Single Tarot Cards – Page 5 – Fire Moon Alchemy Blog

Mercury Retrograde – Let’s take a look at The Magician (reversed)

The Magician corresponds to the planet Mercury in the tarot

We are in Mercury retrograde season (February 17-March 10, 2020). I’m sure you are seeing a lot of posts about this event which happens three times per year. Basically, it is when the planet Mercury, appears to move backwards in relation to the Zodiac. This is an optical illusion of course, which is why this phenomenon is referred to as “apparent retrograde movement”.

Mercury is the planet of all forms of communication (both honest and dishonest), logic, reasoning, messages, quick thinking, ideas, opinions, perceptions, the mind, focus, and short distance travel.

The tarot card which represents Mercury is The Magician. Since Mercury is in retrograde, let’s take a look at this card in it’s reversed position. This will give us some insights regarding the general baseline energies that we should pay attention to when Mercury goes retrograde.

Now there are many other factors to consider when assessing the particulars of each Mercury retrograde cycle, such as what sign and house Mercury is in at the time of the retrograde, the other planetary alignments, individual natal chart planetary placements, etc. If you are thinking of making a big decision during a Mercury retrograde, plug in the date to an astrological chart and compare it’s alignments to those of your personal transitory chart. This may clue you in on some potential pitfalls so you can take the necessary steps to avoid them. There are many sites online where you can obtain free astrological charts, or you may want to contact a professional astrologer.

As we move on, take a moment to study the upright image on this card.

This card is the conscious “masculine” aspect of the mind. The Magician is the “architect” that channels (aka communicates) with the universal energies of the divine and combines them with his will to create. He has all the elements he needs in front of him to manifest his desires. On the table, we see a pentacle (earth), a wand (fire), a chalice (water), and the sword (air). The Magician himself is the channel for “spirit” which is the catalyst that ties all the elements together to create life. He is balanced mentally and physically as he is shown with one hand holding a wand up to the divine for inspiration, and the other pointed down, grounded to the earth. When I look at this card, the first three absolute Universal Laws comes to mind: The Law of Mentalism, the Law of Correspondence, and The Law of Vibration.

A few key words associated with The Magician are potential, focus, manifestation, magick, the conscious “masculine” side of our minds, willpower, the phrase “you have all the tools you need to make it happen”, divine timing, confidence, balance, alchemy, competent, transformation, purpose.

Remember, when I said that Mercury in retrograde was an optical illusion? When we reverse The Magician, the positive aspects of this card are reversed as well. The Magician is no longer a conscious creator, he is an illusionist. His positive attributes are skewed. He uses slight of hand to distract his audience. He entertains us with one hand, while deceiving us with the other.

Since he is no longer using his powers to create, the tools in this position are falling off the table. And look at The Magician’s hands. Still pointing, but now the dominant hand with the wand is no longer channeling the divine, but is pointing down at the earth. Also note that the lemniscate is now reversed as well. This symbol, which corresponds to infinite creation and potential, as well as spiritual and material balance, is no longer the energy between the divine realm and The Magician. It is now the energy between the earth realm and The Magician.

This indicates that instead of receiving his guidance and inspiration from the divine, he receives it from the material, earth plane. And I think we all know what happens when people misuse their power for material gain.

Reversed, this card also indicates that the diving timing is “off”, and communications will have a tendency to be misconstrued. This is exactly what many experience during Mercury retrogrades. Some may experience technical issues with their computers and phones during this time as well.

There is also a potential for “slight of hand” tactics. In the form of communication, some examples of this are fine print in contracts, fast talking sales pitches and misleading advertising. The timing is off for interpersonal communications as well. I am seeing a lot of people right now that are not “getting” each other when communicating. A sideways look, or a misread word results in an immediate disagreement.

Not everyone is energetically affected by the movements and aspects of the planets on a conscious level. But for those who are, Mercury retrograde is a message that now is not the time for moving forward with a major decision or project.

