This card’s keywords are: balance, compassion and understanding. It is truly a feat of wonder to know when to apply Strength and when to abstain. Tarot’s Strength represents that force and understanding. It is not always appropriate to tackle an issue head on, nor is it always necessary to do so. Hold the drinking glass too tightly and it shatters, but hold it too loosely and it falls to the floor spilling its’ contents everywhere. There is a delicate balance to the application of Strength. Use just what is needed, not more and not less.

"This lion and I are going to get along just fine!"

What have I learned from Strength today?

I have learned that assertion of your needs is not always necessary, but it can be refreshing sometimes. I was on my out to eat for lunch at my favorite sushi bar, they have a more Americanized-style of sushi, and I did not have any quarters for the parking meter so I stopped by another favorite place to get some change. The place was completely deserted, and the man the counter was sad that I on;y wanted to get change for my $5 bill. It took all my reserve not to stay at this place and to go on to my original destination. Some tough choices are not always the most obvious ones.

What does The Chariot have to say?

The charioteer knows limitations well enough! The Chariot is always pushing its’ boundaries never content to seek the balance of a happy medium when it can roll over the obstacle instead. Yet, sometimes, this rash and bold approach is not what is required. The Chariot sometimes has to wait delays out. The chosen route has experienced some major flooding. using Strength, the charioteer can calmly and efficient guide the The Chariot’s horses to safer trails. The thought, “How much force is too much?” Is constantly going through the charioteer’s mind day in and day out.

First, the Intuition Only camp common arguments are:

“If you use the Little White Book (the tiny interpretative booklet that comes with many decks) you will not learn to trust your intuition.”

This statement sounds logical, however, the Little White book (LWB) was written by someone else and only has keywords or phrases because it is so small. I like to think of the LWB as a bunch of flashcards for Tarot reading. Flashcards are useful for memorizing things and if that is your goal to memorize, they help immensely. Often, the LWB is helpful to get an idea about what the artist and author think of their Tarot deck. How the creator’s see the Tarot deck you have just purchased. Gaining outside input will not harm, or hinder in anyway, your own intuitive skills and abilities. You might find that Tarot speaks differently to you than it does to its’ originators!

“Books are a crutch you don’t need; they will only slow the creative and bonding processes down and confuse your intuition.”

I do not know about you, but I have never had a book about Tarot slow down my creative and bonding processes with any Tarot deck! I have had some Tarot books confuse me a bit, due to poor wording and confusing terminology, but even those did not confuse my intuition. I am an avid reader though, I love books of any sort. The tarot books I do choose to read, I pick based on reviews I have read. I do not feel that using Tarot books is crutch, unless when reading them, you turn off your intuition completely. None of the Tarot readers I know are capable of doing that!

“Reading Tarot books decreases your ability and skill as a Tarot reader.”

This argument is particularly telling. You do not see comments made about reading computer coding books, educating books, or psychology books. The rest of the literary world does not say that reading books on a new way to teach kids makes your skill as teacher decrease. In fact, reading teaching books is encouraged to keep abreast of the latest tips, tricks, and trends. So why do Tarot books take the fall here? This is because Tarot is not a hard-and-fast science. Proof or not, reading a book about anything can only increase your skill in that area as it can only increase your knowledge.

The next article in this series will address the Tarot Book Reading statements.

Keywords and phrases that describe him are: materialistic, unmotivated, and big spender. He may be a gambler or seeking money without working for it. Either way, the King of Pentacles is not the wise saver he was when upright. Things are precarious around this king and he well knows it!

Reversed: "I think I'll spend more money on food, and clothing next..."

What can be learned from the King of Pentacles reversed?

Today I have learned that to spend money you must save it. There is no free lunch, and sometimes cutting back on my daily latte is for the best even though it makes me twinge a little inside. When I save money, I invest even more in my future! Two days ago, I ate out every meal, and let me tell you, that definitely made my pocketbook a bit thin. The King of Pentacles is reminding me to rein it in a lot if I want to move into a bigger place when my lease is up. Prioritize is the name of today’s game!

How does The Chariot feel about this?

The charioteer is running low on finances now. Tim to get back to basics! No more heated seats, golden hub caps, or diamond-studded reigns for this charioteer. Who needs that flashy stuff anyway? As long as the horses are fed and rested and The Chariot runs smoothly and without a hitch, it really dos not matter at all. What matters is The Chariot’s performance on race day!

Pride, validation, and triumph are some keywords commonly associated with the Six of Wands. Look closely at the Six of Wands, what keywords come to mind for you? In this card, I see someone who is very proud of their hard and is thoroughly enjoying the recognition of others. Looking at the horses eyes’ though I see a bit of admonishment and a reminder to be humble. What do you see in this card?

"My laurel crown and this festive crowd are nice. Thank you for coming to see me! I love all of you!"

What can be learned from the Six of Wands today?

For every success I have, it is necessary to recognize the people who helped me get to that point. One that peak is reached, what will be my next triumph? It is important to always keep moving along not to dwell over one thing for too long. What brings me to this victorious ride? I must not forget my guiding force; which is family, friends and Tarot itself all who are constantly keeping me humble and in perspective. The public acclaim is great but I need to remember that I am not doing any of this for the audience; it is for myself and I would be doing this if no one was watching me.

