News & The Kemmyrk Blog

Community Tarot Reading for the Week of February 10, 2025

Monday, February 10, 2025
Waxing Moon
Mars Retrograde

Last week, I kept remembering the King of Cups card, because regulating emotion was difficult. As often as possible, I tried to tie it into the 10 of Pentacles energy, being grateful for what I have. I took the King of Cups advice and attended a friend’s art opening last week. It definitely soothed my soul. It feels good to have only one retrograde at the moment, but Mars slows things down, and it’s difficult not to get impatient. We have two more weeks of the Mars retrograde, so take a breath and do your best to be patient, while setting up the plans so that you’re ready to move forward when it’s possible.

The Full Moon is on Wednesday of this week, and, being in Leo, can be challenging, depending on where Leo sits in your natal chart. There’s a sense of “look at ME!” that can make us forget there are other necessities on which to focus.

For the weekly readings in February, we are using the Cozy Witch Tarot by Amanda Lovelace, with art by Janaina Medeiros. You can learn more about it and buy it here. Several people recommended this deck to me, including my friend, author and tarot reader Jameison Wolf. I love the way it reads, although my interpretations are sometimes different than what is written on the card. I do sometimes worry that it doesn’t delve deeply enough into uncomfortable emotions, but it states clearly that it is meant to be cozy and comforting. February is a difficult month for me, anyway, often; it seems like winter will never end. And with all the stresses around us, I’m opting for cozy for us in these weekly readings.

To dig deeper, when necessary, I’m using the Shadows of Light Oracle by Haley Clare. I’m not sure if I received this deck from Goddess Provisions or Tamed Wild, during the time I had subscription boxes from them. I love the back of these cards. They can also serve as a meditative tool. The deck and I are becoming reacquainted, and it works well with this tarot deck. You can learn more about it and buy it here.

If you’re new to the weekly readings, 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

The Collective Energy of the Week – 8 Pentacles
The 8 of Pentacles is about showing up and doing the work. Sometimes the work is the daily details that keeps everything running. It’s not always the most creative aspect of what we need to do to manifest, but every time we show up, we’re helping the work become a reality. This is true in our work, our creative life, our emotional life, and our political life. Show up. Do the work. Learn the skills you need to learn to make your world and THE world a better place. We’re all exhausted. Show up and do the work anyway.

The Week’s Challenge – The Magician
Especially here in the U.S. these past few weeks, we have been pummeled daily by bullies. The Magician reminds us that, although it’s often challenging, what we need to defeat them is already within us. We have access to the elemental powers and ideas that we can transform through our force of will and manifest into tangible realities.

 

This is reinforced by the oracle card below it, Turmoil – The Storm, in the position of the foundation of this challenge. There are stormy seas and a shark below the water in a position familiar to many of us. But look at the waves between the shark and the struggling sailboat. There’s a face. There’s magic there. How will you face the uncomfortable parts of yourself? Where do you need to bring the shadows forward to survive and manifest what needs to happen in order to survive and thrive, and still retain compassion?

These three cards are very clearly stating that we must take action. Sitting on the sidelines waiting for someone else to do it, or for the turmoil to pass us by, will not work.

The Week’s Opportunity – Page of Cups
The Page of Cups is curious, creative, dreamy, and caring. Taking action this week, showing up to do the work, offers us an opportunity to learn new skills and to be creative and surprised as we take positive action.

 

 

To go deeper into this card with the oracle deck, we have the card in the future position to this card, where this Page of Cups energy could lead. It’s Now – Seize the Moment. This ties into the Mars retrograde energy of being patient. Instead of looking at what you want 10 steps down the path, what can you enjoy, explore, and amplify in the moment? There’s a balance between the labyrinth below and  the stained glass window above. It’s a card balanced between what is without and what is within.

The position of these cards in our Opportunity slot this week asks you to pay attention. Every day, take a few minutes to stop and appreciate the moment in which you currently stand.

The Week’s Stretch – The Sun
This week has the potential to be rocky. It may be hard to remember to search for and experience joy, and that there will be extended periods of joy to come. Tap into the Page of Cups/Now energy and seek moments of joy throughout the week, even when it’s difficult. Look at all the sunflowers in this card. Sunflowers symbolize good luck and good fortune, and they are “kissed by the sun.”

 

The Week’s Comfort – 3 Swords

How can the 3 of Swords, a card of despair, loss, and separation, be a comfort? Shouldn’t we explore this card further with oracle cards? Feel free to do so. To me, it ties back into last week’s card in the same slot, the King of Cups. Last week, we were advised to regulate our emotions and seek comfort and pleasure. This week, we are advised that, to find comfort, we need to release our emotions. Cry if you need to cry. Rage if you need to rage. Sleep if you need to sleep. All of these are ACTIONS, and thereby ACTIVE, tying back into the energy for the week, the 8 of Pentacles. This is where the art of a card becomes important. The figure walks down the steps from the Library — which is positive. It is the cover of the book that has 3 Swords through the heart, suggesting that the individual uses art to release emotions. The swords are not driving through the figure itself.

