Strong Enough to Let Beauty In

A special announcement before we dive in - the Year Ahead Readings are live! I’m doing a last farewell to these epic written readings (20+ pages!). The first batch for paid subscribers sold out in two hours, and I’m only able to do five more. If you’d like one be sure to order, otherwise stay tuned for a special reading for 2024 on the podcast in a few weeks. Next week we’ll be doing a special “Holiday Survival/Celebration” reading - I hope you all are thriving, enduring, or just being your lovely selves during this wild time.

We’ve been on a little cups journey lately, dear readers. Last month, we were working with the Page of Cups - a cheeky, inspiring character who embodies curiosity and open-heartedness - in a reading that dealt with a final tour through the Five of Pentacles. Having emotional curiosity, our readings were telling us, would help us through challenge and difficulty. How does that resonate with you now?

This week we’re really starting to feel and see the results of all our emotional labor. How have you been prioritizing your well-being, following your feelings and intuitive wisdom, and being brave enough to wear your heart on your sleeve? Last week, the Page of Cups appeared again, reminding us to stay open and receptive (and loving and flexible) in the face of new information. For me, this has been appearing in unusually frank and vulnerable conversations. It’s felt important, transformative, and slightly awkward which is very much in line with the pages’ bumbling charm. They’re not experts, they’re learning! And so are we.

Our current reading, however, starts with the King of Cups, suggesting we’ve leveled-up. Take a moment to appreciate your newfound skills. What’s feeling less awkward? How has putting yourself out there and following your heart uplifted a part of yourself that felt hidden, lost, or undervalued? The Page —> King transition is surprisingly potent. We didn’t even have a stopover in a Knight card, technically the next in the court card sequence. This makes me think that stepping into the Page of Cups uncovered some latent skills and talents. Lean into whats’ working for you and try not to overthink it. Trusting yourself and your emotional and intuitive strength will be immensely satisfying this week.

Why do I say this? Well, for one, a King or Queen is always something to celebrate. These cards represent mastery and skill. Kings, in particular, point us towards the roles we play in the social world. You may find yourself called to lead, consult, or move forward in cups-related things this week: interpersonal dynamics, romantic relationships, and matters of the heart. Remembering that you are well-equipped to do this, even if it feels new, will keep you on solid ground.

As lovely as it is, sometimes this card can denote a more tumultuous emotional environment around you. Staying closely connected to what you heart wants, you own emotional equilibrium, and a long-term vision of the future will help you weather any turbulence. (And, spoiler alert, there will be some turbulence, as seen in our final card, the Knight of Swords.)

Our second resounding yes in the reading is our next card, the Ace of Cups. This is so joyful! You may remember that we had the Ace of Swords in our reading last week. There’s so much newness on the scene, and now it’s around connection, love, and spirituality. We had a surprisingly bold manifestation of our ace last week (lots of actual news & unexpected breakthroughs) and I’m wondering if it’ll be the same here. In any case, be on the lookout for responses to requests, prayers, and dreams you’ve been holding in the world of the cups suit. It’s likely you’ll receive an answer in the coming days. Our work with the Page and King of cups is bringing about some loveliness, and it’s hard-won. Be sure you’re willing and able to receive goodness, love, and beauty, even if it feels a little exposing.

This will likely take some cajoling, as our final card is literally flying in the face of all this cups-centered joy and mastery. The Knight of Swords, to put it plainly, is threatened by all this emotional abudance! This could appear is internal pushback - a part of yourself afraid that if you have nice things, bad things will happen to you - or external meddling. Jealousy, negative comments, and naysaying could rise up in response to your good fortune and newly visible capabilities. Because of the contrast (cups vs. swords), it’s likely that this will be very obvious. Luckily, the King of Cups is more than able to withstand negativity, and the kingly thing to do is be prepared. How can you bolster yourself stepping into the week? How can you commit to emotional abundance and authenticity now and make anything less than that wildly self-evident and unattractive?

Fortunately, I have a feeling that this is more in line with swatting away a mosquito than rushing headlong into battle. In fact, take another look at this King. They’re seated on their throne, unbothered despite being in the ocean. Whenever you experience the wild charge of the Knight of Swords this week, whether it’s in the form of an envious person or your self-limiting internal monologue, channel this poise and flexibility. You don’t have to get up to field every attack, or even acknowledge it. There are some beautiful cups being offered up, and we need to have free hands to accept them. Let the knights charge on by and enjoy the results of your commitment to yourself, your heart, and genuinely lovely connections and opportunities.