no one was too worried.
We had SARS and MERS outbreaks that happened in the past, which did not turn into pandemics.
But in February of that year, the Coronavirus was spreading worldwide, and the WHO declared the pandemic in March of 2020.
That meant the world was in lockdown, or most of the world was.
Restaurants had to close up except for takeout, museums closed, movie theatres closed, nightclubs closed, and schools closed!
The economy shut down, and children were stuck at home and confused, not understanding why the school was no longer happening.
Everyone had to distance themselves socially, and everyone was stuck at home.
Anytime anyone had to run necessary errands such as grocery shopping or going to the doctor, they had to be extremely careful and scrub their hands when coming home.
Everyone was hoarding toilet paper. Who would have imagined that in 2019? The pandemic came on like the Tower!
That is one example anyone can come up with when thinking of the Tower.What about the Tower in Risa's situation?
There are plenty of examples there, but the one thing that immediately comes to my mind is that she bottles up her emotions so much that something can cause her to explode, and she does it unexpectedly and to the point that it is scary.
Someone like that who has a personality where they are quiet and does not stand up for themselves would not be the one who would be expected to blow up in a way that is shocking like that.
And when it happens, watch out.Risa could also have situations where she could face the Tower, which has not happened yet.
As mentioned in the introductory post about Risa Green, she suspects that she could potentially have diabetes since she is always thirsty and is obese and full of cortisol from all of her stress.
What would happen if she had a reason to go to the hospital, such as breaking a bone, and she learns that her unhealthy habits caused her to become diabetic based on blood work?
What if she were to have a heart attack suddenly?
Those are sure examples of the Tower. The scary thing is, that those scenarios can happen to anyone.
There are so many other examples of Tower situations that I will not go over because that would take forever.
But what about the Tower in reverse? What does that look like?
Tower In Reverse
The Tower in reverse does not have positive meanings as the Devil in reverse does.
In fact, the Tower in reverse can indicate losses, obstacles making a messy situation messier, and illnesses.
Therefore, that can also represent what Risa is facing and what she likely will face—and the COVID-19 example.
Unfortunately, many who have suffered in irreparable ways through the pandemic face the Tower in reverse.
Many of those include people who have contracted the virus and ended up with long COVID symptoms. As a result, many of those people no longer could work.With the Tower upright, destruction and shock happen, but there is an opportunity to build something new.
However, with the Tower in reverse, the silver lining is dimmer. All of it will cause trama, unfortunately.
But, aside from that, the Tower upright does not always represent doom and gloom, so you will want to use this card in your life.
How Can You Apply The Tower In Your Life
The best way to apply this card in your life is through transformations that you want to make.
If you wish to get healthier or change some habits, the more you look at the bad habits, you will see the cracks within them that can bring you down.
For example, if you have not been taking care of your health and have not been eating the healthiest foods and not getting much exercise, you can prevent problems by taking care of them before it gets to that point.
That means creating a health-conscious plan of eating healthy foods in moderation and getting a half-hour of exercise in a day.
And you can build upon that.The same goes for anything else in your life that you want to take care of before disaster strikes, such as creating a savings account and putting a small amount of money in it monthly, whatever you can afford.
Eventually, it will add up and cover an unexpected expense that could come your way. Imagine not having the saved funds to cover that at all!
That is what you want to avoid. So you get the idea.
The next card I will go over is the Star, a card of hope that follows the shock that comes with the Tower.
Pixabay: Darksouls1
The Devil tarot card is one of the 22 major arcana cards in a tarot deck.
It is often associated with negative aspects such as temptation, sin, and evil.
However, You can also interpret the devil tarot card as symbolizing freedom and liberation.
In a reading, the devil tarot card may indicate that you are being tempted by something or in danger of succumbing to temptation.
The Devil tarot card can also suggest that you somehow feel trapped or limited.
The Devil tarot card may represent the freedom to be yourself and express your true desires in a more positive light.
It can also indicate that you are ready to break free from any limitations holding you back.
Let's briefly talk about the history of the Devil tarot card.
The History And Appearance Of The Devil Tarot Card
The Devil tarot card is one of the most iconic and well-known cards in the deck, but its history is a mystery.
Some believe that the devil card is based on the biblical figure of Satan, while others claim that it represents temptation and sin.Regardless of its origins, the devil tarot card has come to be associated with many negative connotations.
And those are evil, darkness, and destruction.
In addition, it can often indicate events or situations that are harmful or dangerous. But not always.Let's talk about the appearance of the card based on the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck.
When you look at the Devil tarot card, you see a half-goat and half-human creature known as the Baphomet.
The Baphomet has consistently been shown as a figure representing good and evil, as well as male and female, or it is about balance.
Unfortunately, over time, the Baphomet developed the meaning of something being evil, and people believed it had an association with the occult.
You see with the symbolism that there are vampire bat wings, which is to suck blood.
That is symbolic of when you overindulge.
The figure also has a memorizing stare, and if you look above it, there is an inverted pentagram which is a sign of the negative side of occultism.
As you see, he holds a torch in his left hand, and his right hand, he raises it as the Vulcan salute, which is a Jewish blessing.
If you are a Star Trek fan, then you would know this.What about the man and woman at the feet?
They are naked, and the podium has a chain to them, making them appear trapped.
But here is the thing, those chains are not too tight, and they could remove them if they wanted.
And they have horns on their heads which means they are adopting habits from the Devil.
In addition, they have tails that show their primitive tendencies, which is a sign of their lust.
So now, let's delve further into what it means if you have the Devil tarot card come up in a reading.
What The Devil Tarot Card Means In A Reading.
If you are faced with the Devil tarot card in a reading, it is essential to be honest about what is tempting you.
Are you being tempted by something harmful or sinful?
Or is the Devil tarot card prompting you to leap of faith and embrace your freedom?
Whichever interpretation you choose, remember that the Devil tarot card can also be a sign of change and progress.
In general, the Devil tarot card signifies that the querent is faced with a challenging decision or dilemma.
They must choose between following their desires or sticking to what's good and right.
The Devil card can also indicate that the querent is tempted by something dangerous or harmful.
It can also represent something too indulgent that you may regret later on.
For example, if you are eating out at a buffet, you may be tempted to grab everything in sight and regret it the day after.
The same goes for you having too much booze.The Devil can also represent addictions, attachments, and obsessions which are not healthy.
For example, if you are addicted to a particular friend, that can represent the Devil.
That means you cannot be without your friend's presence.
You have to be everywhere your friend is, which will drive them bananas.
However, the Devil tarot card can represent independence and self-reliance on a more positive note.
It can suggest that the querent is ready to break free from their past and forge their path.
That does depend on the other cards in the spread.The Devil tarot card is always powerful and thought-provoking, no matter the interpretation.
It challenges the querent to examine their motivations and desires and make sure they make choices in line with their highest good.
Ultimately, the Devil tarot card is a powerful symbol of choice and free will.
So how does the Devil associate with Risa's life? You can see that there are signs that Risa does relate to this card in many ways.
She gives into a lot of temptation. She has been tempted to quit therapy, she has been tempted to stress-eat, and she feels trapped.
She feels chained to her responsibilities.
Her thinking of her being deserving of the bad things that have happened in her life is also something she cannot break free from, and that goes to those who struggle with complex trauma and other mental health disorders.
Since she feels tied to those beliefs and keeps up with harmful habits, she brings out the dark side of the Devil.
It takes a lot of work for someone who struggles with mental illness to release any of that.Let's be frank, Risa has no support. She has a child that does not have the cognitive ability to cheer her on.
Ron, her husband, seems to be going through the motions. Risa's parents abuse her.
She has no friends but wants to believe that the neighbor she helps is her friend when it is not.
Risa has nothing to motivate her to remove any unhealthy attachments.
What she needs in her life is someone to help her relate more to the positive aspects of the Devil upright and in reverse.
Devil In Reverse
When the Devil is in reverse, it can be a positive thing because it represents breaking free from unhealthy attachments and addictions.
It can also mean divorce, which in some cases is a positive thing if the marriage was suffering from the start.
And as mentioned, Ron and Risa are not a happy couple as they are conveniently and unhappily married.
The Devil reversed can indicate that, but there is the valid financial fear that goes with that reality. But Risa could make it happen.She could send her son to a therapeutic residence, stop helping her neighbor, and cut ties or limit contact with her parents.
Risa could find methods to work from home, and if she is honest with herself, she will see that her marriage is loveless and eventually leave.
She could finally be independent and perhaps gain some confidence. And have a desire to start therapy again.
But I understand, all easier said than done.
But that is just an example of how she could represent the beneficial aspects of the Devil, and the Devil reversed.
Next time, I will talk about one of the tarot cards in the Major Arcana that is one of the most dreaded, the Tower!
Pixabay: Julia_photo367
The Temperance tarot card is all about balance and moderation. It is the card of Temperance, representing the virtue of self-control.
This card reminds you that you need to find a balance between your desires and the needs of others.
It would be best to avoid overindulging in anything, leading to problems.
The Temperance tarot card can also represent harmony and cooperation.
When you are in balance, you can work with others more effectively and efficiently.
When you are out of balance, it can lead to conflict and disharmony.
Let's talk about the history and symbolism of Temperance.
The History And Symbolism Of Temperance Tarot
Temperance can be traced back to the early 15th century when it first appeared in Europe.
It is believed that the temperance tarot card was created to teach people about the importance of moderation in all aspects of their lives.
The Temperance tarot card has undergone many changes over the centuries, but its meaning remains unchanged.
Today, the temperance tarot card is still used as a tool to help people achieve balance in their lives.
If you look at the card in the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, you will see that Temperance is the angel that represents masculinity and femininity, and the angel wears a light-blue robe in color.
And the robe consists of an enclosed triangular shape with a square in the center.
The triangle represents humans, and the square represents the earth and the laws that come with it.
So you can see that the angel has one foot on the ground for grounding, so to speak, and another foot in the water as far as going with the flow.
So the angel takes two cups and pours water between them, representing the ebb and flow of life.
Another thing about the Temperance tarot card is that it is one of the four cardinal virtues, including justice, prudence, and fortitude.
In addition, the temperance tarot card is often associated with the astrological sign of Sagittarius, which is known for its spiritual qualities.
Therefore, the Temperance tarot card can be interpreted differently, but its overall message is always the same: moderation is key.
So let's talk about what it means when you see Temperance in a reading.
What Temperance Means In A Reading
The Temperance tarot card is often seen as a sign of progress.
That represents the ability to find balance and harmony, essential for growth.
When you can find a balance in your own life, it can lead to positive change in all areas of your life.
Therefore, the temperance tarot card shows that things are moving in the right direction.
If you see the Temperance tarot card in a reading, it is a good sign that you are on the right track.
You may need to make some adjustments in your life, but overall, things are going well.
This is a time to focus on cooperation and working together.
Try to find a balance between your own needs and the needs of others.
Be careful not to overindulge in anything, as this could lead to problems down the road.
The Temperance tarot card is a sign of progress and positive change.
If you are on the right track, keep moving forward!
For example, you can compare this card to someone struggling with their demons but is working with their therapist to find methods to process them and find skills to help them cope.
They are making progress, though it is slow but steady.
And how does this card apply to Risa's situation?
Once again, she is as imbalanced as they come. She has no inner harmony and is not doing anything to grow on any level.
She had the chance to when she was seeing her therapists, as she has so many demons plaguing her.
However, she has given up and has become more of a shell of a human. That is not what the Temperance upright represents.
Once again, Risa relates to Temperance in reverse.
Temperance In Reverse
When Temperance comes up in reverse, it indicates a lack of patience, disharmony, and a lack of balance in life.
It can also represent the onset of illness. So yes, Risa is full of imbalances and conflict.
She is not healthy, as we know.
And how can she align with the Temperance upright?
All of this is easier said than done because I sure have been there, and I think we all have our moments of relating to the Temperance reversed when life is just brutal.
We all know that she could delegate her responsibilities so she has time for self-care, and she could limit her contact with her parents.
She does not have the courage within to do that, unfortunately.
That comes from old programming, which is a common issue that those with C-PTSD face.
Those who have the condition are often told early on that they are not worthy.
And as a result, so many of them become caregivers and neglect their needs.
They don't think their needs are essential as the belief is that everyone else's needs come first.
And that is definitely the case with Risa. So what happens if you are not balancing your needs in addition to the needs of others?
If you go to either extreme, that is Temperance in reverse.
And as far as you go, if you feel as if you are very out of balance, the easiest thing to recommend is to seek a therapist, but that is not always doable.
Let's Talk About How To Use The Temperance In Your Life
Therapists are not cheap, and many insurance plans do not cover sessions substantially.
But what you can do is look for therapists who give free advice on YouTube, as all you want to do is type the issues you are facing, and you will see a list of coaches and therapists that have videos that can potentially help you in so many areas of your life.
There is also a site called 7 Cups that provides affordable therapy, and some of it may be free, but I do not know that for sure, so I am not going to give you any misinformation.
However, check out the site. There may be some helpful resources. There are also support groups on Facebook.
There are so many ways to reach out for help to find some balance within. You are not going to be able to get to a better place if you have no support at all.
It is not realistic. Nothing can motivate you if you don't get the help you need.
That is why it is essential to reach out even if you cannot afford a therapist or if you just find it frustrating that you cannot find one that is suitable for you.
Support is essential because it will validate you, and then once you are feeling validated, you will feel more motivated to find balance in your life and begin to make good progress and get better.
The next card I will talk about next time is the Devil.
Pixabay: mzgiaconte
The Death tarot card is one of the 22 major arcana cards in a tarot deck.
It is often associated with change, endings, and transformation.
This card rarely means that someone will pass away.
But for understandable reasons, people fear this card.
The card's appearance if you look at the one from the Rider-Waite-Smith deck is you see the Messenger of Death or the Grim Reaper, a skeleton wearing black armor that is riding a white horse.
Looking Deeper At The Death Tarot Card
The point of the armor that the skeleton is wearing is even though you may be invincible, death is an inevitable part of life, and you cannot avoid it.
The black is the color of mourning and mystery, whereas the white horse represents purity, power, and strength.
And take a look at the flag on the card as it has a white rose with five petals, which represents purification and beauty and being immortal.
There are five petals because five represents change, and death does not only mean that your life is coming to an end.Death can also mean the end of certain phases in your life so that new beginnings can come.
Therefore, when you see the Death card come up in a reading, it can signify that something new is coming and change is on the horizon.
But the difference is usually life-altering.When you think about it, the Death card applies to first-time mothers.
The women who never had kids that have their first ones are now moms, and that is a death of who they used to be.
I remember hearing a story. Whether it was true or not, I don't know.
I cannot remember if I listened to this story back when I learned the tarot or if someone told it before I got into it.
This 13-year old girl was walking on the sidewalk, and she suddenly found the Death card on it.She picked it up and understandably freaked out because of what the card represented.
Of course, she thought that she was going to pass away! But when she got home and went to the bathroom, she found something interesting.
Her period came on for the first time. Every girl experiences a significant transformation, which the Death tarot card would represent.
Either way, Death means significant and transformative changes. The change can be positive, but it may also mean difficult times are ahead.
But here is the thing. Even if it means the latter, those difficult times ahead will not last, as nothing does. That is something to remember.
What Else Can It Mean If The Death Tarot Card Comes Up In A Reading?
If you see the Death tarot card in your reading, it's essential to pay attention to what else is happening in the reading.
This card can often signal a time of transformation, whatever that may mean for you.
So be open to change and ready to embrace it, and you'll be able to weather whatever storms may come your way.
Think about it, as Death comes right after the Hanged Man, and the Hanged Man represents the time to reflect as time stands still.
And Death means the death of a particular phase that no longer works for you.