This week has 2 Major Arcana cards, one Court card, and 2 Minor Arcana, and we’ve explored two of the cards with oracle cards. I look at Major Arcana as the big energy, and Minor Arcana as the daily details to fulfill or turn away that energy. Both Major Arcana cards contain energy into which I want to tap and fulfill this week, and I hope to do that by showing up to do the work, crying if needed, and staying curious and in the moment as much as possible.

What do you get from these cards? Does anything here resonate, or do you get something very different? I’d love to hear your responses in the comments.

February 3, 2025: Community Tarot Reading for the Week

Monday, February 3, 2025
Waxing Moon
Jupiter and Mars Retrograde
Note: Jupiter goes DIRECT tomorrow

Hello, there! How are you? Deep breath, there’s a lot going on. Hopefully, you’re feeling a little more like yourself with Uranus going direct late last week. Jupiter, the planet of expansion, goes direct tomorrow, so that will also help us on the tangible plane. Mars is still retrograde for most of the month, so it will be difficult not to feel impatient. Hang in there.

Yesterday, I posted a reading for Imbolc, using my Brigid’s Cauldron spread. It’s meant to help us navigate these next six weeks until the Spring Equinox. If you haven’t seen it yet, you can do so here.

For the weekly readings in February, we are using the Cozy Witch Tarot by Amanda Lovelace, with art by Janaina Medeiros. You can learn more about it and buy it here. Several people recommended this deck to me, including my friend, author and tarot reader Jamieson Wolf. I love the way it reads, although my interpretations are sometimes different than what is written on the card. I do sometimes worry that it doesn’t delve deeply enough into uncomfortable emotions, but it states clearly that it is meant to be cozy and comforting. February is a difficult month for me, anyway, often; it seems like winter will never end. And with all the stresses around us, I’m opting for cozy for us in these weekly readings.

If you’re new to the weekly readings, 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

1. The Collective Energy of the Week – King of Pentacles
The King of Pentacles is about pragmatic and sensible leadership, who provides for those around them and teaches them how to care for themselves. The first thing that struck me about this card this particular week is mutual aid, given what we’re going through right now, and, especially the position of the card within the spread, as the collective energy of the week. With factions trying to fracture us, it’s important that we use our own leadership skills to help each other. Pentacles are about tangibles. It doesn’t mean you have to give money if you’re struggling. You can help someone by holding a door, or carrying a bag, or offering a link to a resource, or just listening. We need to take care of each other now, and how we do so has many different possibilities, far beyond just being about the cash. We each do what we can.

2. The Week’s Challenge – 4 of Pentacles
In most decks, the 4 of Pentacles depicts a figure clutching pentacles to them, or sitting on top of a chest carved with a pentacle. It can often suggest either that you need to hoard your resources somewhat, or a warning that you’re hoarding too much. The card in this deck suggests the latter, suggesting that you treat yourself to something shiny. What does that mean to you? My favorite treats tend to be books or a piece of chocolate. A treat for you might be something completely different. It doesn’t have to cost a lot of money, as long as you feel like you’ve indulged yourself. The challenge this week is to remember that we deserve good things, even when abusive systems try to convince us we don’t.

3. The Week’s Opportunity – 10 of Pentacles
I love the art for this card in this deck. 10 cats? Yes, I feel rich! (I’m ignoring the feed bills and the vet bills, and just enjoying the sensation of 10 cats). The opportunity this week is to look around and enjoy what we have and what we’ve built. This ties into the 4 of Pentacles, about treats and knowing when to hoard and when to release, and the King of Pentacles about managing resources. There’s a magical practice where when you give, you make room to get. Are there things you don’t need that you can donate? Can you bless some pennies and leave them in unique places around your town to brighten someone’s day? Can you rearrange something in your house that makes you feel satisfied in both the organization of it and because it exists in your space? With what’s going on the US around the Treasury Department right now, we are all worried about finances, access to our money, and how that will be manipulated. These pentacle cards are a good reminder about what’s not within “their” control.

4. The Week’s Stretch – Strength
There will be times this week when exterior factions will work our last nerve, trying to demoralize us and make us forget our own tangible power, and our own pleasure in mere existence. We can meet it with a gentle strength that undermines more than aggressive force would. There may be times where we need to be aggressive and assertive, but this week tells us that gentle firmness is a stronger choice. Again, Jupiter goes direct this week, and Jupiter is about enjoying the tangible, the textures, the senses. It’s a case where living in defiant joy is the best tool. But there will be times this week when it’s difficult. Looking at the 4 of Pentacles, it’s time for the old adage, “know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em.” Doing so with gentle strength and maybe even a touch of humor are tools that will help.

5. The Week’s Comfort – King of Cups
This card was also in the final position of yesterday’s Imbolc spread, albeit with a very different image. The King of Cups has well-regulated emotions. They run deep, but these kings are creative and loving, without being provoked into reactive responses. This king believes in happiness in the home, love, and the arts. This feeds into the energy of Jupiter gong direct this week. Go to an art exhibit, watch a favorite TV show, read a book. Enjoy your life, in spite, TO SPITE, the chaos around us.