This is a time for rest. Take care of yourself. Focus on calming the mind and body. And as The Magicians tools at this time are in disarray, this is a good reminder to clean up your surroundings. Get a jump on spring cleaning! It is a fact that a clear physical space, clears the mind as well.

Mercury retrograde also reminds us that this is a good time to take stock of your finances. Examine future purchases carefully. For example, at this time, many people are just now recovering from the holiday season. If you have some extra cash, it may be a good idea to put it in your savings instead of splurging on unnecessary material goods. Putting money in your savings is not flashy and fun, but you’ll be glad it’s there later on should an unexpected expense come up. And during a Mercury retrograde, this could happen!

Mercury in retrograde is an introspective energy. Take the time to consider all your options and to research thoroughly before committing to something. Making quick decisions during Mercury retrograde is not conducive to a successful outcome. Don’t fall for those “buy it today” deals. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. The Magician’s slight of hand can make your money disappear quickly if you are not careful.

As for personal relationships, Mercury in retrograde can bring up issues from the past that need to be addressed or healed. You may see challenges arise that will test to see if you have truly absorbed the life lessons from the original situation. Emotions may be raw because of this. Mercury in retrograde gives us the gift of time, to regress for a little while, to give us time to once and for all, put the baggage behind us so we can move forward.

As I touched on before, choose your words carefully when you speak or write. Communications during a Mercury retrograde can be misinterpreted easily. This can trigger people emotionally as it brings up unhealed wounds they may have. Keep your communications short and to the point. Be positive as much as you can. Keep that ego in check! You may find that it’s not worth it to argue with someone to prove your point. Especially online where the shadow side of people likes to make it’s appearance behind the anonymity of the keyboard. People with mental illnesses can be especially triggered during this time. Best just to hide/block the comment instead of reacting. You’ll be glad you did!

Mercury moves out of retrograde on March 11th which is right before the spring equinox! This will bring an influx of renewed energies and perspectives just in time, to merge with the spring season. It will be like taking a breathe of crisp, clean, fresh air!

Personally, I think Mercury retrogrades are a reminder to take a pause to regroup ourselves. Everything that we need to be mindful of during a retrograde are things that we should always be aware of. Mercury retrograde is just a signal for us to pay closer attention to how we treat ourselves and others.

Happy Valentines Day from The Empress

The Empress tarot card – corresponds to Venus in the major arcana

This year, Valentine’s Day falls on a Friday which is the day of Venus. The planet which represents The Goddess. The energies of love, art, money, beauty, sensuality, fertility, abundance, nature, gaia, passion, home, creativity, birth, femininity and balance.

The card that represents Venus in the tarot is The Empress. If one takes a moment to study this card, one can see all of the qualities I listed above are embodied within it’s image.

The message of The Empress today is one of turning our focus to our relationships. Look at your partner with the eyes of love. What is it about them that you fell in love with? What do you appreciate about them? What qualities do they have that you admire? Our relationships are often a mirror image reflection of ourselves.

Take a few moments and write down everything that you admire and love about your partner. Reflect on this list. You may find what you admire about them are the very qualities you would like yourself to have. Or are attributes of your personality that need some nurturing. When one looks at their close relationships in this way, it gives us a chance to look at ourselves and grow. It also gives us a chance to look at our partner with a renewed sense of love and appreciation.

If you are not in a relationship at the moment, do this exercise about yourself. Go outside yourself and make this list from the perspective of you looking at you. Keep it positive! What aspects about yourself do you love and admire? What situations have you been through in which you handled yourself in a way that you were proud of? How did you grow from that experience? What qualities do you have that would make someone appreciate having you in their life? Don’t hold back! Look at yourself with the eyes of The Goddess of Love! If you work with the tarot, it may help you to pull The Empress card as well as a few other cards whose images resonate with your list. It is often difficult for us to reflect upon ourselves. Pulling these cards will give you a few physical images to meditate on.

