I think the 10 of Cups is the best card to represent today! This card is all about the many blessings and love that are enriching our lives! It is a card symbolizing gratitude and just pausing to be grateful for all the beautiful things that have manifested for us over the course of the year.

And as my mentor,  Kristen Burkhardt-Hanson of Heart to Heart Institute has mentioned in one of her recent posts, Today is not about the material things, and most certainly not about the sales, or waiting in long lines, or battling crowds for that last flat screen tv or latest gadget. Not everyone has the luxury of spending today with their families. Some have to work, or some are off fighting for our country, to keep us safe while we celebrate with our parades, or in our safe warm homes. 

Just value the people in your lives to today who fill you with joy, and makes your lives that much more special, whether they’re near or far…

I don’t have a super long post today, but I did want to pop in, and say that I’m so thankful today for all of you I have met over the past year that have filled my lives with that much more love, positivity, and inspiration! I thank you for your knowledge, and your gifts of teaching and insight, new friendships, and laughter!

THANKSGIVING RADIO SHOW TONIGHT!

Aside from this card I wanted to shed a little light on for today, I also wanted to extend an invitation to anyone of you who might not have the luxury of spending today or any of the holidays with your family. Kristen Burkhardt-Hanson of the Heart to Heart Institute is hosting a radio show this evening to discuss families who are struggling with unfortunate situations this year. In this show, you will Learn 10 Ways to Manage the Holidays by Busting Out of the Blues and Gaining Clarity and Perspective!

Here is a little Blurb from Kristen, straight from her Facebook Invitation to the Show:
“We’ll be sharing our own personal insightful and supportive tips for 10 of life’s biggest challenges that deeply impact your home and family during the holidays. You’ll learn helpful ways to you manage stress and anxiety as you navigate your way to your new normal.
We’ll be discussing:
1. Divorce
2. Critical Illness
3. Unemployment
4. Families Separated
5. Family Feuds/In-Laws
6. People who are Alone
7. People who have to Work
8. Death and Loss
9. Staying Sober
10. World Tragedies
We’ll also be opening up the phones for you to share your personal stories and share any tips you may have or receive love and support from our community! If you’re alone this holiday PLEASE make it a point to come share your evening with us.

​Then…..
Through a special Global Candle Light Ceremony we’re initiating (you’ll be able to join in) we’ll help you break out of the holiday blues to gain CLARITY and PERSPECTIVE of what IS GOOD, right now, and how to take that through the holiday season! You’ll need a white candle, something to light it with, small pieces of paper maybe 2×3 inches max, and something to write with.
Depending on where you are in the world listening, please feel free to gather your family around your computer and open your hearts to WHATS POSSIBLE instead of WHATS WRONG! And as always you’re welcome to listen to the replay at your convenience”

IF YOU NEED SOME SUPPORT THIS THANKSGIVING, DEFINITELY TUNE IN! IF NOT, CATCH THE REPLAY! RSVP ON FACEBOOK HERE HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!WHAT CARD REPRESENTS TODAY FOR YOU?FEEL FREE TO ADD YOUR INPUT IN THE COMMENTS!

As a reader, do you ever feel like you are having trouble connecting to either the cards OR the querent in a Tarot Reading? Do you often find yourself wanting to scrap that initial reading and completely start over? Well here is WHY you SHOULDN’T! I am also including the method to Preventing Tarot Re-Reading in 11 Steps. They are just some ways that you can go into that very first spread you flip for your querent confidently so that both you and your querent can get the most value out of the reading you are providing for them!


STOP STARTING THAT TAROT READING OVER!
Be weary of starting over in a reading! My tarot teacher and mentor taught me that if you keep doing this, you are enabling the querent to second guess you, and most importantly this makes you second guess yourself. There are important things in every reading, and most often than not, the cards you pull the first time is the right message… it’s all about pulling your interpretation out of the cards confidently and TRUSTING in our intuitive abilities… If you are having a block with the querent, it doesn’t mean the cards you pulled aren’t the right ones for them… The cards are always the right ones. Maybe in this case, you have to go into Hanged Man mode, and look at things from a different perspective. Don’t be so quick to give up because you are not personally vibing with the spread… the reading is not about you… make sure you keep your ego at the door! By ditching a reading, you could quite possibly be preventing the querent from getting the messages they truly were meant to hear, regardless of the relevancy the cards hold in relation to the questions they asked. 


