A Month with Tarot

Note: the deck I’m using is Star Trek: The Next Generation Tarot Deck and Guidebook by Tori Schafer and illustrated by Nicky Barkla.

August 24, 2022 (Wednesday)

Card pulled: III of Starships (Cups) - Reversed

Synchronicities/Comments: The book says this card signifies that someone on my “team” is not really on-board with things. It asks, “Is there a way you can band together and become true allies?” The next day I learned that a great friend of mine no longer wanted to participate in the daily Gratitude accountability practice. She had wanted to tell me the day before (the day I pulled the card) but hadn’t. I was glad it was something as simple as that—no biggie at all. Come to find out, it’s not that she didn’t want to hear from me—she enjoys reading my daily gratitude list—it helps her feel more in touch with my daily life, but she felt for herself that the practice had become burdensome—like one more to-do on her already full list. I assured her that I could continue to send her my list each day with no expectation for her to do the same. Problem solved, “true allies” still.

August 25, 2022 (Thursday)

Card pulled: Magician - Upright

Synchronicities/Comments: In hindsight, I can write that the synchronicity seems to be that either this day or the next I listened to a really podcast episode about palmistry. I then listened to Gabrielle Ginter’s podcast episode Friday in which she had her hands read. The palmreader says Gabrielle has Magician hands. This tarot card that I pulled whispers to me that even if I don’t end up having the lines that name me a magician, I am in fact a magician. I’m an alchemist. I take what happens “to” me and alchemize it into life that happens “for” me. I am not simply the sum of my parts.

August 26, 2022 (Friday)

Card pulled: The Fool - Upright

Synchronicities/Comments: I didn’t feel too bad about pulling this card. In this deck, the fool is portrayed by Data and the book’s page on it says that this can speak to keeping one’s mind and heart open. Sure, Data could be considered naive in ways, but by staying open/curious he explored and experienced things not many others ever would.

After work I went to my orthodontist’s office. This was my first step in getting braces. I had done a consult back in June in which they had done a visual inspection and quoted me cost and expected treatment time. Since it wasn’t cheap, I had just sat with the information for awhile but then one day I was like, it’s time—let’s do it. So I had made the appointment. At this appointment they took xrays, made measurements, created a 3D computer model of my mouth, and inserted spacers that made my teeth hurt to prep them for the brackets and wires next week.

I went home to find that the book I ordered had arrived! The Kabalistic and Occult Tarot of Eliphas Levi had come highly recommended by a fellow member of the Energy Tribe. I immediately went to the page that corresponded to the card I had pulled that morning. The book correlates the letters of the Hebrew alphabet to the cards in the major arcana. There on the page of The Fool listed first was the meaning “Teeth.” What???! I was like, okay, there’s something to this whole tarot thing. Ha! Not only was today a tooth day, it was a day of firsts—venturing into the unknown world of adult braces (unknown to me, that is).

Numerologically speaking, the Fool is the 0 or 21 card. I like it as the 21 card, as that puts it right before the last card in the Maror Arcana—the World. It reminds me that before we can attain “The World” we have to empty and remember truly we know “no thing.” It also works as the 0 card as there is so much potential here, so much unknown. The “cosmic egg” is how my numerologist teacher refers to the 0.

August 27, 2022 (Saturday)

Card pulled: 5 of Spaceships (Cups) - Reversed

Synchronicities/Comments: The meaning is said to be that of a great hardship being over and that it’s not time to recover and start a brand new venture or explore new passions. I turned to the internet and the first search result was that of a website that had already come recommended to me several times—biddytarot.com This interpretation says that it indicates a chance to look at the painful lessons learned and choose to move forward in creative ways instead of wallowing in regret or the throes of a recent failure. I took this card pull as confirmation that my recent “failures” weren’t failures at all but learning opportunities and that I am allowed to indeed release those older projects in favor of exciting new things—like tarot and Ancestry.com—instead of beating myself up for perceived faults or lack of staying power. The part about creativity was interesting too. This day my daughter and I participated in another event put on by the non-profit Sunshine Thru the Rain. Their outing this month? Painting with a Twist! I used to paint quite a bit so this was fun to do something creative for the fun of it, without any expectation for it to have to turn out nice.

My take-away: In numerology, you basically deal with 1 through 9—an odd number of numbers. So with 5 in the middle, you can consider it a tipping point. It’s the number of change. 5 is indicative of a choice point. Do I backtrack and re-live all the lows? Wallow in my grief and self-hatred? or…OR… allow myself to move forward with grace and hope and creativity?

August 28, 2022 (Sunday)

Card pulled: The Sun - Upright

Synchronicities/Comments: I like the card for this one. Lwaxana Troi. It speaks to me of my north node in Leo. I hope to get to a place where I feel safe to be myself—to shine—to love—to have fun for fun’s sake—to truly LIVE and feel that zest of life coursing through me without fear of the spotlight or wagging tongues. Being one’s true self lights the way for others to do the same. This was a rather easy-going day.

