In the Big Picture scheme of things, it looks as though things are changing in a more positive direction.  This is a very spiritual and karmically oriented time.  Change is part of the cyclical nature of life … though change itself is very difficult and can almost be traumatic.  If you have been experiencing difficulties in your life recently, remember Gandolf’s maxim:  this too shall pass.  Remember that in nearly all instances, we somehow contribute to what is happening in our lives.  It’s not all blind Fate.  If you’ve been riding high and doing well, keep your perspective:  what goes up must come down because Change is inevitable.  Live in this Now, be grateful for all you have going for yourself in your life, and realize that most everything around you is out of your direct control.  Actually, you ought to be good with all of these notions and roll with the punches.  Remain positive and upbeat.  Financial pressures are easing up a bit, bringing a bit of breathing room for those of us who have been struggling with money matters lately.

Today is about giving and receiving and the balance between them.  Show your gratitude for what you have received by giving to charity, or helping another with resources.  Pay it back.  Pay it forward.  Perhaps if you have been giving of yourself, today you will see your effort returned.  Don’t be too proud to accept help from those that have more.  What goes around comes around.  Pay attention to how you use your energy and resources.  If you feel resentful or exhausted, look for ways to give in a more balanced manner.  If you are not getting what you expect in a situation, look at what you are giving.

You have the potential to make things happen.  The key to taking control of your life is to have a vision and then take action to make it happen.  Intention and action are both required.  When your intentions and actions are aligned, real magic occurs!  Start gathering the resources you need to meet your goals.  The universe is empowering you to manifest your vision.  Take advantage of this opportunity by staying focused on your goals and applying your power!

When making choices today, take a long-term, heart-centered perspective.  Put the feelings and well being of yourself and your loved ones first.  A choice made purely from logic that goes against what feels good or right is not the right choice today.  Ask yourself if your head and your heart are united.  If you have a decision to make now, tune in to your heart’s desire, but also pay attention to logic.  If you are acting out of love, you are on the right path.  Take responsibility and ownership for the choices you have made.

Solitude is your friend today. Make sure you get plenty of alone time. Get to know yourself. What you learn will help you in more ways than you know. The Hermit indicates a need or desire to withdraw from the world. He is a wise old man who has learned much about himself and his world through deep introspection and meditation. Your soul may be craving a retreat in order to replenish and restore. By taking space and solitude now, you will be ready to engage with and guide others when they most need you later on. The answers you seek will be found within you, not in any book or on any website. You might also benefit from seeking the guidance of a wise counselor or mentor.

You will be spending time, money and energy on your home, getting it to be more comfortable.  This is a good thing, provided you don’t take on too much debt.  People will be looking to you for insight and/or advice.  You will be able to help them, if you are so inclined.  This is a time period when you can get a lot accomplished.  You are likely to make great headway now.  A woman with dark hair and/or eyes may play a significant role in your working life; if so, know that she is an ally for you.  If possible, bring items from your home life into your work situation.  This will help you to feel more “at home” there, and will likely make you more effective.  This card is an excellent omen when it comes to money.  Your prosperity level is very likely to be increasing.  Don’t hesitate to spend some of your new-found wealth.  Saving is important, but enjoying your life when you have the means to do so is also important.  Share what you have when you can.

Share your joy and love today.  Let your heart lead you to truly express yourself.  Whatever you put out into the world, whether it is a piece of art or writing, a heartfelt conversation with a friend, or an invitation to share some pleasure, will cause happiness and love to multiply.  You are surrounded by a grateful and joyous family.  You have enough happiness to share with those around you.  Your emotional connections and home life are blessed.  Take this time to be grateful for all the love and happiness you have in your life.  Just be certain that your ideas about relationships are not based on fairy tale endings.  Instead of bemoaning that you’ll never have “happily ever after”, take some time to focus on all you do have.  Gratitude and Appreciation will carry you quite far today.  Take the hint.

The World, or Universe, represents assured success, recompense, voyage, route, emigration, flight and change of place.  It represents perfection and end of the Cosmos, the secret which is within it … the rapture of the universe when it understands itself in God.  It is further the state of the soul in the consciousness of Divine Vision, reflected from the self-knowing spirit.  Today, consider how wonderfully complete you are in all your uniqueness.  Find the time today to reflect on your story with appreciation and gratitude for all the opportunities that brought you to the place where you stand today.  Celebrate today.  You’ve levelled up!

It’s time to admit that something is over. It’s time to let it go. Stop thinking about it. Stop talking about it. There’s no need to get in the last word. Let it go and move on. If you don’t, you’ll only be dragging out your own suffering. Something new is awaiting you! Create space to let it in. It is likely that a situation has become as bad as it possibly can. This is rock bottom. Enough is enough. There is nowhere to go but up. This card represents someone who has a great amount of self-pity, who feels like a martyr — like they’ve made huge sacrifices for others and received nothing in return.  If this is you, ask yourself what you gain by feeling like this. Is feeling sorry for yourself helping you to move forward? If not, pick yourself up and get on with life. Take the lessons you’ve learned with you so you don’t make the same mistakes again.

In all you do today, seek balance.  If you are trying something new, you will have the best success if you are moderate in your approach.  Do it a little, and then step back to see how it feels.  This is how you can make long-lasting, sustainable changes to your relationships, attitude, or behavior:  little by little.  Temperance is about integration and finding balance.  Now is a time of adjustment.  Two or more things are coming together to create something new.  You may be integrating your life with someone else’s, integrating your work and home lives, or integrating spirituality into your everyday life.  Whatever project you are working on, be sure to change a little, then step back and assess the results.  Like a scientist, change one variable at a time, and then see what happens.  Find your balance before moving forward.  Use your emotions and be practical too.  In a situation with another person, compromise will be necessary.  If you’ve been feeling off-kilter, seek balance between work and play, feeling and doing.