In this week’s reading, we have 3 pentacle cards, one Major Arcana, and one court card. It ties into the Imbolc reading with the King of Swords and boundaries, the King of Cups card in that reading, and the foundational energy of that reading in the Sun card. It touches on the energy of Jupiter turning direct, and reminding us of our own riches, both material and tangible. These are riches that others may try to define, but they can’t. They are ours. This week we enjoy, and we remind ourselves what we are protecting.

What do you get from the reading? Do you agree with my interpretations, or are you getting something else? I’d love to hear your response in the comments.

Imbolc Reading — Bridget’s Cauldron Spread

Happy Imbolc in the Northern Hemisphere, and Lammas in the Southern!

Since I am in the Northern Hemisphere, I am using a spread to guide me in navigating the period from Imbolc to the Spring Equinox.

This is one of my spreads, that I call Brigid’s Cauldron. The bottom 3 cards represent the cauldron and the top 4 the energetic advice. For this reading, I used The Robin Wood Tarot, one of my favorite decks. You can learn more about it and buy it here.

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 energy 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.

Meanings of the positions:
1 – the Foundation
2 & 3 – Surrounding Energy
4 – Physical action
5 – Intellectual action
6 – Identity action
7 – Creative action

Let’s dig in, shall we? Remember, this is a reading rooted in Imbolc, the stirrings of new beginnings, and connected to Brigid, who is a goddess of healing, poetry, and the alchemical force of fire to create positive change.

1. The Foundation – The Sun
In spite of all the chaos in the world around us, by connecting to our deep foundational energy, we have the capacity for success, joy, and freedom. There are factions trying to pull us away and make us forget who we are and why we are here, but we are stronger.

 

 

2 & 3. Surrounding Energy – The 6 of Swords and the 5 of Swords
This very much ties into the energy of the world around us, as mentioned above. The 6 represents a journey over water. That can be mental or physical. It often means escape from a nasty situation. Many of us are in a nasty situation right now, and we need to navigate our way through it and out of it to a safe refuge. Even though it’s a card from the sword suit, meaning intellect, there’s water, to it’s connected to emotions, dreams, and creative action through creative thinking. The 5 of Swords is about conflict. There’s conflict all around us. There are arguments (swords, again). Look at the figure in the foreground. This figure is victorious, and taunting the other figures, farther back in the card. Are we the figure in the foreground? If we are, and we win these conflicts, perhaps we shouldn’t be smug and cruel in those victories.

4. Physical Action – King of Swords
We have a card of intellect in the position of action. He’s standing there, with his body and sword in a defensive position. There are crows in the background, indicating magical knowledge. He’s wearing a battle helmet. This King has drawn a boundary, using his intellect, and will hold it, through force of will. In the next six weeks, we have to draw boundaries and hold them. Tying into both the warrior and poetic energies of Brigid, choose your words wisely and stand by them.

5. Intellectual Action – The World
While the world is, overall, a positive card, it’s also about the ending of a cycle. We had the World come up frequently as Pluto moved into Aquarius late last year, and also again in mid-January, as things got increasingly chaotic. There’s promise and hope for a better future, but only if we take definitive action, and make a solid plan. It’s a reminder that no one is coming to save us, and the world is what we make it.

 

6. Identity Action – The Empress
What does “identity action” mean? To me, it means walking my talk. I bring who I am out into the world without apology. My skin color allows me greater freedom to do so than many, and I need to use it to protect and create positive change. Being a woman means I’m back to fighting the battles we thought we’d won in the 1970’s. Connecting to the Empress energy allows me to walk my talk in ways that are strong without being cruel, that create safety for my family (both blood family and found family). I need to both trust my instincts and nurture those around me. It’s being a different type of warrior than, say, a knight card would indicate.

7. Creative Action – King of Cups
This card in this position makes a lot of sense, as cups are associated with emotion, dreams, and creativity. This king is quiet, in control of his emotions, knows how to use creativity to win over those around him, and knows how to be quiet and controlled in his use of power. He’s not pulled into the emotional chaos created by others.

 

This reading contains three Major Arcana cards (Sun, World, Empress) suggesting large energies. It has two kings, about controlled energy. And it has 2 Minor Arcana cards as the energy surrounding us that can be managed, controlled, and navigated through the 4 positions of actions that connect back to the Sun energy as the foundation. It offers a rational map of opportunity for the next six weeks, will likely contain a good deal of chaos.

What did you get from the reading? Is your intuition telling you something else? All experiences are valid and matter. I’d love to hear from you in the comments.

January 27, 2025: Community Tarot Reading for the Week

 

 

 

 

 

Monday, January 27, 2025
Day Before Dark Moon
Uranus, Jupiter, Mars Retrograde

Hello! There’s lots going on, energetically this week into next week. Today is the day before the dark moon, with the dark moon tomorrow, and a new moon/Chinese Lunar New Year on Wednesday.

For me, the day before the dark moon is the lowest energy day for the month, and then I get re-energized for the dark moon to do a final push of what needs purging for the month.

This new moon also begins the Year of the Wood Snake in Chinese astrology. I’m a Water Tiger, so that presents some challenges.

On the 30th, Uranus finally goes direct. Our unique energy will start shining again, and we can make decisions in ways that suit us as individuals. We’re also preparing for Jupiter to go direct next week, on February 4th. I’ll talk about that in next week’s post.