August 29, 2022 (Monday)

Card pulled: The Lovers - Reversed

Synchronicities/Comments: The book said that this card could indicate I’m obsessing over something that my partner and I down the road could laugh about, wondering why I had been so infatuated by something relatively insignificant or not nearly so important as I’m making it out to be. I’m giving it time and energy that could have been better spent in my relationships. All I had to say to my spouse that evening is that card indicated I’m obsessing over something when he got that knowing look on his face that said, “No shit, Sherlock.” I’ll spill the beans…. my infatuation, my obsession here lately has been Ancestry.com. I told my husband that because of the card I had consciously pulled away from it a bit that day and instead used some of that time to help around the house with a few things that I know make all the difference to him and how the house feels. It was appreciated. And guess what… Ancestry.com will still be there for me tomorrow. All the dead folks in my ever-growing tree will still be resting. And I get to live while I can. Sure, I can do research when I have the time and desire, but naming the obsession was helpful in loosening its grip.

August 30, 2022 (Tuesday)

Card pulled: 9 of Bat’leths (Swords)

Synchronicities/Comments: This morning my daughter asked me if I had nightmares. She said she had heard me calling out a few times in my sleep. As soon as she said it, I remembered that happening but I couldn’t recall the dreams I’d had to prompt the outbursts—just a general sense of frustration is all I could remember—that and I knew I was more tired than usual when waking. Before leaving for work, I pulled my card for the day and read the book that came with my deck. I’m paraphrasing here but the general idea was that I was hard-pressed on all sides with no victory in sight and that I needed to perhaps retract into some centering, self-care practices. It struck me the same way a friend's kind words do when they reflect back to me that I have a lot going on and that they’re in awe of my strength. I’ll be taken aback, like do I have a lot going on?? Often I think I try to minimize all the potentially fraying, off-centering things that are occurring since I know life “happens” to everybody, so it can be eye-opening to be like, yeah, you know what, you’re right. This is a lot. And just that awareness is a gift. With that awareness I can gift myself grace, I can cut myself slack, I can re-prioritize commitments and downtime.

Rider Waite deck © U.S. Games Systems, Inc.

On my way to work, I listened to two podcasts about the 9 of Swords.

Tarot Bytes Episode 61: Nine of Swords I don’t have a traditional deck so I thought it was so cool when Theresa Reed described the artwork in the Rider-Wait-Smith card—that of a person sitting up in bed holding their head in their hands. I learned that this card has traditionally been associated with insomnia, nightmares, and anxiety/fears/obsessive thinking. Hadn’t I had troublesome dreams just this morning?? I liked how Theresa pointed out that even in the midst of difficulty this card speaks of divine protection.

Tarot for the Wild Soul with Lindsay Mack - 84. Can the Nine of Swords be a gift? This episode was my first introduction to Lindsay Mack and I must say I liked her take! Without knowing any of her personal story, I could tell from her word choices that she speaks from a trauma-informed, inclusive heart space. 9:09-11:50 timestamp talks about using fear as a tool to get curious and investigate. What are the worst-case scenarios—and what can we do something about? It reminded me that I’ve been having this building anxiety about the braces I get this coming Friday. Sure it may be painful, but I will live. No one has died from getting braces on their teeth. The spacers I got this past week have made my teeth sensitive to eating anything solid, so yeah maybe I will lose weight going to a soft/liquid diet but it’s not like I will go hungry.

My own take-aways: Numerologically speaking, 9 is the number that encompasses all that has come before it. It’s a culmination number. So if we’re talking about thoughts and the mind with the symbology of the swords, this card has “ALL the things.” All the fears, all the anxieties, all the possible outcomes, imaginary enemies, perceived slights and failures, it can build up to a crushing, debilitating pressure—this card can remind me that my thinking mind may sometimes be my worst enemy, so I need to flip it on it head. “Yeah, but did you die?”

August 31, 2022 (Wednesday)

Card pulled: Queen of Latinum (Pentacles) - Upright

Synchronicities/Comments: The guidebook to this deck said (and I’m paraphrasing here) that this card represents giving of oneself and freely sharing resources and even when there’s nothing left to give—giving support. As I wrote that, I suddenly realized that I may have kinda done that today. I had been about to type that I hadn’t seen any correlation, but I did try to provide emotional encouragement and support to someone today, even in the emotional landscape of feeling somewhat empty and spent myself. I won’t go into all the details but it was a rough day and I found myself crying at work. No one else saw me and I felt better after the release, but yeah I definitely wasn’t feeling like superwoman or the one with all the answers. This morning on my way to work I did a search for podcast episodes on the Queen of Pentacles. The first one I tried was triggering darn misophonia so I searched again. The next episode I sampled was from the Fortune’s Wheelhouse podcast. I really, really wanted to like this one….but alas it was far above my head. Kinda of like listening to the New Yorker Poetry podcast and realizing I’m way out of my depth. These women are so freakin’ knowledgeable about myth, alchemy, and all things esoteric that I was crushing a bit—like falling in love with someone for their brain—but I couldn’t hang. At least I know that there’s something out there for me should I feel I’ve moved into intermediate/advanced studies. As I’m looking at the shownotes for the episode, though, I see they mention rabbits. Rabbits have making themselves majorly noticed on my synchronicity radar (ping, ping, ping!) so I may try to finish the episode. I then tried Tarot of the Wild Soul again, this time episode 72. I couldn’t finish it because as long as my commute is, it doesn’t eventually come to an end. But from what I’ve gathered this Queen of Pentacles is reflective of the quiet/death/retraction I’ve been experiencing lately.

