Secret First Steps and True Wisdom

I’m writing this forecast as the sun is setting. Even though it’s still hot out here in Durham, the light is changing just enough to remind me that fall is on its way. We have a similar energy in our forecast as the card of accidental beginnings, the Three of Wands, leads the way into the week. Take a moment to consider what paths you may have instinctively committed to or how a personal season in your life has started to shift. Is there a new beginning that’s secretly under way? This week may be the time when the reality of your new path comes into focus.

I can’t help but think of our card for August, The Fool, the ultimate card of starting anew. Zooming out with this archetype in mind, new ventures are particularly blessed this week, especially when they’re ones we’re already exploring. The suit of wands is all about action; learning by doing, exploring, and experimenting is on the menu. We can be creative and adventurous without committing to larger change. In fact, staying away from the intimidating pressure of a ‘big picture’ is key during this time. Keep pushing towards what feels right and see what comes of it. The internal change that’s underway is the true momentous occasion, not the specific shape of whatever you end up doing with your newfound ambitions and energy.

We have a powerful card at the center of our reading: The Hierophant. I’m imagining The Fool, having stepped off the snowy precipice shown on their card, entering into the halls of The Hierophant, a place where questions receive answers and mysteries are revealed. Because this comes on the heels of the Three of Wands this week, it’s likely that important pieces of information will come to us in surprising ways - what starts out casually may end up being profound. Be alert for snippets of wisdom that, with attention and care, can grow into powerful breakthroughs. What we find out in the world as we live our daily lives can bring us to a place of deeper knowing.

The Hierophant is also a card of lineage, tradition, and even sometimes institutions. Keep your sense of self as you navigate these spaces, be mindful of the questions you want to ask, and then humbly wait for answers. This sounds loft and it very well could be, but it could also show up as a move towards a more formal path of learning or mentorship.

Our final card shows us a potential pitfall. The Hierophant is the number five in the Major Arcana sequence, and our final card is a five as well - the Five of Swords. We may find ourselves challenged to discern between these two fives or choose between them. Is harshness masquerading as wisdom? Competition taking the place of collaboration? The Five of Swords is combative and cruel; it sees the world as a contest, a zero-sum game. Be mindful of this worldview in yourself and others.

Swords are also cutting, tending to see the world in absolutes, while The Hierophant reflects multifaceted, spiritual knowledge. It will be our challenge to steer away from false confidence, ideas of absolute right and wrong, and prescriptive answers. The key task this week is to keep going while learning to live in the mystery, waiting for it to unfurl while we keep good company and continue to ask the questions that matter most to us.