A Closer Look: Ace of Pentacles

Key words and concepts

• Reward
• Security
• Physicality
• Planting seeds for future success
• Earth element

I love aces; they  communicate their meanings so clearly when I pull them in a spread. As the essence of the suit, the ace of pentacles represents themes of tangible security and success. Historically, pentacles are related to work and money, but more and more I see them read as physical manifestations in general, especially body-related. You can decide which theme you prefer, or combine them!

If you've read my post on suit meanings, you know that pentacles are associated with the classical element earth. Personally, when I pull the ace of pentacles, it's a sign that I need to get back to gardening!  Beyond the classical elements, though, each suit has an associated season and cardinal direction. I read aces as the cards that carry those meanings most prominently.

Season and cardinal direction association is another chance for you to bring your own idiosyncratic flavor to your readings; for example, I know that the "official" season for pentacles is spring (at least, that's what I learned). In the Waite-Smith deck, you can see white lilies blooming in a newly-lush garden, a clear indicator of springtime. However, the interpretation never worked in my readings. Cups always declared themselves the springtime suit for me, with pentacles settling nicely into the role of summer. For cardinal directions, pentacles mean south to me.

When I pull the ace of pentacles in a spread, I might read issues of basic needs; are you getting enough sleep, food, and water? Have you spent the right amount of time outside for you?

I might also read it as some essential issues around work, but "work" means a lot of things to me, not necessarily just money-earning in a capitalist framework. The ace of pentacles could mean that the effort you are putting into a technical or creative endeavor right now is laying the groundwork for success later on.

Aces provide a lot of clarity around how you read a suit. Do these meanings make sense for your version of pentacles? What would you change about directions or seasons? What does it mean to be the "seed" of a suit?  Let us know in comments!

Reading a Spread: Self-Compassion

I am certain that I am not the only person who struggles with shame and vulnerability. They are experiences that are a normal part of the human condition, but shame can easily hijack our minds and prohibit us from growing or moving forward. I came up with this spread last week after realizing that I needed some concrete, tangible way to frame my feelings.  This spread provides a scaffolding that makes space for shame and pain, but also a pathway for self-compassion.

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CARD 1: Querent's ego

When I say ego, I mean the self-aware part of ourselves with cognitive, critical focus. In this case, it is the part of us that replays every sentence uttered, every gesture attempted, and finds it wanting. Pulling the five of wands in this position was some major real-talk; when I am in a defensive, reactive place, I lash out. Some of the blows hit my attackers, but inevitably some also land on my allies and even myself. It feels not unlike being in a chaotic fight with a bunch of guys with sticks. For me as the querent, it leads to shame, which makes it difficult to find self-compassion.

CARDS 2 & 3:  A container for the pain

I pretty much sighed with relief with these two; I think the ace and the ten of pentacles provide a lovely symmetry here.  If the ace is the essence of the suit, and the ten is the suit come to fruition, then I see here that my pain and discomfort is held in a container of tangible security. I always have the earth, and I always have my home. I can relax into that certainty when facing my ego.

CARD 4: A strength of the querent's

This card, the four of swords, surprised me a little.  While I may struggle to control my reactions in the moment, I'm actually pretty good at finding time later to retreat and consider what happened.  This card also speaks to recovery; it tells me that whatever pain I suffer, I have the resilience to spring forward from it.

CARD 5: A message of compassion

Possibly the most empowering card I could have pulled, Strength is about emotional fortitude. In this position, she is a reminder of my own courage as well as the loving support of those around me. I'm actually struggling to write out an interpretation because this is one of those cases where the simplicity of the card, and the impact of the visual with her basic meanings, really conveys the message better than words.  It's one of those lovely moments in tarot that seems to transcend language... although I guess that's kind of a cop-out for a blogger!

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This spread gave me a chance to honor the painful experiences of shame by providing a safe vessel for vulnerability. Do you think you would use this spread when you need to practice self-compassion? Could you see this spread working for somebody trying to cultivate compassion for others?  Did I totally just leave you in the lurch with my inability to describe the fifth card?  Please share your thoughts in comments!