PREVENTING TAROT RE-READING IN 11 STEPS
1. Test the Waters. 
Get a feel for their personality right off the bat. Before you start the reading, ask them some questions like “Have you ever had a tarot reading before?” or “What do you expect to gain from this reading?” You should be able to sense if their intentions are true, or if they are jaded and just trying to test you to prove their own skepticism. Basically once you are able to make this judgement call, then you can either kindly tell them that you don’t perform readings for people who are expecting you to prove anything… this isn’t a magic show, this is you trying to provide them with the insight they need to solve their problems. OR if you sense that their intentions are pure and they really need the help, then proceed with the next step.

2. Disclose your code of ethics. 
It is important to make your querent aware of your boundaries right off the bat. What kind of readings will you perform, what kind of readings will you NOT perform? What kind of psychic are you? Tell them what you are or aren’t capable of… if they are looking to connect with a loved one who has passed on, and you do not commune with the dead, then maybe your services are not the type they are looking for. What kind of questions will you NOT answer? Maybe ones about Death, Health, etc. They should seek medical professionals for these things… There are ethics we need to put in place when handling other people’s issues, because at the end of this reading, we are completely liable for any actions they might do as a result of what we tell them.

3. The Question. 
The question is THE MOST important part of this reading and the reason why they’re even visiting you in the first place, right? Most querents will come to you and have no idea what to even ask, they might just ask for a “general reading”. This could be what is preventing you from getting clear information out of the cards, because if the querent isn’t clear on their intention, then how can they expect you to be? It is our job as the professional to HELP the querent form their question so you can better direct your energy into the cards. First ask them what they are here to discuss with you today, and throw some options out to them: love, finance, career, help with a choice they need to make, etc.  Then once you have a general idea they need to go in, then you can kind of figure out the type of spread you will do for them, and the question you can ask the cards to get the best answer.  Keep in mind, yes or no questions like “Will I: Get Married, Ace the Test, Have a Baby, Win the Lottery?… ” and so on, are no best suited for the tarot. The Tarot is not like an 8 ball, it is a much more complex system that is designed to DESIGN the future, not so much predict it. And keep in mind, we are also only human, and can’t be held liable for any predictions we make, because we could in fact be very wrong. Instead of a question like “Will I marry that person?”, try angling it more like “What is preventing me from being able to marry that person, and what can I do to manifest my desire to marry that person?” … You see the difference? It is important to ask questions that will enable us to take concrete actions toward manifesting the life of our dreams. We are responsible for our own actions and inactions. It’s often never as simple as a yes or a no.

4. The Spread 
The spread is probably the next most important thing besides the question, because it is the spread that will really determine the root of the issue, the course of actions the querent should take to remedy the situation, and the possible outcomes of said situation. Spreads can also work to give an overall assessment of a person, or to work to align them in Mind, Body, or Spirit. There are different spreads for different things, and it is really important to use spreads that you are comfortable with when you are first starting out. In other words, do not go attempting a Celtic Cross right off the bat. These spreads known as one of the most popular, but not ideal for someone who is just getting accustomed to the tarot. I would stick with a simple 3-4 card spread, because you can really get a lot of information out of these 3 or 4 cards ALONE. One of the most basic spreads you can do is Problem/Action/Possible Outcome if Action not Taken/possible Outcome if Action IS taken. Or you can do a Mind/Body/Spirit spread. There are also spreads you can do if you need clarification on a choice with a  spread like Benefits of Option1/Option2/Option3 , and lay a card out for each option the querent may be presented with. You can really get creative with these, but keep the amount of cards per spread to a minimum to avoid confusion and overwhelm.

5. Connect to Source 
Not everyone is spiritual or religious or has a deity or higher power that they pray to or believe in. Keep this in mind before starting your reading. Be sure to ask your querent if they would like to take this time before you start shuffling, to connect with any high power they might feel will protect them, guide them, and offer the best possible insight to them, during their reading. If so, take this time to say a quick little affirmation, for example, “Archangel Michael, please protect my reading with _____ today, surround us in 100% love and light, and give us the most positive insight in order to clarify the question they are seeking answers to today”,etc. It can be as fancy as simple as you like. If the querent doesn’t connect to anyone specific, then just close your eyes a moment, and do a quick little protection prayer or affirmation in your head, light your candle, light your incense, surround your deck in the smoke, etc. Place your crystals around. Make this the most sacred space you possibly can before proceeding with the reading.