Think before you communicate today.  It’s likely that you’ll say nothing at all, or hold off on making a decision until another day.  That’s OK.  Give yourself the space and time you need to think things through clearly.  You may be feeling ambivalence or uncertainty.  You may not want to offend or hurt someone involved.  The two of Swords may represent the need for withdrawal in order to contemplate options.  Be rational in making a decision.  This card may indicate that you need to know more facts before you can make an informed decision.  This could also be indicating that you are ignoring your emotions, using logic to deny how you’re feeling.  You may be denying the truth, or compartmentalizing some aspect of your life in order to not have to deal with it.  While it may be true that ignorance is bliss, ignorance or denial can also cause you to remain stuck in circular thinking and emotional patterns.

Pay attention to what you feel resentful towards or burdened by today.  Whatever you are feeling weighed down by, remember, it is something you chose, and also something you can unchoose.  Assess whether you want to remain committed to that which you have tied yourself to.  It may not seem like it, but you do have a choice.

Today, it’s time to examine your beliefs.  You may have the opportunity to teach someone something about life.  Will your teachings be flexible so that your student can integrate them into their own life, or are your beliefs rigid and dogmatic?  Who or what has been your teacher?  Do the lessons you’ve learned serve you well now, or is it time to seek a new teacher?  Are you making a decision based on what you believe you “should” do, or are you tuned into your higher calling?

Whatever you are currently working on, today take a step back to look at your long term vision.  There is a good energy today for practical planning.  Use it to make sure you are setting the right priorities and approaching your project in the best way.  Don’t be afraid to seek advice from a more experienced person; not only is asking for help not shameful, it’s smart!  When this card appears, a project is beginning to manifest.  People are coming together to make something happen.  The foundation is being poured for the new house.  Progress is being made on the first draft of that big essay.  You are beginning the apprenticeship that will lead to mastery of your profession.  You are using what you have learned to turn a profit.  The intentions you have sent into the universe are beginning to come to fruition.  It is important that you are mindful that this is an early stage of progress and you still have much to learn.  Watch how others work and listen to criticism so that you can continue to grow.  This is the time to assess your project and see if it is in line with your larger goals.  If it is, persevere.  If not, spend some time choosing the right activities and partnerships to lead you toward your long-term goals.

This Queen is a mature, confident, passionate person dedicated to her pursuits in career, family and love.  She is popular and fun.  People love to be around her for her inspiring energy and joyful demeanor.  She is generous and loves to make others smile.  She’s also super sexy!  She does what she loves, takes chances in following her passion and lives life with her own personal flair.  She sometimes uses her charisma and sex appeal to manipulate others.  She can also be impulsive and has a quick temper.  Sound like some aspect of you, or perhaps someone of this nature will cross your path today?  Take these energies as a sign that you know exactly what you need today.  Trust your intuition … chances are it is quite loud.  Be confident and proud about doing what’s best for you and in pursuit of your dreams.  No apologies.  In fact, your confidence and independence are likely to attract admiration from others.

Another person you know or will encounter is about to cross your path … or, again, today’s energies represent an aspect of yourself or one that is being called forth now … she is a mature, sensitive, romantic person.  An empathetic, soothing and kind listener.  She helps others to understand their own emotions.  She is connected to her higher self and receptive to messages from her dreams.  She pays close attention to her feelings and intuition.  She always listens to her heart.  She is a loving mother.  She gives much to others and may require solitude in order to restore herself.  Being near water restores and inspires her.  She is artistic and visionary.  She can sometimes be moody, emotionally manipulative, or deceitful.  Today is a day to nourish and nurture your self.  Spending time in or near water will be especially soothing, so go to the beach, or have a long bath.  By caring for your self now, you will build the strength to be there for others when they need you.  Don’t underestimate the importance of self-care!

A decision has been made and you’re taking your first optimistic steps towards your goals.  You have set things in motion and there is no turning back now.  You know what you need to do and you have the confidence to do it.  You have the ability to lead and a vision that can inspire.  Forgiveness of others or yourself may be required in order to let go of the past.  With the bright future ahead of you, it is an ideal time to let go of past hurts.  This card may also indicate foreign travel.  Coming together with others and negotiating or trading could also be implied.  The Three of Wands suggests equality and cooperation in such endeavors.  Ultimately, growth is certain.  So, invest in your future today.  Make connections, work on your education, start creating something for the future.  Your future self will say, “I am so glad I put energy into this back then.”  Guaranteed.

The energies today swirl around the ideas of Union, the coming together of two or more things to create something new.  The Two of Cups could also represent romantic attraction, a marriage, a supportive partnership, coming to a compromise, mutual support in a relationship, friendship and bonding, or a sense of equality between two people or two groups of people.  Whether these energies indicate romance, business partners, friends, family members, or the uniting of physical and spiritual realms, this card always represents equality, balance and mutual give-and-take, particularly in regard to emotional support and understanding.  Just for today, spend time doing something, or being with someone, that you love and feel deeply connected to.  The time and devotion you put into this project or relationship will fill you with joy and inner strength.

You see this young man working diligently and happily on a project.  He has already completed a great deal of his task and is focused on maintaining the quality of his work.  When this card appears, this type of focused and satisfying work is indicated.  It may be that you will soon be employed in steady and rewarding work, that you need to persevere in a matter that is near completion, or that you are learning a great deal through work that may seem repetitive.  Regardless of the details, this is a card of nearing mastery and maintaining effort and focus until the end.  Today is a day to focus on your craft.  Don’t be lazy.  Don’t cut corners.  What you are creating or doing is a reflection of who you are.  Put in the work you know you are capable of.  It is so worth it.