Pentacles: Three and Eight

One thing I’ve noticed when working with beginner tarot readers is the reluctance to bring idiosyncratic meanings to cards. One of tarot’s greatest joys is learning the traditional meanings of each card, but as readers we should also be willing to trust our intuition and provide our own interpretations, even if they differ from precedent. In fact, most aspects of tarot are not hard and fast, even down to the specific meanings of individual cards. The three and eight of pentacles is a great example of competing interpretations, and it’s an opportunity to bring your individual preference into your reading style.

The suit of pentacles is about concrete, tangible aspects of our lives, and traditionally has also correlated with wealth and work (the suit is still called "coins" in many decks). The three and eight show chapters in the journey from apprentice to master, but how those meanings are assigned varies from reader to reader.  Some read the three of pentacles as the apprentice, and the eight as master, while others reverse those meanings.  Others read the three as professional collaboration at any level. 

I personally learned the three as the master, while the eight is the apprentice.  If we're looking at the Waite-Smith symbology (pictured below), we see in the three of pentacles that the stoneworker is interacting with two others (including a monk), presumably to update them on the project's progress. This stoneworker, then, is in charge of an important, permanent project (stone decoration on a fancy building). On the other hand, the eight of pentacles is alone in the frame, making the same simple plate over and over, like a beginner practicing a simple skill. Looking at the card, I'm reminded of the hours I spent at the piano just playing scales. Boring, y'all, but foundational. 

From the Universal Rider-Waite (Waite-Smith)

But what about the opposite interpretation? Why read the master-apprentice dynamic in the opposite direction, since I've just given such a compelling explanation for the inverse? Well, the monk and hooded figure in the three of pentacles could just as much serve as instructors for the stoneworker as they could patrons. Maybe he needs extra monitoring as he works on his first major project.  The eight of pentacles, in contrast, can be read as a master worker who has enough skill and reputation to set up his own shop, and no longer needs to take commissions.  Additionally, eight is the larger number and comes later in the suit; if we are looking at the progression of numbers, we see that three is about growth and collaboration, whereas eight is about forward-moving energy.

Ultimately, you will decide which interpretation resonates most with you.  Additionally, your interpretations will be altered based on the surrounding cards, the query posed, and even the deck you're working with. This post is intended to give you a foundation for working with these two cards, but ultimately to encourage you to explore your own individual interpretations.

How do you read these two cards? Are there interpretations beyond what I've presented here? How does all this translate to other non-Waite-Smith decks you've worked with?  Let us know in comments!

Week 4: #tarotnerdschallenge

As I shared on Monday, I'm catching up with the #tarotnerdschallenge on Instagram, and expanding on my responses here on the blog. Today, I'm looking at some of the questions from Week 4.

I like these questions because they draw on the distinct meanings of each tarot suit; I cover these meanings in my blog post about reading runs of suits. This week's challenges ask you to draw only on the relevant suit to answer your question.  Below, you see the cards I pulled in response to each query, as well as my interpretations.  I used the Chrysalis deck for this one, in part because of the distinctive coloring for each suit.  I start my analysis with the card in the upper left and go counter-clockwise.

What does my body need? Draw the answer from the suit of pentacles.

I loved pulling the ace of stones. Since aces are the essence of the suit, this card is telling me to reconnect with the earth, nothing more and nothing less. The local weather has just warmed up, and with the recent spring equinox, this card could not have better timing.

What does my inner fire need? Draw the answer from the suit of wands.

The eight of spirals is one of my favorite cards in the Chrysalis suit of spirals; I grew up around lots of deer, and where I live now we have enough regulars that I've given several of them names. Essentially, deer feel very familiar to me. The forward movement of the eight of spirals (wands) encourages me to embrace my desire to do more creative activities. So far, I've been doing that with things like the #createthisoracledeck challenge as well as this blog, but I think it is also time to get back into some of my fiction writing (maybe I need to revisit my writers' block spread...)