In relation to last week’s reading, I definitely had new inspirations on several fronts (Ace of Wands). I actively took steps on the plan for a few of them (3 Wands), and am also making decisions on some that may not be in alignment with what I want and need. I trusted my intuition, put in the work, and a couple of things I put into motion in previous weeks paid off, while others did not (The Moon, 8 Pentacles, and 3 of Wands again). I was not always successful in stepping back from the chaotic emotions of which we are in the midst, but I started working on some personal guardrails (King of Cups). I hope to build on last week’s work with this week’s information.

This month, we are using the Rackham Tarot, with art by the illustrator Arthur Rackham, and text by Lunea Weatherstone. The deck is available from Lo Scarabeo. If you would like to learn more about Arthur Rackham’s life and work, you can do so here.

This deck was a gift from a friend a little over a year ago. I use it primarily for dreamwork, so it will be interesting to see how it works in community readings for the month. The suit in this deck is marked with a symbol in the center bottom, and the number on top. The Major Arcana cards have their number on the top and the bottom. It can take a bit of concentration to get used to it.

If you’re new to the weekly readings, 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

The Collective Energy of the Week – The World
Completion of a cycle. A fresh start. For me, the World card also often means “anything is possible if you take action.” The figure rises out of the earth and the trees. It is an adult figure, not a childlike one, indicating how the end of a cycle opens the way for something new. So let’s create something new and wonderful, shall we? Uranus moving direct helps.

 

The Week’s Challenge – The Lovers
In many decks, this card often holds a third figure, creating conflict and the need to make a decision. This card does not have that third figure (unless you count the tree). These two figures are completely caught up in each other. How could such love be a challenge? When you’re so caught up in it that you ignore the rest of the world. With all the exterior chaos and cruelty happening, it’s instinctive to put on blinders and only focus on what we love. The challenge is to remember that in order to keep what we love, we must be ready to defend it (think about the energy of the 7 of Wands and the 9 of Wands). Taking restorative breaks is vital, some stepping forward as others step back to rest is vital, but there are times when we all have to show up and do the work in community so that we have a community.

The Week’s Opportunity – Knight of Cups
Knights are about taking the energy of the suit out into the world. The Knight of Cups is about taking loving and creative energy out into the world, be it in real life or through social media (social media is vital to those who can’t go out physically into the world for whatever reason). Share the love you feel in the previous card and use it to build the positive new cycle offered by the World card.

 

The Week’s Stretch – The Tower
The Tower is my “oh, fuck” card in the deck. When the Tower comes up in a personal reading, it means I’ve procrastinated on something until it’s been taken out of my control. Because I did not act on it in time, action is being taken out of my hands, and I have to live with the consequences. Many people find that freeing; I do not. In many decks, it shows a structure being destroyed (by lightning, fire, etc.), with figures falling out of the structure. This card uses a different illustration, and since we are using this deck this month, we look at what’s going on in the art to discover the meaning at this particular moment, so we can make informed decisions. In this illustration, the man is teased by fairies. The fae can be mischievous and they can be vicious. They can also be playful. By the look on the man’s face, he’s not sure how to interpret their antics. Or are they pricking his conscience? This card is in the “stretch” position in the reading, which means it’s warning you to take action on something you’ve been putting off, and reminding you to act in ways that keep your conscience clear. With everything going on, each of us will be challenged more violently daily as to where we “go along to get along” for the moment (which will have consequences down the line) and where we hold boundaries.

The Week’s Comfort – The High Priestess
What’s behind the veil? Is the woman in the illustration the one hiding, or is she about to discover/reveal something? The High Priestess card is about balanced intuition. In many decks, the figure is between two pillars. This card does not have that However, look at the floor in the illustration. She stands on a wooden floor. There is some sort of runner under the curtain, then more floor. There’s a separation, and we have to decide if we’re ready and able to handle whatever might be behind the curtain. Since the card is in the “comfort” position of the reading, it indicates it is in our best interest to take the risk (again, tying back to The World card).

What resonates in this week’s reading with you? Do you get something completely different from the cards? I’d love to hear from you in the comments.

When we reconvene next week, we will be in a waxing moon, have begun living in the Year of the Wood Snake, have celebrated Imbolc, and be in February. Whew!

January 20, 2025: Community Tarot Reading for the Week

Monday, January 20, 2025
Waning Moon
Uranus, Jupiter, Mars Retrograde

We’re back this week, with a reading. The wildfires are still causing pain and loss in LA. The United States is moving into a dark, tumultuous era. So it’s up to us as individuals to do what we can, and then band together to support each other.

This month, we are using the Rackham Tarot, with art by the illustrator Arthur Rackham, and text by Lunea Weatherstone. The deck is available from Lo Scarabeo. If you would like to learn more about Arthur Rackham’s life and work, you can do so here.

This deck was a gift from a friend a little over a year ago. I use it primarily for dreamwork, so it will be interesting to see how it works in community readings for the month. The suit in this deck is marked with a symbol in the center bottom, and the number on top. The Major Arcana cards have their number on the top and the bottom. It can take a bit of concentration to get used to it.