6. Flipping the Cards 
Upon flipping the cards it is really important to view the spread as a whole first, before diving into the meaning of each card in its position and relaying the information to the querent. What do you notice first and what jumps out at you the most? Is it heavy in a certain suit (is it mostly cups? swords? pentacles? wands?) This alone can tell you where their energy is being directed. For example: If it’s a swords heavy spread, maybe they spend a lot of time in their own head, and this could be causing a blockage in enabling them to take action. What else do you notice? Is it mostly Court Cards? Maybe that means there are A LOT of people in their life that are surrounding this issue. Are they most Major Arcana cards? Maybe this is a really significant time in the querent’s life, and this decision they need to make is one that determines the course of the next chapter of their life.  Don’t be afraid to go into your reading with a pad and a pencil to take note of any elements that pop out at you and refer to them throughout the reading to maintain a sense of organization while consulting your querent.

7. Consulting Your Querent 
After your initial observation of the spread as a whole, and taking note of any elements that stick out at you, you can begin to take note of each card as an individual and how it relates to the other cards in the spread. It is important at this time to read left to right, or top to bottom as you would with written text, in order to maintain a sense of organization and focus. As you cover the grounds of each card, it is important to first explain to the querent what the card COULD mean in a generic sense, and then you should ask them if any of these qualities resonate with them. If they do resonate with them, then you know that you are on the right track and you should elaborate on the messages you feel the card have pertaining to them.

If the card does not resonate with them, then try to go into your Hanged Man mode and try looking at the card from another perspective. Perhaps look at the other cards around it for any influencing characteristics. Pull ideas from other cards and try to create possible scenarios the querent could be experiencing. If they are still not resonating, move on to the next card. Repeat the process of explaining the possible meanings, ask them if any of these resonate with them, if yes then elaborate, if not then look for other symbols within the other cards to give more insight, etc.

The Spread as a whole, should feel like one cohesive storyline from start to finish, checking in at each card along the way, making sure your querent is identifying with any or all of this information. Maybe the story is not so much what is currently going on in their lives specifically, but just a fable designed to teach them a valuable lesson or force them to open their minds to a totally different and refreshing perspective.

8. Forming a Plan of Action
After divulging all of the information there is to gather out of the cards, it is important to help the querent come up with some concrete actions they can take to get closer to their dreams, goals, and aspirations. A tarot reading is a great way to acknowledge the things that are holding our querent back so then we can better help them work around them. It is our job as the reader, to really be in tune with the strengths and weaknesses that are made clear to us about the querent, through the messages in the cards. Maybe you can help them come up with a list of the things they need to do to remedy their situation. Maybe some of your advice includes having them schedule an appointment with a licensed therapist, licensed medical professional, financial advisor, or someone else who can help them take that next step in getting their lives together.

We are often step 1 as readers, we are the KEY to their self-realization and their ability to acknowledge WHAT needs to be done. We are also there to help them figure out HOW it can get done and sometimes that involves suggesting that they seek a professional in the field they need assistance in. For example: I have read cards for many a querent who had a failing or unbalanced marriage, or someone who was inquiring about whether they should or shouldn’t make a big purchase, and I have even read for those who just needed confidence in their ability to make a big life choice. Putting my ego aside and the need to feel like I had to be the one with the answer to ALL of their problems, I would often suggest professional marriage counseling, financial advising, and even had someone reach out to a vocal coach to go for their dreams of being an entertainer. Once we can give our querent the confidence to make that first leap of picking up the phone and scheduling that appointment, we know we have truly done our job as an intuitive guide.

9. Acceptance
Also sometimes during a reading, a querent will tell you that they want answers to one question, but the cards might want you to address some much deeper issues that they might not be ready to address at this moment. This might make them appear more standoffish or tell you the cards don’t make sense in conjunction to the question they asked, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the cards that you pulled are wrong for them. They just simply might not be ready to discuss the more pressing matters that the cards want to jump into. That can often leave us readers with a sense that we didn’t truly give the reading we know we should have given. That leads us to acceptance.

Some querents just won’t gel with anything you have to say, and while that is certainly frustrating, that is perfectly ok. We have to keep in mind that we cannot possible please everyone, or help people who truly do not want to be helped, and most of those are the people are are still CHOOSING to swim in those murky waters of self-doubt and denial. Self-awareness is the #1 thing we all need before making the conscious decision to make any changes for the better. Some people are simply not ready, and that really is not OUR responsibility. Our responsibility as readers is to help those who truly want to be helped and are ready to take the steps needed to make positive shifts and changes in their lives. And if someone is just coming to you for a reading to test you, or have you prove your gifts of insight to them… tell them to go elsewhere. Ain’t nobody got time for that.

