Today is 1-20-2021

 That's a palindrome, which is super cool. 1202021.

However, when this was pointed out to me by a random FB comment (in the Stormlight Archive FB group of all places) my brain went WAIT. 

Add all those numbers up you get the number 8. That means today's card in the Tarot is STRENGTH,  or JUSTICE*, in the major arcana. Today is the day of the inauguration of Biden and Harris. How auspicious for the birth of their four year term! 

Okay so, thinking about that, then let's look at both of these cards. 

Then we have the minor arcana cards that are numbered 8 to look at too. Much work needs to be done in the next four years to remedy the mistakes of previous leaders, such as real relief for the hardships so many are dealing with due to the pandemic and restitution for the kids who are still in cages. It's going to take a lot of Strength, of proper application of persistent, diplomatic, and personal power to convince the lion that it wants to follow you. 

And the Justice card is not losing sight of your goal, of seeing with the sword of truth, of looking at things from a balanced view, yet what that judge says, goes. This likely also alludes to working with the Supreme Court which is unbalanced in its representation of the people, most of them having been appointed by the GOP, yet also the President who has veto powers and other executive powers that can be used to strength out country. 

The 8 of Wands (8S), where things are happening fast, and it can feel overwhelming. Basically, a lot of things that need to be a priority are going to demand attention. And the trick here is how to handle it with finesse. 

The 8 of Cups (8C) is about moving away from what no longer serves, and in this case undoing the harm that's been done, and having to figure out a way to work with people who hate you. Which leads us to...

The 8 of Swords where you feel bound but in reality there is a way out, a way to solve the problem but you gotta maintain you vision (that castle), and fill your emotions up with hope instead of despair./ All you gotta do is think outside the box, to notice what you haven't noticed before. 

And then 8 of Pentacles, working diligently on your craft, on your skills, leveling them up. Hella work ethic is needed to make stars worth displaying. 

And all of these things, are the day to day things that are going to come in and cycle over and over again, with small breaks here and there, as seen by the larger separation spaces between the wands in the 8W (groupings of 4, 2, and 2), as well as a space between two of the cups in 8C, a space between the very bottom pentacle and the one above it, and even a space hidden in the 9S, right behind the woman who is loosely bound and can easily be freed. 

In sum, for the next four years, it's "if there's a will, there's a way."

May our new White House administration be endowed with wisdom and the gumption to right wrongs, and anything else needed to do the job, and to do the job well enough; for all of us. 

Faith manages,

Ruth  

*Most decks have 8 as Strength, but some decks do not, they went back to the pre-RWS ordering which is Justice at 8 and Strength at 11. 

13-card Year Reading Spread

 

The purpose of this reading is to help you be prepared for what’s going on in your life, so that anything that shows up you can handle with finesse and zen. Indeed, the purpose of this reading is to empower you and to give you hope.

This spread is like a clock. Representing the whole year and the individual months. The 1 o’clock position is January, 2 – Feb, and so on and so forth ending on 12 o’clock as December.

The center card, card 13 is like the hands of a click is the card that touches ALL of the other cards. It is the card that represents the energy and lessons that will be present for the ENTIRE year. How to calculate your year card for the current year is talked about in this post: https://www.ladyofradiantjoy.org/2020/12/finding-your-year-card-for-current-year.html

So in reality, every month is a two card spread, consisting of the year card in the center, the card of the month.

A year reading is about YOU and the general energies of what’s going to be present in YOUR life. The purpose of having this reading is NOT one of fatalism or determinism, but one of probabilities, that these are the energies that are most likely to come to pass, and be present in your life in the upcoming year.

These cards are general, so they will apply to all aspects of your life, but depending on your personal context sometimes one aspect of your life will take more prominence.

When you look at these cards think about any anniversaries, expectations, goals, work cycles, due dates, familial responsibilities (both legit and not legit), holidays you celebrate, religious observances, etc. Such things can give you clues. Sometimes you won’t understand something at all, but keeping aware of the energy presented by the card can help you be more mindful and watchful, and thus make it simpler to adapt to the unanticipated.

Of course, if you don’t look back at these from time to time then, uh, you may miss something and then make a mistake that’s avoidable. Not that I have ever done that. Nope. Not at all. Ha! Yeah, I TOTALLY HAVE. But that's okay, I learned from it.

Do I Scrap the Whole Thing & Start Again or Not? (An Impromptu Tarot Spread)

 I was having creative difficulties with the oracle deck I'm creating, specifically for people who have dealt with mental health disorders such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression. I wasn't meeting my goals, felt frustrated, and cluttered in my mind. I didn't know if I just needed to reorganize or if I should scrap the whole thing thing and start again from scratch. 

So I decided to do a comparative reading, telling me the story, of what would happen if I scrapped the whole thing, or if I were to keep going as is. 

Cards are from the Modern Witch Tarot deck
Cloth is from the Orien's Tarot, feat. the star from the Star

Story of what would happen if I were to scrap the whole thing?
Row 1 - Left to Right

Popout card - Ace of Pentacles

      A shiny new beginning that is well grounded. 

Beginning - 6S

      Moving from what no longer serves to something better. Both people in the boat are me, different aspects of me. The oar is me using  my fire, passion and will to direct the boat, to move through the waters of emotions, with all the lessons and wisdom of thought and of mind to help me cut through the BS. 

Middle - 7C Ⓡ 

      There will no longer be choice paralysis. I will be free to work with greater grace and ease.

End - The Star

      The cards will be as they are intended to be. A symbol of HOPE. 

Story of what would happen if I didn't and kept on with what I had?

Row 2 - Left to Right

Popout card - The Sun Ⓡ

      It's gonna suck. The joy of the work will be absent.

Beginning - 4S 

      Getting into the zone will be difficult. Stress instead of repose. The Swords are above me, and they aren't comforting, one wrong move and they will fall on me. I'm stuck inside, possibly even with stress migraines. 

Middle - 5W Ⓡ 

        I will stop fighting, but at what cost? 

End - Justice

       The cards will be heavy handed. While justice is good, the deck will not be filled with hope.

Last two cards:

Left - Now that I know this what should I do?

The Lovers Ⓡ

        Break up with the current working of the deck. 

Right - And what will the outcome be as a result?

The Hierophant

        And then I will be able to live up to my soul and personality card, bringing hope to the population that is often gaslit, victim blamed, and ignored by religious, spiritual, and metaphysical communities. 

I just did this spread a few days ago. And I am listening. 

I gotta say, I felt amused by the popout cards because they are like a summary or foreshadowing of the three cards after them. 

This spread was originally going to be a 6 card spread, of comparing the stories, beginning middle and end of what would happen if I went forward with the two choices I had before me. Yet, I was still a little resistant. I worked hard on these cards! Hence, I asked, okay now that I know this what should I do. And when I got the break up card I was like OKAY FINE but I'm still freaked out about it so what will happen as a result. And it was like YOU WILL BE YOU, DOING WHAT YOU NEED TO DO. 

Yeah, I felt a little called out, but it was also REALLY NICE to get this extra confirmation, so I am glad I added those two cards. It was exactly what I needed.