Illustrations by Liam Bray
Happy summer, and welcome to another pick-a-card reading! This month’s theme is the Nine of Cups — it asks us to reflect on our emotional and spiritual satisfaction, beyond material goods. Also, it teaches the importance of seeking contentment and acceptance, even when things are chaotic. It does not ask us to forget our struggles, but to accept ourselves, and be happy with who we are and how we grow.
Now, take a moment to ground yourself. You can meditate, go for a walk, listen to music — whatever puts you in a centered state. As you move through your chosen activity, focus on the following question:
What do I need to be doing to invite contentment and acceptance into my life?
When you are ready, read the section below that you feel drawn to. This can be done by randomly choosing between numbers one to three, or any other means of intuitively guiding yourself to the card that feels right for you. Remember to journal your experience, and make it your own — these messages are intended only as a guide along your personal journey.
Card 1: The King of Pentacles (reversed)
This card typically represents mastery at managing material resources and building sustainable structures. When reversed, it can indicate an unhealthy relationship with material goods and finances. Whether you have all the resources you require, or feel like you are constantly fighting to obtain the bare minimum, the relationship between you and money has gone sour, and it is impacting your emotional and spiritual wellbeing.
This can happen when we start to measure our self-worth, success, or happiness based on how much money and material goods we can obtain. It can be an even harder habit to avoid if you have ever struggled financially — society has a way of turning struggle into a personal failing.
The lesson is this: Do not let money change your priorities, or your vision of who you truly are. Do not let it change you from a person with experiences and history into just a person who ‘isn't doing enough’. While money is key for survival, and it is reasonable to be aware of its stranglehold on everyday life, it is important to remember that you are always worth more.
Card 2: The Eight of Pentacles
This messenger represents taking time to study and enhance your skills through practice and dedication. It represents seeking the reward of a skill that has taken time to master — perhaps school, apprenticeship, casual study, or a new hobby or trade. The card also represents dedicating time to something consistently, instead of putting things off until it feels like the perfect time to do it all at once.
The message from the card is to set aside the quick, cheap dopamine hits, and instead focus on slowly building up your tolerance for the longer, more rewarding tasks that take time and effort. Try the project you have been putting off, or the hobby that seems like too much work to start. Learn, make mistakes, practice, and find satisfaction in the entire process. Forget being perfect; get lost in the moment, and focus on your desire to learn!
Card 3: The Four of Wands (reversed)
This card is typically one of harmony and celebration, usually with friends and family. When reversed, it can indicate a private celebration, withholding knowledge of your achievements from your loved ones, or disharmony in your family or friend dynamics.
If you were drawn to this card, it is likely you have personal achievements you have intentionally kept quiet. Whether you like to work in silence and celebrate later, or you just never gave yourself the chance to celebrate, here is a quiet acknowledgement that you have put in the work and achieved something good for yourself. Well done!
Here, there is also a gentle reminder that we shouldn't believe that an achievement means less only because others around us don't see it yet. If you saw a rainbow and felt joy over it, would you let another person’s apathy make you enjoy it less? Why do you not recognize your own efforts and success unless they seem ‘impressive enough’ to deserve attention? Perhaps, when you were a child, your enthusiasm was dampened by the reactions of those around you, and you learned to keep things to yourself.
So, to invite more contentment and happiness into your life, your task this month is to be your own gauge for how exciting something should be! Celebrate yourself! Jump up and down and tell the world! Let that little kid get excited again, and see what wonderful things can happen when you allow others into the celebration with you.
Jae Melland is a tarot, rune, and palm reader. You can visit seidrwhispers.com to schedule a reading or see her at her shop, Luna Apothecary, on Clearwater in Kennewick.