And sometimes you intuitively feel that something is ending, and right before it ends, things can come to a standstill but not always.
So you may be the one that needs to take the time to yourself to pause and reflect before the ending happens.One clear example of this is if you are in an unhappy relationship and know that the relationship does not serve you.
You feel you need to take some extra time to yourself to reflect on whether or not the relationship is helping you.
And if you have to do that, the message is clear. You have to take extra time to reflect because it is not!
If it were, you would not need to take time to yourself to do that. But once you conclude, you end it.It does not necessarily have to be a romantic relationship or a friendship. It can be one with a therapist.
I have had to do that many times.
It is not easy finding the right therapist but firing a therapist is not something you do in a heartbeat as you put your future sessions on hold to think about it more, and then you conclude that it is time to end it.
That way, you can open yourself up to finding new ones.
One question that often comes up too is if there is ever a time when the Death card represents a physical death.
And yes, it can.
However, the only time that it will is if you specifically do a reading regarding a loved one who is terminally ill, and if Death comes up, then they are leaving the physical plane.When I did a private reading for myself, I looked into my late grandmother's situation as she was 97 and passed away on Halloween 2020, not from COVID-19.
She was deteriorating quickly, and I wanted to know what was happening with her.
So I did a three-card reading past, present, and future, and Death was the current card. I did that reading several nights before that night.
Finally, she was ready to transition.Anyway, now let's look and see how the Death card relates to Risa.
Like everyone, she has had to go through many transformations, which resulted in beginnings and endings, but, once again, the Death card in reverse seems to match her situation a lot more.
So, let's check out the meaning of Death in reverse.
Death In Reverse
Death in reverse is not a positive representation. It can represent living a life where you are unaware.
It can also mean depression, resistance to change, and delayed endings.Doesn't that match Risa a lot more when you think of that?
She is going through the motions of life where she is not even really aware of what is happening because she dissociates often enough.
She has allowed trauma and mental illness to take over her life. Risa has the opportunity to make so many changes.And that is a common situation when it comes to anyone who has mental illnesses in general.
Change is scary, so it is very easy to resist it.She could easily change her situation if she were open to it.
And I am not only talking about her setting boundaries more.
She could place her child in a home as she does not have the tools to care for him properly.She could do something about her relationship with Ron because it seems like there is a lack of love in that marriage.
It is all about obligation. But then again, the fear of her not being able to support herself financially is what keeps her in that loveless marriage.She could cut her parents off since her mother devalued her during her entire life, and her father enabled her to do it.
So you see that the Death in reverse is what truly represents Risa's life.
And we all have had been in situations where fear paralyzed us to make big moves and transformations.Because it is easier said than done when it comes to being open to making such significant transformations.
Sometimes, you have no choice but to surrender to those transformations which will bring up the Death card in an upright position.The next card to go over is Temperance.
Pixabay: ludiarin
The Hanged Man is one of the most intriguing cards in the tarot deck. It can represent a range of meanings, from sacrifice and martyrdom to new beginnings and spiritual rebirth.
The Hanged Man often signifies a time of transition, when you are forced to let go of old ways of thinking and being.
This can be a complicated process, but it is also an opportunity for growth and transformation.
The Hanged Man reminds you that sometimes you need to surrender to move forward.
Who Is The Hanged Man?
If you look at this card in the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, you see that the hanged man is a man suspended from wood, and you see the shape of the T-cross.
He is hanging upside down, and he views the world from a different perspective than standing up.
He seems relaxed and calm as he is not being forced to turn upside down, as he chose to do so.
His right foot is attached to the tree, his left foot is hanging free, and his hands are behind his back as his arms are bent.
If you look at his head, you see a halo around it, representing awareness and enlightenment.
He is wearing red-colored pants, which means he is passionate, and his vest is blue, which means he is knowledgeable.
Whatever he is doing is for the greater good, which means making a significant sacrifice.
What It Means If You Are Drawn To The Hanged Man
If you find yourself drawn to the Hanged Man card, it may be a sign that you are ready to let go of something no longer serving you.
It could be an outdated belief system, an unhealthy relationship, or a destructive behavior pattern.
The Hanged Man asks you to be willing to make changes, even if they are difficult.
The Hanged Man often suggests a time for reflection and contemplation in a reading.
This is a time to explore your inner world and see what needs to be released or transformed.
Be patient and let the process unfold in its own time. There is no need to rush things.
Just remember that the Hanged Man always brings new beginnings in the end. It often represents a time of transition or change and can indicate that you're experiencing a spiritual or personal growth spurt.
The Hanged Man asks you to be patient and trust the process, even if things don't seem to be making much progress.
He also reminds you to stay open to new possibilities, even if they seem far-fetched or unlikely right now.
Above all, the Hanged Man encourages you to surrender to the journey and let go of your need for control.
This can be a difficult thing to do, but it's often the key to finding happiness and fulfillment.
If you're able-minded enough to heed the Hanged Man's advice, you may find that the universe has some wonderful surprises in store for you.
But the reality is, it is tough when you are in this position.
It is easy to get impatient when things are not moving as quickly as they should, as it can take time for another door to open up right after one has closed on you.
But I am doing my best right now as I am transitioning from my writing career to doing other things, and it will be a slow transition, but I am not getting upset because I realize that things happen in due time.
But here is the thing, that is the easier aspect of the Hanged Man. Remember that the Hanged Man also represents sacrifice and martyrdom.
So let's go over that more because that seems to be the one aspect that affects everyone at one time or another and some more than others.
Regarding Sacrifice And Martyrdom
There are many situations where you have to sacrifice yourself to help others.
One case that everyone can relate to collectively is abiding by the COVID-19 protocols back in 2020 when the pandemic started.
Everyone was affected by social distancing, lockdowns, and not getting together.
And the thing is, when you make such sacrifices for the greater good, your mental health can suffer, unfortunately.
Caregiving is something very relatable to the Hanged Man.
You are sacrificing your life by caring for someone. And when it comes to parenting, that is pretty much the truth!
You have to put your life on hold to be present for your kids and care for them.
Especially when the kids are very young, but as they get older, some of the things you had to put on hold will slowly come back as they become more independent.
However, when it comes to caring for kids with special needs, if you plan to care for them at home well into their adulthood, you will likely be sacrificing much of your life for good.
That is, unfortunately, going into martyrdom territory.
That is why the best thing you can do for yourself and your child is to place them in residence in their teens.
Not only will you be able to focus on yourself, but they will do very well.
They can learn to do things that you would not be able to teach them, and I realize there are some not-so-good group homes, but more often than not, these kids do thrive.
But here is the other thing that often comes up regarding the Hanged Man. Children often find themselves caring for their aging parents.
Because caregiving is too expensive, and very few fortunate people can afford it.
So you have some cases where some people have to live by this aspect of the Hanged Man for decades between caring for kids and caring for their parents - often at the same time.
From what I see, many adult children who have C-PTSD are stuck with this role, and that often happens because they want to get love and approval from their parents who hurt and abused them growing up.
The scapegoats are often stuck with this caregiving role, and sadly, they still deal with the abuse while caring for their aging parents.
That is the case with Risa anyway.
This aspect of the Hanged Man does represent Risa as not only is she caring for her son with special needs, but she is caring for her parents who scapegoated her growing up, while her sister is living her life in another city, who was the golden child.
Of course, Risa does this for approval, but she feels as if she does need to care for others while she does not see the need to care for herself since she was always made to believe she was not worthy.
She has no aspirations, no motivation to do anything with her life, which is also why she is the ultimate caregiver.
That is an unfortunate reason, but she is not alone in that situation.
She is a martyr, and even though she keeps being one, she feels a lot of resentment and anger deep within.
And that is not a surprise she would feel that way.
So she does not get respite and even extends herself further by helping her neighbor, who is taking advantage of her in every way.
But here is the thing, if this aspect of the Hanged Man takes over your life, you are going to burn out, guaranteed!
It takes a toll on your physical, mental, and emotional health.
What about the Hanged Man in reverse?
Hanged Man In Reverse
When the Hanged Man shows up in reverse, it is a sign of being resistant to change and transformation, selfishness, and egotism, as well as missing opportunities to grow on a spiritual level.
In other words, it represents stagnation.
The latter part of that represents Risa as she is not allowing herself to take advantage of opportunities to grow as she decides to stagnate.
However, the rest of the Hanged Man in reverse meaning does not represent her.
An excellent way to compare the Hanged Man in reverse is thinking about parents who have kids and then keep dropping them off to nannies or to others who are willing to watch them travel and do what they want.
In other words, their kids don't come first. The best thing to do is find some balance.
If you keep putting your needs last, as shown in the Hanged Man upright, that will harm you too.
Even if you are a parent of a young child, no, you cannot run off and travel on your own unless you plan it carefully once in a while.
You still need to find time to yourself without any interruption, even if that means taking a bubble bath and reading a book for a half-hour each night.
Now, let's talk about how to apply the beneficial aspects of the Hanged Man into your life.
How To Apply The Hanged Man Into Your Life
Let's focus on the healthy aspects of this card.
If you have dreams and aspirations to do something different with your life, you need to give it time to develop.
You have to remember that Rome was not built in a day. A good example is building a business. It takes time and effort, and patience.
Also, if you are looking for a job, and you cannot find the right one yet, or a partner, you can't give up as the right one has not come to you.
If you believe that it will in due time, that will help you a lot.
But if you are stuck in a caregiving role, you will need to apply some of the Hanged Man in reverse into your life, in a healthy way.
Delegate as much as you can so you can focus on your needs! It is essential.
Next time, I will talk about the one card with an impressive reputation, Death!
I have exciting news to share: You can now read Miriam Reads Tarot in the new Substack app for iPhone.
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Pixabay: Pixel2013
The Justice tarot card is about fairness, balance, and cause and effect. This is the card that represents karmic results and takes responsibility for actions.
For example, it can indicate that you're currently experiencing a time of equilibrium in your life or that you're making progress towards achieving it.
In general, the justice tarot card suggests that you should seek fairness and justice in all your dealings.
You can trace the history of the justice tarot card back to ancient times. The card is believed to represent fairness, balance, and law.
In addition, early decks were often depicted as a woman holding a scale in one hand and a sword.
Now, let's go over other meanings associated with this card.
The Meaning Of Justice Goes Beyond Fairness And Balance
This tarot card also often indicates a need for discipline and restraint.
You may need to be careful not to overindulge or act impulsively.
The justice tarot card can also suggest that you need to take a closer look at your own actions - are you treating others fairly, and are you living in line with your own values?
This tarot card also often indicates that you're currently being tested in some way.
The test could be related to your personal ethics or morality, or it might be a more general exam of your character.
For example, the Justice tarot card asks you to be fair, honest, and conscientious in your dealings with others, as well as yourself.
If you're facing a difficult decision, the justice tarot card may guide the best course of action.
It often suggests that you should weigh all the options carefully before making a choice and that you should do what's fair and proper, regardless of the consequences.
If the Justice tarot card appears in your reading, it's a sign that you should take a step back and reassess the situation.
Make sure that you're acting with integrity and treating others fairly.
The Justice tarot card is a reminder always to do the right thing.
The Justice tarot card can offer some insight if you're looking for clues about a particular situation.
For example, it might suggest that someone is deceitful or that you need to take a more balanced approach to a problem.
This card can signify that things will start to even out soon if you're feeling out of balance.
You also need to speak your truth and to live your truth!
No matter what's going on in your life, the Justice tarot card is a reminder always to seek fairness and justice.
Be honest with yourself and others, and do what's right, even when it's complicated.
It signifies that things will eventually work out in your favor if you stay true to your principles. So here is the thing.
When it comes to PTSD and C-PTSD, depression and anxiety disorders that have nothing to do with a chemical imbalance, the Justice tarot card in reverse is often what comes up, and that is the case with Risa, and everyone else struggles with it.
So let's now talk about Justice in reverse.
Justice Reversed
When the Justice card comes up in reverse, that is not good news.
It can indicate legal problems, unfair treatment, no accountability, imbalances, and dishonesty.
Therefore, this card shows that a situation is not fair.
And what is something that everyone who has PTSD or C-PTSD has in common?
They were mistreated, and the offender often gets off the hook.
That is how everyone who struggles with complex trauma caused by bullying or abuse, whether they find a way to manage it well and thrive despite it or not, Justice is still in reverse.
Even if the offender pays their dues for what they did, it is still unfair to the victim because the victim has to spend their hard-earned money to pay for costly therapy sessions that are not always covered by insurance and to constantly work on themselves to develop skills to cope with their trauma.
In other words, trauma victims have to deal with the consequences caused by others, and they have to deal with the effects that were not their fault.
That is the justice in reverse.
How Does Someone React When Justice Is In Reverse?
The automatic response to a Justice in reverse situation, whether it is because of bullying or other forms of abuse or a backstabbing friend who threw you under the bus, is anger.
You are going to be angry and justifiable so.
The truth is, even if you learn that the offender was held accountable, you may get some satisfaction out of it because of karma being somewhat balanced, but it is not enough because they crossed your boundaries and you were hurt.
That does not take that away.
You are still going to be angry. And guess what, you have every right to be angry.
And whatever you do, do not listen to those who tell you that your anger is not healthy and it is a negative emotion to rise above.
That is spiritual bypassing, and those who tell you that have their own anger and are ashamed to share it.
But this is the thing.
The healthy part of anger has to do with how you express it and what you do with it.
Yeah, I am super angry about what others did to me and got away with, and I have been told repeatedly to release my anger and forgive my offenders.
Forgiveness is another issue altogether, which I will discuss in another episode other than the fact that you do not need to forgive those who are not held accountable for their actions.
That does not mean you are planning revenge on them or wasting your energy on hate towards them.
I understand that forgiveness is another issue that has different meanings to different people, as that boils down to semantics, the same way as the word healing goes.
But I will stop here. I will say that no, you do not have to forgive your offenders, as forgiving them will not balance anything.
If anything, if you are gaslit to believe that you have to forgive them, that will create even more imbalances within you because you will become more anxious and more upset with yourself because you cannot forgive them.
The best way to create a balance is to use your anger to advocate for yourself and other victims of bullying, abuse, or other trauma caused by someone else.
If you are feeling outraged, I recommend a punching bag is a significant investment.
And you also have to accept that in life, there will always be Justice in reverse situations at one point or another.
Unfortunately, that is the case with trauma victims.
Now, let's talk about how this card applies to Risa.
Let's face it, nothing in her life has been fair for her.
Her entire life is about Justice in reverse.
But here is the thing, and the last thing I ever want to do is sound like I am victim-blaming and shaming, even a fictional character.
Though it is the truth, she does not help her situation.
She keeps her anger in and allows it to fester, and when there is a situation that causes her anger to erupt, it does, it does to the point that others are scared of her, and also, at the same time, don't take her seriously.
How To Apply The Justice Card Into Your Life
To make the Justice card work in life, you have no choice but to firm up your boundaries for Risa or anyone.
You have to speak up and speak against the wrongs that have happened to you.
You have to take action and make it known that what happened to you was unacceptable.
I am not talking about revenge, as that can create more imbalances, as two wrongs do not make a right which is still Justice in the reverse situation.
I am talking about making it known that you are not going to allow anyone to take advantage of you in any way and bully you into anything.
Not everyone is comfortable with advocating, and I get that.
Still, it is essential to speak up and share nonprofit charities that help those who have dealt with abuse on your social media networks, such as the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress.
You will want to share the nonprofit relevant to your country of residence and an excellent site to check for nonprofits is Colleaga.org.
The gist of it is you have to, unfortunately, accept life is not fair, and it is more unfair to some than to others, but you cannot sit back and let crap happen to you either.
The next card I will go over is the Hanged Man.
