TENDER EMBRACE

Key concepts: compassion, warmhearted care for self and others, sensitivity and empathy, benevolence, kindness

Put your hand on your heart and breathe deeply, inhaling a sense of gratitude. . . . Now how do you feel? Keep doing this, tuning in to the world around you—others you know and even those you don’t know. Can you feel compassion for them?

Compassion is an emotion of tenderness and sensitivity. It’s a feeling of benevolence and reverence as you stand witness to the suffering of the world. Now is the time to reduce that pain and focus on compassion in all areas of your life. Today do something deliberately kind for another. Even looking a stranger in the eye and smiling can make a world of difference.

The questions to ask now are: Where do I need to be kinder and gentler? How can I serve, and in what capacity can I be in alignment with the solution to the suffering of the world? Could it be that you need to be more compassionate toward yourself? If you spend all your time in service to others, it’s easy to forget about your own needs. When you accept yourself, you can bring more loving energy to others.

Today make a commitment to practice self-compassion. Release yourself from the burdens of perfectionism, allow yourself the grace to be human—and then do the same for others. It’s not your job to tell others how to
express themselves, even if you don’t like the way the world behaves. Today be kind for no reason at all, and watch miracles arise.

CALL OF THE MUSE

Key concepts: creative expression, being in the flow of creativity, tuning in to inspiration, allowing creativity without being self-conscious, writing and journaling as a means of connection

When you feel the call of the muse, you are being invited to create, to be the artist choreographing your life, serving on behalf of the Great Artist, Divine Source. While the process feels intensely personal, your ego and self-identification are, ironically, the most unnecessary parts of the equation.

While you might think you own the magic of your creativity, can you truly say you’re the source of the inspiration? Similar to the spirit of genius from card 29, imagine your creativity stemming from another spirit guide: the muse.

Just as the genius needs to partner with your intellect, so too does the muse need you to open your heart and let magic flow through your intuition and emotions. Stop seeing yourself as the center of the process, and instead see your- self as a partner in a creative dance. Sometimes, you might be “inside” the music and the feelings, the story, and its expression. Other times, you observe from the sidelines, watching it all flow from an unknown yet deeply intimate source.

Today your muse is calling you to be a channel and allow the creative energy to flow through you. The energy of emotion is waiting to be given a voice, a name, a shape, or a color. Journal, finish that writing project, start something new, paint, sing, dance . . . and don’t worry where any of it lands. It has its own plans for you. Your muse knows where this is all meant to go. For you, the big magic is in the experience of answering the call.

A TALL TALE

Key concepts: denial, concealing the truth so you can manipulate and control a situation, fear-based communication, creating a narrative to hide behind, not allowing the fear of what others will think to influence your words, learning to communicate from a place of authenticity

You or someone else is telling a tall tale right now. You always know if a falsehood is spoken because it doesn’t feel grounded. When you lie, you get high on an illusory sense of power that is doomed to fail at some point. You feel driven by the fear of exposure, but something makes you stick to your story even though you know it has no substance.

Whatever lie we are caught up in isn’t as important as the motive for it. Why does anyone lie? Perhaps we don’t believe the truth is good enough, or we want to keep doing what we know we shouldn’t be doing. Then there is the lie put forth while in denial, such as hiding an active addiction. In this scenario, we may believe our own lies. The tall tale, the white lie, the stretching of the truth, and the blatant fabrication are all about control: the desire for it, the lack of it, the need to maintain it so we can manipulate the outer world and hide our inner one.

Today ask for the truth. Be willing to pay the price and be okay with the vulnerability your lie is exposing in yourself and others. Transparency is required to get to where you need to go, to be truly empowered, to reveal the strength of what is true and authentic. Any other path leads to a dead end.

Remember the saying “The truth will set you free”—and get ready to fly unfettered.

