Yesterday I talked about the New Year and how the Chariot will govern this year. Today we are starting the first week of the year and I’m pulling Tarot cards to find out what we should all be aware of this week.
Don’t Jump Into the New Year
The deck I chose is the Light Seer’s Tarot which is rich with more modern imagery. The first thing I notice about this draw is the reverse progression: 9-8-2. This suggests taking a step back and reviewing the situation. If we look at this along with my comments about the Chariot yesterday, it suggests not jumping into things. Pull back and look at the big picture for whatever is important to you.
The second thing that caught my eye was the suits of the cards: two Pentacles and one Major Arcana. So we understand this spread to be looking at material things such as money and possessions but also grounding yourself. The suit of Pentacles is down to earth and grounded. But then we have the High Priestess who is about more internal, emotional things. Before doing work on ourselves, it helps to be grounded and centered.
Acknowledge Your Riches in the New Year
The Nine of Pentacles reminds us to find joy in what we have. This card has a figure working in her very magickal garden. Is that bird a dove or a white hawk? The beak looks more like a hawk to me, but is it landing or taking off? Notice the cauldron and book barely seen behind the figure who is dressed in white. From the ceiling, or perhaps a strong tree branch hangs bundled herbs and beautiful mandela-like pentacles.
We haven’t reached complete success yet, there is still a way to go, but it is important to stop and enjoy, to notice and appreciate what we already have. What inspirational white birds are landing in our garden? Will we welcome it as a new inspiration or see it as a distraction?
Pick a Focus this Week
Next, we have the Eight of Pentacles which is all about focused, concentrated work. What needs work in your immediate sphere? You received all of the good things we saw in the Nine of Pentacles because of the work you did with the Eight of Pentacles. So look around your metaphorical garden. Where does your attention need to focus? What new thing do you need to really buckle down and work on? This focus will be different for everyone, of course. It is most important to pick something you can and will really put the work into this year.
For me, this card (and the reading overall) hits home because I’ve started a project that will last all year. This project will literally include the crystals, books, candles, and moon cycles depicted in these cards. For me, this reading is very blunt and non-metaphorical, something which always blows me away!
The High Priestess Opens the New Year Door
Finally, we meet the High Priestess. This is a Major Arcana card that generally suggests lessons or obstacles we need to understand and process through. 
In this case, we are being told to go within and connect with our own subconscious knowledge.
This might be through meditation, calming the mind so that you can hear those deep thoughts. It might mean a deeper, more intensive study of your field of interest. This card is all about learning to trust yourself, and your gut feelings, and to act on those feelings.
Identify, Focus, and Trust
I like to give action steps to my clients and this reading practically writes its own. First, recognize the wealth you already have, not in dollars, euros, or yen, but the lovely, wonderful things you already possess. When you know what you really possess, you can then identify what is missing.
The work begins when you know what is missing. Focus on what you want to gain, whether it is a course of study, a better job, a clean house, or getting healthy. Incorporate this focus into your daily routine. For example, I want to have a healthier, stronger body so I’ve decided to listen to my podcasts while walking on my treadmill or stretching instead of cozying up on the couch. How can you insert your focus into your daily routine?
Trust your instincts. Picking a focus that your gut feeling says you won’t really do is pointless. I need to have a healthy body if I want to spend my elder years with my husband. I know I won’t go to the gym, so I’m adding small things to my regular routine to achieve this goal.
Start a New Meditation Practice
A final thought. I giggled when the High Priestess appeared because I know exactly what the Tarot is telling me: “Meditate”! I’ve been getting this message for 12 months, but I’m stubborn and hate being told what to do, and have unconsciously ignored the call. I want to restart, but I “forget”. Let me tell you, if you forget something that you want to focus on, you are probably blocking yourself. In my case, I need to give meditation a fixed place in my daily routine, just as I do my Duolingo Spanish and French classes.
Let me know how this resonates with you in the comments! Questions and suggestions are welcome, as always.
What Clients are Saying about Sophrosyne Tarot
I was advised to ask open-ended questions instead of predictive questions which I thought was helpful because I never would have known if it weren’t for the reader. The reader provided the reading along with some advice too so the entire reading was very thorough and explained in an understandable manner.
Everything said was accurate and helpful for me to identify my flaws in order to grow as a person. I have learned a lot about tarot and what it does to help me.
I am having so much fun reading your blog. I don’t know anything about tarot cards, but I’m already learning quite a bit. And you are a good writer too! My focus this year is getting the first draft of my book finished. It’s been a goal for quite some time, but I’m an empty nester now, so I feel like this year, it’s in the cards! 😉
Thank you Elisa! How exciting! I hope you’re able to finish it this year! I’m contemplating writing one myself, but need to work out a topic!
Wonderful and perfect!! Thank you so much! I drew the high priestess today too!