Issue #17: Don't cry over spilled water
I panicked last night because I knocked over my cards and a glass of water in one fell swoop, dousing my new deck in a sparkling, fizzy, carbonated mess. My husband and stepson - kind souls that they are - leapt into action, not to clean the water, but to save my cards. That’s true love right there. Then, my incredible, thoughtful 9-year-old stepson helped me dry each one and laid them on the kitchen table to dry completely (I wish I had had the foresight to snap a photo, but I was too upset to think about it).
About 10 minutes after this fiasco (and after my husband refilled my water glass), he knocked over my second glass of water. I had to wonder if it was some kind of sign. I worried that spilling something on my cards was a bad omen…and then having a second spill, even though it wasn’t on the cards, within such a short window must mean something. According to a few random sites on the interwebs, as my friend jokingly calls it, spilling water actually has quite a bit of spiritual symbolism.
Spilling water can be a release of pent up energy, letting you know to let go of negativity and reset. It can also symbolize purification. But the interpretation I found most interesting was that if you’ve been feeling stuck or unsure of a decision, it can be a sign that change is afoot and that you are entering a period of transition. This one hit home for me because the cards also sent a similar message this week.
I’ve been wanting to make a career change, but I haven’t quite known what to do. An opportunity has fallen in my lap, but I’m not sure it’s the right direction. I’ve been contemplating my next steps, and it’s been the focus of my cards this week.
I also learned about something new and wanted to try it out: Exploring a shadow card. According to The Tarot Professor (via her Instagram @thetarotprofessor), one way to bookend a reading is to pull the card from the bottom of the stack. You can use this card as a way to gauge if your intuitive interpretation of your reading was on par. Or, you can think of it as a hidden message or “in the shadows” card that is hinting at an area that is being repressed and needs further examination and exploration. I decided to try out the shadow card for all my readings this week.
The Cards:
My Question: What do I need to know about this new job opportunity?
I’ve been so focused on learning card meanings as of late that I actually didn’t take the time to interpret them intuitively on my own. To be honest, I didn’t even realize I did that until I started writing this. So, I’m jumping straight into the meanings by the book as well as my takeaway.
Card Meaning by the Book (Paraphrased): The Knight of Cups is ruled by his heart, emotions and intuition. This card is about making decisions based on how you feel, while the Queen of Wands tells you to believe in yourself and also encourages you to get to know your shadow self (irony of ironies…I pulled her as the shadow card). (source: Biddy Tarot)
Core Message/My Takeaway: My interpretation of these two cards was that I need to trust my gut and believe in myself when it comes to making a decision about this new potential opportunity (and once again, that I need to do more shadow work).
The Cards:
My Question: Should I make a career change?
Card Meaning by the Book (Paraphrased): The Hierophant represents values and beliefs and suggests you are staying within the bounds of the “tried and true,” according to Biddy Tarot. What’s interesting here is that while I asked a yes or no question, this card isn’t a yes or no card, but rather, it’s about evaluating the wisdom and knowledge you have gained. The Queen of Swords represents independent thinking and unbiased judgement.
Core Message/My Takeaway: Taken as a whole, the interpretation from this reading was razor sharp for me: Gather information, use the wisdom I’ve acquired throughout my life when it comes to career choices and make an informed and unbiased opinion.
Interestingly, between both readings, my biggest takeaway regarding my career is that I need to use a combination of my two favorite things. I love gathering information and making sure I know everything there is to know about something before I make a decision. I research, I weigh options, I think of pros and cons. But, I also listen to my intuition. I tend to make decisions by combining these two sides of my personality, and my takeaway from the cards is that this is exactly how I need to approach this major decision.
Card of the Week (for You!):
The Hermit is a another card I frequently pull (along with The Moon) so I’m well-versed in its meaning at this point. This card suggests that you turn inward and introspective. Tune out outside voices and influences and embrace the quiet. The Hermit also “appears when you are at a pivotal point in your life and considering a new direction,” according to Biddy Tarot. This is a time to be still and sit with your thoughts.
The Three of Pentacles, the shadow card, is sometimes referred to as The Architect. This card is about the budding stages of a new project or development, but it requires teamwork and collaboration. The Three of Pentacles “represents the value of different ideas and levels of experience in collaboration,” according to Biddy Tarot.
While these two cards seem to sit in opposition to one another, I wonder if the message for this week is that although it’s time for introspection and a sort of “letting yourself be the guide” approach to things, it’s also important to remember that we aren’t islands and that we aren’t meant to operate in isolation permanently. There are times for solitude and there are also times for listening to others and their perspectives - and these two concepts can work in harmony if we let them. As a shadow card, it could also remind us that perhaps we’ve been too independent and we need to let others in because when we do, we can pool our knowledge and resources and build something even more beautiful.