What does my heart need? Draw the answer from the suit of cups.

The two of cups is a lovely card that can mean both close romantic love as well as intimate, one-on-one relationships. Here, the two of mirrors captures that sentiment with a pair of affectionate swans. I can read this card as a reminder to stay connected with my partner, but I think it is also an indication that my most rewarding social experiences happen when I get to have one-on-one time with folks.  For example, getting coffee with a friend will nourish me more than going to a party, even if I love everybody at the party.

What does my mind need? Draw the answer from the suit of swords.

Another ace!  The swords are already the suit of mind and intellect, and the choice of scrolls in this deck suits the domain perfectly. You can see this card also includes a raven and a key, which are symbols of knowledge (in fact, the Wild Unknown Tarot uses these symbols to indicate the deep knowledge of the Hierophant). With aces meaning the heart of the suit, and scrolls bringing an especially literary sense to the suit of swords, I'm reading this card as reminding me to keep reading literature. I go through periods where I devour several books in a short period of time, and then I tend to take a week or two off. This card reminds me that I always feel better during periods when I'm reading.

What theme or lesson is prevalent in my life? Draw the answer from the major arcana.

Since the major arcana tell the narrative of life's journey, it makes sense to pull from them when looking for overall life themes.  I pulled the Hermit, or the Storyteller. I have an affectionate relationship with the Hermit, and I love seeing her as a storyteller in this deck. As a hermit, she draws on her inner light and knowledge. This card tells me that I am at a point in my life where I define my life story, and I get to decide how I want to tell it. We all tell ourselves stories to help make sense of the world; as such, storytelling, even if only to ourselves, is a powerful act.


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What do you think of these interpretations?  Have you been inspired by any of the March card challenges going on?  Do you incorporate general suit meanings in your readings?  Let us know in comments!

Deck Review: Chrysalis Tarot by Toney Brooks and Holly Sierra

A little while back, I was given the Chrysalis Tarot as a gift.  It was on my wish list after I found myself drawn to the illustrations over and over.  To be honest, the intensely vibrant, minutely-detailed art is not normally my style, but my imagination was continually captured by the artistic and spiritual choices in this deck.  The authors specifically designed this deck to have a more feminine energy than the classic Waite-Smith. They showcase feminine spirituality in various facets, from gentle and loving in the Sorceress (the High Priestess) to powerful and destructive in Kali (the Tower).

The feminine energy of this deck isn't done at the expense of some masculine balance; for example, the authors include Papa Legba as Strength. This brings me to another highlight in this deck: Brooks and Sierra conscientiously drew from a variety of global spiritual traditions while creating this deck, and the result is a wildly rich deck featuring more people of color than we often see, at least from major publishers. I would be very interested to hear feedback from folks whose cultures and spiritual traditions are represented.

Structurally, the Chrysalis Tarot replaces the four traditional suits, calling them instead mirrors (cups), stones (pentacles), spirals (wands), and scrolls (swords).  These suits seemed pretty drastically different to me at first, but the illustrations are so good at presenting an accessible meaning that they are not hard to read.  I struggled a little bit with the court cards; instead of assigning a consistent "page-knight-queen-king" schema, the court cards are organized as "The Troupe."  Each of the sixteen court cards has its own unique title; for example, what would be the page of scrolls is The Pilgrim, while the page of spirals is The Mime. If this sounds like a lot of new meanings to memorize, don't worry: The traditional ranks of the court are also listed on each card.

I think the Chrysalis Tarot would be a great deck for somebody familiar with Waite-Smith imagery who is looking for something to stretch them. It's consistent and accessible enough to be easy to read, but diverges from traditional imagery enough to provide a challenge and fresh interpretations.  If I had one complaint about the deck, it's that the cardstock is a bit stiff for me!  I use this deck less than I would if it were just a tad easier to shuffle.