Pixabay: ImNotHim
The Wheel of Fortune is one of the Major Arcana in a Tarot deck. It is numbered ten and is often considered a sign of good luck.
The tarot card depicts a wheel with four horses attached to it, galloping in opposite directions.
A human figure is seen in the center of the wheel, seemingly being thrown about by the force of the horses.
The Wheel of Fortune tarot card is all about change and opportunity.
It can represent good and bad luck and signify that big changes are on the horizon.
Whether it is good or, bad luck depends on the surrounding cards in the reading.
This tarot card often appears when you're going through a time of upheaval or change, and it's a message from the universe that you should go with the flow and embrace the new opportunities that come your way.
It is also a good card to see if things have been stagnant for a while, and it is a sign that things are finally changing the course.
The Wheel of Fortune tarot card is also associated with destiny and fate, so it might be a sign that you're on the right track in your life or that your future is looking bright.
So keep your eyes open for new possibilities!
The Symbolism In The Wheel Of Fortune
If you have the tarot card in front of you, you will see that the outer circle of the wheel is the Egyptian God Typhon which is on the left side, and that is a snake.
That snake represents the material world, considered an evil snake. On the right side, an Egyptian God, Anubis, escorts souls to the underworld as the God of the dead.
However, on the top of the wheel is the Sphynx.
The Sphynx is all about strength and knowledge. And if you look at the four corners, you will see creatures with wings that associate with the fixed zodiac signs: Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius.
The purpose of these creatures is to represent stability while changes are happening.
Therefore, this is a card that represents how change is inevitable. As mentioned, this card usually means that your luck will change for the better.
However, that all depends on the spread and the surrounding cards. Let's now talk further about what this card means in a reading.
What Would The Wheel Of Fortune Mean To You If You See The Card In A Reading?
If you're asking yourself what the Wheel of Fortune tarot card means for you, here are a few things to keep in mind:
The Wheel of Fortune tarot card is all about change and opportunity, so if you're going through a time of upheaval, this card might be a sign that things will get better.
The tarot card often appears when you're on the right track in your life, so it might be a sign that things are going well for you.
Additionally, it is associated with destiny and fate, so it might be a sign that you're on the right path in your life.
By the way, this card is also known as the wheel of karma because you have to remember that what goes around always comes around.
Sometimes it does not take long for that to happen, or it may not happen for another lifetime. But eventually, your deeds catch up with you.
The Wheel of Fortune tarot card can also represent good or bad luck, so be prepared for both possibilities.
You will want to keep your eyes open for new opportunities and embrace the change that comes your way.
And there is always something that triggers the change.
Always.
And being self-reflective, indicated by the card before this one, the Hermit can be the cause for the change represented by the Wheel of Fortune because you have to remember that a change in events or a situation does not happen for no reason.
Something causes it.
For example, I walked around for decades, not realizing how much trauma I had carried, as I was diagnosed with major depressive disorder and not a trauma-related disorder.
However, meds never worked for me, and I have been to numerous therapists, and some were helpful, others not so much.
Unfortunately, the helpful ones ended up not working out in the end for one reason or another.
But here is the turning point for me to take such a revelation was when I was stuck at home during the COVID-19 lockdowns in early 2021, and when I made those revelations, it wasn't lovely.
But it had to be done to learn to process it and develop skills to cope and manage.
By the way, I do not like the term "healing from trauma." But unfortunately, that term gets thrown around in the trauma communities left, center, and right.
If you disagree with me, no problem, I happen to be very big into semantics.
Yes, you get better if you aim to do so, and you can only learn to develop skills to cope and manage trauma after processing it.
And I do get that you can rewire your brain, but I think of the term healing as a physical nature, not when it comes to your mental or emotional health.
You can definitely thrive and do great while living with trauma or any mental illness, but I don't think the term healing is inappropriate.
But hey, that is me. And I am the one who is very picky with semantics.
But aside from that, that is one personal example of the Wheel of Fortune.
So now, how does this card apply to Risa's life?
Well, you can say that her getting married and having a child applies, but that would apply to anyone who chooses that path.
But here is the thing. Risa has not taken the time to process her trauma, and if she did, she would have to face some changes.
Therefore, she is stagnant with her mental health, which also means that her physical health suffers.
What will it take for this card to apply to her life?
She will have to have a Tower moment, and I will discuss that card in detail at a much later time.
You probably know it represents the destruction of the old so the new can come in.
That is what often happens to those who resist change.
And that is likely what Risa is looking at.
Does she represent the Wheel of Fortune in reverse? Let's talk more about that.
Wheel Of Fortune In Reverse
When the Wheel of Fortune comes up in reverse, it can indicate bad luck or misfortune, resistance to change, a mishap, or a setback that no one did not predict.
It boils down to disappointment.
Therefore, that describes Risa's situation in a nutshell. She refuses to make any changes and to be self-reflective.
She has had one mishap after another, and her life is full of misfortunes, but unfortunately, she doesn't help that.
Until she realizes that she can change her luck for the better by having the strength to say "no" and firm up her boundaries, her luck will never get better.
Yes, she was dealt a very stressful and unfortunate hand, but the thing that I have learned is that you have to play your cards right no matter what type of hand you were dealt.
As a result, I was able to get my son into a 24/7 therapeutic environment which was the very thing that broke me out of my echoism because that was one of the most difficult things I had to do.
But he is thriving and happy, and I have had to work on myself and give my daughter and my work more attention too.
I had learned to say "no," and I have firmed up my boundaries. If Risa could do that, then she would have much better luck! The next card I will go over will be Justice.
I have exciting news to share: You can now read Miriam Reads Tarot in the new Substack app for iPhone.
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Pixabay: falco
The Hermit tarot card can suggest that it's time to take some time for yourself – to reflect on your life and what you want to achieve.
This could mean taking some time out from your routine or even traveling to a place where you can be alone and have some peace.
The card implies introspection, solitude, and self-reflection.
Additionally, the card represents several different things, including wisdom, reflection, and guidance.
It is a popular card for meditation and contemplation.
Now, before going into the meaning of the Hermit, let's delve into the history of the card.
The History Of the Hermit Tarot Card
The Hermit tarot card is one of the most mysterious cards in the deck.
It has a long and complex history that is still being studied today.
Here is a brief overview of the Hermit tarot card's history.
The Hermit tarot card first appeared in the Marseille deck, created in 1760.
The Hermit was depicted as an older man with a staff and a lantern.
He was often seen as a symbol of wisdom and guidance.
In the Rider-Waite deck, created in 1909, the Hermit was depicted as a young man with a cloak and a lantern.
This deck became very popular and helped to popularize the Hermit tarot card.
In addition, the Hermit card is often associated with the tarot's Hermit trump, numbered nine.
Let's further find out what it means when the Hermit is reading.
What Does It Mean When The Hermit Comes Up In A Reading?
The Hermit is a solitary figure, and his appearance in a reading often suggests that it's time for some introspection.
He can help you find the answers you are looking for, but only if you are willing to listen to what he has to say.
If the Hermit card appears in a reading, it might also suggest that you need to look within yourself for answers rather than searching outside yourself.
You may need to go within to find your authentic inner voice. This can be a complex process, but it can also be rewarding.
The Hermit is often seen as a symbol of wisdom, so if you see this card in a reading, it may tell you to seek advice from those who have more experience than you.
It's also a sign that you should take your time before making any decisions because there's no need to rush into anything.
So if you're feeling lost or uncertain about the direction your life is taking, the Hermit tarot card may be just what you need.
He can help you find your way, but only if you're willing to listen and learn.
So how does the Hermit apply to Risa's life?
Based on what you know about her, she is not taking control of her life and is instead allowing herself to be walked on.
Therefore, she has not applied the Hermit into her life at all.
Because if she did, then she would have found a way to stop her echoism, manage and find coping skills for her trauma and mental illnesses, and would have found the strength to delegate responsibilities so she could begin to learn about her true purpose.
Her true meaning is not taking care of everyone else because everyone has some purpose that does not involve taking care of others and putting your needs on the back burner.
And making that realization does take a lot of introspection.
Risa is scared to do that, and I can understand how that is, as I was too.
But eventually, you do get pushed past the brink where you have no choice but to begin to look within.
So instead, Risa represents the Hermit in reverse, 100 percent. She does as I did too for a long time.
That was yet again until I was pushed past my brink.
After all that Risa deals with in her life, you would think that she would have been pushed past that brink a while ago.
So what does Risa deal with?
Once again, this is what is on her plate, and that is depression, complex PTSD, caring for her abusive and controlling parents, a child with moderate autism, no friends, a neighbor that takes advantage of her, a loveless marriage, an unfulfilling job, and money constraints.
She is also very unhealthy physically. And yet, she has not looked within to see how she can make better changes in her life.
Instead, she allows her rage from everything to sit inside and stew in her.
But everyone ends up breaking at some point, especially those like Risa, who have all of the responsibilities that she has in addition to her demons.
So you can say the Hermit in reverse represents her, and let's talk about that now.
Hermit In Reverse
When the Hermit comes in reverse, it does not mean ignoring the need to be introspective by hanging around with others.
It means that someone could be a misfit or be lonely and sad.
It can also represent exile as well as withdrawing from loved ones.
It may be a sign of depression or going through the Dark Night Of The Soul.
We know that Risa does not have friends, so she does not hang around others, but she does ignore the need to be introspective.
And we also know that deep down, she is lonely and sad, but she is also angry, and that is where the Hermit can help her.
The Hermit can help her make sense of her anger.
As you know, I was once like Risa, especially back in high school, as I was the bullied outcast, the misfit, and you could say I was the Queen of Misfits, and I wanted more than anything to be the popular one.
Because I believed that if I were the popular one, I would matter.
But here is the thing, sometimes you have to go through the Dark Night of The Soul, an existential crisis.
Something puts you there, and I had gone through many of them, including the most recent one when everything was in lockdown last year in the middle of winter.
That is when I realized how much trauma I had been suppressing for decades.
Not a pretty thing to come at you at once. And yes, I became feral at the time.
But here is the thing. I knew the anger that I had for so long was justified and used it to do a lot of advocating for mental health.
Now, I have been doing that for almost a decade, but I became a lot rawer than I used to be.
I realized that I was triggering people, which was not my intention, but that was the feedback I got.
I will not stop, though, because the truth needs to be told. How else will you smash the stigma?
And another realization I made was that being a misfit is a-okay!
I don't want to generalize because it does not apply to everyone who falls into this group, but here is an observation, and forgive me for appearing judgmental.
Many in the popular crowd are superficial conformists.
No thanks. Anyway, let's talk about how to apply the Hermit into your life.
How To Apply The Hermit Into Your Life
Well, everything that I said states that. If you are not happy with a situation you are in, or if something unreal happens to you, you need to take a step back and reflect on it.
You need to reflect on all of it to find out how to improve things around you.
You can meditate, hire a trusted therapist to help sort out what is bothering you, and the Hermit can also represent therapists, too, by the way.
And some of us have to do that for life one way or another.
If you have C-PTSD, you may find that you are managing your life exceptionally well and may not need therapy or help for a while.
However, triggers happen, life will happen and will bring you back to needing that help again.
The next card I will go over is the Wheel of Fortune. Almost halfway through the Major Arcana.
Pixabay: WenPhotos
The tarot card Strength is self-explanatory as it is about having the inner strength to overcome any obstacle.
It can also refer to physical strength and power. This card often shows a woman holding a lion's head in her hands, representing her control over her animal nature.
Is should talk more about the relation of tarot cards to astrology, but now is an excellent time to start as the Strength tarot card is associated with the sign of Leo.
Leo is a sign that it is all about confidence, power, and control.
If you are born under the sign of Leo, you may be drawn to the Strength tarot card as a representation of your personality.
If you are not born under Leo but have strong Leo qualities, this tarot card may also resonate with you.
What Does It Mean If You Have The Strength Card Come Up In A Reading?
You had the tarot card Strength in your reading can mean that you will soon find the inner courage you need to overcome any obstacles in your way.
It might also suggest tapping into your physical power and strength reserves.
If you are experiencing challenges in your life, this card can indicate that you have what it takes to overcome them.
Be calm and focused, using your inner strength as your guide.
The Chariot represented the determination that you have regardless of your reserves.
Strength is the card that means tapping into those reserves to attain the goal you want to reach, represented by the Chariot.
Those Who Struggle With Mental And Any Illness Have To Live By This Card
And I will tell you right now, anyone who struggles with mental health challenges, trauma, and chronic physical health has to be living by the Strength tarot card at all times.
If you are affected mildly, you don't have to utilize these reserves as much as those who deal with severe impacts.
Because it really does take a lot of strength for some people who are severely impacted by any of these illnesses to get out of bed, eat breakfast, get dressed, and get on with the day.
You may think that those who, for example, have high-functioning depression don't seem to struggle with doing any of that as they will get on with their day and tackle what they need with a smile on their face.
However, think again. They may be high-functioning as they can function despite struggling with depression, but they are struggling more than you would think.
They hide it well, but they struggle more than you think.
And the worst thing about high-functioning depression is that people who have it don't feel they can reach out when having a terrible time.
They want to maintain their strong image, and they don't want to risk that. But that is quite dangerous, because, do I need to explain why?
Do you remember Kate Spade, Robin Williams, and Anthony Bourdain?
There are only so many reserves that those who have a mental illness, regardless of how high-functioning they appear, can tap into without asking for help.
Now, how does this card apply to Risa? It does in reverse, too, which I will get into later.
As you see, Risa has no choice but to keep tapping into her reserves to care for her child her parents and help her neighbor.
That is strength, and it is not always known where those in her situation get it from, as I was in a similar position at one time as well years ago. But I will tell you, if you do not get assistance at all, you will burn out.
Risa has burned out even though she keeps finding it within her to care for everyone else. But she has nothing left to care for herself.
And it shows since she does not take care of herself at all.
I will get into Strength in reverse in a bit, but I want to share something significant with everyone about observing or assuming those who are struggling have all of the strength in the world.
Don't Assume People Who Are Struggling Are Always Strong
It is a natural response when you hear of someone facing unimaginable stressors, and they keep going to tell them how strong they are.
I can tell you right now that maybe some people may think it is a compliment, but others resent it, and I will explain why.
Those struggling do not want to be strong and definitely do not want others telling them that.
They don't want to keep struggling and being in their position—especially when dealing with a caregiving position while you struggle with mental illness.
If you tell them that you think they are strong, it causes them to believe you are holding them high up on a pedestal.
That means they fear you will judge them the times when they need to break down and cry, have a pity party until they gather up the strength to get up again (and sometimes, that is exactly what is needed).
They fear you will judge them when they are so stressed to the point that they have to eat an entire bag of chips or cookies at 2 am.
That is part of the reason that so many caregivers and those who are struggling for other reasons are overweight and obese as I can relate.
That is Risa's situation too. High cortisol levels play a role in that from non-stop stress.
Even though you mean well and think you compliment them when you tell them they are strong, all they hear is that they don't want to be strong anymore and have every right to break down and be weak like everyone else.
No one wants to expect that they have to be superhuman all of the time.
By the way, they are not superhuman. They are ordinary individuals who have been dealt a challenging hand, and they need plenty of help as a result of it.
Another thing that I want to share is that when you tell people who have been through trauma that their trauma made them more robust, that is also very erroneous.
Trauma does not strengthen you. In fact, it can cause a brain injury which is what C-PTSD and PTSD are.
Instead, you make yourself stronger by enduring it, but that uses up your reserves when you make yourself stronger.
That is why those who deal with repeated traumas end up breaking at one point or another. Some end up hospitalized.
There is only so much a human can take. But at the same time, when you are faced with an obstacle, you need to tap into your inner strength to face it.
