tarot – a few lines more

It’s been a whole year since I posted shared an in-depth reading with anyone. Going back to reread my annual reflections for last year ignited so many emotions in me. Even though I withdrew heavily from sharing my practice, I want to reconnect with it this year as I feel like I could have benefited from internalizing those messages in a more intentional manner.

As a reminder, I am referring to Kimberly (@fablesden)’s alternative to the Wheel of the Year, which you can follow along here. To honor my return to this practice, I am using the first deck I ever purchased: The Dreaming Way Tarot.

Wounds and Healing

Active Wounds – Justice: My anchor card for 2021 was Judgment – a card that calls upon us to reckon with self-evaluation and reflection. Do we like who we are by the end of the year? Justice carries a similar energy with it, but challenges us to be honest with such assessment rather than trying to smooth over the cracks of our experience from the past year. Truthfully, the end of the year was painful. While, the blind figure of justice holds the sword and scales as an impartial assessor of our lives, I couldn’t help but pick and pick at all the seams of myself.

Moments of Healing – Eight of Swords: It is so striking to me that these two cards have swords and blindfolds. While Justice holds the sword firmly at the hilt, the figure in the VIII of Swords is surrounded by swords with their hands in their pockets with a nonchalant air despite these seemingly threatening and oppressive forces. This reminds me of the cycles mental cycles we can find ourselves in with self-judgment, self-imprisonment, and doubt. How do we bring down the walls we’ve put up around us? To even recognize that there are walls there? If the wounds of 2021 are a result of perceived injustice or dishonesty, then the pathway to heal is to allow ourselves to be more vulnerable and take our time to carefully find our way out.

Contraction and Expansion

Moments of Contraction – The Hierophant: The order, regulation, and tradition of the Hierophant are elements that I find difficult to connect with on a personal level so I’m not entirely surprised by its placement as a moment of contraction. When I keep in mind the lingering wounds from 2021, the Hierophant reminds me not to apply to such rigid concepts of justice when reckoning with my life choices. A little flexibility and openness can go a long way to avoid receding too far inward.

Moments of Expansion – Ace of Swords (R): There is a strong presence of swords including their utility and symbolic presence across the spread. In this position, the sword is a reminder that in order to expand you need to know how to wield it responsibility. Even as it can provide a crystalizing idea or breakthrough, it can also cause pain and destruction. To expand, we must understand how to utilize the tools at our disposal — including resistance to weaponizing our own thoughts. [Sidenote: this is the exact card in the exact same placement as last year. Clearly this is something I should continue to mull over!]

Stressors and Opportunities

Major Stressors/Challenges – Five of Swords: The figure on the right holds all of the resources and ideas and in is heading forward without any consideration of those left behind. The barren winter landscape only heightens the degree to which this will affect the figure on the left. One of the major stressors and challenges ahead are conflict and the fear that such events will result in a great rift between people and resources. And as the Sword is an introspective suit, inner conflict can also cleave ourselves in two.

Opportunities, Inspiration/Luck – Knight of Wands (R): This knight poses the contrast between one’s capacities and application of those skills. Though the knight has confidence, determination, and skill, this requires working in tandem with one’s environment or else they may risk heading in the wrong direction altogether. This is a reminder that opportunities will come if we can lean on others for support even as we attempt to remain true to our own vision and spirit.

North Star and World Energy

North Star/Anchor Compass – King of Swords: Given the prominence of swords in this spread, it’s no surprise that the Anchor for this year is the King of Swords. There is the potential to be disciplined and edified as much as there is to be irrational and controlling. The tip of the sword rests on the hem of the King’s tunic – a reminder that a sharp wit can come with its own pains.

