Monday, November 25, 2024
Waning Moon
Neptune, Chiron, Uranus, Jupiter, Mercury Retrograde
How did last week’s reading play out for you? I navigated some hierarchical situations with assistance last week (Hierophant, Emperor, 6 Pentacles). I also gave help where I could (6 Pentacles) and tried to be both cautious and playful with resources (4 of Pentacles). I felt I navigated the week with gentle Strength and felt like a cycle was successfully coming to a close preparing me for something new (Sun). Which is a little scary, because the unknown is scary, but change will come, whether I’m scared or not.
I rarely read for others during Mercury Retrograde, and these collective readings will be all I do outside of my own card pulls. Mercury Retrograde is a time for magical rest for me, because of the retrograde’s obstacles to communication.
November’s deck is still the Crow Tarot, created by MJ Cullinane. You can get it from US Games Systems here. I’m lucky enough to have a murder of crows hanging out near my home, and interacting with them regularly. This deck is always terrific to work with.
This is a spread of mine, that I’ve developed over months. It’s read from left to right, 5 cards. Any card that needs more interpretation can be built into further, above and below, with either more tarot cards, another tarot deck, or an oracle deck.
These interpretations are mine, based on my experience, intuition and responses to the artwork. You may have a different experience. This is an overview of the week as it stands now; every decision we make from the moment of the reading can change the outcome. If there’s something in the reading that worries you, you have the information ahead of time so that you can plan, make better choices, or handle it differently than predicted for a better outcome. Tarot sets out possibilities, which you change through your choices and actions.
Left to right, the positions are as follows:
1. The Collective Energy of the Week
2. The Week’s Challenge
3. The Week’s Opportunity
4. The Week’s Stretch
5. The Week’s Comfort
An additional card jumped out of the deck, which we will deal with at the end of the reading.
Collective Energy of the Week — Justice
It’s time to look at a situation with intellectual detachment and clarity. The answer might not be what you want on an emotional level, but it will be the balanced and just one.
The Week’s Challenge – The Moon
Are you not listening to your intuition? Or are you looking for a different answer because your intuition and what you learn through the intellectual view of the Justice card don’t give the answer for which you hoped? The challenge this week is to discern reality from illusion.
The Week’s Opportunity – 6 Pentacles
Last week, this card came up in the “Challenge” position. This week, it comes up as an “opportunity.” What, in your life, has shifted in the past week, that shifts the giving and tangible reciprocity?
The Week’s Stretch – 7 of Wands
This is about successful defense. You’ve defended something important to you, or to your identity, from threat. You still need to be ready in case of additional conflict, but you are in this place because you’ve earned it. You’re tired, but don’t give up. Stand firm, like the crow in the picture, and deflect the other crows who want your position.
The Week’s Comfort – 2 Pentacles
This card is often about the balance between the tangible and intangible. It suggests that you can maintain that necessary balance needed for the 7 of Wands Stretch between Justice and the Moon by using the 6 of Pentacles. Integrating all these elements will keep you in balance, which will be your comfort. Manage your responsibilities. Look at the infinity symbol within which the two pentacles reside, and keep that energy flowing between the tangible and the intangible. Pay attention to the details, and keep on top of management tasks.
Additional Energy Card – Knight of Wands
This card lends an overreaching energy to the week, working with the Justice card. It shows the infinity symbol of the 2 Pentacles, a crow, a wand with a rose, a salamander (change), sun (success), and the lion (strength). It’s about focused energy and creative potential. As you experience the energy of each of these cards over the week, pull in the creative, focused energy of the King of Wands to help you navigate and balance them.
I keep typing “wants” instead of “wands” in this document. Since wands are about passion and identity, “wants” make sense in connection to that passion and identity, and Mercury Retrograde is having fun flashing the slip. Look back at the two wands cards in the spread in terms of “wants” as is relevant to your sense of self and your passions.
And again, it’s Mercury Retrograde, so slow down, take a breath, and take a minute before making decisions.
What do you get from these cards? I’d love to hear from you in the comments!