Lionel, one of my viewers (he watches the video presentation of the readings) who loves my “Have a Tarot-tastic week” sign-off, recently asked why I wasn’t using it, because he enjoys hearing me say it.
The question made me realize that it’s been awhile since I read Tarot in this space, because that’s when I use that particular sign-off.
Since I’ve declared 2018 to be the year of playing cards (because this year will be the 20th anniversary of the dream that put me on the card reading path, the one in which I was reading playing cards for myself), I’m working with a deck that fits the bill, allowing me to read with playing cards and use the “Tarot-tastic” sign-off at the end: The Arcana Tarot Playing Cards by Chris Ovdiyenko (and published by Dead on Paper).
So I’m taking the deck in hand, shuffling the cards, and asking the general question, “What do we need to know about the possibilities for the week ahead?”
This week’s video reveals the cards for our reading:
If you prefer to read the post, here it is:
The cards for the week are: The Emperor, Jack of Spades, 7 of Hearts, 2 of Diamonds, and The Chariot.
Focus of the Reading
The focus card this week, which is in the middle of the line, is the 7 of Hearts.
With the 7 of Hearts turning up, there’s the possibility of being faced with many options; the only thing is, the more options that are placed before us, the more we may be unable to decide.
We’re being asked, with this card, to narrow our focus. When this card turns up, the question being posed to us is, “What do I need (from an emotional standpoint, as Hearts is the suit of feelings and our emotional nature) right now?”
The 7 of Hearts suggests the need to concentrate on a single goal to ensure success.
This card can also warn of fantasies, daydreams, and having your head in the clouds, so be sure that your decision is grounded in practicality—or life will give you a reality check. Don’t build castles in the clouds or bake pies in the sky. Check those rose-colored glasses at the door, please!
This card, for me, is a very spiritual and psychic card. I always encourage people to write down and interpret their dreams, which may be particularly vivid this week. We could also experience some psychic visions.
Daily meditation and visualization are also highlighted with this card. Before anything we want in the outer can manifest, we first need to go within and see, with our faculty of imaging and imagination, as being/doing/having that very thing.
And, one final possibility to consider with the 7 of Hearts is detoxification. This detox may be physical, psychological, emotional, or spiritual. Whatever the nature, a detox allows whatever is no longer serving and supporting us (the “toxins”) to be flushed out of our lives.
Looking at the Line
Starting off the line, we have the The Emperor.
When The Emperor turns up, he’s asking you about how you’re using your power: Are you using it wisely—or are you abusing it?
The Emperor sits on a throne, signifying that he’s a person of power. He’s a leader, and is in a position of authority.
When we look at power in the external sense, at the people around us in positions of authority, The Emperor is asking how that power is being used. Are these people using power in its best and highest sense—or are these people “lording it” over others, coming off as tyrannical dictators and control freaks—letting the power go to their heads, and corrupting themselves in the process?
And how about when we take a look at ourselves? The Emperor acknowledges that we, too, are powerful people—no matter our station, position, or status, in life. Being a card of self-empowerment, of personal power, The Emperor asks us to consider the ways we retain our power—and the ways we give it away, whether consciously or unconsciously. If you have found yourself giving your power away, The Emperor is asking you to consider ways to begin reclaiming it.
I always think of the song, “The Boss,” by Diana Ross, when I see this card (Did I just date myself—and reveal that I like disco too? Uh-oh!). You are “the boss of you.” Dr. Phil often says that we are our own “life’s manager.”
And then he follows with the question, “How’s that working for ya?”
So, this week, consider how your life is working—and begin to take command of the parts that aren’t working so well. The Emperor, also being a card of structure, order, and discipline, is asking you to come up with a plan—and then work your plan. After all, you are your own best authority on you.
And as the song by Snap! goes—you’ve got the power!
Moving to the next card, we have the Jack of Spades.
With the Jack of Spades, there may be challenges and obstacles to face and conquer moving forward—some of which you may know when you see them coming, and others not so much.
Spades, being the suit in Tarot that is associated with beliefs, can suggest that you may need to be prepared to defend some of your beliefs as you move through the week.
Another aspect of this card is that it is associated with the astrological sign of Gemini, and for me, this can mean that there’s a potential for communication issues (keep in mind, Mercury is the ruling planet of Gemini) this week. In your communications with people this week, be focused on making your point.