If you’re new to the weekly readings, 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

The Collective Energy of the Week – Ace Wands
The ace of wands is about a fresh start and new inspiration, especially when it comes to identity and passion. Here in the US, we are entering a new era that often feels hopeless. The ace is telling us not to give up so fast. See the rising sun peeking out from behind the tree? Let the magic reawaken inside.

 

The Week’s Challenge – 3 Wands
The 3 of Wands is often about taking the first steps after making a plan in the two, once the passion has been ignited in the ace. However, take a look at this card. Instead of looking out into the world and the new path, as in many other decks, the woman in this card has turned her back on the view. She rests against the railing, pulling inward for more reflection before moving forward. Remember, we’re still dealing with retrogrades in Uranus, Jupiter, and Mars, meaning individuality, expansion, and forward momentum are slowed down. Take a breath and assess, rather than just leaping into the first inspiration.

The Week’s Opportunity – The King of Cups
The court cards are difficult to discern in this deck; you have to sort it out between the design on the top of the card and then the suit design on the bottom. The booklet is no help with this, you have to set out all the court cards and compare. In any case, this is the King of Cups. In this case, he’s staying out of the emotional  fray. With all the chaos going on this week, consider ways to step back and not get sucked up into waves of exhausting emotion that are created to be a distraction, rather than something real. Take the time to see where someone is trying to whip up your emotions for their own agenda, and what you actually think and feel.

The Week’s Stretch – The Moon
This is a week to rely heavily on your intuition. Connect with the waning moon and intuition. This will help you see where others are trying to deceive you, or to convince you that illusion is reality. In the past couple of years, I’ve noticed that the interpretations of the Moon card skew more and more negative, disavowing the positive potential. I disagree with that. Moonlight can illuminate, and heighten intuitive powers, allowing us to recognize deception.

The Week’s Comfort – 8 Pentacles
Show up and do your work without distraction. Take pride in your skills, and how they are growing. This ties into all of the earlier cards about attempts at distraction, new paths, and taking a breath before moving forward. Show up and do YOUR work, both physically and spiritually. That will help clear your path.

 

Does this reading resonate with you? Or do you get something quite different from these specific cards? I’d love to hear from you in the comments.

No Community Reading the Week of January 13

drop of water hovering over a riplle pool
image courtesy of rony michaud from Pixabay

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m not posting a community tarot reading for this week. With the LA fires going on, it feels wrong. I don’t have the answers; I have many questions. Rather than positioning myself as though I have guidance, I want to spend the week listening, creating space and care for those who grieve, and helping however I can.

I remember the 10 of Cups from last week’s reading, the need for community, and the Strength card, both of which are relevant to me during this time. I will be doing personal readings and draws, but not public ones. If you work with cards, oracles, runes, etc., I suggest connecting with them this week. Each of our paths through this is different, but together, we can help those who need it.

There’s been a lot of toxic positivity and a lot of quasi-spiritual blame gaming posing as support with which I strongly disagree, and I don’t want to contribute to it.

Tell those you love that you love them this week, and help however and wherever you can. The full moon is in Cancer today, which connects to deep emotion.

Peace, my friends.

January 6, 2025: Community Tarot Reading for the Week

Monday, January 6, 2025
Waxing Moon
Uranus, Jupiter, Mars Retrograde

Last week was definitely a challenge, and I’m ready for a new week!

This month, we are using the Rackham Tarot, with art by the illustrator Arthur Rackham, and text by Lunea Weatherstone. The deck is available from Lo Scarabeo here. If you would like to learn more about Arthur Rackham’s life and work, you can do so here.

This deck was a gift from a friend a little over a year ago. I use it primarily for dreamwork, so it will be interesting to see how it works in community readings for the month. The suit in this deck is marked with a symbol in the center bottom, and the number on top. The Major Arcana cards have their number on the top and the bottom. It can take a bit of concentration to get used to it.

If you’re new to the weekly readings, 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

The Collective Energy of the Week – 10 Pentacles
After a rather rocky few weeks, having a 10 of Pentacles as our collective energy is an excellent start to the year. It’s about enjoying the tangibles with family and community, as the figures in the illustration do. It’s about welcoming others in and expanding your circle.

 

 

The Week’s Challenge – 6 of Wands
This is a card of success and moving in the right direction. Why would that be a challenge? We can sabotage ourselves if we doubt ourselves. We also sometimes have trouble accepting praise from others. In some other decks, it depicts a victory ride with the rider wearing a laurel wreath, and urges one to accept success. This illustration shows two older figures encouraging the young rider to keep going. (If the card had a different number on it, the illustration itself could be interpreted as them asking her for a ride, but the choice of placement must be taken into account along with the art itself. This is one of the cards that, in this deck, can be a little trickier to interpret than in some other decks).

The Week’s Opportunity – Strength
The woman in the illustration walks companionably with the lion. They are confident in their goals. This week, we will have the opportunity to move truthfully and confidently toward what we want. Don’t get caught up in false modesty, or feel you need to run yourself down or you’ll sound arrogant. Trust in your own worth.