Venus and The Empress are not just about the love for other people. Their energies are also a message about self-love. Are you taking care of yourself? As the goddess that rules over art and creativity, a question to reflect upon for yourself is, are you taking the time to pursue hobbies and/or interests that inspire YOU? When we live a life that inspires us, we inspire others. In the context of relationships, this love of self, is the “spark” that draws other people to us! Love for ourselves, raises our “energy vibration” and in turn our perception of our surroundings and other people. In short, when you love yourself, you draw loving energies to you. Including people that will love and appreciate you.

I know some people may dispute this, but it is true. If you are a loving person, but are drawing not so great people and situations to you, this is a message to reflect on yourself. There is an aspect of yourself that needs healing. This is what is called the “great work”. It is not going outside ourselves to find the answers, but it is doing the work that is within, that when healed and understood, allows us to emerge with a renewed sense (aka “rebirth:) of self. Once you do this work, you can’t help but to see yourself with the eyes of love. You fall in love with yourself! You do not need to be completed by someone else. You are complete within yourself. And when you are complete within yourself, you can truly devote yourself to another with the pure love of The Empress.

“Don’t fall in love with a person—fall in love with who you are when you’re with them.” ~Connor Chalfant

Knight of Wands Reversed. A few messages for personal, relationships, work/career.

Knight of Wands reversed. Can indicate lack of inspiration in one’s life, a not so great relationship, and/or issues surrounding work/career.

Upright, this card indicates someone who is charismatic, a fiery lover, motivated, self-inspired and inspires others, a “go-getter”, and is someone who is moving forward with purpose. Putting their creative ideas into action. When it is reversed, well, not so much. Wands represent the fire element in the tarot, so it can indicate the influence of the more negative aspects of the signs of Aries, Leo and Sagittarius as well. Here are a few messages for this card when it is in the reversed position. Of course, this is by no means a complete channeling, as the messages of any single card will be influenced by it’s position, and in how it relates to the other cards when it is a part of a spread.

Personal message:

This card is an indication that you have lost your passion/fire in some area of your life. You may be feeling uninspired by your current circumstances. This card can come up in the reversed position for those who are ready to make a change in their life, go a different direction, or perhaps wish to travel to widen their perspective and experiences, or as a message that they need to. It can also indicate someone who is depressed or has lost their way. The fiery charging steed in the card has come to a stand still. It’s time to re-evaluate what is causing you to feel this way and make the appropriate changes. What is it that inspires you? What gets you out of bed in the morning? Think back in your life to what you loved to do (and keep in mind, Knights represent movement, making things happen, and/or going on a quest to find or attain something). This is physically taking action, not thinking about it, doing it. Look at the image, it indicates movement. Remember when King Arthur sent his knights out to find the holy grail? This is physical action. The Knight of Wands upright is someone blazing a new trail in their life, moving forward with passion and a sense of purpose. Reversed, this Knight is not doing so well. The fire has dimmed down to a spark, but it has not gone out completely. This character is still a Knight! And The Knight of Wands is not one to wallow in self-pity for very long. This is just a setback. Get back on that horse, rediscover your inner fire, maybe do some traveling, figure out what it is you would like to accomplish, and get moving!

Relationship message:

This is not a nice person. The Knight of Wands reversed in a relationship reading can indicate someone who has to “win” all the time. They are “always right”. On a more extreme level, this is your narcissist that is also a gaslighter. A manipulator and a liar. Potentially physically abusive. This can indicate a person that turns on the charm to get his/her own way at the expense of others. This person may have an ill temper and is usually aggressive. They will use what they know about their relationship partner against them for revenge or spite. To get “even” for a perceived injustice. And notice I used the word “perceived”. This is an injustice in their mind, only because the other person did not agree with them or do whatever it was that THEY wanted them to do. As I mentioned before, this could be someone who puts on the false front of being a nice person, “a charmer”, but in reality has a black heart. This is a user. I see the wands suit as inner fire, “energy and spirit”. So this can indicate an energy/psychic vampire that drains the life force from the other person in the relationship. They belittle them, and they trigger them emotionally, to keep them under control so they have an energy source to feed on, and someone to take out their frustrations on. If this card comes up in a relationship reading, in particular a new relationship, keep your distance and be very careful. Read books/articles and watch videos on narcissistic behavior so you can be alert for the signs. Eventually their mask will slip.