What does The Chariot have to tell us regarding this card?

Victory comes and it goes. It is what you do in between, the massive training sessions to keep in shape that matters most! The recognition is wonderful but unless the charioteer works hard every day, it will not happen with regularity. Sometimes, no matter how fast The Chariot flies, there is always someone else who has a better time around the race track than the charioteer’s. Recognition or not, a victory is still a victory with the Six of Wands!

The Page of Cups is suffering from a creative block, and is emotionally unable to handle things. He is surrounded by his feelings; the water, with no grounding; the land, in sight. Without an anchor, there is nothing else to do but soak in the emotions, all of them. “Go on,” this cards says, “really feel those hidden feelings.” Let them out. Just remember, even if he cannot see the line in the sand it is still there, separating reality from hopes and and dreams.

Reversed: "Yay! Play time at the beach! I wish this could last forever!"

Can the Page of Cups teach me?

At first glance, a young child playing frivolously at the beach may not seem to have much wisdom to impart. Yet, watch as he creates the sand castle, he knows how far the tide will reach on the beach, he knows how much sand to stack, and he knows when the castle is complete and requires no more sea shells, towers, or moats. He is satisfied with his creation. The Page of Cups reversed has taught me a lesson in moderation today. Nothing lasts forever, not even beautiful sand castles. I should seek the completely accepting love of another, or better yet, create it for myself today.

The Chariot has been spending a lot of time by the water this month. What has it learned about emotions from this young page?

The Page of Cups has convinced the charioteer that he is not good enough to finish the race. Oh, no! The Charioteer now doubts himself and his potential. Maybe the charioteer was beaten by the others and has gotten into a low streak. The Page of Cups does not have the enthusiasm he has when upright. The charioteer needs to rally around his biggest and most adoring fans to get through this slump. Soon enough the low points will be high again. Getting discouraged will not help. The Chariot must keep moving to leave this dreary place behind.

The Hanged Man reversed is, for the time, unyielding, stuck, and unable to transform. The he has already changed himself, but he is unwilling to accept what this can mean for his future away from the tree. He needs to release the fears he has in order to move forward. Transformation is a hard process to go through, let alone to accept. Like a teenager thrust into adulthood, The Hanged Man will have to embrace what is now and become free of the past. The upside here is that once he unbinds himself, he can simply walk away from the tree as he is not knotted to the branch!

Reversed: "Why should I move away from this nice shady tree?"

What does The Hanged Man reversed teach me?

He teaches me that being stubborn, which may be emotionally satisfying, can only hurt the transformation process. There is no use analyzing the spilled milk willing it back into the glass. it happened, accept it; as hard as that may be. I also know that I am in control. I can choose to stay standing in this nice cool spot under the tree or I can go. Nothing but my own fear is keeping me from being successful.

How does he effect The Chariot‘s path this month?

The mental clarity from the Two of Swords yesterday has turned into fear and doubt today. What if The Chariot cannot make it/ What if I could have navigated that turn a little better or passed the other chariot? Those questions are in the past, now is the time to focus on the future. Hopefully the charioteer will realize that before the next great race. The skills that have been honed for so long have already achieved a transformation, it is up to the The Chariot’s driver to understand that there is no place for fear and doubt in any race.

Keywords that related to the Two of Swords are: flow, patience and openness. This card deals with making decisions and really thinking about the options. The figure is blindfolded to help eliminate the distractions in the surrounding environment. Clearly trust is required more than ever now! There must be a flow and openness to the thoughts; any and all thoughts are welcome for the woman is quite well-balanced on the bench. She is well aware of what the slightest movement could cost her and so she waits patiently.

"It's nice just sitting here for minute to think. This bench is quite comfortable..."

What have I learned from the Two of Swords today?

I have learned that patience is a virtue. Rushing things do not make them arrive or finish any sooner, it is only more annoying for those who are waiting. Take a step back and pause. Enjoy the quiet for the hustle and bustle will come soon enough. Be open to everything. I learned that there will always be something to do tomorrow, try not to be overworked.

How does this related to February’s Tarot Card of the Month?

The Chariot can stop for awhile to plan its’ next move. Does it take the next race, or travel homeward? Keep the horses or trade them in for fresh and more rested ones? Many decisions lie ahead and thankfully, there is plenty of time to decide on a course of action. Sometimes, rest is better than constant momentum. A calm and clear mind sees things that a frantically working one can overlook.

Back on track today! The Daily Tarot Lesson is the Eight of Cups.

“As I make my slow pilgrimage through the world, a certain sense of beautiful mystery seems to gather and grow,” -A. C. Benson.

This watering hole has done all it can do for me. Time to go!

Some keywords that describe the Eight of Cups are: Evolution, phases, and Pilgrimage. This is a card for journeys; of the spirit and the self. The figure in the Eight of Cups is dissatisfied with the current environment. Perhaps the water source has trickled down to nothing, the ground is too muddy to build upon, or maybe it is simply time for a change of scenery. Bravely marching ever onward proud of all that the upright cups have helped to discover, yet knowing the journey is not over. There is more to learn, see, and do, and reveal.