FEELING THE WORLD

Key concepts: sensitivity to the feelings of others, awareness of the whole world and a broader perception, empathy overload and overwhelm

Empathy reminds you that you are not alone. It is a beautiful capacity to feel the connectivity all around you, giving you a profound sense of belonging, a broader experience of being part of the larger whole. That said,
it can also be overwhelming, especially when you don’t know where you end and the rest of the world begins. Now is the time to be clear about your boundaries. Ask yourself whose energy you’ve tuned in to; you might find it’s not even yours!

If you are feeling “off ” or drained when you’re with someone, they may be siphoning your energy. In such an instance, this connection is not good for you, no matter how charismatic the person is or how attracted to them you feel. Do not mistake codependency for closeness or allow your boundaries to become too porous. Trust your instincts and take care of you. Practice saying no. Avoid the temptation to turn off and go numb; instead be present. Somewhere in the middle of this “feeling spectrum” is where the magic is.

You’re also being asked now to be aware of how your words and actions may affect others. While it’s not your job to determine how someone will respond to you, discernment is necessary. Be firm yet kind. Keep in mind that people-pleasing will not give you what you truly need. That said, your empathy is beautiful and important. It just has to be balanced in order for you to access its wondrous gifts. Today, celebrate the beauty of your sensitivity, and that of others.

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS

Key concepts: vulnerability as a strength, letting others see your wounds as well as your strengths, setting healthy boundaries

Th is is a time of connection that asks for you to be vulnerable and authentic: let go of any social masks or constructs you use to keep yourself apart from others. Lower your shields and allow yourself to step into a dance of intimacy. When you become close to people, you remind yourself that you are not alone; you’re
part of a beautiful, meaningful bond. At a deep spiritual level, there are so many lessons offered to you in this closeness. At a social level, intimate relationships help you ignite the spark of life that is the power of affinity. You flourish as a result of offering emotional honesty, a true desire for equality, love, friendship, and laughter.

We aren’t meant to be alone. Yet sometimes we are wounded, and we build walls around ourselves so we don’t get hurt again. It’s time to be honest about yours and step out from behind that barrier and engage in all of life. This is a beautiful opportunity to allow your vulnerability to be your strength as you choose to live in integrity and without artifice. Even in your work life, this mode of connection allows you to be truly present.

When you live this way, everything and everyone thrives. You have no need to defend yourself when you’re being truly and utterly you, empowered by your raw openness and willingness to be seen. In this way your close encounters will not fail you. There is much to celebrate when you stand eye to eye, shoulder to shoulder, sharing your heart.

WISH UPON A STAR

Key concepts: intentions based on your desires and aspirations, the act of consciously committing to a vision, sacrificing something of value, gambling on yourself, trusting that dreams can become reality, the importance of daydreams

Do you believe your dreams can become real, or do you shrug them off and chide yourself for being unrealistic? What if you could trust that the world around you holds promise you have not yet realized? Perhaps the point all along is not how something can happen, but the power of wishing and intending.

We humans have multiple ways to ritualize “owning” a dream we want to see manifest in physical form. Think of a wishing well: you infuse a coin with your intention, tuning in to the feeling of having a particular experience. Tossing the coin into the well symbolizes the act of letting the “how” go, walking away, and allowing the universe to do its part in the co-creative partnership. Another method is to wish upon a star. In doing so, you also look back to our origins, for we are made of stardust.

Today, allow yourself to dream and play with different realities. Even if it seems impossible, if it calls you and feels good, why not choose it? Wish upon a star, then live as if your wish were already true. Know that those beautiful dreams you have been nurturing are in the process of becoming real. Don’t forget that the act of wishing, dreaming, and intending is more important than figuring out the “how.” It shows the universe you’re serious about playing the game of life and you trust the essence of the partnership. Remember: every dream you believe in and hope for is a call to a twinkling star. The answer will come, sometimes swiftly, sometimes slowly. No wish is ever wasted.