10. Feedback 
It is important as reader and someone who is working to help others make positive changes in their lives, to get feedback, whether it is positive or negative. Feedback helps us realize what we need to do to make our services better, things we need to do more of, things we need to do less of, etc. Upon concluding your reading, ask the querent some thought provoking questions like “What did you expect going your reading with me today? What lessons did you learn from all of the information you gathered from your reading with me today? And What concrete actions are you now aware that you have to take to begin making the positive changes in your life?

11. Follow Up
How many readings to you do where the person pays you and you never hear from them again? How will we ever know how our readings have effected those who have come to us for help if we don’t continue to reach out? It is important to follow up with your clients… a few weeks to a month is a good time to do so. This gives them some time to implement the changes you have helped them form with your concrete plan of action after your initial reading with them. Check in with them, see where they’re at, and if they have made the changes necessary then they will be excited to tell you about it! These instances are great for you to use as testimonials on your website, with their permission of course.

I hope this helps, and remember to remain confident in your abilities and don’t give the querent the power to allow you to second guess yourself. We aren’t here to predict anyone’s future… we are here to help them DESIGN IT! 
​
SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER HERE FOR MORE TAROT TIPS, TRICKS, AND SPREAD IDEAS!
Justina
xoxo

4 of Wands 
​So I have to say this one seems pretty accurate at this time. 4 of wands represents a sort of unity, coming together as one to form our forcefield of love after this tragedy our world has just experienced, and all the tragedies prior to this one that have happened over the years. It is so amazing how through hard times like this, we really see the good in people. The evil that seeps through the cracks is minimal compared to the abundance of love that happens as a result of said evil trying to destroy the good. The thing is that they never will. There is way more good in the world than there is evil, and as long as we stand together as one, as long as we come together in unity, love cannot be destroyed. I am seeing this 4 of wands as the ultimate lightworker card, and this is so ringing true right now to anyone who has been a help to any of the victims of any of the countries affected by all of this hate and violence at this time. Dear Lightworkers of the world, keep doing what you are doing, and the receivers of that love, keep paying it forward. These simple acts of kindness is what is going to save this world.

Queen of Wands 
​She sits upon her throne armed with her wand (action) and compassion (sunflower). She is warm and loving and I would say that her way of dealing with hardship is to nurture those who she feels need it the most. And I would have to say that is extremely accurate for how I have decided to handle the things going on right now. You see initially I did feel like I couldn’t bear to live another day in this crazy world, and it was depressing, and was extremely upsetting and crippling to me. I spent most of this past weekend lacking any sense of motivation, completely jaded and just turned off by it all. I felt like nothing I did mattered, when so many people were just wiped away, just like that. I felt so small and helpless in this huge and very corrupted world. But then as the next few days passed, I realized that I wasn’t doing anyone any good by wallowing in this fear and sadness. I had to take action (wands)… I had to get out and spread my message of love and light and help others who felt the same as I did, get up and do the same. That is why I created my most recent workshop in healing, that is why I am writing this blog post right now! This whole situation has made me feel so much more compassionate in not judging others, because hey.. I could be in their exact same position. The cat sitting upon the Queen of Wands’s foot, to me, symbolizes her gift of insight. Black cats are synonymous with witchy women who are known to have a natural ability to be in tune with her own inner voice. I think this cat symbolizes me being true to my own inner voice and guiding light, and if I keep following that, I can only keep helping the ones who need it the most. By doing all of this, I am raising my own vibration and in turn attracting others to do the same.. which is symbolized by the Queen sitting high on her throne… Her vibration is at an all time high with the work she is doing. I think the message here is that no matter how much tragedy there is in the world.. I need to just keep sharing my compassion, my gift of insight and action to change the world for the better.

5 of Pentacles 
​5 of Pentacles depicts a poverty stricken couple, trudging through the cold winter with only the clothes on their back and no place to call their home. They are pushing through and pressing on even when things are beyond their control. This card is a lot about relinquishing control and security or the need to be or feel secure at all times. I think this card is reassuring me that not everything will be in my control all the time, and I have to make peace with that. However, going back to the 4 of Swords… the figure there is resting, but they are also sleeping with one of their swords. So even though he has made peace with the inability to be in control at ALL times, he is still very much on guard and aware of his surroundings. He will always be prepared for tragedy if the time does come. I think the more we prepare ourselves for something that COULD happen, by being aware of our surroundings , the more we will be able to live in flow, and free ourselves from those fears that might be holding us back from living life because of something that may or may not happen. This is in fact a crazy world, and we should always be prepared, but let’s not let it hold us back from actually living. I have to make peace with my need to be in control, and accept whatever life decides to throw my way, and by understanding this concept and making this peace, I can then release that fear. So in conclusion – Don’t stop living, let go of that control that those harmful horrible excuses for human beings think they have over us  – but also be aware and on guard, and have a plan of action for any type of potentially dangerous situation you might find yourself in.