This card can also indicate sexual dysfunction whether it be physical or emotional. As “fire” energy consists of the “hot” colors of red and orange which corresponds to the root and sacral chakras in the body.

Work/business message:

In the work/business position, this card reversed can indicate a lack of motivation and inspiration in your current profession or place of work. This is your message to update your resume, or perhaps to begin moving forward on an entrepreneural endeavor. Bring that fiery inspiration back into your career so that you have passion for what you do for a living. This can also be an indication of feeling stuck where you are. Maybe a job/career change, perhaps one which involves travel would be more suitable for you.

This can also indicate that there may be a co-worker or manager in your midst that takes ideas from others in the workplace and presents them to upper level management as their own to further their own career. It can also indicate a “charmer” at work that sabotages others behind their backs to make themselves look good. This person is a real piece of work. So when this card comes up in a work position, watch out for someone in your work place that may steal or sabotage your ideas, or will use underhanded means to make you look bad in front of your peers and boss. They are manipulators and liars. They will put on the front of being helpful, part of the team, etc. in front of those that they want to impress, but when it comes to dealing with them one on one, they are quite a different person indeed. When dealing with someone like this, the best course of action is to deal with them as minimally as possible. Document everything, and I mean everything, in writing. And keep your communications with them in writing as well. Don’t fall for the charm, do not reveal any personal information about yourself. This is not someone you want to chit chat with in the break room. Keep it all business and again, your interactions with this person should be kept to an absolute minimum. After meetings and conversations, be sure to follow up with a written confirmation of what was said and/or agreed to. And be sure to copy your supervisor, the other team members, and whomever else is overseeing the department and/or involved in the project.

If this is your supervisor, you may want to seriously think about looking for a new job opportunity either in a different department, or another company. It will be very difficult to advance your career while working underneath someone who has these traits.

1/24/20 New Moon in Aquarius: The Star & Five of Swords

The new moon in aquarius as represented by The Star and The Five of Swords

New moons are about new beginnings. The energies align for us to take action on our intentions. An interesting aspect of this moon is that it squares the planet Uranus which is known as “the great awakener”. This planet brings the energies of innovation, change and unpredictability to the Aquarius aspect of the new moon. In other words, expect the unexpected!

The combination of the Aquarian and Uranus energies are here to shake us up! If we have become complacent, or have lost our edge, this combination pops us back up on our feet to get us going again! Synchronistic opportunities may appear during this time as well. Be ready!

Aquarian energy is about friendships, community, working with others, hope, new ideas and breaking up the status quo. The Star card embodies these aspects as well as spiritual studies and personal growth. This moon cycle may be a good time to sign up for that class you have wanted to take! The energies here are also conducive to reaching out to others that share the same interests as you. To cultivate friendships, while accentuating your own individuality and independence. To be an individual contributing your unique talents to a collective group. With Uranus in the mix, prepare for some new, innovative ideas that will be brought to life through your actions!

Pay attention to your intuition during this time and be open. As I mentioned above, Uranus brings in an element of the unexpected. You may begin something with a set plan, only to have it take some surprising twists and turns! If you are paying attention, you will be able to discern how to make these “plot twists” work out to your benefit.

Another message with this moon is that of freedom / liberation. Look at image on The Star card. She is nude – completely authentic. This is who she is. The Star card appears after The Tower in the tarot. The Tower has collapsed and now The Star card appears to tell us there is hope, now that we are liberated from The Tower’s confining, limiting walls. I have done a previous post on The Tower card, where I go into more details regarding the archetypal symbolism of it’s image.