The Strength card certainly does not mean you have unlimited power because you have suffered so much pain and are still standing.
As mentioned, that is the wrong assumption to make.
No one has unlimited reserves, and there are times when you will see the Strength in reverse happen.
Strength In Reverse
When the Strength card comes up in reverse, it can represent hedonism, a lack of courage, no self-control, self-doubt, as well as burnout. It can also mean that there is a lack of power as well.
As you see that Risa fits Strength upright, she fits Strength in reverse too because she does not have self-control, and she does not have courage as she could stand up to her parents and her neighbor when they cross her boundaries, but she does not.
And that is, unfortunately, part of being an echoist.
And the thing is, when you are using up all of your reserves because you are forced to be strong because of being in an unlimited stressful situation such as caregiving, the Strength in reverse is inevitably going to represent you.
So that is why it is essential to delegate, say no, and get help if needed, so you do not burn out and use up your reserves.
But, if that is not your situation, and you want to know how you can use this card while facing some type of obstacle, let's go over that.
How To Implement Strength In Your Life
If you are looking for guidance on overcoming a difficult situation, ask the tarot cards about the Strength card.
This card can suggest that you need to find your inner power and perseverance to get through what lies ahead.
So be courageous and stay the course. You can even take the Strength card and meditate with it.
But at the same time, remember that you do not have unlimited reserves. You do not have endless strength because you are human, and if you have been dealt a tough hand, please get assistance in one way or another.
That also takes strength to do, by the way. Now, stay tuned for the next card, Hermit.
The Chariot tarot card is one of the major arcana cards, and it has a variety of different meanings, depending on the other cards in the reading.
Generally speaking, the chariot tarot card symbolizes victory, progress, and forward momentum.
It can indicate that you are making good progress in your life or are on the right track with a project or goal.
This card can also suggest that you feel confident and optimistic about the future.
I would say that the Chariot is one of the tarot cards that are very much tied to mental health and mental illness, which I will get into in a bit.
Let's briefly go over the history of the Chariot before delving into the nitty-gritty of it.
Chariot Tarot Card History
The chariot card has a long and varied history. It first appeared in Europe in the early 15th century and was often used to represent military victories.
Many of the earliest Chariot cards showed knights riding into battle.
Later versions of the Chariot card depicted more peaceful scenes, such as a charioteer driving his horses through a beautiful landscape.
The original image of the Chariot was the charioteer in a vehicle standing tall as there is a white and black sphinx in front of it.
That represents positivity and negativity's duality, and those are opposite forces.
While the sphinxes are pulling in different directions, the charioteer uses his determination and strength to keep the Chariot going in the order he wants.
You will see a river flowing behind the charioteer, which means to be in the flow of life that is going on while you keep going after your goals.
So now you have an image and an understanding of the Chariot tarot card, let's go over what it can mean if it shows up in your readings.
The Chariot Tarot Card Indicates Success If You Stay The Course
If you ask a question about a specific situation, the Chariot tarot card can indicate that you will succeed if you stay the course and continue to put in the effort.
It can also suggest that you need to be more aggressive or assertive to achieve your goals.
If you feel stuck or are not making progress, the chariot tarot card can signify that you need to take more action and move forward.
So how can you do that if you are feeling very stuck? I will go over that in a bit as well. Also, the card can represent travel and movement.
The Chariot Can Represent Travel And Movement
The Chariot tarot card is also associated with travel and movement, indicating that you will be traveling soon or a journey ahead of you.
This could be a physical journey, but it could also represent a journey of self-discovery or spiritual growth.
As with all tarot readings, it is essential to read the cards in context and consider the other cards in the spread.
And unless you are traveling for leisurely reasons, unless you are going on a fun trip, the different type of traveling is far from the fun.
That is because it is forcing you to be reflective and introspective, which is always one of the hardest things to do when dealing with trauma and mental illness.
Now, let's see how the Chariot relates to Risa. As you can imagine, she feels powerless in her struggles. She is feeling that her depression and C-PTSD are taking over her.
So you can say that the only way that the Chariot applies to her is that she finds the energy even though she is not in good physical and mental health to care for her son, her parents, and help her neighbor.
Based on all of that, it is fantastic that she never once could not get out of bed because her depression took over.
But at the same time, does the Chariot really apply to her? Or is she only going through the motions because she has to?
Either way, it is challenging to do what she does, even for someone who does not have poor mental and physical health. Aside from that, Risa truly represents the Chariot in reverse.
Chariot In Reverse
When the Chariot appears in reverse, it indicates a loss of willpower, self-doubt, scattered energy, and a lack of direction.
It can also be indicative of giving up. Doesn't that sound like Risa?
She has given up because she sees no purpose in continuing to fight even though she is only sticking around to take care of everyone else.
But she has no purpose at all, so she feels anyway. Eventually, that will catch up with her, and when it does, it could render her unable to do anything physically.
And let me tell you, everyone goes through periods of dealing with the Chariot in reverse, and sometimes you need to give up things that are not working out for you at all.
For instance, if you are taking a challenging course in math, and you want to do it because you think you can, but it is wreaking havoc in all areas of your life, you need to evaluate the reasons for continuing with this course.
That is an example of when giving up may be the best thing if it does not serve a useful purpose.
And if you are doing something such as that, and the Chariot in reverse appears in a tarot reading in the position that indicates the solution, then you need to give it up.
Now, let's talk about the Chariot and mental health.
The Chariot And Mental Health
As mentioned earlier, the Chariot is one of the tarot cards that relate to mental health and mental illness very well.
You can even say that about chronic physical conditions too.
But here is the thing, when you have any condition, whether mental or a chronic physical one, you have the temptation to live in a Chariot in reverse mode.
But the thing is, you will be upset with yourself, and you have to keep the Chariot in mind as you go on with your day.
Because when you live with a moderate to severe mental or chronic physical illness, it is very challenging to get up, take a shower, eat breakfast, do your chores and run errands, and work if you can, and take care of your kids and pets if you have any.
Those things are no big deal for someone fortunate enough not to deal with anything so extreme with their mental or physical health like that.
But for someone who has any chronic illness, doing those things daily represents the Chariot because no matter how many obstacles you face, you do your best to keep going.
And there are going to be days when the Chariot in reverse comes up for you. And it is okay when that happens.
Some days you have to give up and do nothing because perhaps that is a sign that you need to rest.
So if you know about the spoon theory, you would understand.
You can only do certain things at a spoonful at a time. So when you use up too many spoons for your day by doing too much, you are going to be like the Chariot in reverse inevitably.
It is inevitable, and you should do it because the last thing you want to do is burn out and end up worse.
Because it is extra hard work to do many things when dealing with any chronic illness, and it really does take a lot of willpower and determination to do those things.
How To Apply The Chariot Into Your Life
If you live with a mental illness and/or a chronic physical illness, you are already applying this card to your life without even realizing it. But here is the thing.
If you want to step out of your comfort zone and do a little more with your life, you need to take baby steps and expect that taking a step back now and then is not the reason to give up.
Just set some small goals each week and make them realistic, and that way, you will want to find a method to meet them.
If you need inspiration, then keep the Chariot card with you to remind you that you can do it. The next card I will talk about is Strength.
Pixabay: StockSnap
The Lovers tarot card in the Major Arcana is closely associated with love and relationships. Additionally, the Lovers represent values, choices, and alignment.
The Lovers represent a powerful bond between two individuals.
They can also symbolize lovers, such as Adam and Eve, or lovers throughout time; this couple has quite a symbolic history.
What The Lovers Represents On A Deep Level
The representation of Lovers tarot card consists of an Androgynous looking figure holding hands with both another male and female individual: they embrace each other in unity and balance.
The white eagle from the Emperor card; its wings cover their privates. A black-cloaked male looks away from the Lovers; on his cloak, you can see "deep red" colored blood.
A red-cloaked female figure on the far right side also looks away from the lovers.
Depending on your interpretation, the Lovers are surrounded by a duality of suns or moons. You can find two lovers within this symbol, holding hands and embracing each other closely.
The Lovers tarot card asks you to look at your connections with others through a more spiritual lens than an earthly one, which is why they are often described as hermaphroditic in some decks: representing all people and creatures having both male and female reproductive organs.
They hold hands to show their connection and where each individual ends and starts: everyone encompasses male and female energies, making you who you are.
The Lovers Card Asks You If You Found Proper Balance
You see a bond between two men and two women who attempt to hold onto their individuality and give in to a higher spiritual love.
You can interpret the Lovers tarot card as asking it querent if they have found proper balance in the different components that make up their own being: both spiritually and physically.
The Lovers in a relationship can also represent a polarity: an internal battle with temptation towards unity or disconnection through infidelity.
It is not uncommon for lovers to have this issue when confronted by another person they find desirable enough.
In some decks, the Lovers couple has the same face, which represents their oneness and how they are lovers first and foremost: one entity.
Now, let's talk about how the Lovers tarot card represents choices and commitments.
The Lovers And Making A Choice And Committing To It
The Lovers also represents being raw and honest and being clear about who you want to be in your life. It also encourages you to choose and stick with that choice.
You can see how it usually applies to relationships. However, it doesn't always have to do so.
You can think that you need to make a positive change in your life, but you cannot be wishy-washy about it.
For instance, if you want your mental and physical health to improve, you have to be raw and honest about how your habits are causing you to stay unhealthy. It is not comfortable to face, but it is the truth.
Then you know that you need to change to get into better health which you know will improve your mental health too.
That means choosing to start implementing healthier eating habits, finding a therapist that can help you if you feel going down that route is necessary, and increasing activity in your life.
And when you decide to do this because you want to be in better health physically and mentally, you have to commit to getting there.
Therefore, that is an example right there of what the Lovers can represent.
You have to make a choice and commit to it, whether it has to do with your lifestyle, career choice, and relationship.
If you want to marry the person with who you have been in a relationship for a long time, that means committing to being their partner for a long term.
Now, sometimes marriages don't work for various reasons, and no one can predict the future.
Life happens, and experiencing extreme hardships involving grief can break marriages apart, for example.
However, when you commit to spending the rest of your life with someone, you are not thinking about that. You are choosing to be with them for the long term.
And you have to be committed to staying in that relationship if you decide to marry them.
So you cannot think about whether the marriage will last in the long run because if you assume that the marriage will not work out, you are not genuinely committed to this relationship.
If you get raw and honest with yourself, you will see that you have doubts about it which is why if you are assuming you will divorce that person, your heart is not in making this commitment.
Okay, how does the Lovers tarot card relate to Risa's situation? Yes, she made a choice and a commitment to marry the first man who ever showed interest in her, Ron.
And she is committing to care for her child with complex special needs and is committing to help her aging parents.
Risa would have no reason to stray because she isn't that type, even if she no longer loves Ron.
But it is difficult to know whether or not she is staying with him because she loves him, or is Risa staying with him because she feels that he is the best she will ever get?
She has allowed her mental illnesses to define who she is and control her life. Therefore, it shows on the outside. She is also likely not physically healthy either.
She knows she is not a catch, so instead of staying with her husband because Risa truly loves him and is honoring her commitment, she may be staying with him because she is settling.
Why would I even speculate this? Because it is a known fact that Risa is not open and honest about herself and does not know what she wants.
Risa hides things such as hiding the fact she has been in therapy and feels ashamed of it. What else is she keeping secret?
For all we know, Risa always fantasizes about herself living a much better life, ditching her husband, her child, and her parents.
And it is normal to do that once in a while, no matter how much you love your spouse and kids, because life is so dang stressful. So it would not be normal not to do it.
However, since Risa cannot regulate her emotions and cannot be honest with herself and others, which is to say she could not do something out of character one day and ditch them?
If she were to do that, she is only committed because of pure obligation and her knowing that she could not make it elsewhere.
She is not committed for the sake of love. Risa does somewhat fit with the Lovers because she did choose to marry her husband and have a child with him and is still married to him. However, there is one aspect of Lovers in reverse that fits her situation.
Lovers In Reverse
When the Lovers card comes up in reverse, it can indicate indecision, infidelity, problems with a relationship, separation, or a broken relationship.
It can also be failing to honor a commitment, such as assuming that your marriage will end in divorce before giving it a chance.
How does the Lovers tarot card in reverse apply to Risa? First, you cannot say that she struggles with indecision. Yes, she decided to get married and start a family.
However, she has also subconsciously and perhaps consciously chose not to help herself at all.
That is common for mental illness, but many people who have mental health conditions do want to get better and achieve something.
It is scary because you are going into unfamiliar territory by trying out new therapies and such.
It is scary to adopt different behaviors, but if these individuals are sick and tired of their mental illnesses taking over, they will try something to help.
However, Risa has no desire to change who she is at all. She has decided not to look for methods to help her. Therefore, she continues to suffer in all of her aspects of life.
The way the Lovers reversed affects her is that she is having problems in her relationship because there is no honesty.
For all we know, Ron is not honest with her either. Even though no yelling matches are going on, the lack of honesty means lack of communication, and lack of communication is one thing represented by Lovers in reverse.
So how can you apply Lovers into your life?
How You Can Apply The Lovers Tarot Card Into Your Life
I have already stated this, but you need to get honest and raw with yourself.
If you are truly honest with yourself and know your values, which you would have developed after the influence of the Hierophant, then that will help you make better choices and help you determine whether or not you want to commit to something.
It is better not to commit to something that you don't know if you're going to put any effort into it.
Now I get that so many of us, including myself, have thought we had wanted to make commitments to things that were the worst for us and had to break the commitment.
Well, sometimes the Lovers in reverse has to come into play because not everything you do is meant to work out.
I will tell you a brief story about something recently that happened. Later last year, I joined a sprint for a particular social media platform.
I made the commitment and spent money on it, and I did it because I wanted to learn new potential hacks that could work on this particular social media platform.
The first month went well, and I had no regrets then. That is why I chose to give it another try.
However, the second time, I regretted it because I was starting to see the true colors of most of the users of this platform.
And I saw it early in the sprint, which meant I had to finish up the month since I paid for it. So I regretted it, and I was not as active towards the second half.
So, therefore, since I wouldn't say I liked the second round because of seeing not-so-nice things about it, I was genuine and honest about that with myself.
And as a result, I did not even consider joining the sprint again.
Of course, I could have felt pressured to enter it for whatever reason and would have made a commitment that I did not want to make, but why would I waste my hard-earned money and sell my soul to be a part of something that was not a fit for me?
That is why before you make any choices and commitments, you have to be true to yourself and ask yourself if this is something you genuinely want to do!
That is the lesson of the Lovers. The next card I will go over is the Chariot.
Pixabay: Victoria Borodinova
The Hierophant tarot card is the fifth card in the Major Arcana that symbolizes education and learning through experience.
It is representative of morality issues derived from either socially acceptable or unacceptable behavior. It can also rule the law, traditions, and customs.
Therefore, it usually indicates taboos of some sort but with positive connotations since it is categorized under Major Arcana of Tarot Cards.
The term "hierophant" comes from the Greek hieros (priest or holy) and phainomenon (that which is shown). A religion teacher who explains the sacred mysteries is therefore called a hierophant.
The Hierophant Plays Role In Beliefs Systems And Society As A Whole
Another thing that the Hierophant tarot card represents is an established religion or belief system.
It stands for all faiths whose focus is on rules of behavior and conduct of people within society.
If you believe that there is only one truth, then that truth must be followed by all who want peace and acceptance of others into their religious structures.
The Hierophant tarot card represents conformity, not individuality, like its counterpart, the Lovers, as that is the next one.
However, it tells us to conform to society, thinks in the same manner, and not deviate from the norm.
The tarot card of Hierophant can represent any organization trying to convince its people of one way of thinking. It also means education.