I hope you found this exercise helpful, again feel free to pull your own cards for each of these questions, or even feel free to ask your own questions! And if you feel like you need a little extra love and support right now, or just remain inspired through this dark time,  definitely check out my very first FREE mini-course An Exercise in Healing for a Wounded World! ​

So this past week I had a writing request from one of the girls in my Tarot Business Facebook Group which was to the degree of how could they become more comfortable with who they are and what they stand for and also what is awesome about my version of “unique” so I could help them be more comfortable with their own version of “unique”.  I really loved this writing prompt and as I am 100% behind themes of SELF EMPOWERMENT, I was very flattered to say the least, and decided to take this challenge head on. I just want to inspire those from all walks of life to become self-empowered because society puts way too much pressure on all of us to live up to a certain standard or set of rules. Well you know what Miss Marilyn Monroe said…

“IF I’D OBSERVED ALL THE RULES, I’D NEVER HAVE GOT ANYWHERE.”​

So without further adieu, I have chosen 7 Tarot Cards that really demonstrate the process of becoming confident in who you are, what you stand for and let you live the life you truly desire and DESERVE to live!

“KEEPING UP WITH THE JONSES” 
This card symbolizes a figure marching in on their fancy white horse. These validation-seeking narcissists are showing off their material possessions for all the world to see, and it makes us kind of feel like we have to live up to that illusion that we also need to own these “dream” items to be happy in life. We’ve all been there! This really kind of starts in our childhood: your friend gets a new doll or toy from their parents for no reason at all and you wonder what they did that was so special for the reasons as to why they got this toy. You ask your parents if they’ll buy you one and they shoot you a look like, “What makes you so special, it’s not your birthday or christmas, etc.” In middle school it switches to the best clothes, purses, backpacks, who has what name brands,etc. In high school it’s who has the nicest car or gets accepted to the best colleges. Out of college it’s who gets the best jobs, who’s getting married, who has the nicest wedding or biggest house, and who’s having babies all before the age of 30. Chances are if you haven’t achieved any of these “milestones” around the same time, you start feeling extremely pressured which in turn sends you into a downward spiral of depression and has you feeling less than worthy of anything in life. It happens to the best of us… but WHY? Because society places these “Brules” on us. “Brules” as coined by Vishen Lakhiani, founder and CEO of Mindvalley Academy,  are “Bullshit Rules”. These ‘Bullshit Rules” that are put in place by society are designed to keep us living in lack. Living this way will make us feel like we’ll NEVER have enough. Some of the wealthiest people aren’t even happy. It’s time to ask ourselves, “What do I REALLY want?” We want to FEEL fulfilled, don’t we? Well it’s time to stop following the herd…

“CONFORMITY” 
​The Hierophant depicts a religious figure sitting upon his throne with people below him, seeming to be all ears, waiting for him to give them orders. This card represents a sense of conformity, be it organized religion, in the workplace, in school settings, or can represent conformity in society itself. These “Bullshit Rules” as stated in the last card, are set in place by society to make us FEEL like we have to conform to the “normal” ways of life in order to fulfill our “life purpose”. We’re born, we go to school, we go to college, we get a job, we get married, we have a baby, we retire, THEN maybe we get to live a little, then we die. Is that really the way us humans were intended to live our lives? At what point in this preplanned timeline do we actually get to fulfill our ACTUAL life’s purpose? At what point in all of this do we get to do what we WANT to do instead of what we HAVE to do, according to the status quo. In order to truly be free of this made up ideal, we have to stop waiting for the proverbial Hierophant to give us the ok, or the validation that we need to live the lives we truly want for ourselves. We don’t need approval from anyone but ourselves. It’s time to ask ourselves, “What do I need to DO, in order to live the life I truly want?”