Below, I'm showing you a Get To Know You spread for this deck. Originally taken from TABI, this spread gives some insight into how to be successful with this deck.

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What is your most important characteristic?

I cannot, for the life of me, figure out if "Bella Rosa" is a reference.  I've looked it up and can't find much, so I'm going by the the "beautiful rose" in her hand and the lush, Venetian carnival-type outfit (y'all, I want that jacket).  The Devil can be a card about acknowledging the parts of us that we'd rather keep hidden, which is consistent with Bella's mask and elaborate costume.  This card tells me that the Chrysalis Tarot will be useful for examining aspects of myself that I'm reluctant to face.

What are your strengths?

The glassy, watery droplets that form the nine of mirrors convey the atmospheric touches of this deck really well; there are so many illustrations that you feel like you could reach out and grab. A celebratory card, the nine of mirrors suggests that this deck's strength lies in connecting with joy, and reframing issues in a positive light.

What are your limits?

As you can see, Brooks and Sierra have renamed the High Priestess, designating her as the Sorceress.  As far as limitations go, this deck isn't one for connecting to my hidden, inner femininity. While this is a bit ironic, given the authors' goal to center the feminine, I think the feminine energy in this deck will serve me in other ways.

What are you here to teach me?

The bird on this card would be a great representation for the Chrysalis Tarot; its rainbow coloring and intricate, stylized detailing can be found throughout this deck. The ten of mirrors tells me that this deck is here to teach me to find some contentment and happiness with my life in the moment.

How can I best learn and collaborate with you?

The Illusionist takes the role of knight of stones, or knight of pentacles.  The Chrysalis Tarot LWB includes suggested interpretations for court cards, and I've decided that the Illusionist is telling me not to overthink things too much if I want to be successful with the Chrysalis Tarot. Note the arched border around the Illusionist; all the court cards have this additional embellishment, setting them off from the rest of the major and minor arcana.

What is the potential outcome of our working relationship?

The art here is an example of the global perspective the authors tried to bring; we see a desert landscape sprawling out before a goddess-like woman, who gazes above at scrolls unfolding into shapes evocative of Arabic script. Correlating to the eight of swords, the eight of scrolls is a card that encourages us to find some good in a situation that may otherwise seem hopeless; this deck has the potential to help me reframe issues in a more positive way and reduce worry.

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The Chrysalis Tarot, with its art evocative of a fabulous children's book, is a deck with great potential to help me look at uncomfortable aspects of myself, and reframe them in a more positive, hopeful way.

What do you think of the Chrysalis Tarot?  Do the vivid illustrations catch your eye?  What do you think of the alternate suits?  Could you imagine yourself using this deck?  Share your thoughts in comments!

Reading a Spread: Writers' Block

I'd been doing a lot of writing over the past couple months. It is a great way for me to process my fears and nervous energy; plus, I tend to feel refreshed after a good hour or two of writing. It was frustrating, then, to come up on pretty intense writer's block about two weeks ago. Realizing that this was a good issue to bring to the cards, I developed the spread below.  

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CARD 1: The querent

Well, that was straightforward.  Justice is the corresponding card to my zodiac sign, so I sometimes read it as a stand-in for me anyway. The card also refers to justice in a literal sense, and things being balanced and right in the world. I definitely write to gain a sense of internal balance, so this card makes sense.

CARD 2: Previous motivation

Lots of balance imagery so far!  The two of swords can mean that you're stuck, but it can also mean you are at peace.  A lot of my motivation for starting creative writing again was to regain a sense of internal balance (which we saw in Card 1 with Justice).  Even though it was a good reason to start writing, will it be enough motivation to keep me going?

CARD 3: The block

And the balance imagery won't stop.  Temperance is about being balanced, even-keeled, and capable of compromise. It's interesting to me that balance plays a role both in my previous motivation and my current writer's block.  It seems like seeking emotional balance, while a useful initial motivator, no longer serves to keep me writing.