September 1, 2022 (Thursday)

Card pulled: Justice - Reversed

Synchronicities/Comments: This card told me to expect to get the raw end of a deal in some way (again, that’s my gross paraphrase) and to show grace. The wording the guidebook used of, “rising above a situation,” really caught my attention since it was almost the exact wording my partner in a recent psychometry exercise had used. The message she got from my object was that I needed to connect with a Libra grandparent in meditation because “there is a situation you need to rise above.” This, combined with the message I had gotten from an Akashic Reader not that long before of needing to connect with my ancestry in Ireland, is what had finally nudged me into getting back into my family tree research. In full transparency, I found out that none of my grandparents are Libra Sun signs. Perhaps others further up the tree are, or maybe this is just exactly what I needed to hear in order to do further research.

During my morning commute, I listed to the Psychic Teachers podcast, episode “Exploring the Justice Tarot Card Archetype.” I really enjoyed their real, down-to-earth perspectives and helpful paradigms. I was encouraged to give everyone grace, especially myself. I will tell you that I guess I was expecting something drastic today—like being notified of a lawsuit out-of-the-blue or some HOA violation notice—but no. It was though a very difficult day, just not in the way I was expecting. Things were busy (dare I say frantic?) at times at work and I found myself almost wanting to cry. There was some miscommunication and also a mishap in which my whole desk drawer fell out and spilled its contents on the floor. I picked up some ancient ketchup packets which had been there since before I started working there and one exploded on my pants. I did indeed need to show others, but mostly myself, some grace today. I went to bed very tired.

September 2, 2022 (Friday)

Card pulled: Knight of Latinum (Pentacles) - Upright

Synchronicities/Comments: Today was the day I got my braces installed! The guidebook said something about someone who is always there to support you, even though they may do it in a fixed way of their own. That particular wording didn’t resonate with me…at least not today. In the evening though I had time to check online and read up on some more perspectives. The description HERE at biddytarot.com was seriously spot-on! Knowing that I may not be able to eat some of my favorite foods and may be in a state of constant low-grade pain for two years felt very daunting. Quite the commitment. Eyeing the end goal, weighing the costs, and still deciding that I was willing to put in the work and discomfort day-in and day-out for 730 days is very much Knight of Pentacles energy!

September 3, 2022 (Saturday)

Card pulled: Devil - Reversed

Synchronicities/Comments: The guidebook said that even though I may feel vulnerable and weak, I’ve actually escaped the Devil’s claws. Let me look at the book again to quote it. Ahh, here we are: “You are also successfully fighting back against something that wants to control you. Spiritual understanding has let you overcome temptation, though you may still feel vulnerable and weak. Continue to hold strong—you are on the right path.” Today was a quiet day; one in which I have not felt particularly strong (yes, I’d go so far as to say vulnerable and weak) so that part is accurate.

I thought it was interesting that the Devil is the 15th card in the Major Arcana. Numerologically, you reduce it down to one number to get a read of it’s energy—and it’s a 6. In my numerology studies, I had learned that 6 is that of beauty, but when we had been encouraged to number gaze (the course was great and called Be Your Own Numerologist), what I had gotten was a big message of temptation. The 6 resembled the swirl of a rose which would lure one in, only to be pricked by the thorns. Also, it looked like a combination lock that hadn’t been closed/locked on the locker of contents it was supposed to protect—there’s that temptation of what’s inside???

In case something occurs later, here are some quick notes about other things that happened today. I listened to a workshop replay on the Penta (Human Design) by the talented Amanda of Barney + Flow, and then promptly posted a call for a live-in housekeeper and cook on my neighborhood’s Facebook group (someone reacted to my post with a laugh emoji). I also participated in Courtney Starkey’s Soul Empowering Hypnosis Membership group event today, and during the induction the postal carrier rang the doorbell to deliver a tiger iron stone that I’d ordered.

September 4, 2022 (Sunday)

Card pulled: 5 of Cloaks (Wands)

Synchronicities/Comments: I checked biddytarot.com’s explanation of the card HERE that says this card is about conflicting perspectives/opinions that result in a standstill. I then watched the day play out in which the plans I thought we had for the day (this was Labor Day weekend) were canceled by my husband without any other plans to take it’s place. I did feel very inclined to feel upset in that our meager Labor Day plans were nixed and now we had nothing (I like plans, as plans = something, hopefully fun, actually happening). But as instructed by BiddyTarot.com, I exercised some understanding (my husband was tired) and tried to embrace the change. It did end up being a nice day in some ways. A laid-back day, we spent some time together as a family and my husband was able to rest, instead of our spending the day on the road.