What have I learned from the Eight of Cups?

I have learned that no matter how much I think I know, there more yet that do not. The increasing amount of effort I put into controlling the walkabout of life yield ever decreasing control, and fulfillment for my life. I may not accurately be able to plan my life’s voyage, but my plans have failed to account for some of my greatest experiences thus far! I have learned to expect delays, trials, and detours that can take you to the best parts of the trip. Sometimes it is prudent to cut the bait and go on instead of spending more time fishing. No one knows what will happen, that is why it is called life, not certainty.

What does this month’s Tarot card, The Chariot, have to say?

The fastest route is not always the best way to travel. Sometimes there is a tree in the road and a detour must be taken. Being flexible has its’ benefits. There maybe a person whose own chariot has broken down and requires assistance. The athlete who learns the most from winning is he one who cherishes each loss more than each win. Not even the charioteer knows for certain what the route will be like, even if there are no detours.

Today instead of a Tarot Daily Lesson Post, I have special treat for you, a Valentine’s Day Spread for the World!

First, an explanation of the spread itself: there are three rows and each is labeled. The bottom reads, “The Present”, the middle row is “The Advice”, and the top row is “The Outcome”.

You will notice that each Tarot card has an outline around it and there are circles to the right of each row. The outlines and circles correspond to the card’s elemental alignment. Blue is for Water, Orange is for Fire, and Green is for Earth. The circles also indicate the elemental triad type so the Tarot cards can be interpreted individually and as a three-card triad.

Before the interpretation of this spread begins, I want to look at the patterns it has. First, there are no Swords or Air-aligned Major Arcana cards present. Second, the bottom, and top rows are upright, while the middle row is reversed. Interestingly enough, there are three Fire, Earth and Water elemental cards. The three Major Arcana cards are aligned to three different elements. There are two Cups, Pentacles and Wands in the spread making it oddly very balanced to my eye.

Now, the juicy interpretation!

The Present is the Ten of Wands, the Eight of Cups, and the Nine of Wands. Overextended, Seeking Spiritual Enlightenment, and Determination.

What a combination! Time to start delegating and letting things go, the Ten of Wands, to move beyond the emotional scarcity toward greater spiritual understanding, the Eight of Cups, and to see it through until the end, Nine of Wands.

This row basically says, “Stop trying to find love all the time! Relax and it will come to you.” Focusing on finding love when you have not focused yourself first is like focusing on why the leaf is brown and neglecting to water the tree. Take the time to sort out who you are and spend the time getting to know yourself. The hard emotional work will pay off in the end when you have found the love that completes you.  Focus on your core first; the finer details will come later.

The first row is a Split-Double Element triad, Fire-Water-Fire. The central card is weak and has little influence. Reaching out to family while trying to maintain independence can be hard. It may be painful emotionally if the Fire burns too much away, but scars can be healed with time. This triad is serious about doing emotional work. It is time to clear away the emotions and start fresh. Grow or go.

The Advice comes in the form of the Three of Cups reversed, the Seven of Pentacles reversed, and the Wheel of Fortune reversed. Overindulgence, Hard Work, but Little Profit, Don’t Press Your Luck!

The advice in this row is: to communicate wisely, the Three of Cups R, to work smart but not hard, the Seven of Pentacles R, and to know when to hold ‘em, The Wheel of Fortune R.

This row echoes The Present. You cannot be everything to everyone all the time. It may seem that best way to find love is to always be out there, partying it up. That might work for a little while, but love is built over honest communication and work. It requires constant thought and effort. If things are not working out, try a different approach next time. Use the low periods to plan your next big move and know that eventually you will hit the Love Jackpot. You will hit it sooner if you follow the advice.

The second row is the triple element triad of Water-Earth-Fire. The outer cards cancel each other out leaving Earth standing alone holding the bag.  Though, it does have enough fortitude to shoulder the task. It may seem that you are alone. You are not. The emotions that were cleared away have made way for a new set of priorities. Now I the time to create the relationship habits that will yield a higher love profit for you!

The Outcome of this reading, if the advice is followed, is the Nine of Pentacles, The World, and The Hanged Man. Attunement, Fulfillment and Surrender.

Wow! Look at that! All the hard work has really paid off big time and it will yield the best loving results possible! Not only will you have the truest understanding of yourself, the Nine of Pentacles, you will be fulfilled, The World, and you will learn the love that lasts is found in surrendering individual needs for those you love, The Hanged Man. The end result is harmonious, joyous, glorious love shared by all!

This is, as I suggested earlier, a truly balanced spread for the World. Love is a fine a delicate balance, after all. Love neither gives, nor takes, too much for itself. It is found in the infinite loop of sharing equally with others.

The final row contains the double element triad, Earth-Earth-Water. The central card is strong in this triad.  Staying in by the fire is a great idea! Relax a while and enjoy the comforts of a loving home. Soon enough it will be time to venture outside into the world, but not just yet. Spend ample time showing those you love just how much you adore them!