 

The Week’s Stretch – 5 of Wands
Our figure is up a tree with wolves on the ground below, snapping at her. This is about survival skills. Lunea Weatherstone’s interpretation for this card reads, “if you can’t outrun them, outsmart them” which is sound advice. This ties into the need for strength. Somewhere this week, you will come across someone or, likely, several someones, who do not have your best interests at heart. In fact, they may be actively trying to cause you harm. Rely on your strength and your survival skills, and, reaching back farther, to the knowledge you are moving in the right direction and to the first card, of expanding community, to outsmart them. You are not who they define you; you are who you define yourself.

The Week’s Comfort – 2 of Pentacles
Stay centered. Keep your balance between emotions and tangibles, the physical and the spiritual. The figure in the illustration plays pan pipes. Listen to some music! Stick to your meditation practice, your journal writing, whatever keeps you centered. This will help you when the 5 of Wands challenges you.

Overall, the week is about moving in the right direction, and being around others, even though some of them do not wish you well. Take it in stride, and be smart, not reactive. You’re moving in the right direction.

Do you get a different interpretation from these cards? Have you worked with this deck? What’s your experience? I’d love to hear about it in the comments.

December 30, 2024: Community Tarot Reading for the Week

Monday, December 30, 2024
New Moon
Uranus, Jupiter, Mars retrograde
Chiron DIRECT as of yesterday

Hello, everyone! How was last week? I used the Kings quite a bit in my daily life, which was filled with unexpected challenges, and the Page of Gifts just kept coming up.

The year turns this year, as well as there being a new moon today. Time for a fresh start, along with the fresh year.

Chiron went direct yesterday, so we can move forward with the healing we’ve done over the months it was in retrograde. I saw something online the other day that hit home: “healing is a process, not a light switch.”

This month, we are using the Yuletide Tarot, from Kristoffer Hughes with art by Erin O’Leary Brown. You can get it from Llewellyn Worldwide here. (Note: even though I’ve written for Llewellyn almanacs for decades, I do not get free decks from them, nor do I get a cut of anything you buy using this link. I bought the deck myself). This is the first year I’m using this deck. It was recommended to me by my friend, tarot reader and author Jamieson Wolf. I spent the last month getting to know the deck, in preparation for this month’s work with it.

In this deck:
Canes = Swords
Candles = Wands
Good Cheer = Cups
Gifts = Pentacles

If you’re new to the weekly readings, 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

The Collective Energy of the Week – 5 of Canes
This is the 5 of Swords in other decks. This is a card of conflict and malice. Be careful of those around you who do not wish you well. At the same time, be careful with your words and your actions, so that you do not cause harm. There’s a lot of potential for harm here. It can be easy to get into the mindset of striking before being struck. It may be better to remove yourself from the situation instead of either bowing to the conflict or escalating it.

 

The Week’s Challenge – Ace of Candles
This is Ace of Wands in other decks. This is the burning spark of inspiration, identity, and new opportunities. Conflict can clear the way for a new path. Instead of staying mired in conflict, choose a different direction. This card came up in the December 9th reading in the “Opportunity” position. This week, it is in the Challenge position. It may be about the same issue, or you may have more than one option opening up for you.

 

The Week’s Opportunity – Queen of Gifts
This is the Queen of Pentacles in other decks. This is a card of material generosity in a very clear,practical, and caring way. It’s a reminder to be kind. Whenever you have the opportunity to be kind this week, make the most of it. Especially if it’s a way to de-escalate conflict. If/when someone attempts kindness to you, don’t bat it away. Accept it.

 

 

The Week’s Stretch – The Holly King
This is the Emperor in other decks. This is about structure and leadership, doing so in a way that is positive and empowering rather than destructive and controlling. It ties into the collective energy card of the 5 of Canes. Be careful where you place your energy, and do so without malice. In this particular card, he offers light and leadership in a cold, dark forest.

 

 

The Week’s Comfort – 2 of Candles
This card is the 2 of Wands in other decks. It was also in the same position for the December 9 reading. It’s about planning the next steps from that spark, but it hasn’t yet manifested yet. It’s about reaching out with and for information. It’s interesting that two cards that appeared in the December 9 reading reappear here, albeit one of them is in a different slot. For different people, it will mean different things. It could be that something that sparked back early in December has been stagnant, and the new year gives you the chance to keep building it. It could represent something different now than it did earlier in the month. It’s personal. I know I find comfort when I can sit down and plan things out. If this is not typically how you approach new elements in your life, consider doing so. Or consider doing so in a different way. If you usually write lists, try telling yourself a story or creating a series of images around the plan. Shake up your process a bit, in order to freshen it.

The Candle Cards, the Queen of Gifts, and even the Holly King are good tools to offset the chaotic and potentially malicious energy swirling around this week. There’s certainly plenty of malicious energy on a political level. See if there are ways to prevent it from infecting your community and personal energies this week. Be aware of it, be on alert so it can’t be weaponized against you, but use the Holly King, The Queen of Gifts, and these fresh sparks to manifest something better and leave the chaos behind.

Do you get a similar read on these cards, or did you get a different meaning? I’d love to hear from you in the comments.

Next Monday, we will be in 2025, a new year, and a new month. Which means we will also use a different deck.

Happy, Safe, and Joyful New Year to you.