September 5, 2022 (Monday)

Card pulled: The World

Synchronicities/Comments: This is supposed to be a very encouraging card to pull; reflecting or foretelling success due to one’s consistent effort. The card’s number is 22 which simplifies to 4, and 4 is all about structure and fairness and putting in the work. My dad also messaged me a video via Facebook about hard work and consistency being required to ground one’s dreams into reality. That synchronicity was interesting but the full import of the card missed me or has yet to be revealed. Things I tried to accomplish didn’t get finished and every end seemed to be frustrated. My daughter mirrored my thoughts quite succinctly when she said that night that something had seemed to be missing from the day. I agreed that it had felt like a strange day and told her that all we could do is wake up tomorrow and hope that things get back on track.

September 6, 2022 (Tuesday)

Card pulled: Page of Bat’leths (Swords) - Reversed

Synchronicities/Comments: From my listen to Fortune’s Wheelhouse, I learned this reversed position can mean something unforeseen. There weren’t any major revelations, but I did discover via Ancestry.com that my husband’s great-grandparents had not just one set of twins (which I knew about) but TWO sets of twins. Also, I learned that the family’s holistic chiropractor had said my husband’s out-of-control blood sugars that we have been worrying so much about could possibly be the result of a deficient thyroid—that would be something we can work with! As a side note, I had seen Lacey Free’s new Hoar Pod episode come out but I didn’t listen until a friend listened and recommended it. The episode is entitled “Exist,” and it’s freakin’ awesome…it’s so in-line with my recent kick to connect with my ancestors. That was pretty amazing to hear her talk about her recent, difficult journey over the past two months from “I have no ancestors" to “my ancestors are healing through me.”

September 7, 2022 (Wednesday)

Card pulled: Queen of Bat’leths (Swords) - Upright

Synchronicities/Comments: The meaning of this card is supposed to be about truth in its no-bullshit, black-and-white finest. I don’t yet see a correlation but here are some of the things that happened today in case I can later trace a relationship: I finished the “Exist” episode mentioned yesterday as well as started listening to the newest episode of the Open to Alchemy podcast “Examining Your Shadows: Accepting the Dark and Light.” Also, today I learned with a quick internet search that one of my mom’s abusive ex-husbands (the one we went to a women’s shelter to get away from) died in 2018.

September 8, 2022 (Thursday)

Card pulled: 9 of Cloaks (Wands) - Reversed

Synchronicities/Comments: So I guess the day started off “okay” enough, so the verbiage I read in the guidebook about being beset by problems and just limping along didn’t resonate… yet. As the day has worn on, however, yes, it’s feeling more and more apt. The guidebook encouraged me to not give into pessimism though. I checked my astrology app, Astro Future, for the first time in a good while, and saw the “problem”—the Sun is in an exact square to my natal Mars. According to traditional astrology, my natal chart ruler is Mars. And, although I don’t know a whole lot about it, I know I’ve perfected into a Mars year as well. Mars is all about movement, embodiment, forward action. Yes, please, and more! So when anything frustrates that energy, odds are likely that this will color my whole world (even more so than much of other “challenging” astrological geometry). This correlation between astrological transits/aspects and my tarot card pull of the day has me thinking perhaps I should go back and notate the dominant astrological aspects for each day as well.

September 9, 2022 (Friday)

Card pulled: Page of Bat’leths (Swords) - Upright

Synchronicities/Comments: I just pulled this card just three days ago, but this time in the upright position. I mistakenly listened to a podcast during my commute about the Page of Wands (as I’ve mentioned before, perhaps it wasn’t the best idea to start with a deck that has different names for the suits when I’m a novice at tarot). The podcast was lovely and felt very practical, called “My Tiny Tarot Practice.” The Page of Wands sounded like a great card to pull (all about creating spontaneously in the moment for creativity’s sake), but now that I’ve discovered my mistake I would like to see if the podcast host has another episode on the Page of Swords.

View fullsize

…found this gem! Oak Moon Tarot Podcast. wow, this felt real, authentic, helpful, powerful. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/page-of-swords/id1550449865?i=1000508610377

Tonight I feel a little down. Even though I had some “positive” aspects, I also had some more challenging (to be real, I first wrote “ugly”) ones:

Today I was dealing with frustration, feelings of being overlooked, unseen, invisible, like I don’t matter. I had crafted some neat (or at least I had thought so) kua number phone wallpapers that I had been excited about creating, put them on my website, posted about it in a forum as a free offering, and not a single download. Yesterday I received an invite to schedule an appearance on a podcast but I’m dealing with some imposter syndrome right now. But other than all that? Just dandy :)

Tonight being the full moon I have a lot to release…mostly any expectations surrounding outcomes. I feel like I circle back to this time and again…it’s frustrating but at least I’m getting quicker at identifying the problem, or as some like to say, “growth opportunity.”

Although, this morning when I pulled this card I did feel rather optimistic (being excited about my digital download offering) and not get into the “ugh” feeling so much until later in the day.