“THE STRUGGLE IS REAL”
​It is very apparent that the figure in this card is spending a lot of their time and energy, possibly defending themselves or their own reasons for doing the things they want to do. This card represents a struggle resulting in disagreement, tension or conflict, perhaps with the people in our lives who think they know what’s best for us. Here’s the thing: We don’t need the approval from our family or friends to live the lives we want. Nope, not even our parents, who often think they know best. And while they might, and their advice is great, it shouldn’t have us feeling like a prisoner or that we don’t have the right as an adult to make our own choices based on the many options life brings our way. The thing about advice is, it’s like that extra credit project in school. It’s completely optional! There is no rule in life that says we HAVE to follow any sort of advice. And most often than not, if we follow advice the first time we get it, it leaves us no room to learn some very valuable lessons that we can take with us through the rest of our lives. That is why we get better with age, because we have all of this wisdom under our belt. And it’s so natural to want to use all of this wisdom on our own children one day, but they’re those young adults we once were, trying to find their own way in life too. And they have the right to choose the path they see fit for themselves too! It’s a vicious cycle… That is why I say, there are no mistakes, there are only lessons that have been learned. So when these people we know who care so deeply for us think they should have some say in the decisions we make, just remember that the truth is they are not the ones who ultimately have to live with them. If we are miserable in our lives, in that job, or in that relationship, then we have our own responsibility to ourselves to make that change.

“AWARENESS AND RESISTANCE” 
​This card to me is kind of the midpoint in this life process. It is the 4th card right smack in the middle of this 7 card journey of life and self-acceptance. It is bridging the gap between our old and soon to be new ways of thinking, which we will get to in our last but VERY transformational 3 cards. The Chariot represents a newfound sense of self awareness. This figure has alchemical symbols on his tunic which represent the spiritual transformation of man. This person knows who they want to be and what they want to become, but there are still some challenges they face with breaking free from that past filled with the blockages that have been holding them back all of that time up until now, whether it be self-destructive habits, abusive relationships, living in lack, trying to live up to the standards of others, listening and caring too much about the opinions of others, following advice that doesn’t hold true to their personal values, etc. This person is aware that all of that needs to change, and because they are now aware, it will be much easier for them to take steps in order for them to create that change. The Chariot is armed with the wand of the Magician, so they now have the power to create and manifest the life of their dreams. However, this won’t be easy because as humans, once we start seeing progress, we think it is ok to sit back little, and this natural resistance toward change can cause a serious relapse. We start reverting back to old habits and this can make us even more depressed and vulnerable than we were to begin with. It is important to push through this resistance to ultimately get to where we want to be. This card is all about taking this newfound sense of self awareness and managing a balance between the old and new ways of thinking. This figure is balancing both the light and dark energies of their inner self. The light is their desire to change, the dark is their self-sabotaging shadow aspect and resistance, both together causing a bit of internal conflict. Some other notable things about this card is that you can see a city behind the figure, so this can symbolize them turning their back on the materialistic standards of society, the opinions of others, and really coming into their own in being able to form their own opinions. This figure also holds no reigns on the two beasts that lie before him. I interpret this as, if we can truly break free from the reigns that society places on our ability to think for ourselves, then we can truly gain the inner power we need to manifest anything we set our minds to. It is time to WAKE UP!

“CONFIDENCE IS KEY” 
​Once we can harness the power of The Chariot in recognizing what needs to change and stop resisting our own ability to change, it is really amazing what kind of transformation can take place. The Strength card of the tarot is the next step in coming into your own new persona. The figure in this card has their hands around the mouth of a lion, which to society, might resemble self-sabotage, flirting with disaster, a death-wish, or even metaphorical suicide. What they don’t realize is that someone who has braved the journey of those first 4 cards of life, cannot really be tamed anymore, so to speak. This newly emerged person is living 100% in their own truth, which is apparent in the purity of the symbolic white robe and infinity symbol which the figure on the card is crowned with. They are confident, they are courageous, and most importantly they are in control of their own life. No one’s negative opinions about the way they should live their lives even matter to them at this point. They’ve endured their hardships and went through their whole process of self discovery which is apparent in that mountain in the background. This person may still have many opinions thrown at them from every which way, but they are no longer swayed in their ability to make the decisions they know are truly right for them. The more we listen to our own inner voice, the closer to spirit we grow, and the closer to spirit we grow, the more intuitive we ultimately become. When we are in touch with our own intuitive nature, we are able to live in truth and in turn that enables us to live more abundantly and fulfilled as displayed by the bountiful flowers displayed in the adornments of this figure’s clothing. They are no longer living in lack and are grateful for all of the lessons they learned along their journey, because without those, they would not be able to live in their present state of fulfillment, confidence, and inner strength.