The Hierophant And Education
The Hierophant also represents education. You learn how to think, act, dress, etc., by being around those older than you or having more knowledge on a particular subject than you do.
By studying the tarot card meaning of the Hierophant, you will understand how important it is for you to follow wiser and more experienced others.
That is because it helps you grow as individuals and in groups; if everyone were an individual in their own right, there would be chaos.
The Hierophant also represents any person in authority, such as a police officer, a president, or even a teacher.
The Hierophant Representing Institutions That Enforce Beliefs Onto You
Hierophant tarot cards stand for institutions that enforce beliefs and rules onto you.
For example, you may follow a religion with many regulations to follow to go to Heaven.
This tarot card also means going with the flow instead of thinking for yourself reading because others around you feel differently, leading you down the wrong path in life.
In short, if your everyday actions are being controlled by someone else, then it is likely the tarot card, meaning of the Hierophant tarot card, is affecting your life.
When Does The Hierophant Show Up In Readings?
The Hierophant usually shows up in tarot cards readings when people want to trust an authority figure or feel the need to follow all rules and regulations throughout society.
He may represent what you think society should look like, but it is essential not to lose sight of your individuality while looking at him.
The Hierophant could also show up in tarot reading if you tend to believe that other people know better than you do. It would be best to try not to let other people make decisions for you.
The Hierophant tarot card can remind tarot readers that they are individuals, not just group members.
As a result, they have the power to decide what they want to do, rather than following other people's rules or living by society's standards.
How does the Hierophant show up in Risa's life? You can say that the Hierophant plays a role, but not necessarily in a positive way.
She firstly has never set boundaries which is why she does so many things for others, such as her neighbor and her parents.
They do not appreciate her as they take advantage of her time and help.
Risa does not even want to help, but she feels obliged to do it. And since she is so desperate for others to like her and to value her, that is why she never says "no."
That part does not relate to the Hierophant much, but if she favors and cares for others because she knows that is what society will expect of her, then that relates to the Hierophant.
But again, not in a positive way.
She also never developed her own way of thinking and her own beliefs, which is how she relates to this card.
She feels as if that was stolen from her from an early age.
Risa would be right about that. However, she is an individual just like everyone else and has the power to develop her own beliefs and way of thinking.
She follows the herd really because she doesn't know any better and does not have the confidence to know any better.
Does the Hierophant reversed seem to fit Risa better?
Let's see.
Hierophant Reversed
When the Hierophant card shows up in reverse, it can represent several signs.
Firstly, it represents purposely rebelling against the rules that may bring in trouble with the law.
It may also mean breaking away from family traditions and values.
Another meaning could be poor counseling or abusing a higher position.
However, the Hierophant reversed is not all bad. It can also mean that you are breaking away from traditions that no longer work for you, and you are honoring your individuality and creating your own.
You find your own wisdom through within without listening to what others say. You have your truth and own it.
It can also mean you are practicing a different religion or lifestyle than the one that you were raised in.
If the Hierophant in reverse represents you finding your individuality and not caring what others think of you, then that is a good thing.
That certainly does not represent Risa. The only time you could see the Hierophant in reverse in her case is when she quit going for therapy and quit taking her medication.
Her doctor told her she needed to take the antidepressants, but she decided not to listen and did what she wanted by stopping.
That is the Hierophant in reverse move right there. Now, let's talk about how you can utilize the Hierophant upright and reversed in your life.
How Can You Apply The Hierophant Into Your Life?
You have to be careful because it is best to apply the Hierophant in both positions.
You have to admit that you do not have all of the answers and that you are not an expert in fields in which you have no experience.
Think about the Dunning-Kruger effect. If you have limited experience or knowledge in something, you don't want to believe that you are an expert in the field.
That means you have to listen to experts and those who have a lot more experience in something than you.
That is why I do my best to be careful as I make myself clear that I am an advocate, not a professional, when I talk about mental health.
I struggle with mental health issues, but at the same time, I have learned enough what tools to use that can help me manage them. I share them, but that is about it.
For example, if there is a new depression treatment that sounds like it may be helpful, I will not be the one to tell people to try it because it is better than other treatments.
I will talk to the experts and the scientists and look into giving it a try.
I can always recommend the treatment if it helps, but I will not pretend I am an expert and tell people to take it.
I always say talk to your doctor, psychiatrist, or psychologist if you want to look into trying it.
That is one way to apply the Hierophant into your life, which is quite essential.
Now at the same token, there are a lot of bad mental health professionals out there that gaslight you. In that case, I will see through it and call them out. I already have.
You also want to have mentors teachers and get any professional help you need if you are confused or want to learn something new.
And when you want to apply the Hierophant in reverse, I mentioned it before.
You want to explore your individuality.
For instance, if you do not feel that the religion you were raised with is the right fit for you, then the worst thing you can do is keep up with it. That is bad for your mental health.
Instead, choose a spiritual belief or another faith that resonates with you.
If you don't want to upset your family by doing that, if you value their feelings, you don't even need to tell them if you feel this would upset them.
You can always join them when it comes to traditions to celebrate together.
However, that does not mean carrying it on your own.
Remember that you are your own person. Listen to the experts, don't act as you know better than anyone else, and follow rules if they are for the greater good.
You don't want to be reckless and irresponsible in any way.
But never allow anyone to tell you what to do with your life and spiritual beliefs, and hobbies otherwise. The next card I will go over is Lovers.
Pixabay: geralt
The Emperor is the most masculine card in the set as it represents authority, discipline, order, stability, and self-control.
When this card shows up in a reading, it is suggestive that your life is in order and you are the one who is in charge, as this is what you need to see at times to gain some confidence.
This also can be indicative of outstanding accomplishments that resulted from being so disciplined as well as hard-working.
The Emperor also makes it clear that you are the one who is setting up your own rules as well as your boundaries.
This card rules leadership, which suggests that you are in this role and position.
You are more powerful than you realize and organized. If you are not at this point, then it is a reminder that the potential is there.
The History Of The Emperor
The Emperor is number four out of the major arcana cards in the tarot deck. The Emperor has an exciting ancient meaning to it.
Much like many other old, mystical things throughout all periods, there are varying stories and legends behind them.
It's one of the reasons why people to this day still fear or believe in what happened during these specific periods.
The Emperor was once thought of as a king and a god--a perfect being that should be worshiped by all means necessary.
So much to go into detail about history that it could keep someone reading for hours.
When drawn upright (for example, when doing a tarot spread), its meanings can be incredibly positive or negative, depending on the question.
Multiple factors go into play when looking at any given cards meaning in a spread, Emperor included.
With certain cards interpreting the Emperor's meaning can be tricky until you get used to what each card means in its upright form and then compare it to their reversals meanings.
Some examples of questions that the emperor tarot card may answer are:
Will I get a new position?
Am I an influential person?
Later on, I will go into that when I cover how the Emperor can help you!
But, for now, let's talk about the appearance of the Emperor.
What Does The Emperor Look Like?
The general appearance of the Emperor is a male with long golden hair, wearing a large crown while holding either a wand or a decorative staff-like shape (it's not always clear).
The Emperor also wears this unique gold headband with a gem in the center.
He is wearing a blue outfit with golden trim and designs on it, but over that, Emperor has a red cape or robe-looking thing going all the way down his back.
So the Emperor has this whole shape where he looks like he's engulfed by a red-golden light from about waist up.
The Emperor also stands next to a dark-colored throne--it may be indigo blue at times. Other times it's much more blackish.
Now you know what the Emperor looks like. Let's talk more about how he plays a role in Risa Green's life.
As you know, she does not feel that she has any control over her life. She does not know anything about setting boundaries.
She absolutely has no leadership skills whatsoever. The Emperor demands respect.
She does not because she does not think she is worthy of it. Someone who has firm boundaries would not help out their neighbor while they have too many other responsibilities happening in their lives as she does.
And even then, if she knew how to create boundaries, she would also delegate help for her parents instead of being the one to be there for them while she has other issues going on.
So, therefore, would you say that Risa matches the description of the Emperor in reverse? Let's find that out now.
Emperor In Reverse
The Emperor tarot card reversed often means that whatever plans or power once there is now gone.
When reversed, Emperor usually means you have no real influence in whatever you're trying to do--you can't "play the part" as much as you'd like.
The Emperor reversed also means that someone or something is trying to block you from getting to your goal--the Emperor in his reverse form may be seen as the opposition in this sense.
Also, it can mean there is a lack of self-control and discipline. It can also represent immaturity or being manipulative.
The Emperor tarot card can also mean that you're feeling victimized by others, especially in a work setting.
If the Emperor comes up reversed in a spread, it's very likely your co-workers are purposefully blocking off your progress to get ahead, and they don't want you to take them out, so they will stab you in the back when it counts. For sure!
The reversed Emperor can also show you feel trapped/imprisoned by some aspects of life--this could even result in self-sabotaging behaviors because of how unhappy the Emperor makes you feel.
So, emperor tarot card reversed means you're on the receiving end of some power. Therefore, the Emperor in reverse matches Risa to a T.
She has always been the receiving end of someone else's control and cruelty.
She never did anything to stop it from happening.
The Emperor in reverse also means she lacks control of her emotions as she struggles with emotional regularities as anyone with mental illness often does.
That is, if they don't get the proper help for their mental illness, and we know for a fact she refuses to do anything.
She is an emotional eater and will not help resolve that. She likely is dealing with consequences from that, too but won't do a thing about it.
She cannot set boundaries and become a leader in her life or instead refuses to accept that she can do so but does not want to learn.
She keeps allowing others to walk on her. And I will tell you right now that I get it because I have been there.
When you are an echoist like Risa is, and like how I was, the Emperor in reverse represents you.
And trust me, applying the Emperor into your life is challenging at best. But it is doable, with a lot of work. So how can you use the Emperor in your life?
How You Can Apply The Emperor Into Your Life
You basically have to learn to be your own leader. You have to learn self-discipline and self-control.
It is so hard to do when you struggle to stand up for yourself and allow others to control you.
I was just like Risa, but the catalyst for me was when my limits were crossed.
I had no choice but to get my son with complex special needs the help he needed outside of the home, and it was the best decision to make because he is doing very well and has a future.
He is best not to live here as I could not provide the help he needed though I did my best.
But the thing is, society expects mothers to be martyrs and will not look kindly upon those like me who do something so bold.
So my limits were pushed and basically gave society's expectations a big F U!
And I didn't stop being an echoist overnight, but over the years, I started realizing it was time to firm up my boundaries and knew that I had to deal with conflicts if I wanted my wants and needs met.
I admit I still struggle at times, but more often than not, I will not hesitate to say what I need to say if it is essential, and I have no problem with telling people "no," which I struggled with in the past.
Learning to use the Emperor in your life is one of the most challenging tasks if you struggle with firming up boundaries and being in control of your life.
However, it is essential to get what you want and need.
The best thing to do is to begin telling people "no" if you cannot or do not want to do favors they ask!
That is unless you feel you will get something out of it. But your time is not there for others to abuse.
That is an excellent start to showing yourself some good leadership. The next card I will go over is the Hierophant.
Pexels: Yan Krukov
The Empress card of the Major Arcana in the tarot has been assigned to be the card that represents feminine energy and anything maternal. This card can also mean creating art and even establishing a new business. In addition, this card represents nurturing because creating anything needs to be nurtured to be sustained.
The Empress Represents Creativity
Nurturing a family and a new business must be done. This card can be relevant to starting a new art-related project such as painting.
Therefore, if you want to start a new creative venture and this card comes up, that shows a good chance it will happen. You have to nurture whatever you create to sustain it.
This card will also come up if you are thinking of starting a family as it is the card that represents motherhood, after all.
She represents the fertility and the abundance of Mother Earth and how it's transferred to you when you use your inner resources properly. She gives you nurturing, comfort, warmth, and security when you choose to utilize these powers in your own life.
The Empress tarot card shows you that your intuition is strong enough to make wise decisions by trusting your knowledge.
It teaches you that quieting overactive minds can be accomplished with meditation or relaxation techniques - or even taking a break from trying to figure everything out all at once!
When this card appears in readings, it's almost always about your home life, family, love relationships, and other nurturing situations.
The Empress Tells You That You Do Not Need Mystical Guidance
The Empress card reminds you that Mother Nature is the best source of wisdom because she has been in existence since before humanity could even record history.
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She teaches you to listen to your inner voice rather than rely on things like fortunetellers or psychics who might not have your best interests at heart (or maybe trying to rip us off). Finally, the Empress card lets you know that you don't need any mystical guidance; you only need yourself!
Therefore, when the Empress tarot card shows up in a reading, it's a perfect time just to be yourself. You don't need to put on airs or appear as something you're not. Instead, the Empress lets us know that we are on the right path and doing fine with our decisions!
The Empress Does Not Want You To Worry About What Others Think
The Empress card reminds you how important it is to do what feels suitable for yourself without worrying about others' thoughts.
Your inner wisdom will guide you towards true happiness while also giving you many opportunities for growth and new experiences along the way.
If you've been feeling a little off-track lately, this card may be trying to tell you that you should reevaluate where your focus has been going because it's not showing you the best path.
When this card is in a reading, it's time to slow down and take a break if needed - but also look deep within yourself for guidance!
The Empress card reminds you that you have all the power within yourself to succeed or fail. Therefore, you need to listen carefully to what your inner voices are saying to manifest the right actions at opportune times.
The Empress Wants You To Be True To Yourself
The Empress card can show up when asking about love life readings because she always encourages people to stay true to themselves when balancing work and play in their love lives.
If your empress tarot cards ask whether it's a good time for you to socialize more, go out on more dates, and so on - the Empress is telling you that your self-esteem will be at its highest when you're enjoying yourself in your private time away from work.
The Empress card has a lot of different meanings when she shows up in readings, but one thing is for sure: she always provides the motivation you need to search deep within yourself for guidance!
How does the Empress play a role in Risa's life? Unfortunately, like the other cards, the Empress in reverse fits Risa's situation.
I'll go over that in a bit. However, Risa does not know how to apply the Empress in her life. She never had a lot of love and nurturing. Risa did not grow up in a nurturing environment at home and school.
And sure, she had some maternal instincts even though she never received loved and nurturing herself because not only did she have a child, but she tries to take care of him even though it is a struggle for her to do so because of her child's complex needs.
However, does Risa really care for him out of love, or is it an obligation? Does she care for her parents out of love, or is it due to feeling obliged to do so?
Does she really nurture her neighbor by helping her out, or is it because she does not have it in her to not say "no," and that is what she believes anyway. If she is scared to say "no" and feels obliged to care for her family, that is not the Empress.
I also want to add that Risa does not relate to the Empress because she lacks creativity. It does not mean she does not have it. For all we know, Risa could be brilliantly creative.
However, Risa knows nothing about tapping into it unless she brings the Magician into her life. Therefore, Risa once again does not relate to the Empress upright. Let's now go over what the Empress in reverse means.
The Empress In Reverse
When the Empress comes up in reverse, this is a sign that there are domestic problems, a lack of nurture, stagnation, infertility, or the opposite. It could represent a pregnancy that is not wanted. Financial troubles are another representation. In reverse, you can see how the Empress relates more to Risa's situation.
She never knew what it was like to be nurtured, and she doesn't really nurture anyone. She does not have kind thoughts about her family and anyone. When it comes to the Empress upright, you care for others with love. Risa cares for others because she feels she has to do so, not love.
Financially, Risa and Ron struggle. They struggle to pay for her son's therapies, and they cannot afford to have any more kids because neither of them makes much money. So you can say that the Empress in reverse applies to that situation.
Domestic problems are also present in Risa's life, and they always have been. She was devalued, belittled, and abused emotionally and mentally. She has also been dishonest with her husband, and there is no love in her home.