SPIRIT OF GRATITUDE

Key concepts: the prospering power of prayer, communion with the Divine, expressing deep gratitude as you move through the world, knowing that your prayers will be answered exactly as they are meant to be

In prayer, we connect directly to our Higher Power. It is a way for us to be in communion with the Divine, a reminder that our lives are a sacred conversation we are continuously engaged in. Prayer lets us know we are not alone. A power greater than us acts on our behalf and is activated through us, suffusing our hearts and minds with a faith that is life-affirming, loving, and compassionate. When we pray, we acknowledge that we are only part of the equation of life, that a spiritual aspect is always in operation. We engage in humility, knowing we are in a co-creative partnership and have so much to be grateful for.

Expressing gratitude and asking to be of service is the most powerful, prospering prayer of all. When you focus your attention on appreciation for even the smallest aspects of your life and what you have already experienced, it’s like waving a magic wand. Everything you need comes to you without effort. Obstacles fall away, and your purpose becomes ever clearer.

The kind of prayer that will prosper you and others today is one of deep, abiding gratitude. You become a magnet for miracles when you are grateful and ask to be a channel for Divine purpose, Divine abundance, love, and compassion. The power of Source is within you. Now is the time to awaken it.

THE ROSE'S KISS

Key concepts: joy, experiencing pleasure, deep satisfaction and enjoyment, desires acknowledged, five-sensory reality

Take a deep breath and center on the feeling of joy. Can you allow your senses to awaken, and connect with your innate desire to experience all life has to offer? Pleasure is part of life; let yourself surrender to it today.

Our modern times often present a false ideal of how we are meant to experience the world. Connections are lost and distorted by our overreliance on technology. Just look around and see how few people actually maintain eye contact or engage in conversation. Instead of tapping away at a screen, pause and consider how you can make more intimate contact.

Connecting with nature, enjoying the sensual pleasures of sex, and/or being aware of the sensations of taste, touch, smell, sight, and sound may be important right now. How do your sheets feel? Can you reach out and feel the heat and softness of your companion animal nestled beside you? Be present to another person, see them, and let yourself be seen.

Your five senses are aching to be engaged right now. This is an invitation to get out of your head and into your body. You may be a spiritual and intelligent being, but right now the emphasis should be on having a sensory experience. This is a sacred part of this gift of life. By being present to the sensual world, you invite an even deeper spiritual experience. Amazing, isn’t it? Perhaps it really is time to stop and kiss the roses.

ROOTS OF ABUNDANCE

Key concepts: being stabilized by deep roots, anchoring yourself and feeling secure in your life, trust and belief in abundance

This card signals you to pay attention to how you are anchored in the story of your life. Trust that you will be taken care of. The world is full of limitless potential and will nourish you according to your beliefs, regardless of temporary outer conditions. You are not a victim of life! Life happens for you—not to you, even if you
sometimes slip into that way of thinking. If you are grounded and internally steadfast, nothing can uproot you, and you have the ability to manifest your intentions with ease.

The message here is simple: Your life is safe and secure, and your intentions are coming to fruition. All your hopes and dreams are firmly grounded and taking root so that you can reach for the stars in your life and expand your dreams further than you can imagine. Everything in the material world is a reflection of your interior world. You are unstoppable and unshakable because you believe that you are abundant. Know that you can easily move from merely surviving to thriving when you pay attention to staying grounded.

If you find yourself in ungrounded thinking, now is the time for radical trust. Growth never follows a straight line; you will manifest what you need when you need it. A tall, healthy tree doesn’t need to hold on to the ground for dear life. It knows it will not fly away with the wind, because its roots are planted deep in the earth.

SACRED REVERENCE

Key concepts: awe for the truth that Spirit is everywhere, inspiration coming through you as a result of reverence, joyful living, exploring possibilities with curiosity, spiritual passion, manifesting from the starting point of the realm of Spirit

Looking at the world, do you see all of life or only a limited part? When you look at a blade of grass, do you see just a plant? When you encounter a puppy, do you see just an animal? While this categorizing is one way of viewing the world, it is only a fraction of the truth. It isn’t enough. Look closer, and you’ll observe the luminosity immanent in these living, sentient beings. If you can allow yourself to take in all the world, including its spirit, then you see the whole.

