It’s been nearly two weeks since my last Major Arcana interpretation post. Leave it to me “taking a break” after The  Star post, which is a pinnacle point in the Major Arcana after the chaos depicted in the The Tower card. Although I have wanted to post, and have been in much need of the mental release that I feel after writing, I have been too busy, to the point of being drained.

Oh, how I am looking forward to returning to my regular work schedule of 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. post Labor Day. I must be the only employee at my job who prefers our standard eight hour workdays as opposed to our summer workdays which are an hour longer with half day Fridays. With my commute, which is around four hours a day, that added hour feels like an added day sometimes…or, perhaps I have convinced myself that I didn’t have time  at the end of the day, having gotten home at 7 p.m. (soon to be 6 p.m.!) after embarking on my daily workday journey that starts as early as 5:15 a.m. in the morning.

If anything, a lesson has been taught and I am trying my best to learn it: I need to find the time in the day to unwind, regroup and relax at the end of the day. It’s too easy to bring “it” home. There’s no good reason for it. And, ever since I decided to take the time to learn how to read Tarot cards, I have found that the time spent doing so has been one source of joy when it comes to self guidance and searching. That hour or so a day spent writing up a blog post–transcribing from a journal entry in an old fashioned Mead Composition notebook or writing a post online from scratch–has been extremely cathartic in many ways. The release of thoughts via the written word feels cleaning and purifying to me; it rids me of all worries for the day. Even if it’s just for half an hour, it’s something I should make the time to do. Routine is the enemy  at times, but not when it can help better a situation.

And that brings me back to drawing a single card once a day for guidance and as an aid in the learning process. I opted to stop doing these single card drawings for the wrong reason. This entire process of learning Tarot and writing about it has been helpful for me. However, last month, after doing only two weeks of one card daily drawings, I decided to stop since I thought I was taking on too much. Actually, the real reason wasn’t the task of doing it, but me having the lack of confidence about whether or not I was going to interpret the correct meaning, since I haven’t really started the process of learning the Minor Arcana in the same way I have with the Major Arcana.

Using this blog as my medium, I am writing my own interpretations of each card in hopes of understanding Tarot and how it relates to how I see the images in the cards, along with the universal meaning of the symbolism as translated in various books. I plan on spending a tremendous amount of time learning about the elemental meanings behind the four suits of Tarot with the help of many online resources like the blog posts on Catherine Chapman’s Tarot Elements blog, including: Tarot Suit of Wands, Tarot Suit of Cups, Tarot Suit of Swords and Tarot Suit of Pentacles/Disks. Her guidance will be invaluable. Plus, I have found a wonderful and supportive online community of other Tarot enthusiasts who I can gain further insight from. I am just finishing up my initial learning process of the Major Arcana. The Minor Arcana is next!

The reality: I should not have doubted myself. Using the basic knowledge that I do know about the four suits in Tarot and their basic elemental associations and Jungian meanings:

Wands :: fire :: passions; urge; creativity; growth
Cups :: water :: emotions; feelings
Swords : air :: thought processes
Pentacles :: earth :: possessions; financial growth; status

I should be able to understand the basic meanings. As I learn, the meanings will become more refined, but I feel as if I have been cutting myself short by stopping the one card daily drawings. The exercise will help me in more ways than I know right now. And, the best way to learn anything is to actually do it. If I take 30 minutes to do this every day, unless I really can’t in which case, I won’t beat myself over it, it will make Tarot part of my everyday life as I learn. Plus, I would like to start tacking three card drawings sooner than later too.

The past few week’s have been hectic and startling in more ways that one. I experienced the wonderful bridal shower for my half- sister that I barely know (but am getting to know now). A friend who was more of an acquaintance, but someone that I bumped into almost every weekend over the course of 10 years, passed away this week. My boyfriend Michael starts a new job on Monday. My half-sister gets married in October. And, of course, there are the long workdays that I was venting about at the start of this post.

An alarm has sounded to get back on track and worry less about the small things in Life. Everyday, I need to find some time to take a step back and think about my surroundings. Whether it is taking the time to cook a meal with Michael, call a friend or a relative, and also focus a bit on me and the things that I want to learn.

I feel drawn to the Queen of Wands right now:

I desire the strength and growth that she has based on the colors in the card and the symbolism: the lions (Leo), the sunflowers and the cat which makes everything a bit mysterious.

Wait, wait, I didn’t officially start studying that card yet. I just selected it from the deck. That’s okay now isn’t? Yes, it is!

Image: Universal Waite Tarot © US Games Systems, Inc.

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