September 10, 2022 (Saturday)

Card pulled: Ten of Latinum (Pentacles) - Reversed

Synchronicities/Comments: The guidebook asked what is wealth and success if there’s no one with whom to share it? It encouraged the person pulling the card to cultivate relationships, not greed. This was a really interesting one to pick because just that morning (I’m writing this entry the next day), I had wondered what to do with my day—if I should try to get some much-needed things around the house done or if I should reach out to someone and try to meet up. The thought had crossed my mind that it would be neat if my tarot card pull of the day would tell me which direction to go. And voila! It did. I ended up reaching out to two local peeps, but neither were available. I was able to do a lot of household stuff as well and help my husband run an errand for his shop.

While driving, I listened to the Tarot Bytes Podcast episode on it as well.

Since today was a full moon in Pisces, I also did personalized card draws for each of my Patreon supporters (like I do for them each new and full moon), but this time I decided to try tarot instead of oracle. The results were interesting; I may continue to pull tarot instead of oracle for them or alternate.

I had reached out to the Oak Moon Tarot podcast host via Instagram and messaged her stating that I had noticed in the episode I listened to recently I didn’t hear her talk about the reversed meaning of the card. She gave me a great reply as to her reasons for that. I told her I’ll submit my comment as a listener mail question so that she can answer it on her podcast, so I won’t spoil the anticipation by telling you it all here, but suffice it to say that I plan on not paying attention to a card’s position anymore—whether upright or reversed—or at least playing with that mode for awhile.

Today I listened to the live channeling of Wendy Kennedy. Wow, amazing. The stuff on the nature of evil is mind-stretching. For a limited time, they are offering the replay for free. You can check it out here if you like. I had heard her channel information about feeling the feelings you want to attract, but this was a good reminder. I decided that the two emotions I wanted to try and concentrate on are pleasant surprise and gratitude.

September 11, 2022 (Sunday)

Card pulled: The Wheel of Fortune - Upright

Synchronicities/Comments: As mentioned in yesterday’s post, I had already set the intention as I pulled today’s card to treat any card as it’s upright meaning—meaning, even if a card showed up reversed, I wouldn’t read into it anything other than the traditional, upright meaning for the card. BUT I couldn’t help but notice that it was upright. The guidebook pointed out that pure luck doesn’t equate to success—you have to come to the opportunity/moment prepared as well. Life is constantly a series of ups and downs, am I right? The analogy that came to me about this card is a ferris wheel. You get lifted higher, it stops, then higher, stops, reaches the top for a moment, and then makes its way down again—or if you want to take a different perspective, it’s simply making the necessary journey back to the top again. Thinking about what the guidebook had said about yesterday’s and today’s cards, I thought about how there is no “good” or “bad” place on the wheel. I mean, someone could be at the top with the best views but be engrossed on their phone, flooded with FOMO, watching others live their lives or else gazing at the breathtaking scenery but feeling horribly empty because they have no one with whom to share the moment. Others who aren’t at the top with the best views might still be having the most amazing time because they are having lively conversations with loved ones or reading a life-changing book. Perhaps somethings are fated, but to a surprising degree our experience of that particular point along the wheel of fortune is entirely in our own hands.

September 12, 2022 (Monday)

Card pulled: The Moon

Synchronicities/Comments: I woke up feeling like I had had a very profound dream; however, the details quickly vanished, leaving just a certainty that that something had happened.

Having heard references to this card before, I knew that it could symbolize intuition or not-so-great events. I thought right away about the mini energy reading I’d be getting that day and if it referred to that intuitive reading. Come to find out, this was not an individual reading at all, but rather a live group reading. I still found it rather helpful though, in that I was being encouraged to move my body more.

Today, I also received in the mail the much-anticipated tiny opal necklace I had ordered some time ago. (In a recent crystal healing, I had been told that I need to partner with tiger iron and opal.) Opal is associated with water, emotions, and intuition—just like the Moon! hmm, interesting, huh?

My employer messaged me (Mondays are generally my day off) and let me know money was missing. I implemented the practice of feeling into the feelings I want to feel. Operation Pleasant Surprise was a success. My boss later informed me the money had been found.

September 13, 2022 (Tuesday)

Card pulled: 5 of Wands

Synchronicities/Comments: This morning I woke up remembering a dream which I shared with my dream group. A train, newspaper, flying demons… it was interesting. As I got ready for work, I was already feeling like I was struggling a bit, so I took my Orchex and ashwagandha supplements and dabbed on some lemongrass essential oil. I wonder how my day would have gone if I hadn’t have had at least those things to help.

Today on my morning commute I listened to the Tarot Bytes podcast episode on this card. This is a card traditionally about conflict (and in reverse position like it was today although I’m not supposed to be paying attention that anymore, even more so), so I really like how the host ends each episode letting the listener know that life is not fated and that “tarot tells a story, but you write the ending.” Like I said, I was already struggling a bit and I remembered my goal on Saturday to try and really feel into pleasant surprise and gratitude. I felt so ugly and icky inside I honestly didn’t even know if those feelings were accessible to me, but to my surprise they were for a few moments.

