by estellew | Sep 20, 2015 | Major Arcana, Tarot
Known also as the Spirit of the Primal Fire and ruled by the Element of Fire, the card of Judgement represents good judgement in personal and interpersonal areas of life. It also refers to the human habit of judgement, which brings in discernment but also prejudices, which you need to understand and release in order to move forward. Traditionally this card represents reaping what is sown, getting the benefit or detriment of what you put out into the world, or as my grandmother would have put it, having one's chickens come home to roost. What you put out in the world, in word and deed, will come back to you for good or for ill. And so this is really a card of understanding cause and effect - what actions we take in the world, how we treat others, how we treat even ourselves, all have a result that is demonstrated to us by what we see come to us or leave us. The card of Judgement sounds rather harsh, and yet it brings with it a renewal, a chance to make things work after struggling and striving to no purpose. The fact that you have been efforting and doing the best despite discouraging circumstances is, in the final analysis, what matters. Life is experienced as striving to improve our situation, whether it is in love, family, work, finances, friendship - often there is one of these that are the thorn in our side. This card comes to you now to acknowledge your efforts, your struggles, yes, even your disappointments, and it says "I see you, I see what you have...
by estellew | Sep 20, 2015 | Minor Arcana, Tarot, Wands
Known also as the Lord of Perfected Work and aligned with Venus in Aries, the Four of Wands represents successful completion of a cycle, and the beginning of a new one. Venus values love and relationship, while Aries values new beginnings, so the time is ripe for a new phase in your relationships, and in your love life. Tensions are resolved and there is a feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction. There is a free flowing energy with this placement, buoyed along by recent success having overcome a seemingly insurmountable obstacle. Relationships are working beautifully, differences are appreciated instead of being a source of antagonism, and communication is flowing favourably. If you feel that there is something still to be resolved then now is a good time to approach a reconciliation or smoothing over any misunderstandings. This is a joyful card, the energy is just right to allow you to feel that your work and other efforts are worthwhile and important, and there is time too, to enjoy the fruits of past labours. It is early success and while it is not the end of the road by any means, you are encouraged towards future accomplishments and support in your work and creative projects. Four is a foundational number, the first of the quaternal cards of completion and balance and so this card tells you that what you have laid down now is also setting up your future for abundance and prosperity. There will be ups and downs along the way naturally, but you can be sure that the measures you put in place now are assuring your future happiness...
by estellew | Sep 20, 2015 | Minor Arcana, Pentacles, Tarot
The Four of Pentacles is the Lord of Earthly Power and is aligned with Sun in Capricorn. It represents responsibility, power and mastery of the material world. Fours also represent foundations and manifestation of the energy contained in the Suit. Since this is the Suit of Pentacles, then this card brings material manifestation and the ability to create resources and create financial stability which leads to growth. The warning with this card is to not grasp too tightly to those resources you have accumulated. In order to maximise the potential of material prosperity, it is necessary to circulate and not hoard the energy. For example, money likes to be put to use - whether through investing in projects that have the ability to expand, or by investing and being put to work in this way. The same way that a garden must be tended and pruned and harvested, so must money and resources be tended and used. If you put your money under the mattress, then it has no opportunity to grow but instead will stagnate and not benefit anyone. When the question refers to work or career, there is an increase in responsibility, remuneration and also pressure to perform. If you feel secure in your abilities and certain that you have come into a maturation of your power, then you will thrive and are forming a base from which to launch your ambitions and abilities even higher. But if you feel that you came into this elevation of position as a stroke of luck or a fluke, then your own doubts will not allow the foundation to hold...
by estellew | Sep 20, 2015 | Minor Arcana, Pentacles, Tarot
Known also as the Lord of Earthly Power, the Four of Pentacles is aligned with Sun in Capricorn. The Sun is the life force, the ego and what is also one's essence, while Capricorn represents achievement, social responsibility and capricious use of resources. This combination has us associate with achievements, both tangible and those that are not so obvious. Four is a foundational number, and a number of consolidation and so it represents the gathering of material resources - money, recognition, property and other tangible goods. It is a time when you can feel pleased with having made material progress and with the evidence of your efforts in the rewards you can see and touch. The danger with this card is that of clinging too tightly to what you have accumulated. When resources are gathered and not circulated, it causes a stagnation in energy and so what you have worked so hard to achieve will either be frittered away or hoarded and be of no use to you or to anyone else. In order to grow our resources, we have to put them to work and this is something you need to consider in your future if you want peace of mind and happiness. Sometimes we make the mistake of equating our possessions with our own sense of self-value and esteem, and if this occurs then we can put material priorities ahead of personal and family priorities. No matter how much we accumulate, somehow it is never enough unless we have a solid sense of our own innate worth. This time is a great opportunity to do some inner...
by estellew | Sep 20, 2015 | Cups, Minor Arcana, Tarot
The Four of Cups is also known as the Lord of Blended Pleasure and is aligned with the Moon in Cancer. It represents emotional fullness, satiation and boredom. The Moon is at home in Cancer, and so there is a feeling of comfort and emotional security that you seek to the exclusion of all else. And yet after a while, all that emotional stability becomes predictable and at some level you know you want to escape. Fours are foundational numbers and bring an early completion to the energy of the Suit, in this case, emotional energy. When the foundations are laid, often there is a hiatus, or a feeling of completion and not knowing what to do next. This then leads to a solidification and a sense that something needs to shift in order for progress to be made. There is an ebb and flow of the emotions, so one moment there is an abundance of emotional satisfaction and the next there is a feeling of ennui and weariness as if this is not what you want at all, yet you don't know what you do want. The only thing to do is to ride it out, focus on the things that are blessings in your life and wait for the energy to rise again. Examine where you feel emotionally stifled and decide to move your focus to appreciation rather than lack. This card can be a reminder that love is a gift and should never be taken for granted, lest it disappear and leave us wanting what we already had and didn't recognise as such. So pay attention...
by estellew | Sep 20, 2015 | Cups, Minor Arcana, Tarot
This card is the Lord of Blended Pleasure and is aligned with Moon in Cancer. It represents emotional uncertainty, self-protection and boredom. The Four of Cups brings the Element of Water to the foundational energy of the Four, which means a stagnation of this energy and a block in the feelings, intuition and creativity. The Moon is the subconscious drive that direct our lives beyond our awareness, and in Cancer it has a tendency to cling to what is known and certain. There is a feeling of safety, since Moon is Cancer's ruler and the Moon is comfortable there, but there is a lack of spark and enthusiasm and also a feeling of protecting one's heart from risking itself due to past hurts. There is boredom, dissatisfaction but an unwillingness to take affirmative action to change the situation, almost as if you can not bear to risk more disappointment, even though you don't know for sure that a change will be worse. Sometimes this card appears when we have had a surfeit of emotional satisfaction, and the energy needs something different - it is like having too much of a good thing. Like a good meal or a good wine, enjoying love in moderation is important too, so we don't become jaded by our experiences and cease our appreciation of the gifts that life has to bestow. Sometimes you miss what is right there in front of you, what you already have gained in this modern race towards accruing more and more of what ultimately has no real meaning - collecting things as proof of one's own value, while losing...