CARD 4: How to shift your energy

The page of cups may be one of the friendliest cards in the deck.  He's a bit goofy, holding a fish in his goblet.  He trusts that his emotions are valid and doesn't second-guess them (making him a bit naive at times).  Instead of bringing a balance-seeking energy to my writing, I need to shift to a more joyful, bubbly embrace of all the emotions that surface when writing--even the more extreme ones.

CARD 5: The next step

The king of pentacles is here to give me some real talk. He's all about hard work and reasonable expectations.  He reminds me not to set my goals too high (I can totally finish this novel in the next two weeks, right?!), and to keep at it a little bit each day, even if it's not exciting or fun all the time.

CARD 6: Possible outcome

I really had to think about the two of cups here.  This is a card that usually signifies close relationships.  It seems that, if I can bring joyful energy to my writing while still giving it some practical, down-to-earth committment, I will develop an affectionate relationship with writing. This card challenges me to think about writing less as a chore or responsibility, but more as a valuable friendship. You stick with it through thick and thin, and being authentic with your friends brings you closer.  A similar relationship can develop between the author and her work.

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What do you do when you feel stuck in your creative work? Would you use this spread for writer's block? Could you see this spread--or one like it--working for other types of art? Give us your thoughts in comments!

Reading a Spread: Job Interview Jitters

We all know that job searching is fraught. It's stressful, full of rejection, and relatively high-stakes. I came up with this spread earlier this week before a job interview, looking for something to help me ground myself. This isn't a spread about finding a job, or general work-related questions; I designed it specifically to help calm my nerves before my interview!  If interview jitters are something you face, maybe this spread can help.

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Here are the four cards I pulled for my spread.  See the descriptions below.

CARD 1: The Querent

Representing me at this moment, the six of swords shows a small boat with obscured figures gliding away. This card reminds me that at this point in my life, I'm not searching for highly visible status-oriented work. In fact, over the last few months, I realized that stability is one of my highest priorities for the workplace. 

CARD 2: What grounds you

I like to read court cards as a point of view, or motto. The king of wands makes his decisions based on his passions, but such passion is tempered by his experience. I year ago, I felt more like the knight of wands: Exuberant, forward-thinking, and spontaneous. The king uses this very same energy to drive him, but he looks back on the lessons he's learned over his life.  This attitude keeps his decisions sincere and practical. I'm reminded that, however this interview turns out, I have learned a lot in my journey, and that is worth something. 

CARD 3: Something to calm you

Right before I go in for an interview--like when I'm sitting in the lobby, waiting, sipping on my coffee--is when I start to lose focus. The immediacy of it overwhelms me a bit, and I feel myself getting worked up. At that point, I need something to just calm me down.  I'm never really happy to see the Emperor, as he represents some values that don't resonate with me (authority, paternalism).  In this context, though, he reminds me that I am the only expert in my unique personal experience. However my interviewers choose to evaluate me, I know that I am the authority on my own life. 

CARD 4: Something to give you confidence

Now that you're grounded and calm, you're ready for a confidence boost! I'll admit I was a bit surprised to see the placid seven of pentacles.  He is quietly waiting for his crops to ripen, knowing that there's nothing more he can do at this point but wait for the harvest. There's reassurance in knowing that you've already put the work in, and that it's time to let it all play out. He reminds me that my confidence doesn't have to take the form of being showy, and that calmly letting things unfold is its own power. 

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After I finished this spread, I took out my notebook that I bring to job interviews.  I wrote a little summary of my spread, so that I could look down and read it if I started to get nervous.  Based on the four cards, I noted:

I am seeking calm. Experience tempers my passion.  I am the expert on my decisions. Confidence may manifest as patience. 

It's too soon to know the results of the interview, but experientially, I can say that doing this spread beforehand definitely helped ground me in the confidence of my values.  Could you see yourself doing a spread like this before a job interview?  Do you even get job interview jitters?  Are there other parts of the job-search process that you think tarot could help you with?  Let us know in the comments!