The day was horrible…I had so much quit in me. It being my first day of the workweek, there were so many things being thrown at me right and left. With my Taurus moon and Scorpio rising, I have a lot of fixed energy… I like to know what’s coming and work on one thing at a time, but with lots of things coming at me from all directions, I felt frustrated and flustered and frayed. I was like, it’s just not worth it. … but let’s be honest. It is. Receiving a competitive salary to support my family is worth navigating some challenging times at work. On my way home I was trying to do a perspective shift. If I were to translate my feelings, my heart would be like, “I want to do a good job for my employer and make them proud of me,” and my mind is like, “F— it all.” In terms of archetypes, I was wondering if the archetype of the cheery, oh-so-helpful receptionist (even with the phone ringing off the hook) felt accessible. Prioritize, complete, re-focus.

A big part of this could be I’ve entered the PMS window (T minus 4 days). That, and I listened to a YouTube video by Acyuta-bhava explaining that we collectively are feeling the lead-up to the Venus square Mars on Friday, so there’s that too.

September 14, 2022 (Wednesday)

Card pulled: Temperance - Upright

Synchronicities/Comments: I listened to the Tarot Bytes episode on this card as well as the Psychic Teachers podcast episode. The Psychic Teachers comments about turkeys/gratitude and rainbows made me think of the altar I had done for the New Moon in Virgo several weeks back.

On my commute home, I listened to this YouTube video which had come recommended to me. Someone said it came to mind when they heard about my dream I shared yesterday, and this video about the building opposition between the Sun and Venus definitely spoke to the energy of the Temperance card I pulled this morning.

September 15, 2022 (Thursday)

Card pulled: Page of Cloaks (Wands) - Upright

Synchronicities/Comments: Before I pulled the card, the thought crossed my mind What if I can ask Spirit to show me what card I’ll pull? I closed my eyes briefly and gave it a shot—just for fun. What I saw was a horizontally positioned rod, that morphed from a pitchfork or Trident back into a rod that had buds on one end that kinda looked like the bumps of an asparagus head. I imagined it might look like Aaron’s rod that budded in the Bible. Anyway, it shot out balls of flames in quick succession. 1-2-3. I guessed I might pull a wand card because of the fire stick imagery, and an Ace perhaps at that, because I only saw the one. Well, I did pull a wand although the full realization didn’t dawn on me right away because again I’m using a specialized tarot deck and wands are symbolized by cloaked ships. On my way to work I listened to the Myth Tarot Love podcast on this card. Come to find out, it does have some similar energy to the Ace of Wands and they even mentioned a myth that included Poseidan (I thought of the trident imagery I saw).

September 16, 2022 (Friday)

Card pulled: Page of Bat’leths (Swords) - Reversed

Synchronicities/Comments: Interesting, so this is my third time to draw this card in the space of 11 days. I had already listened to two really great episodes on this card, so I didn’t feel like I needed to research it anymore. I felt a little bit of a loss. Evidently there’s something I’m not getting? Sometimes I can be a little thick-headed, I know. If it’s about new ideas, I did continue listening to the Aubrey Marcus podcast “Decoding Hermetic Wisdom with Robert Edward Grant #379” which I had started yesterday. A lot of cool stuff in there.

September 17, 2022 (Saturday)

Card pulled: Two of Bat’leths (Swords) - Reversed

Synchronicities/Comments: I needed an attitude adjustment to start off the day; like I felt as though I needed to check myself. Inwardly I was throwing a tantrum knowing that I would have to stay for the duration of my daughter’s Bronze Award project, which was projected to be 4 hours long. The introvert in me was already cringing at the potential weirdness of all us parents staring at each other for hours and the anxious movement of me was like, “What the heck am I supposed to do for that long?” She was supposed to bring supplies which I hadn’t known about in enough time to order on Amazon. ….Actually, I’m realizing I can go on and on but the theme of this day seemed to be a need for flexibility. I had listened to part of a podcast episode which seemed to say this card is all about maintaining boundaries and practicing some meditation or inner reflection.

September 18, 2022 (Sunday)

Card pulled: Justice - Upright

Synchronicities/Comments: So this is my second time to pull this card during this experiment, but the first time it was in Reverse, so I’m curious as to how this day will play out. Update: This day seemed as though it was very much in the moment, right timing, being in the moment, things not turning out as bad as I thought, etc. Nothing crazy exciting but it felt like everyday things were happening kinda normal? Like not being in my head or emotionally tortured (I say that a bit dramatically), nothing rushed, everything in flow although not in the creative way in which some people refer to it, again “right timing” comes to mind, staying flexible, meeting life.

