A Tide Rising Towards The Empress

We have a gorgeous and tender reading to guide our week, dear readers. Two of the cards here are ones that I’ve been holding in my mind recently: the Six of Swords as a representation of a recent personal transition and The Empress as a fun beacon - wouldn’t it be nice to see this card again?

Well, here it is, directing us towards satisfying self-possession and creativity. Our array gives a very clear picture: The waters from the Ace of Cups are rising to ferry us across a meaningful mental and emotional change, and ultimately to the far shore where The Empress awaits.

It all begins with the Ace of Cups. This card is a gorgeous gift - a wellspring of feeling, beauty, and delight. Our job at the beginning of the week is to simply notice where this energy is showing up in our lives. Where do you feel happiness? Joy? Tenderness? Nothing is too small, too unassuming.

Bringing our attention to little moments has a magnifying effect, though of course there can (and likely will) be epic examples of the Ace of Cups’ magic. Think falling in love, finding a purpose, experiencing moments of transcendence. Love what is here so that you can be open to new examples of this ace’s bounty.

Our past few weeks have been guided by more intense readings, so it might take a second to adjust to this new focus (hence the emphasis on little, digestible Ace of Cups experience). If you’re struggling to get in an Ace of Cups mindset, focus instead of receiving over producing. Let yourself exhale as the week starts, put down whatever aspects of your mental load you can, and make room for whatever wants to come next.

We’re also switching between two paired Major Arcana cards, transitioning from The Emperor of several weeks ago to The Empress this week. Notice how power, confidence, and authority now feel more organic and authentic to you. The rigid armor of The Emperor is no longer necessary; we can recline in the comfortable robes of The Empress and feel the fresh air on our faces. Ease into this new sense of confidence. It may have been necessary recently to draw some boundaries that felt harsh or austere; this week, those choices reveal themselves to be wise. Having done what you needed to do, where do you find yourself now? And how can you relax into this more comfortable and inspiring environment?

Our central card, the Six of Swords, gives our reading some complexity and a welcome sense of agency. It’s not just the gifts of the Ace of Cups placing us on the throne of The Empress, it’s also our bravery and determination to do things differently, rethink what we’ve inherited, and envision a new way of being. I’ve been thinking a lot about the idea of blueprints and how it’s often hard to build something that deviates from the plans we’ve seen in our families, communities, and cultures. The Six of Swords illustrates the moment of uncertainty and movement that occurs when we commit to a change - moving towards the other shore - but don’t have a working blueprint with which to implement it. In other words, we’re making it up as we go along, but with the powers of the discerning and intelligent swords suit.

This week, think of the swords that you’re carrying with you as you move into a period of confidence and comfort. What tools are you working with? How can you trust your ability to creatively envision and then implement a better future for yourself? The Ace of Cups moments may simply moments of pleasure that help move you forward, but they could also be seeds of inspiration that directly influence your plans and actions. This is absolutely a time to trust that things can work out wonderfully and also set yourself in the center of your life. What makes you feel empowered, well-resourced, and vibrant? Move towards this. Make a new blueprint as you go. Build, enjoy, and flourish.