So here is where I see The Five of Swords coming into play here. In most instances, this card is considered a negative image. One of winning at all costs, the “I’m always right” card. But in this instance, I see it in another light. One of us standing our ground and overcoming challenges. And when we do this, we grow. We come to understand that we are stronger than we think we are. This image also indicates that we will no longer allow others to place limits on who WE want to be. When one looks at the image in this context, the smug character we were looking at previously, transforms into a confident character who is standing up for himself. The number five, which is symbolic of shaking up the stability/status quo of the number four, has unexpectedly taken a stand and revels in his moment of triumph. The other two characters, defeated, have walked away. They no longer have power over the main character.

When we know who we are and what we want to accomplish, we understand that sometimes we may need to stand alone just like the Five of Swords. We may need to set those personal boundaries with other people who may not understand us. To stand in our power and challenge those who want us to conform to what they think is “normal”.

Uranus, aka “the great awakener” is surely making it’s presence known, not only in our personal lives, but in society as well. Look at all the secrets that are coming out. Shaking us up collectively. So that we can see all the lies and deception that we have been blind too. 2020 is starting off with a blast of energy that’s for sure! We are awakening on a global scale!

“That is the real spiritual awakening, when something emerges from within you that is deeper than who you thought you were. So, the person is still there, but one could almost say that something more powerful shines through the person.” ~ Eckhart Tolle

The Empress with ten of swords as a clarifier

Past challenges overcome. New beginnings!

When these cards came out, right away, I received the message of new beginnings. A new way of thinking, a new cycle has begun in your life. If you notice, both the people in these cards are alone. This to me, signifies that this is inner work that has been completed. You realize your inner divinity, recognize that inner spark, and as such, how powerful you are!

The old ways of feeling trapped, and/or a cycle of being in a victim mindset is behind you. Perhaps you have been through a rough patch in your life. You are no longer the person you once were. The Empress has emerged to assist you in creating the new you!

When I saw these cards, I got the impression of taking a deep, cleansing breath of crisp, spring, fresh air and letting it out. As if a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. The Empress has overcome the inner fears that have been holding her back for so long. This could be a fear of speaking up, a fear of what other people may think, a fear of success or of not being “good enough”, or perhaps root chakra based fears. An example of this is fear of independence, i.e., like one cannot survive on their own. Everyone has their own inner challenges.

A few key words for The Empress are creation, nurturing, self-love and love of others, self-acceptance, confidence, femininity, mother earth and fruitfulness. Her archetype is the divine mother, the feminine power of creation itself.

A quick note for a very few of you, this could be a message that indicates an actual pregnancy. With the ten of swords as a clarifier, this can signify that this blessing has come after overcoming perhaps some fertility issues. Or that you have been trying to conceive for a while. Congratulations!

In all these cards are very positive! They indicate positive new energies/opportunities coming into your life. The old ways of thinking or past challenges/obstacles are behind you and the energies in your life are moving forward with a new sense of renewal.

Knight of Wands: Quick message

The Knight of Wands “fire energy” needs to be tempered with practicality.

The Knight of Wands is a fiery, passionate, creative energy. A “masculine” active energy (I want to clarify here, this is archetypal energy I am referring to, so this aspect pertains to women and men equally). This card indicates moving forward on what it is that you are passionate about, what it is that motivates you and “gets you going”. This can apply to any area of your life: relationships, work or personal. It also can indicate someone pursuing their dreams and making them come true by taking action to make it happen.

The Knight of Wands can be impetuous. For example, that new passionate love that has come into your life, may fizzle out just as quickly as it came in. For work, this can translate into putting everything you have into a new business or creative project, without balancing out the practical aspects as well, for example, setting up your financial books and records, meeting with an accountant or attorney to be sure your business is in compliance with laws, etc.

So if you are in this energy or see it heading in your direction, do your best to embrace the positive aspects of it, but be careful not to be consumed or “swept away” by it. Use this creative fire as motivation.

Be sure you have all the information before moving forward. The Knight of Wands fiery inspiration needs to be tempered with practicality for the best results.