September 19, 2022 (Monday)

Card pulled: Temperance - Reversed

Synchronicities/Comments: I took this card to heart and didn’t let myself just hibernate (today is my day off and I was tired (today my period started in earnest)), but neither did I decide to be a task-master to myself. By lying down for a few moments after the kiddo left for school, I felt revived and got more accomplished than I do on some days when I don’t allow myself to rest. I even did a first today—I went and had lunch with my child at her school! Yep, I got home from the grocery store and was unloading groceries (those of you who know me will know that this in itself can drain a lot of energy out of me) and wasn’t feeling all that bad when I wondered when my kiddo had her lunch. I called the school—I had twenty minutes until she went to lunch. She was really glad to see me and had me take a selfie of us to mark the occasion. I did give her a scare though; she was afraid when she saw me that someone might have died and that’s why I was there—to tell her.

September 20, 2022 (Tuesday)

Card pulled: 5 of Cloaks (Wands) - Reversed

Synchronicities/Comments: Some cards just hog all the limelight, don’t they? It would appear this is the third time that I’ve pulled this card, although the first time I pulled it in its reversed position. I re-listed to the Tarot Bytes episode on it and then listed to Fortune’s Wheelhouse episode over it during my morning commute to work. Fortune’s Wheelhouse mentioned several things that hit my radar. First they referenced a man’s commentary on this card saying it’s the energy of trying to get your employees motivated to work after lunch. Since Mondays are my day off, aren’t Tuesdays my Mondays? Perhaps I needed some extra motivation to get back into my workweek. That had me wondering if by chance—I mean, Design—I had pulled the other 5 of Wands cards on Tuesdays. I looked and yes, one of the two prior cards was pulled last Tuesday; however, the biggest correlation I got from the episode was the connection to the astrological sign of Leo and the numerological significance of the number 5. Sunday night a relative blindsided me with a victim story; yesterday my family had discussed the situation at length, so this morning it was fresh on my mind. This relative I mention is a Leo sun… and what had I learned just yesterday from my numerology book Glynis Has Your Number?? That they were a life path 5!!! Life path 5s, when acting from the lower expression of the number, can create false drama and play the part of victim in order to create the adventure/misadventures they absolutely need. So even though the card seems to have been more applicable to Sunday or Monday, I don’t think the significance would have hit home without the other puzzle pieces falling into place and having the time to listen to the lengthy episode on it first. Overall, the energy of today seemed good. I think I determined to do my best to put a good spin on things, and indeed it was an alright day.

September 21, 2022 (Wednesday)

Card pulled: Hermit - Reversed

Synchronicities/Comments: I looked this up on https://www.biddytarot.com/tarot-card-meanings/major-arcana/hermit/. It says the meaning in the reversed position can go two ways—either indicating you need to withdraw and cultivate more of a spiritual practice or you have spent too much time in isolation and need to re-connect with others. For me, I wonder if it could be a bit of both. Today I did engage more, or at least have more points of contact, with others. I listened to a podcast episode in which a question I posed was answered in depth. My sister-in-law reached out to check on plans for my daughter’s birthday next month. I sent a lengthy(!) voicememo this morning to a friend, and then this evening I had a long conversation with my brother. I have been feeling a bit off-the-radar so these points of connection have definitely added a different flavor than normal. Is it a little strange that I often feel less disconnected when there’s no interaction? As though when there is some communication markers, it only serves to highlight what’s not there or at least not there on a consistent, substantial level to feed me?

September 22, 2022 (Thursday)

Card pulled: 8 of Spaceships (Cups) - Upright

Synchronicities/Comments: The guidebook didn’t have good news for me. I was going to be walking away from something that I enjoyed. I listened to Tarot Bytes and the host’s personal experience with the card did not bode well either for great experiences. I also listened to Fortune’s Wheelhouse’s episode about this card, and now at the closing end of the day, yes, I can relate to the ickiness, loneliness, stagnation, Saturn-heavy feel of today. Not knowing any of this when first seeing the card, though, my first thought was that it was very fitting. 8 being the number of balance and regeneration, it was a great card for today, the autumn equinox when light and dark in our experience of the physical world are balanced. This morning I tried to keep the theme of balance in mind as I realized I was already running late (I had tried to utilize my pendulum to pick today’s card instead of my usual just feeling it) and on top of that, I needed to take my daughter her lunch that she had forgotten at the house. I had done a time experiment before in which I had asked to bend/manipulate time, so I did the same today since it couldn’t hurt. I asked the Universe that I get to work at the same time (or dare I even ask early??) than usual. … I’m not shitting you, I did get to work early. There are probably all kinds of ways to explain away that kind of thing, but if it’s all the same to you, I prefer to believe that my engagement with the Cosmos manipulated my 3D world in a real way. Like I’ve heard said before, “Believe it means everything, and believe it means nothing.” It’s the paradox of not holding anything too closely that you no longer stay curious and also believing in something, wholly. Honestly I wish that kind of wonder-glow had stuck with me rather being a fleeting thought, but the 8 of Cups energy settled in pretty early today. I am feeling lonely.

September 23, 2022 (Friday)

Card pulled: 3 of Wands - Upright

Synchronicities/Comments: When I shared the result of my daily card pull, one of my friends was astonished. She said that she looks as the “3 of wands literally as the next step after 8 of cups. I kid you not. So the fact that you pulled this immediately after your 8 of cups is blowing my mind. With 3 of wands, you are now walking towards new opportunity. Today’s energy will be a move in the right direction. It speaks to moving through the heavy energy of 8 of cups, and the imminence of something new (opportunity, client, person, project, etc.)”