A Closer Look: Queen of Pentacles

Key words and concepts

• Comfort
• Security
• Abundance
• Family
• Compassion
• Stewardship
• Sensitivity to surroundings

I grew up in a small town, and like most teenagers, struggled a lot with friendship and identity.  In middle school and high school, I hung out pretty exclusively with a small group of guys.  In typical teenage fashion, I often struggled to relate to my own mother (she is an awesome lady, but we are both similar to the Queen of Swords and didn't always mesh), so having the mother of one of my guy friends sort of take me under her wing was really valuable.

She was a passionate gardener, and her name was Rose, of course.  She had the quiet patience and compassion that goes with being a kindergarten teacher (her profession), as well as the sense of humor and quick wit that comes from growing up as a dorky, not-traditionally-beautiful girl (something I desperately needed to relate to as a teenager).  Whenever I pull the Queen of Pentacles, I smile and say, "Oh hey, Rose, nice to see you!" This Queen--and my childhood role model--both serve to remind me that compassion for yourself and others is never a bad move, and that there is comfort to be had in cultivating your home.

The Queen of Pentacles offers warmth, comfort, and security--but she worked for it.  This queen doesn't hire a gardner or groundskeeper; she is in the dirt, caring for her flowers and vegetables.  She's up at dawn to milk the cows herself, and the result is a cultivated and healthy domain of her own doing.  And look at the results!  Her throne is richly carved with animals and fruits, and vines of roses wind their way around the border.  She's even attracted a happy little bunny at her feet (when she was younger, she was probably that Disney princess who had birds help her get dressed in the morning). I think of her very much as a steward of not only her land, but of its plants and creatures, as well as the human subjects of her kingdom.  

When I read court cards, I often think of them as attitudes we can take (as opposed to reading them as literal people in our lives).  The Queen of Pentacles' motto is, “Hard work is most noble when it serves not only your own house, but your community and the earth.”  She values abundance and hard work, but in the context of service to the greater good.  She is a reminder to prioritize our values, even if we are in the midst of the rat race of capitalism, and to use our gains in a way that encourages healthy, equitable growth. 

Is there somebody in your life who provides this queen's energy?  When have you embodied it yourself?  How else does the Queen of Pentacles show up in your life?

Tarot Cards in Rituals

April 22 was the full moon, called a Pink Moon in this month. After reading about this spring moon ritual at the Moody Moon, I was inspired to try my own take. I'm not officially pagan or Wiccan, but I find great value in ritual and in marking the changing seasons.

Below you will see the small altar I came up with; I have a small votive candle, some plants from the woods behind my house (harvest responsibly!), and some rainwater instead of dew (you'll also notice I left out the charcoal part of the Moody Moon's version).  I thought I would bring some of my own creativity and make the ritual more personal to me, so I circled the altar in pink sea salt (for the Pink Moon!), using the little bird candle holder as a vessel. I also recited an Emily Dickinson poem, because alternating speech and silence is a big part of how I practice my faith.

Ok, but this is Down Home Tarot, not Down Home Approximation of Pagan Rites. Well, as I gathered my materials, I just really felt like something was missing.  I realized that I needed some tarot cards to complete my altar and make it my own. 

I went to my Tarot of the Magical Forest, because it has a great whimsical and slightly creepy Hieronymous-Bosch-meets-Sesame-Street feel that fit perfectly with a springtime moon.  I chose the Moon, to help focus the ritual on the full moon.  I also selected the Three of Pentacles.  This card holds my hopes for the coming lunar cycle; I'm job searching and feeling optimistic but guarded, and I'm hoping for progress on that front in one form or another.  Finally, I thought the Ace of Cups was a great way to represent the spring, and the soft pink coloring in the illustration truly created the feel of a Pink Moon. 

My ritual was simple, and probably didn't take much longer than five minutes, but it still left me feeling grounded, more peaceful, and more connected to the things I find important. 