The Tower

This card with it’s unsettling image always freaks people out when they see it. This is a card of sudden change. Whether it’s a change in perspective, a change in a situation, a sudden move, a break-up, etc. This card appears in a reading when the current situation is not working, but the person feels “stuck”. It is time to shake things up.

This drastic change was something that needed to happen for one’s personal and/or spiritual growth. Seen as a catastrophe while it is happening, it is actually a blessing in disguise. This card can indicate many types of changes depending on the surrounding cards. But in all instances this is a card of freedom.

The tower is collapsing because it was built on a faulty foundation and/or has outlived it’s usefulness. The collapse of the tower shakes up our world so we can start anew. It is the lightning bolt of consciousness that allows us to see the truth of a situation. Once the tower collapses, there is nothing left. This symbolizes the fact that once one knows the truth, and/or sees the reality of a situation, one has no choice but to move on. The fact that this is a major arcana card is significant, this is a NECESSARY change.

How many times do we stay in situations whether it’s romantic relationships, career, friends, living in an area where there are limited opportunities, etc., that are not healthy for us physically, spiritually, and mentally. Yet we stay because it is familiar to us. Even when the situation is terrible, it is predictable and therefore to us, is perceived as safer than leaving. We allow our fear of the unknown and self-imposed limitations to keep us imprisoned in the tower.

This card can also indicate that someone’s ego has gotten the better of them. The universe is sending circumstances into a person’s life to “take them down a notch”. In this deck, one sees the character as a naked person falling from the tower. This is the ego being stripped down so that it can start fresh with a renewed perspective. The Tower brings with it, some harsh lessons indeed, but it is for the highest good of the person for whom this card’s message is for.

The card that follows The Tower is The Star. This card’s message is of renewed hope, new beginnings, balance, and a higher spiritual awareness/perspective. This symbolizes one’s recovery of freedom, and therefore of one’s true self, after the collapse of the illusion of limitations that kept one a prisoner within the tower walls.

How many times have we gone through sudden changes in our life only to look back and say, I am so glad I (insert what’s appropriate here: found out the truth, made that career change, made the decision to leave a bad situation, moved to a better neighborhood, etc.). In retrospect, the collapse of The Tower was the best thing that could have happened to you.

This sums up the message of the The Tower.

Card of the day: Five of cups. A message of perception.

This card signifies that all is not lost. Turn around and you will see the other two cups! There is no use crying over spilled milk, as what’s done is done. Wishing what might have been is not going to help you. This card also indicates a possible message of downsizing and/or a need for a change which requires one to let go of unhealthy emotional attachments to things, people or places. Of course, we all know this is easier said than done.

Look at this card closely, see the bridge in the background leading to the castle? There is a new opportunity/adventure waiting for you. But to begin this journey, it will require a change in perspective.

Card of the Day: Messages from the Ace of Wands

This is a great card for inspiration, passion, creativity, new beginnings and the first step of taking action. Below are the messages I received for today 10/04/19, regarding love, work and personal, when I pulled this card:

Love: The Ace of Wands is a card of inspiration, fire, action. The start of something new. This card in a love reading indicates a fiery energy coming in. This can pertain to a new or current relationship. There is definitely a “spark” here. This card may also indicate seeing someone in a new light. Or a chance meeting that has your heart fluttering! The green buds are the color of the heart chakra. Looks like this may be an interesting Friday night and/or weekend for some of you!

Career/business: This is a great card to pull for career and business! This card indicates creative ideas, inventions, new perspectives, taking action and the beginning of an exciting new venture. You are “fired up” about a new project, business idea or career. I see the green buds on the wand as a potential for making money. This is a green light to begin moving forward with your idea. I especially love this card for entrepreneurs.

Personal: This is THE card for inspiration! There is a newfound passion in your life or it is coming in. I see this card as a personal message that you are starting something new that you are excited about. For example, a new hobby, course of study, a new business, love, travel, etc. Whatever it is that is inspiring you, the Ace of Wands is a signal for you to act on it.