September 24, 2022 (Saturday)

Card pulled: King of Latinum (Pentacles) - Reversed

Synchronicities/Comments: I shared this car within a Tarot Interest group and a friend mentioned that what gives her “pause when pulling a court card (King, Queen, Knight, or Paige), is that it could be an energy or impact of a person in your life, or it could just be speaking to a general energy. Kings and Knights are men or masculine energy, Queen is feminine, and Paige is children.” I replied, “That’s so interesting! My husband (the workaholic) has already mentioned maybe wanting to just work half a day.” I ended up going to his work to run an errand for him and help him bleed the brakes on a customer’s car and it seemed as though he was having really bad luck—just one stroke of bad luck after another. I finally left in case I was the “unlucky penny.” Ha!

September 25, 2022 (Sunday)

Card pulled: The Hierophant - Upright

Synchronicities/Comments: Today a friend within my tarot interest group asked me what my intention was when pulling the card of the day—whether seeking advice or asking about general energy. I replied, “That’s probably something I should clarify within myself because I have sensed, without consciously naming it, some confusion on that point. I think I’ve been kinda melding the two…pulling a card for the general energy of the day while at the same time seeking advice from that card as to how to best navigate that energy.” I asked her what her intention was for daily card pulls, and I loved her answer. She said, “If I pull a card at the beginning of the day, I’ll ask what energies are in support of me? If it’s the end of the day, I’ll ask for clarity in the energies I experienced from the day that I should reflect on.”

This was a good day overall. Felt okay, grounded, solid, good. Today was the weekly visit to visit my father-in-law and we took him on a family cemetery “fieldtrip” of sorts for him to tell us some of their family history and show us important places to him. The weather was nice, if a bit hot. On the drive up there to get him, my husband and I talked about some spiritual points I had been pondering. While reading about the Hierophant card, I came across this fantastic quote: “eliphas levi ritual imagination superstition

September 26, 2022 (Monday)

Card pulled: Queen of Wands - Reversed

Synchronicities/Comments: I liked Biddy’s description of this reversed card: https://www.biddytarot.com/tarot-card-meanings/minor-arcana/suit-of-wands/queen-of-wands/

Using my friend’s intention of “what energies are in support of me today?” I took this to be that indeed it was okay to be quiet, introverted, and… then also, later, it was okay, to pamper myself and treat myself to a 90-minute massage (which was freakin’ heavenly).

September 27, 2022 (Tuesday)

Card pulled: The Galaxy (World) - Reversed

Synchronicities/Comments: Since today was my first day of the week back at work (I have Mondays off usually), it was hectic as normal trying to play catch-up on top of the day’s own craziness and my boss seemed a bit amazed at me mid-morning and asked if I had spent the night at a Holiday Inn (a reference to an old commercial). I laughed and said no, but that I did have an amazing massage. Asking how this card shows what energies are in support of me today, I felt like yes I am getting a nice result but it’s just not on such a grand scale as I had initially dreamt it to be. My husband and I have wanted to go somewhere internationally to celebrate our upcoming 5th wedding anniversary, but things were simply not falling into place. Today with a re-focus/scaling down, I cemented a reservation…. it’s still within the state, so nothing exotic, but still it’ll be a welcome break!

September 28, 2022 (Wednesday)

Card pulled: 4 of Latinum (Pentacles) - Reversed

Synchronicities/Comments: One of the things I enjoy about this new intention or perspective when pulling the daily card is that with asking what energies are in support of me today, there are no bad cards! I took this card to mean that whereas I am feeling the pull to feel guilty about the amount of money spent yesterday and pine about how much even modest rentals cost, I’m to not give it a second thought. My husband especially needs some time away from work and made it clear yesterday that he’s to the point…whatever it costs, do it! I’m learning not to see reversed cards as anything “bad,” but often as a scaling-down energy or of permission to pause and be more inwardly focused.

September 28, 2022 (Wednesday)

Card pulled: Judgement - Reversed

Synchronicities/Comments: I will tell you today has felt like one of the most challenging days (in its own way) in a long time. I wondered what the day with hold and I think this card was asking me to pause on judgement—to not do anything in the heat of the moment. The saying, hurt people hurt people? Yes, I want to hurt people in the only way I know how—to shut them out like they have shut me out. Recently there’s been time after time of people I was close-ish with (I’m not close with but a few anyway) not reciprocating, shutting me out, innocently overlooking me, and/or finding their community elsewhere. I wanted to close down my Patreon, leave all the online “communities” of which I’m a part, leave social media, etc. This card also asks me to love myself—to hold space for my feelings but yet not cling to them too closely—to value myself even when I feel as though I mean nothing to anyone else. I think it was biddytarot website (or the Tarot Bytes podcast on this card) that mentioned this being indicating a call to silence the inner critic. That would be spot on.