December 23, 2024: Community Tarot Reading for the Week

 

 

 

 

 

Monday, December 23, 2024
4th Quarter Moon Waning in Libra
Chiron, Uranus, Jupiter, Mars Retrograde
Snowy and icy here in the Berkshires

How was your week? How did the reading help? Last week was more stressful and chaotic than I hoped. I had to keep reminding myself of the 9 of Gifts (Pentacles) as the collective energy of the week. When I did so, and reconnected with it, I could find joy in spite of the chaos.

I hope you also had a blessed Solstice, whether it was the Winter Solstice we had in the Northern Hemisphere, or the Summer Solstice to our friends on the other side of the world! I was lucky to be in celebration with my beloved local community and also do my personal offerings in my own ceremony. At this point in my life, I rarely stay up all night on the Solstices, just up later than usual.

This month, we are using the Yuletide Tarot, from Kristoffer Hughes with art by Erin O’Leary Brown. You can get it from Llewellyn Worldwide here. (Note: even though I’ve written for Llewellyn almanacs for decades, I do not get free decks from them, nor do I get a cut of anything you buy using this link. I bought the deck myself). This is the first year I’m using this deck. It was recommended to me by my friend, tarot reader and author Jamieson Wolf. I spent the last month getting to know the deck, in preparation for this month’s work with it.

In this deck:
Canes = Swords
Candles = Wands
Good Cheer = Cups
Gifts = Pentacles

If you’re new to the weekly readings, 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

This week’s reading is interesting because it’s all Major Arcana cards interspersed with Court cards.

The Collective Energy of the Week – King of Good Cheer
This is King of Cups in other decks. This image makes me smile. He’s in his kitchen (hearth of the home) pouring himself a drink with a ship in a bottle in front of him. Did he just unwrap a gift from a loved one? Or has he made it to give to a loved one? As a King, it’s likely he created it and prepares to wrap it. This king is generous to those he loves, but can be a little distant until one is accepted to the inner circle. He’s fully in charge of his emotions, and chooses where to place them. This makes sense as collective energy. Christmas hits midweek, Hanukkah begins on the 25th, Kwanzaa on the 26th. There are a lot of emotional expectations built into the week. Sometimes family and work relationships are especially fraught at this time. This is a reminder to remain in control of your emotions and choose where to place your generosity. It’s also a reminder that you can do both of these with kindness and without cruelty.

The Week’s Challenge – The Mari Lwyd
This is the High Priestess in other decks. This is one of my favorite cards in this particular deck. She is the Bone Queen. She the white horse of bardic tradition in Wales. If you want to learn more about the Mari Lwyd in Wales, here is a link to the page on Wales.com about her. In this tarot, and in this particular spot in our reading, this card is about balancing opposites, spiritual forces, and deep intuition. It’s about trusting our instincts when something feels off. She stands between the dark-barked tree and the white birch, symbolizing polarities (in other decks, the High Priestess is often depicted between a black pillar and a white pillar, or standing on a floor made out of black and white tiles). With all the holiday expectations this week, our challenge is to listen to our intuition. It may be uncomfortable at times, but it will ease a lot of pain in the long run.

The Week’s Opportunity – The King of Canes
This is the King of Swords in other decks. This King operates on intellect and discernment, and can sometimes be cold. In other decks, he often wields a sword to cut away what is no longer necessary and to end a cycle. The week offers an opportunity to balance the two kings. We can be in charge of our emotions and look at our situations rationally. At the same time, we pull in the energy of the Mari Lwyd, and use our intuition to inform what we’ve discerned on a more rational level. Kings end cycles, so this week will be tied to endings, which makes sense since it’s just past the Solstice, where the wheel turns, and close to the end of the calendar year. That the two kings flank the Mari Lwyd shows how she is the balance between them.

The Week’s Stretch – Mistletoe
This card is the Lovers in other decks. If you hop down to last week’s reading, in this same slot was the 10 of Good Cheer (Cups) showing a couple with one holding mistletoe over their heads as though they were about to kiss. In this week’s slot is the Major Arcana Mistletoe, the Lovers, where a different hand holds the mistletoe about them, and they are kissing. Interesting that these related cards are in the same slot, one week after the other. The stretch this week might be about attraction and new love; it might be about self-love; it might be about unifying the loving voice and the unkind voice in ourselves. It will be different for each of us. It does show us, however, with this hand above the kissing couple, that there are external forces trying to exert control. How we respond to that is the stretch. The previous cards in the spread suggest using the Mari Lwyd (our intuition) to balance the two kings in order to move forward in loving ways rather than cruel ones. You can hold your boundaries and respect yourself in loving ways.

The Week’s Comfort – Page of Gifts
This is the Page of Pentacles in other decks. There’s comfort in the coziness of winter and studying, reading, relaxing. There’s an abundance of gifts around you – don’t get so caught up in your studies that you forget to unwrap and acknowledge them! There’s a potential here for quiet comfort and joy, in spite of the more aggressive possibilities of the week, especially if you choose to navigate the challenges with kindness and thoughtfulness.

On a personal level, both the Page of Gifts and the List (which was last week’s card in the “Challenge” position) have come up frequently. The 8 of Cups has come up often, too. While I think I know from what I’m being urged to walk away, the Universe might still have some surprises in store. I am definitely counting on Mari Lwyd this week for guidance!