Overall World Energy – Ten of Cups (R): If last year’s energy was a resistance to change without exercising patience, this year’s energy moves its focus away from the individual to the community. Unfortunately, its just as out of joint. Even as advice regarding wounds and healing focus on the internal, others such as the moments of the stressors and opportunities are preoccupied by others. Though we might long for mutual aid, homecoming, and family, that requires work coming from both ends: self-realization and a desire for others to meet us partway. But is the world ready to share its resources and energy to achieve such a goal?

Yesterday, Kimberly (@fablesden) shared an alternative to the Wheel of the Year and it spoke to all the reasons why big tarot spreads that compartmentalize according to time rarely work for me. While drawing a card for each month is interesting in the moment, I never find myself compelled to reflect back on them. When you add monthly, weekly, and daily draws into the pile, there is just too much noise for me to meditate in a meaningful manner.

For this year, I followed Kimberly’s spread, which you can follow along here, using the Star Spinner Tarot by Trungles.

Active Wounds
Moments of Healing
Moments of Contraction
Moments of Expansion
Major Stressors/Challenges
Opportunities of Inspiration/Luck
North Star / Anchor Compass
Overall World Energy

Wounds and Healing

Active Wounds – The Empress: This is an unusual placement for a card signifying abundance, generosity, and nurturing until we recall how much we have been deprived over the past year—much longer for some of us. Opportunities that fell through. Touch from those we love. The compassion we fail to extend to ourselves. A lack of compassion for others as we become increasingly more preoccupied with our own discomforts. These are complex, tangled wounds that will require attention as we carry over into this next cycle.

Moments of Healing – VIII of Swords: The heartbeat of this spread is that healing is not simple. As these wounds continue to prick at us, we put up additional walls, deflecting the roots of our daily pain. What ways are you contributing to the exacerbation of your pain? How have you withdrawn your generosity for yourself or others? In what ways can you extend yourself compassion for these faults without denying your relationship to them?

Contraction and Expansion

Moments of Contraction – Page of Chalices: One of the risks entering into the new year is the powerful temptation of escapism. While curiosity, imagination, and longing are all wonderful sentiments to foster responsibly, now more than ever the present demands our attention. Healing or wounded Empress means being an active participant in this world.

Moments of Expansion – Ace of Swords (R): The Ace and Page, Chalices and Swords, are powerful complements in this placement. Reversed, the Ace of Swords reminds us not to act impulsively. Our decisions, beliefs, and actions must be intentional. We must take the time to parse through our thoughts and emotions together before making decisions.

Stressors and Opportunities

Major Stressors/Challenges – XIX The Sun: What could possibly be anxiety-inducing about the Sun’s burst of energy, joy, and celebration? Well, January is a month where we are flooded with determination, optimism, and energy. All too often, however, we burn that fuel too quickly and are left disappointed about our personal stagnation, developing a cyclical deprivation of the base needs the Empress guides us to foster. We are overwhelmingly aware of the desire for this year to not be an extension of the last, but the burden to “fix” the world in the wink of one evening is an impossible one to bear.

Opportunities of Inspiration/Luck – XVII The Star (R): In this placement, the Star reminds us that hope is not something that will fall into our laps. The unfortunate reality is that all the darkness of the year prior is still here. Communities are still suffering, mourning, dying. Finding the hope to keep moving forward is vital but it will not be easy to find. We will need to dig deep to find the light in the dark and keep moving on together.

North Star and World Energy

North Star / Anchor Compass – XIX Judgment: The penultimate card asks, “Who are you?” and beckons you to reply with your resounding truth. Though there is significant internal work to be done this year, this is the anchor for the year. Know who you are through it all.

Overall World Energy – XI The Hanged Man (R): The world wants to move on and the start of a new year gives the illusion that we have a clean break from what brought us here. This perception is ultimately more harmful than good. The Hanged Man upright knows that patience is required for real wisdom and transformation. Were you able to answer Judgment’s call? Do you have the patience to wait until you know?

a few lines more

Tag: tarot

Tarot Spread: Reflections for 2022

Tarot Spread: Reflections for 2021