🌈 A Subtle & Gentle Breakthrough

Well, first things first: We had such a magical forecast last week!

In a fit of sleep-deprived inspiration I decided to open up the interpretation to readers and, while I shouldn’t be surprised - you all are an absolutely magical bunch - the result was a wellspring on insight, wisdom, and exciting takes.

What did you all think of this iteration of the forecast? I’m considering making it a regular feature and would love to hear from you!

I’m feeling something regular but not constant, like 1x a month or so, but as always would love to hear your thoughts and ideas, so please share any in the comments below.

If you missed the post, I highly recommend taking a look to see just how talented and engaged the community is here. Personally, I was very touched: The messages were just what I needed, and I’m so glad I reached out to see what would happen, so thank you to all of you who shared so generously.

Alright, let’s see what’s on deck for our current week. After a major arcana-heavy reading (how did The World and The Star play out for you all?) I’m hoping for something that’s a bit of a comedown. Some gentleness during all this upheaval would be nice, no? So here we go; I’m about to shuffle and turn things over…

Ha! Well, we do have a major arcana card starting things off, but it’s one that symbolizes balance and moderation, so at least things are relatively gentle. Impactful and gentle.

Temperance is one of those cards that, like The Hanged Man, elicits both awe and confusion. There’s a sense of peace and focus - it sure would be nice to be placidly pouring water back and forth in a lush landscape - and also a sense of otherworldliness; it’s not as easy, though, to imagine ourselves as a calm angel with majestic wings and flowing robes.

We have, however, a few bridges that connect Temperance to both our everyday life (our final card, the Six of Pentacles) and our concluding card from last week, The Star. Look back to the past few days to see how your dedication to holistic care has been helping you. Since The Star is a rather mystical card and the dimmest of the celestial cards in tarot, the answer to this question may not be immediately obvious. Instead of looking to your mind to identify what’s working, look to your body first: What has been making you feel more grounded, connected, and present? Has been allowing you to show up in the world with gentle curiosity?

This week, Temperance shows us that continuing to commit to this path will bring a sense of balance to our lives. I also can’t resist sharing a tarot nerd connection here: the water in both The Star and Temperance can be seen as one and the same. Two pools flowing into each other! In this way, we’re staying in the environment - physical or, especially, emotional/spiritual - that has brought us peace. Instead of staying crouched in introspection and vulnerability, however, we’re rising up, clothed in intention and purpose. Something is allowing us to stand up taller, take up space, and feel more comfortable caring for ourselves and our world in a way that’s full of integrity and presence.

What I’m sensing here is tarot-speak for we’re on the right path, but we don’t need to be extra about it. In fact, staying calmly dedicated and patient will help us open up our senses so that we can perceive deeper truths. It’s very Hermit-like and for those of us working directly with that card, some of the answers to our big questions for 2025 may begin to come into focus during this time. As such, it’s a week to really prioritize giving ourselves whatever distance from distraction we need to hone in on what matters to us. Space, a chance to sink into a flow state, a peaceful and inspiring environment… this is all paramount to our deepening under Temperance.

And, of course, there’s the literal meaning of the card. This is not a week to go wild! As a Sagittarius, I’ve always laughed at how this card is the one in the deck associated with my sign. We are not known for our moderation! Yet I’m wondering if there’s another message here; that we can exercise moderation in our physical and material lives while cultivating abundance and excess in our emotional and spiritual lives. Here, excess is a positive force, much like the rainbow in the Ten of Cups that’s mirrored above the angel in Temperance. The tens are, in my approach, their group taken to the extreme. In many cases this is unpleasant like in the violence of the Ten of Swords or the overload of the Ten of Wands. Yet in cups we’re given an expanse of joy; loving freely and exuberantly gives outward in beautiful, generative ways, especially when doing so is backed by the wisdom of a card like Temperance.

All this is to say that there will be surprising breakthroughs to be found in staying with what’s working, even if you don’t quite understand it yet. It’s all in the feeling, trusting in it, and also being open to the hidden wisdom in all of us. Our higher-self is on standby with input, so make sure to leave room for it to emerge and to practice identifying what it sounds like when it speaks.

In the middle of the week we get a visit from the shifty Seven of Swords. Remember how we were just talking about the swords being tricky in excess? I’m feeling a similar danger here; that the peace, joy, and invitation to change being cultivated under The Star and Temperance are kicking up some challenging thoughts. The Seven of Swords is not a direct card, however. It likes to deal in subterfuge and manipulation, hiding its intentions. Is there a part of us that wants to stay safe and move away from change? Be sure to look at any avoidant patterns, especially as they turn up in thoughts and beliefs, with skepticism. Might there be something that needs reassurance? A piece of your past that feels it can’t belong in the lushness of Temperance?

There’s a lot to discover here as well as the danger of turning away from something beautiful, so exercise caution when considering big changes or making huge declarations. I’d also like to point out that the Seven of Swords is running away from people. We see them scampering away, gleefully it seems, from the hubbub of society. Yet what can we gain from isolation? Protection from judgment? The person is holding their swords as if they want to steal away with them. Perhaps they can’t stand up to the scrutiny of others, suggesting that this person is fleeing criticism. And maybe they think their swords don’t belong in this space - have the stolen some of them? Do they feel insecure about their ability to wield them properly?

Whatever it is you find yourself wanting to run away from this week, ask yourself what you’re protecting. Both The Star and Temperance show a state of peace and confidence. When we’re connected to our true self, inner wisdom, and values not much can phase us in the outer world. We know we always have our own backs and that we can handle whatever life throws at us. I’m sensing that this week will give us some uncomfortable and ultimately gratifying chances to practice our fortitude and break old patterns.

Not only would running away from connection and confrontation detract from the muscles we’ve been building through these two major arcana cards, it’s also taking us away from some very practical and supportive interactions with the world. The Six of Pentacles shows an exchange. Yes, its illustration reads power to our modern eyes, but this card touches on the theme of the 6s - balance - and the suit of the pentacles, stability. In other words, reaching out, giving and receiving, and seeking help will bring much-needed balance to our lives. We’re poised to help ourselves and others, an example of Temperance writ large in our everyday life.

Well, it’s clear I could go on and on about this reading! It’s very fun to have a tarot meander after some more concise readings. Please share any thoughts and interpretations in the comments below, too.

And now for our embrace/avoid section…