Reverence is an act of deep witnessing, respect, and awe. You experience it when you perceive every being and everything—every plant, rock, and tree—as sacred and alive. You naturally lean into a state of bliss and harmony, and a profound sense of well-being.

Whatever your dilemma or question, try to reframe your perspective to acknowledge the spiritual. If everything has value, including your most frustrating challenges, would you still ask your question from the same place? Can you regard the “other” as sacred, thereby erasing the separation between you? Embracing the perfection of how you came together is real magic, and you are tapping into this unity right now. No matter who or what is in front of you, see that person or thing as luminous and your interaction as holy. Then you will know what to do for the highest good of all.

BIRDS OF A FEATHER

Key concepts: sharing, community, a sense of belonging, fellowship with like-hearted people, understanding the concept of “we” before “me”

Have you ever wondered how people naturally gravitate to one another and discover a surprising intimacy and connection? There is a kind of magnetic energy, like an invisible ray of light, that gently pulls people together to form something beautiful that can be shared. As in the saying “Birds of a feather flock together,”
it comes from an instinctual need for belonging, you might say. We need community to survive, to thrive and grow. We humans are social creatures, after all; none of us are meant to be alone.

The concept of belonging is playing an important role in your life currently. Perhaps you recently found yourself in a group where you knew you were in the right place. Trust those strands of connection, for now is the time to thrive in the community! What you will find is a deeper and more expansive way of looking at the world by baring yourself to others and sharing ideas, hopes, and dreams.

However long you stay here in this journey of becoming who you’re meant to be, connecting to community and participating in fellowship is the best thing for you right now. You will flourish as part of a network of
like-minded and like-hearted people. Stick to what feels good and resonates with your heart as true. When you understand the value of this community, you will discover everything you’re hoping for . . . and much more than you’re expecting.

EARS WIDE OPEN

Key concepts: deep listening as a gift we give to others, understanding someone else’s needs, showing focused attention, tuning in to another and letting go of the ego’s need to be heard

The world is constantly speaking to us and offering clues about what is really going on beneath the surface of things. We all have the capacity to hear beyond the noise that reaches our ears. The challenge is when we feel
misunderstood and unheard. When we feel insignificant, it’s easy to overexplain ourselves in an attempt to get acknowledged.

Now is the time to let all that go. Offer your attention as the great gift it is. It’s time to stop multitasking, checking your phone, thinking of what you’re going to say next, and doing all the other things that keep you from connecting fully.

Whenever we are in a state of chaos and distraction, paying attention to only some of what is being said, we lose the ability to pick up on everything—including that which is not being said. Deep listening is the way in which we immerse ourselves in the truth of the world. In this way, with ears wide open, we also open our hearts and minds to understand more than what is conveyed through words alone. Opportunities arise from the subtle cues we miss when we are not 100 percent present.

Purposeful, open listening is an act of true respect and intimacy. When you are in this space of receptivity, letting go of the need to be heard or to be right, you become expansive and alert to meaningful potential. Right now, keep your ears wide open, and you will find more than you were searching for. going on beneath the surface of things. We all have the capacity to hear beyond the noise that reaches our ears. The challenge is when we feel misunderstood and unheard. When we feel insignificant, it’s easy to over-explain ourselves in an attempt to get acknowledged.

Now is the time to let all that go. Offer your attention as the great gift it is. It’s time to stop multitasking, checking your phone, thinking of what you’re going to say next, and doing all the other things that keep you from connecting fully.

BEAUTIFUL UNCAGING

Key concepts: the prison of guilt, a need for self-inventory, rigorous honesty, accountability, making amends

At this time, you’re being called to assess where guilt is playing a part in your life, recognize how it’s affecting you and others, and address it so you can release yourself from its grip. Guilt is a powerful emotional state, capable of transforming difficult situations. It keeps you accountable for your actions when you’ve done something that causes harm. However, it can also feed a self-sabotaging cycle that fosters codependency and a distorted sense of personal power. Self-blame can lead to behaviors that perpetuate low self-worth.