This is an example of using tarot cards with intention, as opposed to shuffling and pulling cards to see what they have to say.  It is a way of dedicating your intentions, or clarifying and stating your purpose for yourself.  Maybe you are not into putting together a ritual, per se (we can't all be hedge witches), but you may find that meditating on cards you select purposely is rewarding in of itself.  Selecting and meditating on specific cards is a great way to get to know a new deck, too.  

Are there any individual cards that you have been drawn to?  Have you tried meditating on a card yet?  How was the experience?  Share your insight in comments!

Reading a Spread: Setting Your Intentions

Today's spread comes from Tarot by Cassandra.  Her tumblr features lots of creative spreads, ranging from simple to complex.  It's a great resource if you're looking for new ways to read the cards.  Using my Universal Waite-Smith* deck, I pulled the cards below to help me set my intention!

*I have decided to start using the name Waite-Smith for the deck that has historically been called the Rider-Waite; more tarot scholars are starting to use Waite-Smith, and it more accurately represents the origins of the deck. 

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As I shuffled the cards, I posed the following query to the cards: Over the past two months or so, I've had a schedule that has allowed me to pursue creative and self-care activities.  As a result, I've developed some really great habits around my health and spirituality.  When I move into a fuller schedule, how to I maintain these good habits?  Let's see what the cards say!





CARD 1: The Seed: Your Intention

The Ace of Pentacles was the perfect card to describe my intention.  Aces are beginnings, and pentacles are down-to-earth.  I'm at a point where I am beginning a new set of practices that help me feel grounded, and this card absolutely reflects that.

CARD 2: Hesitation: Fears Stopping you from Planting

I thought that the barrier to this intention would be the lack of time, but the King of Cups is a ruler who focuses on balancing emotion.  I've always had trouble getting to know the King of Cups; in this position, I am taking this as a sign that it is not limited time that will be my barrier, but rather my ability to balance my emotional reactions in a way that is constructive and does not drain me of energy.

CARD 3: Push It In the Ground: Overcoming Fears and Waiting

When I pulled this card, I was initially confused.  The World is about completion, satisfaction, and a sense of wholeness with the universe.Whenever I am stuck on a card, I try to let go of any prescribed meanings and look at the overall picture and flow of energy in the spread; I realized that the woman on The World looks like she could be dancing, and I had an image of dancing in the garden and letting my footfalls push the seeds--my intentions--deeper into the soil.  Instead of anxiety around my new schedule, if I look towards it with holistic joy and optimism--a "dancing" energy--I will have an easier time incorporating my positive habits.

CARD 4: Taking Root: How Your Intention Will Become Reality

What a lovely card to pull in this position!  The Three of Wands is the synthesis of mind, body, and spirit to help move forward with creative goals, especially in collaboration. The first indication that my habits have been incorporated into a new schedule successfully will be some creative collaboration or form of connection.  For example, I want to keep going to the gym; maybe I'll make time for an exercise class, or start going with a workout buddy.

CARDS 5 & 6: Bring it to the Surface: Ways to Nurture Your Intention

Though these cards are grouped together, I am reading them as chronological.  As my intention grows and solidifies, I will see more professional or creative collaboration with the Three of Pentacles, nicely continuing the themes from card 4.  I was pleased to see the Six if Pentacles in the final position; it indicates that the ultimate manifestation of my success will be a generosity of spirit and the ability to give back.  This ties in very strongly with my personal values, as I see self-care and community care as part of the same spectrum, with both nourishing each other.  It creates an optimistic cycle to this reading, where nourishing my personal growth and health ultimately improves the community, and vice versa.

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This spread tells me that I should focus on the optimistic joy my new practices have brought me instead of fussing over my schedule, and keep an eye out for opportunities to collaborate creatively with others, even in small ways.  What do you think?  Would you use this spread?  Could you see alternate readings to these cards?  Let us know in the comments!