You can also say that Risa is burned out and going through the motions as a result. So how can Risa begin to relate to the Empress upright? And how can you bring the Empress into your life? Let's go over that now.
How You Can Allow The Empress To Help You
In a nutshell, the way you can bring the Empress into your life is through self-care. If you are taking care of yourself, you can better care for others with love and not an obligation. That means delegating responsibilities if you must, and finances are an issue.
You can always check with your local place of worship or ask for support in different Facebook groups related to a problem you face. You will need to bring the Magician into your life and become more resourceful by tapping into other sources.
It is essential to care for yourself when you are stressed, especially in a caregiving situation, whether you have young kids or care for aging parents. That is more of a challenge if you struggle with mental illnesses. You need outside help, and you need your struggles validated. You need care!
Also, get into a creative hobby which can help as well, as that is also very nurturing. Also, get into nature, unless it is a rainstorm, or a blizzard, getting in touch with Mother Nature can be very helpful.
And if you get into a habit of spending a good ten minutes outside, as long as the weather allows you to do so, then do it. If it is freezing, bundle up. If it's too hot, drink extra water and put on sunscreen.
You get the idea. Now you know what the Empress is about, and the next card I will go over is the Emperor!
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Pexels: RODNAE Productions
The High Priestess of the Major Arcana of the tarot is the second card of the deck, and this is the one that represents secrets, digging up secrets mysteries, unraveling those mysteries, and your intuition.
When this card comes up, it shows that you need to pick apart some mysteries and use your intuition to solve some problems. You have to do this on your own.
Another thing that the High Priestess can indicate is that there is a time of being still and to retreat so you can reflect upon any situation.
Reflect upon anything necessary and always trust your instincts to help you get through it.
The High Priestess Is All About Trusting Your Intuition
In other words, if you see this card, it means that something around you is not how it appears. You will find that something does not add up.
That means that the High Priestess tells you to trust your intuition to get to the bottom of what is presented to you.
Here are some other interesting things about this card. The High Priestess is second only to the Empress in her ability to project femininity.
Her association with virginity suggests many things about women that men do not know or cannot know, and that sounds sexist, and that is not how it is intended to come across.
However, this is her story, and back in the day, things were that much different. Remember how this reflects a much earlier time.
Unsurprisingly, an image of the woman who represents this type reflects this power. Her veil represents both wisdom and mystery.
Many people will tell you she is merely hiding "secrets still the nature of secrets also involves withholding information that could change your life for better or worse - knowledge can be dangerous!
Even when one wants to share something intelligent, it is easy to reveal more than intended by being too blunt accidentally.
The High Priestess's silence is necessary for discretion means she doesn't have many conversations about social niceties, so you can say that she cuts out the middle man.
Who Is The High Priestess?
She is the daughter of high priests in a spiritual tradition called The Brotherhood, but her immense power makes her too valuable to be groomed for service in the temple.
So at a young age, she was given to an order known as The Sisterhood. Here she learned how to tap into the Otherworlds where magic naturally arises from powerful emotions and transformative acts of will.
This knowledge enabled her to enter these worlds and summoned them here when necessary.
Nowhere does any lore suggest that she has lost these abilities once leaving the Sisterhood -
quite to the contrary, it would seem that because she can disappear at will anymore, she took on high political positions so that nothing else could stop her from doing what she believes is right.
You may be wondering if this means high priestesses are born or made, but like magicians in general, high priests are just people with high potential, not chosen representatives of Higher Power.
So high priestesses are simply women who have the skills they need to rise through the ranks of whatever order it is that is lucky enough to claim them.
That said, high priestesses do tend to draw other high-powered individuals to them, so keep an eye out for who seeks you out. Probably someone familiar.
She's also very good at knowing when something needs her attention, even if it isn't pronounced what that might be yet.
So if she gets a hunch out of you, be grateful for the good fortune that you have caught her attention - it is not every day high priestesses take an interest in people!
But, on the other hand, she can't help but notice when someone has potential, and high potential often involves high risk. So if she thinks you should know something about high magic, pay attention.
The High Priestess Is All About Being Truthful To Yourself
She is also very straightforward with truths - whether or not one wants to hear them isn't really up to her.
This is why many high priestesses tend to spend time alone they don't put up with patience for ignorance around themselves!
Don't get involved with things where your life is at stake if you can avoid it.
How does the High Priestess relate to Risa's situation?
Let's see, Risa feels broken, and anyone dealing with mental illnesses and trauma-related disorders will feel that way. She is very disconnected from her intuition, but at the same time, it does not mean it isn't working.
Remember how I talked about how so many of those who struggle with trauma-related disorders and mental illnesses have strong intuition.
That is because they have had to rely on it to navigate their lives and make sense of their struggles, and many of them go into fields to help provide intuitive insights to others.
However, Risa is very disconnected from anything that the High Priestess represents. Risa is allowing others to keep walking on her, such as her parents, who do not have the best intentions for her.
She lets the neighbor take advantage of her without showing any gratitude.
Risa keeps allowing others to keep hurting her because she fears speaking up. But at the same time, she has some awful feelings of rage, jealousy, and resentment.
Anyone who has struggled with complex trauma will feel those feelings, but there comes a time when there is a catalyst, and you begin to say enough is enough and start speaking up, so you have your needs and wants to be met.
I deal with anger myself, and I am not suppressing it; I do the contrary. I am advocating and creating awareness about mental illnesses and the effects of trauma. That is a result of anger.
Sometimes having a good session with the punching bag helps release it. There will be a lot of anger, but it is healthy if you use it constructively. If you remove it in situations that are not destructive or violent, it is incredibly beneficial never to suppress it.
Risa suppresses her anger, and it only comes out when she explodes and terrifies her child and husband. But immediately stops and hides the rest.
Perhaps her anger that she refuses to express comes from her intuition screaming at her by telling her that she has it within her to make her life better. So she can go back to the Magician and tap into her resources.
Her intuition is telling her that if she stopped helping her ungrateful parents and neighbor, got her son into a therapeutic setting instead of taking care of him when she isn't able to do so effectively, and started finding out once and for all what she wanted in life, she would be at a better place.
However, there is a lot of fear within her because she has been bullied and abused so much she is afraid to listen to what the High Priestess is telling her. But what if she did so one step at a time, by starting to tell her neighbor that she could not help anymore.
Then eventually, she may work up the courage to say to her parents that she is no longer there to help. There is potential for the High Priestess to get through to her, but it will be up to Risa to allow that to happen. Too much fear consumes her, which is why it is not occurring.
What About The High Priestess In Reverse?
Unfortunately, Risa represents the High Priestess reversed. When the High Priestess card is reversed, it indicates that secrets and information are purposely being withheld, and there is no harmony on a personal level.
And it is not hard to see how Risa has no harmony within, and there is no harmony with her relationships.
For example, she is not honest with her husband, as she did not even want him to know that she was prescribed medication for her depression, and that was part of the reason she tossed away her antidepressants.
It is not hard to see that all of her chakras are severely out of balance and blocked. She never speaks up. She never asserts her needs and wants. And until she is at a place where she can start doing that, the High Priestess will keep representing Risa in reverse.
How Can The High Priestess Help You?
How can you connect with the High Priestess in the upright position? First, you have to trust your intuition which means finding a way to keep your emotions separate from your intuition. That means to go with what you intuitively sense instead of how you feel.
That does not only imply separating it from hopeful feelings. It also means to find a way to separate it from feelings of worry or pessimism. And that is a struggle if you deal with depression.
For instance, you tend to think that the glass is half-empty often, but you applied for a job, and you deep down have a good feeling about it. However, you are scared to go there.
You have struggled with a false sense of hope before. You may acknowledge that you feel there is a good chance of getting a job, but your default way of thinking would be that you are just hopeful about it and will be let down once again.
You cannot get excited about the possibility until you are contacted and told the company that you are hired!
Therefore, your intuition gave you some good news, but your emotions got in the way and made you believe that you were only hopeful about it momentarily, only to be let down.
On the flip side, you don't want to be overly optimistic about something your intuition tells you otherwise. Let's say that you are the type that may be unrealistically optimistic at times and will ignore anything that your intuition tells you.
For example, let's say you applied for that job, and you deep down know that it did not work out, but your emotions will not allow you to acknowledge what you intuitively feel.
Therefore, you will tell yourself that you know that you got that job. You will convince yourself of it because the alternative is not acceptable until you find out that the position you applied for at that company was taken by someone else.
You will be upset, and at the same time, kick yourself for not going with what your intuition was telling you, which was that the job you applied for was not meant for you.
Intuition is an intuition when you have a sense of knowing something deep down and have an emotional detachment. And it is best to practice that so you can see the difference between your emotions and your intuition.
So that is how you can apply the High Priestess in your life. The next card will be the Empress!
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Pixabay: qimono
The Magician is the first card of the tarot's Major Arcana. It represents manifestation, the skills, capabilities, and resources and reminds the querent that they can do anything they choose. But, they need to learn to tap into it. Here is the thing.
Let’s Talk About The Magician
The Magician tarot card is a symbol of power and creativity. Magician symbols often represent the ability to manifest one's desires and goals in life. The tarot card indicates that it is time for you to take action and actively move toward the life you want. It can also signify that it is time to pursue a goal or dream, nagging at you lately.
The Magician tarot card often represents a power that one holds within themselves and indicates the ability to manifest your power. It is also a sign of change, transformation, and new beginnings.
When you see the Magician in tarot readings, it often represents the highest point you have reached so far on your spiritual path. When the card comes up, it is an indication that you have complete control over your life's direction.
The Magician Does Not Want You To Waste Energy
Additionally, the card can warn you not to waste energy pursuing fantasies or illusions that will not come true. It may also signify reaching a critical crossroads in your life, where you must decide what direction to take.
Finally, you can see it is a message from the divine that certain things have been completed now and are the time for new beginnings.
That is because the Magician also represents balance, wisdom, and knowledge. Know that you have what it takes to accomplish your goals and dreams.
Another thing that the Magician can indicate is that you are working on a new project or purpose in your life now.
Additionally, it often represents a balance between the physical and spiritual worlds. Finally, the card brings a message to encourage you to seek guidance from those who have been on a similar path as you for some time now.
You may be neglecting your spiritual side, which needs to be more balanced in your life.
The Magician exists in your daily life as people who motivate you, inspire you and instill a passion for life within you. You can see it as the symbols can be seen as messages from the divine encouraging you to take chances on something new, test limits, and reach for the stars.
They are messages of encouragement to take action in your life now as they can signify that you are being called upon to try something new in your life, even if it is uncomfortable at first.
Magician symbols indicate that balance between the different parts of your life is necessary.
Here is the thing with Risa and the Magician. She did not take a hint from any of the divine messages that she had gotten that the Magician represented.
She has no self-esteem and is also entirely burned out based on all her responsibilities. She is more than burned out by the extra responsibilities she puts on herself because she cannot say "no."
There is no reason she has to help her parents, who treat her horribly as they have money to spend on outside help. She has no reason to help her ungrateful neighbor.
How can Risa put the energies from what the Magician has to offer if she has no idea to tap into any of her resources and has many that she does not know exists? That is because she never believed in herself, aside from being burned out.
But like anyone else, she has the talents to make better changes for her situation and herself.
Everyone has it within them to find their inner Magician to create something that can improve their lives or even improve the lives of others.
But until Risa can start saying "no" and putting her needs first, she will not be able to find her inner Magician. The first step to getting there is to believe in herself, even just a little. What about the Magician in reverse? Let's go over that.
The Magician In Reverse
The Magician in reverse can indicate deceit, poor planning, manipulation, no energy, and ill intentions. In other words, if you want to create something new and go through the dishonest and manipulative route, this represents the Magician in reverse.
You can say that Risa's last energy matches the Magician in reverse. However, almost everyone Risa encountered had very ill intentions for her.
Let's go over her parents, her sister, and those bullies who made her life hell. They caused Risa to turn into someone who was not meant to be how she turned out. Risa had the potential to find success in her life and turn into someone who had more confidence.
These people were the cause for Risa not turning out that way.
However, even though these individuals did her a lot of harm, Risa has it within to use the Magician to improve her life. She can pull the Magician upright, learn to manage her trauma mental illnesses, and find creative ways to look into services that can help her with her son and other stressful situations.
So now that we are onto that, let's talk about how the Magician can help you. How can you bring the Magician into your life?
How You Can Work With The Magician
The Magician can help you with your goal-setting ambitions. It does not matter what you want to attain, as it may be a better job, better health, whether it is mental or physical, learning how to set boundaries better, or even a pair of new shoes.
The thing is, you want to be crystal clear on what you want, and keep the Magician card with you to meditate with it, and you can develop clarity as far as what you want to attain and what actions to take to go after it.
You may want to do this for a few minutes each day so your vision becomes more precise.
Remember that the Magician wants you to take action, and you will want to create an action plan and how you will go after what you need. If you have a therapist and are doing some goal-setting with them, this is also a great thing to discuss.
Your therapist does not have to be open to the tarot if they are not open to that.
You don't even have to talk about what you are doing with them. You will want to tell them. Instead, you are looking for ways to go after your goals and become clear on what you want, and you can even get input on other action plan ideas.
The Magician is all about manifestation, creation, tapping into your resources, and utilizing your skills.
However, the Magician also reminds you that you can do anything where you put your focus! The next card to talk about is the High Priestess, which I will cover next time.
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Pixabay: Sorbyphoto
The Fool is the first tarot card of the Major Arcana deck. However, even though the Fool is the first tarot card in the deck, the number assigned to this card is 0.
That is because the Fool has unlimited potential, and he represents a young and innocent individual who is ready to learn what there is to learn and to experience new things.
Let's Talk About The Fool
The Fool can also be placed at the end of the Major Arcana, after The World card, because that is when a new journey begins. However, the Fool's journey represents someone's experience from start to finish.
The Fool is all about having an open mind that is curious and ready to take in the unexpected. There is a desire to take in some brand new experiences and enjoy the adventure.
Get ready to experience many surprises as there is innocence associated with this card. The Fool is all about being carefree, sharing new beginnings, curiosity, innocence, and having a free spirit.
The best way to describe the Fool is that you do not know where you are going or what you will experience, but it is all about taking a leap of faith. The message from the Fool is that you should have an open and curious mind and have a sense of enthusiasm as well.
You cannot worry about what will or won't happen. You just have to have a leap of faith and do what you need to do whether you feel it is time to go after it or not.
You do not have to have everything figured out before going after what you want.
Additionally, it is a time to be carefree and live your life to the fullest.
Who Takes On The Traits Of The Fool?
Those who would take on the traits of the Fool are those who are confident and more daring. Therefore, someone like Risa Green would not have much in common with this card.
Because of her mental conditions, she is not the type that would be daring and want to experience new adventures. I want to make it clear that you do not have to have any mental illness not to be explorative.
But this is about Risa. Not only is she not daring and explorative, but she cannot think for herself and does not even know what she wants for herself.
However, if that were 100 percent true, Risa would have stayed at home with her abusive parents. She didn't, so the Fool did apply to her when she got a job, got married, and had her child.
When you get married, unless you have been married before, whether you live with your partner beforehand or not, that is a perfect example of the Fool. Marriage is brand new territory, and so is having kids.
You enter a life-changing situation that you know nothing about and go in on it blindly. How you handle the hardships that come with those things depends on your nature and mental and physical health.
Risa is not in good physical and mental health, as you know. She seems to be okay with her job for the most part but never advanced herself at all. When she got that job at the furniture store, the Fool matched that situation since she had never worked before.
But it certainly does not now. Regarding her marriage, there are problems there since she has not been honest with her husband about some things.