Have you done or said something for which you need to make amends? Have you disregarded a boundary or broken a promise? Guilt can make you aware of potential ways you have given injury and show you how to
redress the transgression. When you sincerely admit you are wrong and begin the process to fix it, this is an act of accountability, responsibility, and liberation.

Take a moment now to consider when you have harmed others or yourself. This knowledge will free you from the story you tell about it so you’re able to connect with truthful remorse. Now is the time for rigorous honesty as you take a self-inventory with a neutral state of mind. A good question to ask yourself now is why the guilt is there. You might be taking on a burden that is not even yours to carry. Pay attention, take action, and uncage yourself from the prison of your own making.

SHINING THROUGH

Key concepts: self-expression without filters or masks, authentic communication, being proud of who you are, shining in the world, refusing to make yourself small just to belong

You are being called to step into your true power and essence. This is one of those times when you’re required to bring everything you are—all that you’ve learned, experienced, and integrated—and offer it up in service to the world.

When you take center stage, you will be noticed. Yes, as you shine brightly, you will naturally stand apart from others. This idea may bring up excitement and genuine pride or discomfort, but this is not the time to make yourself small to avoid the glare of the spotlight and potential punishment by others. It takes courage, but know that this is the right thing for you today.

You have come so far. You have been in the proverbial back of the room, in learning and gathering mode for so long, and this important time has served its purpose. You must now step into a new consciousness, seizing a new opportunity to share your wisdom. You will be like a lighthouse, shining through the dark, illuminating the way for others.

Be careful of the voices in your head that say You can’t or You don’t know enough or Who are you to shine? The better question is: Who are you not to shine? All you are and all you have become is by the grace of the Divine. Now it is your duty to share your gifts. Celebrate this!

A HIGHER VIEW

Key concepts: seeing from a higher perspective, conscious neutrality, letting go of judgment and assumptions, nonattachment, the ability to remain unbiased

Sometimes our lives are suction-cupped to the ends of our noses, and we can’t see beyond ourselves. This happens to everyone once in a while; we fall into an automatic response to life and react from a learned, conditioned place rather than one of awareness. Being in reactivity keeps us repeating old patterns. Conversely, the avoidance of our triggers could keep us in our comfort zone, policing our attempts at new things.

The way to be successful in your endeavor to connect with others is to step out of your sticky perception of the world. Imagine your- self sitting on the back of a bird a thousand feet above your life: Wouldn’t your perspective change? From a higher point of view, you can see for miles. You could let go of naming or blaming the obstacles in your way and instead easily discover a path to more beautiful and compelling vistas.

More can become available to you in all aspects of your life when you are able to step back and get a little distance. You can wait before responding, be more graceful in your interactions, and see how everything is connected and every experience is a gift.

The world is wide open for you today. All you have to do is move to higher ground, be mindful, and celebrate the spectacle of life’s dance.

OPENING TO DISCOVERY

Key concepts: the small bits of data you collect from the world to form ideas, the transfer of vital information via the universe always speaking to you, the need to integrate information and be discerning about what you expose yourself to

We tune in to information from our outer environment, then assign meaning to it within our psyches. Every day, however, the amount of data we sort through exceeds what we’re capable of processing. Especially since the advent of the Internet, we have been bombarded with more than we could ever hope to absorb. Therefore it’s important to be mindful of what we expose ourselves to.

Consistent exposure to unhealthy messaging invites us into a cynical, fear-based worldview. On the other hand, conscious exposure to information supporting our well-being shifts us toward growth and expansion. The choice, though, is not always obviously ours, which is why we must be discerning on a daily basis.
The universe is always engaging us—we are part of it, after all—through synchronicity, omens, and other signs that point toward our best path. Our intuition helps us tune in and see our environment like an oracle. How- ever, this new information doesn’t always make sense right away, so being curious and nonresistant is key to learning.

Today be open to receiving important information that may come from an unusual source. The universe wants to help you, but recognizing the way this aid will arrive depends on your willingness to shut out superfluous noise. Maybe you need to take a break from social media, gossip, or the news. Don’t let yourself get distracted. Listen without attachment, and see what arises in your life. Expect a message from the universe and you shall have it.

