The Devil § Ace of Wands § Seven of Swords
The Devil is pleased to open his creaking, iron gate to his harvest season guests, and we are fortunate to be among those invited. After all, no one throws a better party. This archetype is often subjected to the negative projections of humankind because he is devoted to the body and its capacity for pleasure. It is only through the imaginings of men that The Devil would suggest real harm beyond his usual trickery. He’s baking cookies and flirting over Signal. He’s dressing up and making unwanted requests to the DJ and he wants us to join the fray. Take the joy among your sorrows and create something worth remembering amid the chaos of survival, because it matters. Fulfillment is the human quest; it is the reason we call for justice. Everyone has the right to fulfill their potential, their desire, and their purpose as they see it. The Devil agrees and wants to remind us of the reasons we keep trying, come what may.
The Ace of Wands is inspiration; it is a new idea or a renewed sense of meaning. It is wise to use the light of its fire to illuminate your immediate surroundings and current relationships. The autumnal season is always the best for assessment and preparation. This year, the focus is on simplifying our central goals. If you take advantage of the quality leisure time The Devil offers, it may come with realizations that will free you from unnecessary striving. The Ace of Wands applies to what you already know or have previously committed to doing. Your path was cut long ago by the interests you have pursued. This includes bad habits and perpetually sabotaging yourself. Some of us will do best to stop second guessing our best skills while others will be busy turning regrettable choices into something insightful or otherwise of use. In either case, plan well, prepare psychologically, and, honestly, enjoy being alive. The true key to this month is to turn the time you spend in unneeded toil into simple rest and pleasant interactions. Life goes by. Hour after hour, our days flow back out to the unknown from where they came, so don’t miss out on living in them as they do.
The Seven of Swords is a reckoning, one way or another. If a current circumstance will not meet us at least part of the way, we might be leaving or otherwise divesting from said situation. Gather your feelings and soothe them before you make any formal decisions. Make the move from a neutral position and leave something of value, be it a piece of equipment or empowering words. Conversely, we might be among those watching others take their leave from projects or relationships, with or without hard feelings. The most important advice this card imparts is this: Tell the truth as you understand it and remember that brevity is often the best tool. Honesty does not require any brutality at all to be true in what it offers. There are surprises ahead—the good kind—and if you have space for harvest, they will all be yours. May a profound joy conspire to know you.
reading by Michelle Embree | michelleembree.com
illustration by Gurleen Rai | zimteemo.com