For example, she did not want Ron to find out that she was prescribed antidepressants because she was embarrassed. She also could not cope with being a mother, especially to a child with significant special needs like her son has.
So, for the most part, the Fool does not represent Risa too much because other than her getting one job, getting married, and having one child, she relates more to the Fool in reverse. A lot more!
When The Fool Is In Reverse
When the Fool shows up in reverse, that can represent a few things, such as having the fear that is holding you back from trying something new. You do want to do things you have something in mind to do, but you are terrified that no one will take you seriously if you go ahead with it.
So there is a lot of fear and self-doubt regarding the Fool in reverse. But, on the flip side, it can also mean that you are reckless and taking unnecessary risks.
There is a time and place to act with an open mind and a carefree attitude, but if you are irresponsible, such as daring a friend to race you on a neighborhood road, that can represent the Fool in reverse.
As you see, Risa fits a lot more with the Fool in reverse. She holds herself back and does not dare to push forward. At this point, Risa may be too run-down and exhausted to try.
Risa never traveled, she never moved away to a new city, she never broke contact with her abusive mother and enabling father. And when you have mental illnesses such as depression or any trauma-related disorders, you will be more likely to allow these conditions to hold you back because they take a hit on your self-esteem, which is why Risa is the way she is.
She is full of self-doubt and fears so much that no one will take her seriously, allowing herself to be a doormat. It is not a surprise since she has been abused and bullied. It would cause that type of reaction. Risa also never got proper therapy to help her manage and cope with her trauma.
However, does Risa ever take on the opposite traits of the Fool in reverse, which is showing any reckless behavior? Well, Risa is a stress eater, but that does not mean she is a binge eater, and Risa has at times spent a lot of money on things she never uses but has not gone into severe debt.
So I would have to say, not really. When you think of that type of behavior, you may think of the mania aspect of bipolar disorder. I mean, again, I am not a mental health professional, and I don't have bipolar disorder, but that is what comes to my mind.
And I happen to watch General Hospital, and the character of Sonny Corinthos has bipolar disorder and has been in many manic episodes. The actor who plays that character, Maurice Benard, also has the condition, and I commend him for also doing a significant part in helping to increase awareness about mental illness. Anyway, I am going off on a tangent here, so let me get back to the Fool.
How Can You Bring Some Aspects Of The Fool Upright Into Your Life More?
Here is the thing, if you want to be more of a well-rounded individual, you need to find a way to bring some adventure into your life. You don't have to do anything too far out of your comfort zone.
But you do need to inch out of it. If you feel so much dread and self-doubt, but you know you need to attempt something new because you will feel worse otherwise, such as traveling somewhere new or even trying a brand new restaurant that you have never tried before, here is something to try.
Take the Fool tarot card out of your favorite deck, and meditate while holding it. Then, imagine the Fool encouraging you to go out and do that new thing and imagine the Fool telling you what you will gain from it when you do.
Either you will discover a new food or restaurant that you will love and try again, or the worst that can happen is that you will not like it and add it to the lists of restaurants never to visit again.
That is an example. The Fool will remind you that you only live once, and you may regret it if you don't take the chance on experiencing the thing you wanted to experience because fear held you back.
Now, everyone has big dreams, and there may be things that you may want to do that you are not in a position to do at the time, such as moving to a new city if you have too many tied where you currently are moment. But that does not mean there won't come a time when it will be right.
Even though the Fool is innocent, a free spirit, and very childlike, he will not expect you to do anything that is not sensible either. That is what the Fool in reversed will tell you to do, and you don't want to listen to him. The Fool in reverse either holds you back more or tells you to do something completely careless.
You want to expand your horizons and inch out of your comfort zone. And you may have to crawl out of it even slower if you struggle with mental illness, and as long as you keep making progress, every baby step counts.
If this practice does not work for you, it's okay, but it is something to keep in mind. The next card I will go over will be the Magician!
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From Pixabay: johnhain
Trigger warning: Mentions of bullying and scapegoating at home
Before getting into the nitty-gritty of the cards' meanings, let's talk about an individual I will refer to each time I point out an example.
Here is a story about a woman named Risa Green, who is in her mid-40s, and she suffers from major depressive disorder and complex PTSD, which bring her a lot of anxiety and severe low self-esteem.
Risa never left her hometown because she felt too guilty to leave her family. She also never had any real aspirations.
However, she did get married and had one son with moderate autism. She also has caregiving duties for her parents.
When she is not caring for her son or her parents, she works at a low-paying job as a clerk at a furniture store. Risa has worked there for years.
She also has a non-verbal learning disability which caused her not to read social cues properly, struggle with social skills, and have problems with motor and visual-spatial skills.
She struggled with a lot of that when she was younger, but it improved as Risa got older.
But that did not help her choose to do something meaningful with her life. Her self-esteem is extremely low for that to happen.
To make things worse, Risa has the polycystic ovarian syndrome, also known as PCOS, the main reason for her weight and acne struggles.
She used food as a coping mechanism behind her weight struggles to make things worse. It is like one thing feeding another, so to speak.
Now that you have the general introduction of Risa, let's talk more about what contributed to her trauma and why she has such low self-esteem with mental illnesses.
The Story Of Risa Green
Risa Green was born in Manhattan, New York, to semi-wealthy Jewish parents, as she was the first one.
However, her father, who used to be a business lawyer, got an opportunity to work in Syracuse, and when Risa was a toddler, her family moved there.
The birth happened not long after moving there, Risa's sister, Tamara.
Over the years, it was apparent that the parents favored Tamara over Risa. Her mother especially was incredibly hard on Risa, and Risa was becoming overweight as a child, whereas Tamara was always slender.
Her mother constantly criticized Risa's weight and monitored everything she ate. She also called her "stupid" numerous times because she struggled to follow instructions and struggled in school.
She also earned the name "stupid klutz" because Risa kept falling. Her mother told Risa to be more like her sister and encouraged Tamara to bully Risa to make matters worse.
When Risa was hitting puberty, her weight ballooned, resulting in acne. Both the mother and sister called Risa a slob, and the father was never around since he worked all of the time.
To make matters worse, Risa had to move to a new school because her school at the time did not include junior high.
However, her classmates ignored her, but what she faced throughout junior high and the early part of high school was worse.
Risa endured horrid bullying at home and at school, where she was called horrific names and experienced trash being thrown at her.
All Risa did was dissociate because that was the only way she could cope. Risa endured bullying at home and then at school, where she was not treated well.
Eventually, the tormenting ended, but the mocking did not. Risa struggled with severe depression, and her mother told her to get over it.
Risa tried but couldn't. All she did was cope by eating and dissociating.
Risa never had friends, and she went to a community college to take basic business courses.
Her sister, Tamara, followed in her father's footsteps, went to law school in Seattle, Washington, and became a business lawyer.
Tamara settled there. It was no surprise that Risa stayed in Syracuse. However, she did meet her first boyfriend, Ron, who, like her, had no self-esteem.
Another thing in college that happened was that based on Risa's apparent low moods, one of the counselors encouraged her to see a psychiatrist.
She did, and after an assessment, she was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder and was put on antidepressants.
However, Risa did not continue taking them. She did not think she needed it.
Risa was also embarrassed as she did not want Ron or her parents to know. So one day, Risa tossed the rest of her antidepressants in the trash for that reason.
Ron and Risa got married. Risa got a low-paying job as a clerk at a furniture store, and Ron worked as a bank teller. Neither made a significant income.
They wanted to have kids but faced that one child was all they would have.
After being married for several years, Risa and Ron had a son named Justin, who was not developing typically and was diagnosed with autism as a toddler.
Unfortunately, neither of them could afford a lot of therapy for Justin, and he only used a handful of words, was never potty trained, and put the parents under a lot of strain at home.
To make matters worse, Risa's mother continued to be a nightmare for her. She not only blamed Risa and Ron for Justin's lack of proper development but compared him to Risa's niece and nephews, who do not have special needs.
In addition, she told her that Tamara was a more competent mother than her and made it clear once again that Risa was a complete embarrassment to her mother.
As Justin was growing, he was still very much like a kindergartener as the most he could do was stay on his tablet.
Ron was offered a better-paying position at the bank, but he had to decline because he had to be home to help Risa as Justin was becoming more challenging to handle.
Ron and Risa knew that Justin would be in their care for life, and then Risa's parents were becoming frailer as they were aging.
So even though Risa had her hands full with Justin, she was desperate to get love from her parents, and she committed herself to care for them.
But unfortunately, even though Risa has been their parents' caregiver, they still did not treat her better.
Risa had no choice but to start seeing a therapist again because of having to fight so many demons.
She was referred to a psychiatrist who said she had signs of not only depression but CPTSD. Is it a surprise after what she has endured in her life?
Let's now go over something that has not been mentioned in detail. How Risa really feels and how she struggles with her mental illnesses.
Risa's Struggle With Mental Illnesses
As you know, Risa has C-PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder. In addition, you know that she dissociated a lot during her youth when bullied at school and home. Risa was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder when she was in college.
Then after struggling with her autistic son and with her parents, she was also diagnosed with C-PSTD.What happens in Risa's mind day after day?
Risa has so many demons to fight. Risa struggles with flashbacks and intrusive thoughts of being bullied by her family and classmates.
Some of those thoughts result from situations that she faced with Justin retraumatize her.
Risa gets those intrusive thoughts at work and does other things suddenly. Risa checks out a lot, which means she still dissociates.Risa also thinks that she is pure garbage, and she is amazed that she got married at all even though Ron has no self-esteem.
She cannot help but look at her child and wonder what went wrong.
She constantly mourns over not having the family who loved her; she mourns over never having friends and mourns having a child that will never hit milestones.
She knows that she will never be a grandmother and experience the joys that her sister and many peers will share with their kids.
Risa is insanely jealous of her sister, peers, and others who appear to have it easier than her.
All she thinks about is how she keeps ending up with the short end of the stick. That makes her so jealous and resentful. However, here is the thing. Risa appears to be exceptionally kind and very friendly.
She will always be the type to give money to a homeless person even though she is struggling financially.
Likewise, she will continuously allow others to cut in line in front of her while waiting to check out at the grocery store.Also, if a neighbor asks her for a favor, she will drop everything she is doing to do it even if she has other commitments.
That means she will do a pile of Justin's soiled laundry or do her parents' grocery shopping very late at night. That is because Risa cannot say "no."
She is terrified to do that because she is desperate for people to like her. Here is the kicker.
Risa's neighbor asks her to do favors makes fun of Risa by gossiping about her to friends. The neighbor never once thanked Risa for sacrificing herself.As you see, Risa is one of those too nice and has no boundaries, as she is an echoist. You may think she is a forgiving angel underneath.
But that is contrary to the truth. Risa is full of intense anger, rage, and resentment.
She dislikes her parents, everyone, and even dislikes her husband and son. But, most of all, she hates herself.
Risa feels she is undeserving of good things because she is forever damaged.
She will never talk about her trauma to anyone except for her therapist because she knows they will not take her seriously unless they do.
Risa feels she is very different from others and not in a good way either. She goes through the motions and is feeling hopeless.All Risa does to cope is eat, and she is close to 300 lbs now. She does not even go to the doctor, but she drinks a lot and always has to head to the bathroom, which may signify having diabetes.
And when Risa loses her temper, all hell breaks loose.
That lovely girl appears to disappear and has scared her husband and son many times.
Oh yes, she has lost her temper with her parents, and the mother slaps her hard with a wooden spoon which stops her.
So you see how she struggles to regulate her emotions and feelings.What will it take for Risa to start saying "no" and develop boundaries?
That is how she will begin to gain some self-confidence which can help her cope in better ways, and that may help her feel better about herself.I will use the story about Risa Green throughout the card meanings and interpretations series.
The definitions of each card will pertain to examples of her story to help you visualize and understand the meanings better.
Photo by KoolShooters from Pexels
Photo by KoolShooters from Pexels
Tarot is the rage because more and more people are using it for many reasons beyond predicting the future. Plenty of people use it for insight into situations and self-reflection. Some people use tarot to spark their own creativity.
Tarot is a great tool to help clear out writer’s blocks, but that topic is up for discussion in the future. What else can tarot cards be good for beyond doing predictive readings?
Tarot cards can be an excellent tool for mental health. So what? What does that even mean, and how can that really work?
Here is the thing. When it comes to mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and so on, you need to be medically treated. You need to get the proper treatment prescribed by your doctor or psychiatrist.
And you need to seek therapy. That is the only way you can be treated effectively for mental illness of any kind. However, what about using tools in addition to that? Those are the tools you need to use to keep working on your mental health between therapy sessions.
Some people rely on meditation, others rely on meditation and journaling, and you can also use tarot cards. Tarot cards can be an excellent tool for mental health.
How Can Tarot Cards Be Helpful When It Comes To Mental Health?
Think about this. When you pull a card, you will not just look at the card itself, but you are going to look at the imagery and the symbols around it. Those are what stimulate your intuitive and emotional side.
And the cards you pull will act as a prompt for getting in touch with your emotions and feelings. So you will explore it even more and process it as well.
In fact, using tarot for psychological purposes is not a new thing as the well-known psychoanalyst Carl Jung saw tarot cards as the perfect tool for tapping into the subconscious part of the mind.
You don’t even have to have ever taken a course in psychology or even know the tarot too well to benefit from this way of practice. Tarot can still be quite beneficial to you when it comes to helping keep your mental health in check.
Tarot can help you understand your feelings and not look at your feelings from a place of judgment which leads to acceptance.
It will help you figure out what you want and understand your values and what is important to you. You can find out through tarot what is really holding you back from achieving what you want.
For instance, if the card you pull is the Eight Of Swords, that is the card representing seeing yourself as trapped and not seeing a way out. But the reality is you only believe you are trapped when it comes to this card.
Being trapped is all in your mind. You really are not trapped. So when this card comes up, the first thing you will see is the imagery of someone being barricaded by swords sticking through the ground if you are using Ryder-Waite-Smith-styled tarot decks.
There is a good chance that you relate to this card. Then you will start to explore what you feel is trapping you.
Then you will realize that this card represents the feeling of entrapment that is all in mind. You see that it does not have to be that way, and then it will stimulate some ideas on how you can begin to feel unstuck.
Chances are, you won’t be able to come up with this on your own if you are really struggling with a mental illness. This is something to take to your therapist. And if your therapist is not open to tarot cards, you will want to question the therapist you are using for the sake of having a lack of open-mindedness.
With that said, your therapist does not have to believe in tarot cards, but a good therapist will understand they help you and will work with you regardless.
The tarot can really help uncover a lot within your psyche, so you can go and explore it even further. The tarot can really help you understand your motivations, behaviors, and experiences in a non-confrontational way.
There is no judgment which is why it is also quite helpful. It enables you to understand why you do the things you do and can lead you to solutions to better your habits in the long run.
I’ll provide another example. You pull the Nine of Swords. This is known as the ‘nightmare card.’ This is the card that is indicative of excessive worries and fears as well as intrusive thoughts.
And these thoughts can cause a lot of anxiety within. You want to resist these thoughts, but you know the saying, what resists persists. So perhaps it is time to examine the thoughts and find out why you have them.
Talk about these intuitive thoughts with a therapist as they can help you understand them better and give you tips on how to work with them.
You already know that tarot cards are beneficial for your mental health because they help you understand what is happening within. In addition to that, there is no judgment by utilizing this method whatsoever.
That is only one benefit of using tarot cards for your mental health. Another excellent advantage of using this method is developing a ritual.
Tarot Cards Are Beneficial For The Development Of A Ritual
When caring for your mental health, developing a healthy daily ritual is essential to keep it strong. The idea is to start your morning off by pulling a card and looking at the message it brings.
