TAROT

Page of Wands § Eight of Swords § The Empress

The Page of Wands has a new flame and she intends to grow both its heat and its reach. This is an ideal time to go for what you really want: Ask that new person out, hire the help you want, or enlist an investor. Too much hesitation can bring negative consequences as easily as not looking before we leap. There is no mystic portal or app that can alleviate the need to navigate the fine art of timing. Just because you’ve worked up the nerve does not mean the moment is right. The most romantic bike ride, or sweet punk-hang-out spot may never guarantee the perfect vibe—but they are a good start. Create the conditions most conducive to the mood you want to set, then stay present. If it feels off, wait until the two of you sync up and feel more relaxed. The Page of Wands has invigorating energy and a great feel for the pulse of contemporary culture, which is what makes her charming, though maybe a bit anxious. If you want to tell someone that you have fallen for them and you hope they feel the same, show them the fire that makes you special and the self-knowledge it takes to stay in the moment amidst the plot twists of life.

The Eight of Swords refers specifically to the unquestioned beliefs that prevent us from realizing our fully liberated personality and then seeking the fulfillment of our potential. We all carry some form of wrong beliefs about ourselves that shape how we perceive the dynamics we create with others. Shame hides itself easily because no one wants to face that they carry it in the first place. The suit of swords represents the phenomena of human thought and its varieties of power. We know the human mind can come to believe in troubling myths, especially under the influence of charismatic leaders or misguided parenting choices. The longer the belief has been held, the more it will feel like something that should be unquestioned or common knowledge. Our most subconscious beliefs are those that shape the assumptions informing our expectations and attitudes—towards everyone and everything. We are fortunate to see The Eight of Swords bearing a message of liberation. We don’t often see this side of the Eight of Swords, but when we do, it can feel like a series of magical realizations are revolutionizing our life. Imagine that you don’t have to hide anything from yourself, including your most defensive postures or compelling lies or the honest truth about an experience that was not as OK as you wish it had been. Imagine that you could drop misinformed protective habits and be present. Imagine it and then just do it and see what happens.

Among all the archetypes, The Empress best understands the making of something from nothing. She made every star in the night sky from nothing more than visions in her dreams. She did this by calling a companion of hers, known commonly as night, and together they set about creating the conditions that would be most conducive to hanging a series of living lights over the mountains already worn by oceans long gone. Unbeknownst to them, this would lead eventually to our existence. We don’t control the future and that can excite or frighten us. But either way, we have triumphed over enough adversity to try something old or something new, if we choose, from a sense of self that feels more lucid than ever before. May our healthy pride offer confidence.