If you’re the headstrong and overly aggressive type, and while it might be good to express your opinion freely, be mindful of speaking too freely and telling others where and how to get off —if you’re not careful, you could find yourself with a fight on your hands, based on something you said. If you find yourself in an argument, be sure you’re solid in your reasoning and that your approach is logical.
Based on the imagery of the card, it can suggest that there may be a situation in which you are being encouraged not to rush into. The Jack of Spades can be the type of person who rushes into situations without first thinking them through—and then wants to get out of them just as quickly (this Jack can indicate sudden and hasty exits).
Here’s an analogy I see with this Jack: Consider him the car mechanic of the Tarot. He’s the guy who wants to get under the hood of a car and make sure everything’s in working order—he likes to investigate things. And that’s good—especially in those moments when he wants to get in the car and just go—and go immediately.
What might you need to check out further so when it’s time to jump in, you know full well what you’re getting into?
Moving over to the cards on the other side of the 7 of Hearts, we first have the 2 of Diamonds.
When the 2 of Diamonds turns up, its message is that change is in the air; it’s a time of fluctuation, and going with the flow. The 2 of Diamonds is a multi-tasking card, with the sense that there are a lot of things to juggle.
The 2 of Diamonds suggests you might experience a shift in your priorities, as things you once held in great value and considered high-priority are now taking a back seat to things that were once low-priority, and are now moving to the forefront of your attention.
As Diamonds rule the physical and material, this would be a good time to look at how money circulates in and out of your life by creating a budget. Balancing your checkbooks would also be something worth doing. The 2 of Diamonds talks about the ways money comes to you, and you, in turn, give money to others for the goods and services you value in your life.
Since the 2 of Diamonds is a card of circulation (think of circulating money), it can also highlight your circulatory system. It’s said that “if you’re healthy, you’re wealthy,” so an additional message is to not allow all that multi-tasking and juggling to stress you out, if you can manage it.
And since I mentioned health, the 2 of Diamonds is also associated with the stomach, so if the message of a physical detox resonates, this card backs that up, suggesting a cleanse that benefits the digestive and elimination systems in the body.
As a result, there may be a need to make different choices around food, or to balance one’s diet overall.
And, on that note of balance, you may discover some resources (Diamonds being the suit of resources) that can help you restore some balance to your life. If so, consider putting them to work for you.
At the end of the line, we have The Chariot, encouraging you to consider (or reconsider) your life direction.
The Chariot urges you to realize that life is about both the journey and the destination.
The card, being numbered 7 (which repeats, by the way), emphasizes spiritual growth and development, and The Chariot, in that case, can suggest solitary travel. Sometimes, in life, we have to go through certain experiences alone–no one can accompany us (which, most often, can be some form of a spiritual journey).
This also says that we’re responsible for both where we are in our lives in the present moment, as well as where we want to be in the future. You can’t be the passenger in your own life experience.
When we blame other people for where we are in life, we have given them the reins, allowing them to control where we go and wind up. If that’s true for you, this is the week for you to consider why that might be (the 7 being also about self-awareness and personal insight) and how you can create positive ways to get back in the driver’s seat and take control of the steering wheel (which is a nod to The Emperor, the card at the other end of the line that started things off).
I’ll bring this joyride (because the analogy is working oh so well) to a stop here: Consider where you want to go, and how you’ll get there.
Just like our daily travels, we don’t just hop in the car and go (well, most of us don’t, anyway); we have some idea where we want to go, and the route we will take to get there.
And part of that process, just like we learned when we were taught how to drive, is to take a moment and consider where you’re at in the present moment. You know, that time when we check our surroundings and the interior workings of the car, as we strap in and start the ignition.
Look around you, and appreciate that previous journeys have brought you where you’re at now.
Ask yourself what you’ve learned, being grateful for the learning opportunity, as you wave bye-bye in the rear view mirror, on to the next exciting leg in the road trip of your life.
Hope you have a Tarot-tastic week (and especially you, Lionel!),
This reading is general in nature. If you’re interested in having your own personalized Tarot reading, please visit my Tarot Consultations page for all the details.
life of HIMM 