How do you interpret these cards? Do you get something quite different? I’d love to hear your interpretations in the comments.

Decembeer 21, 2024: Solstice Reading

Winter Solstice Spread for 2024

Good morning, and Blessed Solstice to you! Here in the Northern Hemisphere, we are celebrating Winter Solstice, while our friends in the Southern Hemisphere are celebrating Summer Solstice.

Since the tarot card for 2024 is The Hermit (since the numbers of the year add up to 9), The Hermit card is at the center of today’s spread.

I’m using one of my favorite decks for this, the Robin Wood Tarot Deck. I’ve had this deck since the mid-90’s, and continue to love it and use it. You can find more information about the deck here, on Robin’s website.

The spread we’re using today is one of mine, created specifically for today’s Solstice.

Remember that tarot is a tool about possibilities. Anything you want in a spread, take the actions to make it happen. Anything that worries you in a spread, you now have knowledge and can take steps to mitigate it.

There are 9 cards in this spread, because the Hermit is 9.

Card 1, Center: The Hermit, where we begin
Card 2, lower left closest to center, the comfort we find in the dark
Card 3, far lower left, the lessons we learn in the dark part of the year
Card 4, upper left, closest to center, what we are in the process of healing
Card 5, far upper left, what we need to release
Card 6, lower right, closest to center, what we need to study in the upcoming cycle
Card 7, farthest right, our new path
Card 8, upper right, closest to center, what we dream
Card 9, farthest right, what we can manifest, if we choose

Let’s dig into the cards:

The Center – The Hermit
The Hermit is a card of going within in order to learn and grow. It’s about solitude, but not loneliness. It’s about the power of the self, and learning what’s deep inside. Many cards, like this one, have the Hermit outside, holding a lantern. Some are in the woods or on a path. With this card, they are on a mountaintop. Once we’ve done the work, we can light the path for others, but we cannot do their work for them.

The Comfort We Find in the Dark— King of Wands
When we spend time as a hermit, in quiet contemplation away from all the noise, we find our true selves and our true passions.

 

 

 

The Lessons We Learn n the Dark Part of the Year— 2 of Swords
Not everything has a swift resolution. Sometimes, you hit a stalemate. Yet, you need to speak up, and speak your truth, even if it brings you in conflict with others. You can’t negotiate conflict if you avoid it, and sometimes the only way forward is to hit that obstacle and work through it.

 

What We Are in the Process of Healing— The Magician
We are the magicians of our own lives. We are capable of creating the lives we want, even though plenty of those around us will oppose us if it doesn’t fit their agendas. Still, once we heal our inner magician, we can take them out into the world to create the life we want.

 

 

What We Need to Release— The Knight of Wands
Knights face different directions in different decks. In this placement, the card is at the top left corner of the spread, and the knight moves away from the Hermit, supporting the release. The Knight of Wands is about taking your ideas out into the world and challenging the status quo. Coming in the position of this spread after the Magician, what we are healing, it supports that card. As we heal our inner magician (which is a process, not a finite action), we release that magician into the world to manifest our lives.

What We Need to Study in the Upcoming Cycle— The Ace of Wands
This ties into the work done in the previous cards. When I created the spread, since this is around the hermit, I figured this card would give guidance on something tangible to study in the way of finding books or teachers. However, that tarot being what it is, the card of a new path of identity turned up, a new spark of inspiration, a new chapter. There’s the chance for a new public identity and role in life. Study and craft it, so it supports your essence and is not just a mask. Step fully into who you are in a public way, but do so with intent, rather than impulse. The sunflowers indicate joy and success.

The New Path—The Lovers
On this new path of the next cycle, we will be faced with decisions. The 2 of Swords card, earlier in the spread, indicates that we have learned how to navigate those decisions with clarity and communication. Now, it’s time to walk the talk. Walking that talk may be in partnership, once we emerge, as healed magicians, from our hermit phase.

 

What We Dream—Page of Pentacles
Our dreams show a curiosity and eagerness for a fresh path that is very tangible and connected to home, work, money, our gardens, the earth. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Learn new skills, and learn something just because it interests you. The Hermit at the center supports your studies, but you have to actually show up and do the work. As mentioned in the first card, the Hermit doesn’t do the work for you, although they can light t he path. In this case, we have to do the work to light our own path, and then do more of the work.

What We Manifest, if We Choose—Ace of Swords
The Ace of Swords is about new ideas, clarity, and personal power. It’s a card of thought that it then put into action. What we learned in the 2, earlier in the spread, will help us as we move through the ace and hit the 2 again, on our way through the rest of the suit. If we’ve learned those lessons, we have the tools to help us manifest. If not, we will meet the stalemate of the 2 and re-learn those lessons. The impulse will be to rush, but the Ace is about forming the idea and clarifying it before taking the action steps. This is the final card in the spread, so it may not be clear to us until late in the year. It’s wrapped in a wreath/garland of victory, so chances are we will be happy when we fulfill it.

This particular spread is meant to take us from this Solstice through the next, all the way to the end of 2025, when we will prepare for 2026, with the next card.

How do you interpret the cards? Are you receiving different information? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

Blessed, blessed solstice to you, my friends!