If you end up with a challenging card such as the 10 of Swords or the Tower, there is work you need to do to reframe your perspective on them. Instead of assuming you will have nothing but losses, upheavals, and challenges for the day – perhaps there is another reason you are pulling any of those cards.
It does not mean you will have a bad day.
Maybe those cards tell you it is a good day to prepare yourself for any unforeseen challenges that could emerge. For instance, this could be a good day to head over to the bank and create a savings account for emergencies.
Then, if a considerable unforeseen expense runs your way, such as an expensive medical bill that cannot be insured or a huge home repair, at least you will have savings to cover at least some of it.
Therefore, if you develop the ritual of pulling a card each morning, you can reframe your day based on the message your card brings to you.
You may be wondering what you need to do before you begin to read your cards. Let's delve deeper into this.
Let's Delve Deeper Into How You Read Your Tarot Cards
The way you read your cards and do your ritual is entirely up to you. However, there is a rule of thumb, and that is to clear your mind.
Once you do, lay out the spread of your choice facing down. If you have decided to do one-card readings, pull that card and lay it face down. Take a deep breath and open up your mind so you can absorb what the cards say to you. This is the message that the Universe has to deliver.
Once you get the message from the cards or the card that you pulled, sit with it. Pay attention to your initial response to it, and begin to reflect on the message the cards or card brought to you.
What is the first thing that comes to your mind? Is it uncomfortable, and if so, why? And does it reflect on any critical situation you are facing right now? If it does, what is the message? Then, write it in your journal to reflect on it later in the day or at another time.
For instance, you are eager to start your business right now, but you are struggling with different obstacles that are not making it easy for you to get it off the ground. This is causing nothing but frustration for you.
Finally, however, you do the one-card reading, and the card you pull is The Hanged Man.
The Hanged Man is the card that represents surrender and putting things on hold. The message would explain why you cannot get your business off the ground, let alone established.
It is a time to wait to do that, and perhaps you need to work on something within before you do. If your mental health is not being in a good place, you need to focus on that before starting anything new.
You won’t like being told to wait and to put things on hold, but there is an important reason you are guided to do so.
And these obstacles that are coming your way are sending you that message as well. Maybe your mental health is under control, but you might be setting up the business for the wrong reasons.
Only you have the answers within, and you need to use that time to discover what they are before going ahead with getting your business off the ground.
If the message is not relevant to a situation you are facing right now, then it may be relevant to a problem that you could be facing soon.
Therefore, write the message down in your journal. Because the situation does arise where the spread or the card meaning is relevant, you can look back at your journal and remind yourself of the cards that came up.
You can then reflect on that and find a way to best deal with the issue you are facing. You may also be wondering if any particular decks can work best.
What Type Of Tarot Decks Should You Use?
The tarot deck you want to use for mental health purposes is entirely up to you. You want to go with a deck that speaks to you and that you relate to and that has imagery you appreciate.
There is no rule for this. If the tarot deck is not appealing to you, it will not work well with you, and you may throw in the towel and believe that this method does not help your mental health. Instead, go onto Amazon or Etsy or your local metaphysical shop, and browse the different decks for sale.
If you like penguins, I have my own penguin deck if that interests you, but no pressure! You have to choose the deck that calls to you!
If you like a particular deck that you see from one of those outlets, go to Google Images, and type the deck's name. Then you will see samples of the cards in the deck, and you can judge from there if it is right for you.
If it jumps out at you and resonates, then it is an excellent deck to try out.
The great thing about this practice is that it is entirely up to you on how you want to use it. If you prefer to pull a card at the end of the day before you go to bed to see what message it brings for the next day, then do that.
There is no rule with this. Just use it to help yourself, give you the guidance you need, and it is an excellent tool for your mental health. In the next episode, I will tell you the story of a woman named Risa Green, who has experienced plenty of trauma and struggles with CPTSD and Major Depressive Disorder.
Her story will be referenced when I go over the card's meanings.
Miriam Reads Tarot is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Photo by Yaroslav Shuraev from Pexels
If you have gone to a tarot reader or a psychic, did you know a thing about their past? Maybe you do, or you think you do, and you haven’t heard the entire story. Or, perhaps you don’t.
Perhaps they kept it a secret and have not told anyone. However, there is a good chance that the psychic or tarot reader you visited experienced a lot of childhood trauma, in addition to grief and sadness in their adult years.
Perhaps not every psychic or tarot reader in the world has experienced sorrow and tragedy. However, I can bet you that a large majority have a few heartbreaking stories to tell about their childhoods and lives.
Intuitive And Tarot Readers And Psychics Often Had A Traumatic Past
I know of so many psychics and tarot readers who have endured bullying and abuse, as well as child loss and other types of tragedies. And my story falls into that category as well.
I talked about this in my intro. But I will repeat it. I was the black sheep of my family, which was challenging to handle. I was also bullied throughout middle school and during my first year of high school.
Even after the bullying ended, my reputation was still laughable. That was because I was always overweight and had a bad case of acne, as I later was diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome or PCOS.
I also had awkward social skills, which meant I struggled socially and had some learning differences. Therefore, I was an easy target, and when you are the black sheep of the family and being bullied, well, that messes you up. I did not know how to stand up for myself, so I took the abuse.
However, the trauma did not end there.
I ended up birthing a child with complex special needs, and I was not equipped to care for him. I tried, I took him to a variety of therapy, and no matter what I did, I was chastised for not doing any more than I could.
And when it comes to special needs parents, it’s like their needs suddenly become irrelevant. That is what happened to me. It did not matter that I struggled with my mental health and physical health and did not get enough sleep.
Never mind that I wasn’t able to be fully attentive to my other typical child. My weight shot up to over 100 lbs overweight, I was angry all of the time, severely depressed, and I was on the brink of losing it.
Let’s talk about the fact that I had been mourning for the typical son I longed for, and I am not ashamed to say this. These things need to be said anyway. So, I had no choice but to transfer him to a residential school and group home.
Moving him away from home was the best move I made for my husband, myself, my daughter, and my son. My son could not stay at home, and he is doing so much better where he is.
In addition to that, I went against society’s expectations of being his caregiver for life and did the best and safest thing for him. That was the catalyst for me to begin standing up for myself.
I have been vilified for doing this, but those who don’t get it will judge, and I have accepted it. There are plenty of non-empathetic people who will judge you without knowing what it is like to walk even a meter in your shoes.
However, even though I have shed the stress that I was under for all of those years and so much of that extra weight, I am still traumatized. I will permanently be traumatized from all of my painful and heart-wrenching experiences.
Is complete healing possible? I have to say, I highly doubt it is.
I can heal on some level, but it is not realistic to believe that you can completely heal. You will always face triggers and painful reminders that can take you back to painful thoughts.
The practical goal is to be at peace with your past and accept that it happened. I am trying to get there, but I really have a long way to go. A very long way to go.
Was it past life karma? I believe on a significant level, it was. I also know that I am a mature soul sandwiched between a young soul and an old soul, which can cause a lot of inner turmoil.
Old souls can get past trauma much easier than younger souls. Now that you know my story, you probably wonder why so many intuitive healers, tarot readers, and psychics have had sad and traumatic pasts. I will talk about that.
Why Do Intuitives Have Traumatic Pasts?
What is the purpose of becoming an intuitive reader or healer in the first place? That is because of being forced to gain insight into your suffering.
When you are moved to self-reflect and look into why you had to suffer in the first place, you strengthen your intuition, and at the same time, you then want to help others understand why they experience their suffering. When that happens, you open yourself up to the world of metaphysics.
Then you begin to use the tools you relate to the most, whether it is tarot, astrology, mediumship, runes, or I Ching. Simultaneously, your psychic abilities such as clairvoyance, clairsentience, clairaudience, and precognitive abilities strengthen.
In my case, I am a clairvoyant clairsentient, and I have solid precognitive abilities. Astrology and tarot are tools that I use to bring more vivid pictures and insight into what I look at, whether for myself, a friend, or a client. However, it is easier to read for a client than for yourself or a friend.
Emotions can get in the way, but you can train yourself to become more objective. It depends on the issue you want to look at. However, you may be wondering now if some intuitive readers have coasted in life.
Are you sure you want my opinion on that? I will share it.
Are There Some Readers Who Have Had Easy Lives?
I am going to ask you a question. Imagine being born and blessed with a beautiful figure, beautiful hair, and perfect skin. You also attract people because you have the best social skills.
Therefore, you were popular in school and work, grew up with love and acceptance in your family, and you got exceptional grades without even trying hard. You also make plenty of money and never have to struggle financially at all in your life.
You also have an easy marriage and intelligent and healthy kids. Whenever you did have a difficult time, you got all of the support in the world. I mean, I realize that no one has a perfect life.
But many others have had fewer challenges, traumatic events, and heartbreak than others. However, that said, if you can relate to this type of life, you coast along.
If you coast along in life, why would you even reason to be self-reflective and look for answers? Why would you even care about looking for different types of insight?
That is why I really have a hard time believing that those who had an easy life would be a legitimate reader or healer. Sure, they may still be drawn to metaphysics, but often, not for the right reasons.
For example, those who have had easy lives interested in tarot may dabble into it because they are fascinated with it. However, I don’t believe they would have a genuine motivation to provide readings for the sake of helping others gain insight into their struggles.
That is because they possibly cannot relate to those who have struggled on a profound level.
Unfortunately, some have coasted along become charlatans if they decide to become a ‘psychic reader.’ These people will exploit you, take your money, take advantage of your desperation, and feed you b******t.
An intuitive reader who has really suffered in life will not do that because they understand what it is like to struggle and seek answers for why you were dealt a difficult hand.
That is why I have difficulty believing that those who coasted along in life could be empathetic, compassionate, and insightful intuitive readers. It does not mean they are not capable of being kind people.
But if you have not been through that much trauma in your life, it isn't straightforward to be empathetic and put yourself into the shoes of others. It is a matter of not building that perspective due to a lack of experience. That is the truth.
And I will also say that there may be the token person who had an easy life but is gifted with strong psychic abilities, strong empathy, and compassion. However, that is the exception and not the rule.
Therefore, if you know of a legitimate and caring intuitive reader, the odds are incredibly high that they entered that field because they went through hell. Here is another thing you will see among intuitives, psychics, and tarot readers.
Many struggle with mental illness, which does not always include Major Depressive Disorder and CPSTD. That is what I deal with, but there are plenty of them who struggle with mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder, among others as well.
Even if some did not have any severe traumatic events happen to them, battling any mental illness that they were genetically predisposed to be exhausting. Remember that not all people with conditions like Major Depressive Disorder experience any severe trauma.
Genetic causes alone can result in chemical imbalances. But from my experience, when you have that issue along with significant trauma from the past, it creates a special kind of hell.
But what helps me? I have to say I have struggled to find the right therapist because the best ones are a difficult fit. I have had therapists that worked for a while but no longer did. I am medication resistant but open to trying new alternative approaches.
But for me, tarot does help. And I am not at all saying that tarot is ever a replacement for medical prescriptions for mental illness. But it can be a great tool to use in conjunction with it. In the next episode, I will talk about that.
Miriam Reads Tarot is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Welcome to the first episode of Swords of Depression, hosted by yours truly, Miriam Slozberg. I want to first start by saying that when it comes to mental illness, there may be more acceptance towards it than there used to be.
However, the stigma is still incredibly thick. It does not matter what type of mental illness you have; whether it is Major Depressive Disorder, like what I have, or Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, Complex PTSD, or C-PTSD, which I also have, there is a lot of ignorance surrounding it.
So what can be done about that? Well, it is obvious. Keep spreading the awareness. That is what I am doing because I am called to do. It will take a very long time to soften the stigma against mental illness, but you have to start somewhere.
There are plenty of podcasts about mental illness, which is very helpful for spreading awareness. However, mine is different.
I am going super niche with this because my focus is to intrigue and help those who struggle with mental illness who love tarot and metaphysics or spirituality in general.
If you struggle with mental illness and tarot does not interest you, you may not get much value from Swords of Depression; however, if you want to stick around.
You want to feel validated and feel that you are not alone because you are not, then I would love for you to stick around because that is what you will get.However, for those who love tarot, you will find a lot of value in this podcast because I will talk about the cards' meanings and how they can relate to any struggle with mental health.
There will, of course, be tips on how to use the cards to make the best of your days. There will be a lot of storytelling with this. Very soon, before I start delving into the card meanings, I will share a story about someone who struggles with mental health, which resulted from a lot of trauma that the individual experienced.
Then, the story will continue as I begin to share the card's meanings. This will help you feel less alone in your struggles and validate what you go through, which is super important, but it will help you look at the tarot in a much different way.
You know what you can expect from this podcast regarding content and value. Now let's talk about how often you can expect a show to happen. Of course, this will be subject to change, but for now, I will launch two times a week: Tuesdays and Thursdays.
If there is a change, however, I will announce it in an episode. However, that is my goal for now. So, I deliver you some goods twice a week so that you can look forward to that, and you can listen to it at any time as well.However, if there is an essential week regarding mental health awareness, such as in September, it may become more frequent. When the focus is on mental health, it is ideal for getting a lot more content out to intensify the stress. But you do not need to worry.
You can expect two episodes a week during an average time, and if there are any changes, you will know about them beforehand. Episodes will also run about 10 to 20 minutes long each time. Some may be shorter, and others may be longer. That all depends on the content that I am delivering that day.
Now, let me introduce you and tell you about my history to know more about why I am creating Swords of Depression.
I was the black sheep of my family, which was challenging to handle. I was also bullied throughout middle school and during my first year of high school. Even after the bullying ended, my reputation was still laughable.
That was because I was always overweight and had a bad case of acne, as I later was diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome or PCOS. I also had awkward social skills, which meant I struggled socially and had some learning differences.
Therefore, I was an easy target, and when you are the black sheep of the family and being bullied, well, that messes you up. I did not know how to stand up for myself, so I took the abuse. However, the trauma did not end there.I ended up birthing a child with complex special needs, and I was not equipped to care for him. I tried, I took him to a variety of therapy, and no matter what I did, I was chastised for not doing any more than I could.
And when it comes to special needs parents, it’s like their needs suddenly become irrelevant. That is what happened to me. It did not matter that I struggled with my mental health and physical health and did not get enough sleep.
Never mind that I wasn’t able to be fully attentive to my other typical child. My weight shot up to over 100 lbs overweight, I was angry all of the time, severely depressed, and I was on the brink of losing it.
Let’s talk about the fact that I had been mourning for the typical son I longed for, and I am not ashamed to say this. These things need to be said anyway. So, I had no choice but to transfer him to a residential school and group home.Moving him away from home was the best move I made for my husband, myself, my daughter, and my son. My son could not stay at home, and he is doing so much better where he is.
In addition to that, I went against society’s expectations of being his caregiver for life and did the best and safest thing for him. That was the catalyst for me to begin standing up for myself.
I have been vilified for doing this, but those who don’t get it will judge, and I have accepted it. Unfortunately, there are plenty of non-empathetic people who will judge you without knowing what it is like to walk even a meter in your shoes.Anyway, I have Major Depressive Disorder and C-PTSD, and unfortunately, I am medication resistant, but I am always looking for alternative therapies. Tarot cards for me have been beneficial, but I am going to stress that they do not replace a prescribed treatment for mental illness.
Instead, they are tools that can help you get through each day. You may also notice that many intuitive people, psychic readers, and tarot readers have had a story about trauma.
In the next episode, I will delve more into that before I tell you the story of this particular individual who struggles with mental illnesses, which will be the story used in the episodes about each card meaning. I am glad you are here, and I am looking forward to connecting with you!
Miriam Reads Tarot is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
En liten tjänst av I'm With Friends. Finns även på engelska.