“MISS (Or Mister!) INDEPENDENT” 
​This card represents someone who is extremely perceptive and pretty much set in the way they take on the world. The Queen on this card sits high on her throne, her sword pointed toward the clear blue sky and her other hand extends as if to welcome the challenges that others may try to throw her way. There is nothing that anyone can say or do to throw her off her game at this point. She has reached ultimate attainment of her self-confidence and has risen above all who try to cloud her self judgement. At this point in her life she is thinking completely independently and her new mindset is really enabling her to live life on her own terms. The little bird flying over her head might symbolize her ability to adapt as birds often do when they shift their environment during their own transformational process such as migration. They are leaving the dead barren lands of winter to arrive at a much warmer bountiful place that is abundant with life and possibility! The queen of swords represents our own sense of self as we have gone through this journey of self-discovery. We have migrated from the mental blocks and old thought patterns of self-loathing and doubt in order to adapt to our new mindset and independent way of thinking. We are no longer those caged little birds expected to live how others expect us to. We are now free to spread those wings and fly, get out and change the world! That brings us to our last card…

“BE A TEACHER”
​This card reminds me of a quote by Gabby Bernstein (a great personal development mentor to so many) about her experience when she had her “AHA!” moment while sitting in a yoga studio watching a video of her own mentor, the great Kundalini master, Yogi Bhajan. In his talk he said, “I am not here to create disciples, I’m here to create teachers.” She explains, “I was blown away by this statement. His simple sentence changed the path of my career, my purpose, and my life.” The point I am trying to make here is that what good is the journey if you have nothing to teach to others who are just as lost as you once were? The High Priestess represents that nurturing figure, keeper of secrets, and holder of arcane knowledge. She has been through it all, and she knows herself so well. She is the master of her own inner voice and her intuitive guidance represented by the moon at her feet, enriches the lives of so many others. She is a spiritual guide and mentor for all who are willing to open their minds and learn from her as well. She sits between pillars of light and darkness and the cross that she wears is a symbol of balance between male and female energies. She can take on the role of a leader (male), but she can also be nurturing and motherly (female). Her true abundance, symbolized by the pomegranates of Persephone, comes at this stage when she is acquainted with all there is to know, which she can in turn share with her own disciples, which in turn go through their own process and become the High Priestess themselves. As this cycle continues, we will have more and more people waking up to the idea that anything is possible and adapting to their own sense of self-worth, not by society’s materialistic standards, but by what truly makes them happy in their core. Living their true life’s purpose and being a service to others is the ultimate sense of fulfillment (Insert The World Card Here)!

So let’s just briefly recap here a bit so we can really understand how we can reach that goal of self-love and personal fulfillment, while also remaining true to ourselves: 

1. Stop comparing yourself to others. This will always set you up for “lack” and never keep you fulfilled! Practice your GRATITUDE!

2. Stop conforming to society’s standards. Society doesn’t have to deal with it when you wake up unfulfilled at 80 one day and realize you didn’t really live your life by your own terms.

3. Stop listening to the opinions of people who don’t believe in you or agree with your life choices. They also don’t have to deal with the things that make you miserable or unfulfilled on a daily basis.

4. Become self-aware of negative thought patterns or actions in order to make positive changes, and also be able to push past the resistance in order to reach your goals. (*hint* – this is a great time to get a life coach or find a mastermind group to cheer you on! These VIP will hold you accountable for the things you say you will do.)

5. Embrace your inner strength and and harness your confidence as if you were grabbing a lion by the mouth! Confidence speaks volumes! Stop caring what others think, it’s not important.

6. Adapt to new ways of independent thinking and your life will transform! Embracing our own individuality is what makes us all unique in our own way, and putting your own personal spin on your message is what will resonate with the tribe you will naturally attract.

7. Be of service! “Teaching is the one profession that creates all other professions.” When we get into the field of personal development, not only does it enable us to live abundantly by simply being true to ourselves and our message, it also enables all of our students, and our student’s students and so on, to do so.

It’s creating the most epic domino effect of world change than you even know…
Do you have a story about your own personal journey to fulfillment that you’d like to share? Please do so in the comments! ​

Hello Tarot Junkies!
Are you having a rough week?  This week, it seems as though some people around me are going through some hardships and frustrations. I pulled a few cards just to kind of see what is going on, and this hardship is very apparent in our 3 or swords card. This card can indicate hardship, heartache, pain, sorrow, grief, frustration, all of these things that are really weighing on our minds. It can often make it feel like the whole world is weighing on our shoulders.