Reading a Spread: The Rainbow

This is a spread I came up with originally just to be playful, but I keep coming back to it for insight and comfort.  Today, I shuffled up my Universal Rider-Waite and pulled a Rainbow for y'all.  I set the cards in an arc, with each card representing a sentiment that I instinctively associate with a specific color.  Let's take a look at what the cards say!

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Check out the spread, and see the descriptions below of each card and its position.

The Rainbow

CARD 1:  What you are passionate about

The Hermit seems like a slightly strange card in this position, because I usually think of my passions as having more active energy.  The Hermit is about solitude and turning inward for guidance, and valuing the wisdom that comes with silence and meditation.  I will say that this aspect of myself--the valuation of silence and solitude--is not immediately apparent in my personality, but is still a vital part of myself.  This card reminds me that passion does not have to be fiery or flashy in order to still be a profoundly important part of our motivations.

CARD 2: What comforts you

I mean, who doesn't like a party?  The Four of Wands is often associated with specific celebrations, like weddings or other rites of passage, but I often end up reading it as any sort of celebration, necessarily with others.  I think that this is particularly interesting in contrast to the solitude of the previous card; this says to me that when my own internal passions begin to isolate me, I can find comfort in relaxing, playful celebration with friends.

CARD 3: What excites you

I think of excitement as different than passion in that excitement, in this case, refers more to the energizing but quickly-fading excitement of youth, whereas passion has more of a long, slow burn that sustains us.  In this case, my Seven of Cups shows that I get giddy when I have a ton of options.  I do love to fantasize about being a goat farmer one day, the CEO of an international non-profit the next day, and an award-winning science fiction writer the next.  The Seven of Cups also points out--especially in this position--that a glut of options can be overwhelming and paralyzing, and not necessarily conducive to growth.  This is powerful for me today, as I have several job interviews coming up, and I am trying not to be overwhelmed by them!

CARD 4: What makes you content

Oh, High Priestess, with that Mona Lisa smile; it's hard not to feel calm with this card.  She signifies hidden knowledge, empathy, and intuition.  What an interesting card, because I often struggle to honor that part of me.  The High Priestess in this position reminds me that trusting my own self-awareness is a crucial part of happiness.  I also think this is an interesting card, in that in symbolizes hidden knowledge; I often find great comfort and peace in the idea that there is so much yet unknown in the universe.

CARD 5: What saddens you

I'm calling this Eight of Pentacles straight-up literal: I'm tired of being a student!  I love learning, but the past several years have seen me in the role of apprentice and not a lot else.  I usually love this card, because the dude just seems really content to work on making his coins (plates? wheels?!), which is how it feels when you are in the zone learning something really cool.  This card tells me that, even though I will continue to learn throughout my entire life, now is a time for looking for other, non-student roles to do so.

CARD 6: What intrigues you

Well, there is nothing so intriguing as general mastery of the elements, which is what the Magician represents. He can also signify a unified sense of self, and the ability to turn your creative energies into tangible reality.  I like him in this position: It demonstrates that I have gotten pretty good at some internal balance and actualizing my aspirations, but that true, unified sense of self and accomplishment still eludes me.

CARD 7: What you are infatuated with

I like infatuation as the final card, because it is ambiguous.  It points to some need to re-examine the object of our infatuation, but it doesn't necessarily condemn it.  I was pretty excited to get Death here, and not just because it's one of my favorite cards.  I've been pretty obsessed lately with seasons, as they relate to our lives (for example, a season of growth versus a season of loss, or a season of change, or a season of poverty, etc.).  I just can't stop thinking about burning my past behind me and starting fresh; this card points out that, while in of itself that can be a healthy instinct, I shouldn't fixate on it to the point where I lose a sense of my past.

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I'm curious how many people resonated with this reading.  Of course, you will have your own variations on the card meanings when you do your readings.  What do people think of the Rainbow as a spread?  Too many cards?  To few?  Which topics would you change?