EXPOSED AND REVEALED

Key concepts: healing shame, the impostor syndrome, letting go of self-condemnation, freedom from past unresolved wounds, focusing on self-worth, the underlying beauty in rejection

When you experience shame, you don’t just feel you’ve done something wrong; you feel like you are wrong—fundamentally flawed. Know that life loves you, and the universe doesn’t make junk, only magic! However, many social interactions (especially online) are steeped in distorted, unhealthy ways of expressing pain by
shaming.

Here is the way out of this: See shame as the heart-wrenching cry for help that it is. Consider whether you could have been triggered in the outer world by unresolved issues that matched all your inner pain points. If
someone is shaming you, perhaps you have triggered them. How miserable they must be to expend their energy on such toxicity! They are drinking poison, hoping you will get sick. You cannot love someone out of their shame; you can only show compassion for both them and yourself, set a healthy boundary, and refuse to
fan the flames.

Look upon shame as an opportunity for growth, evolution, healing, and freedom. With this in mind, can you let go of your attachment to control? Admit that this emotion isn’t something you have power over, and surrender to a Higher Power. There is a sacred quality to the vulnerability inherent in admitting you can’t do this alone. When you allow yourself to be laid open in this way, you gain a beautiful new perspective. Then the healed shame has the infinite power of the Divine to set you free.

GREAT AND FULL

Key concepts: the mindful practice of gratitude, knowing that you are enough, committing to your intentions, a sense of sufficiency, letting go of attachment to form

Before you can begin to understand the process of manifesting your desires, you need to practice deep gratitude and the willingness to share that with others. This is the true nature of prosperity. It’s not about the things you accumulate at all; it’s about how you feel.

You’re invited to surrender to an important truth: there is always enough for you. There is enough time to do the things you need and desire to do, enough opportunities to express your talents and connect to your purpose, and enough magic circulating through the invisible world into the visible.

Begin your day immersed in gratitude for everything you have and everything you can’t yet see: the unmanifest, which begins with every breath you take. Know that you are enough and all your needs are being fulfilled, even if you doubt this in some moments. No one’s success can make you feel small, and comparing yourself to others never works. Your life is brimming with unique potential—focus on that!

When you hold this feeling of gratitude, it acts as a magical “open sesame” to the floodgates of abundance. Couple that with a playful sense of detachment, and you’ll find that miracles have an uncanny way of showing up in your life. Your intentions burst forth into reality with little effort on your part. There is hope brimming with potentiality. It’s okay that you don’t always trust this. You are not alone in holding the candle high for transformation.

Right now, contemplate how being in the energy of “enough” makes you feel. Eventually, you will have no attachment to what you do or do not manifest in the material world, what you do or do not have. Then, like magic, you have more than enough. What a fascinating universe we live in!

IT IS WHAT IT IS

Key concepts: radical acceptance, engaging life on life’s terms, observing circumstances and taking them at face value, recognizing and releasing resistance and denial

What happens when you look at the world? Can you see it exactly as it is or only as you assume it to be? A door closing isn’t an invitation to take a battering ram to it. What if there were another door to lead you to your destiny? If you can release your attachment to getting what you want, you’ll be surprised by how much energy you have for more important things. Liberated from the burden of yearning, you’ll have access to what is best for all. Can you try now to accept things as they are, and shift your focus and attention until that other
door opens up for you?

Radically accept life on life’s terms; when you stop fighting against it and instead fight for what you truly desire, more of the world becomes available to you. When you are no longer in denial about what is in front of you, you will be empowered to make necessary changes with respect to yourself, your attitude, and your choices. The irony is that real transformation can happen once you surrender to the idea that things are exactly as they are meant to be.

If you step back with clarity and acceptance, you will realize that life is offering you something magical. Even if circumstances send you on a temporary detour, you will discover treasure beyond your imagination and a new way to embrace the world. Keep this prayer in mind: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.