Today I’m going with the spread SITUATION/ACTION/OUTCOME to try to shift our perspective a bit, so that we don’t feel so overwhelmed by this crazy thing called life.

Today’s Cards from the Original Rider-Waite Tarot Deck
Situation Card – Page of Pentacles

Action Card – 3 of Swords 

Outcome Card – Page of Wands

The Page as we know, represents a kind of that Fresh Start and is mostly seen as an optimistic card. I think it is very interesting that this spread is bookended by the Pages (pentacles and wands). Maybe this is indicating that throughout the start and end of our journeys, we have this either fresh (start) or fulfilled (finish) feeling… but it is often the JOURNEY ITSELF that we have the most trouble with. The Page also represents a messenger from higher source, and the message is: There are going to be HARDSHIPS along our journey… and that is ok. It is all about accepting that these things do happen, and not being deterred from the little (or sometimes BIG) bumps in the road.

Page of Pentacles is suggesting that we need to remain grounded in our approach toward all of these hardships… but the Page of Wands is insisting that NO changes can be made for the better unless we TAKE ACTION… BE PROACTIVE. Only we are responsible for the change in our own lives. That is the beauty of being human, we have this little tool available to us, called FREE WILL! It is OUR lives, and we can make any changes that we need, in order to feel more balanced and fulfilled.

HERE ARE 5 WAYS TO REMEDY AN OVERWHELMING WEEK:

1. REGROUP – So before we get all bent out of shape about all the many things that can go SO wrong… Let’s stop for a second, breathe, ground ourselves. We can do this by meditating, or if that’s not your style, then perhaps a simple breathing exercise, or just calmly paying attention to our own thoughts for a moment. So much builds up in our subconscious, and if it gets ignored long enough, it can create an overwhelming sense of “the shit hitting the fan”. Trust me! I’ve been so guilty of this myself! Here is an excellent guided meditation courtesy of my personal mentor, Kristen Burkhardt-Hanson of the Heart to Heart Institute, in which she helps us connect to our spirit guides in order to gain clarity and focus in finding the answers we need to take the proper courses of action!

2. WRITE IT DOWN – Make a numbered list on paper if we have to, of all the things that are troubling you right now.

3. EVALUATE – Next let’s take a look at the things on that list.
◦   Which ones are IN your control right now?
◦   Which ones are OUT of your control right now?

4. TAKE ACTION – Let’s take care of the things that are IN our control. Let’s deal with those first, because once those things are off of our plate, it makes dealing with everything else that much easier. And as for the things that are beyond our control, sometimes there really is nothing we can do, and all we can do is wait it out. Such is life, my friend… such is life.

Example of Something IN our control: Car Troubles, Jobless, Unhappy in Our Current Jobs or Relationships.

Examples of Actions to Take for things that are IN our control: We can take our car to the shop and get the problem fixed, we can proactively seek out additional work at least to make ends meet until you find something more stable, we can leave that relationship that is making us feel unappreciated and unhappy. We CHOOSE not to do these things out of fear, but they are all 100% doable, if that’s what you CHOOSE to do.

Example of Something OUT of our control: You applied to a new job, or health insurance, or are waiting to hear news from someone regarding your options or status of application. When our ability to achieve something lies in someone else’s hands, then it becomes out of our control… but at least you TRIED. That is THE MOST IMPORTANT THING!

Health – I think this teeters on the edge of something that is both In and Out of our control. We are only human and can’t control when our bodies decide to betray us. But what we CAN do is put actions into place to PREVENT illness or if it’s something chronic, then do more things that help alleviate it. A better diet, exercise,  reducing or quitting smoking, drinking, or narcotics are all things we can do to reduce the risk of illness. If you are already ill whether it’s temporary illness or something more threatening, seek the treatment or medical professional help. It also always helps to have some holistic options to coincide with that, to enhance that balance of mind, body, and spirit. 

5. ASK FOR HELP – Let’s not get too overwhelmed with what seems like THE SHITTIEST WEEK EVER. We’re all human, we all go through this. You are not alone. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, or advice. Chances are, someone else has been through the exact same thing and can help. Delegate tasks or if you have the funds, pay for assistance. There are endless options!

What is the message that YOU are seeing in the cards?
What do YOU need help with?
What are your thoughts?

Do You Have Your Own Tips to Remedy an Overwhelming Week?

​Discuss in the comments!