Another month, another pick-a-card reading for you. The focus question for this reading is “What do I need to nurture in order to connect with myself on a deeper level?”

Hold this question in your mind; close your eyes, and take a few deep breaths. When you feel receptive, allow yourself to be guided to the number(s) that are meant for you (choose number 1, 2, or 3). When you are confident in your choice, take a look at which card you selected as your answer.

Card One

The Strength card is about a kind of strength that emanates from someone who knows who they are at their very core. If you chose this card, you have been through some intense and significant transformations and have probably not had a moment to reconnect with who you are now. You have to reintroduce yourself to yourself and uncover all the ways that you have changed. You are in the process of learning that you don’t have to prove anything to anyone anymore, which will only make you a more confident and self-assured human being.

This transformation is something that must be maintained, though, so don’t get discouraged if you go through periods of doubt and confusion. This confident quality is indeed something that needs to be nurtured and tended to regularly, and you will experience ‘weeds’ of insecurity that simply need to be addressed. Part of what will need to be nurtured is an ability to get validation from within and not as much from others. It can be helpful and healthy to get that validation from those who have experience and wisdom, but this card is reminding you that you have shifted into a place where you are also your own voice of experience and wisdom and should tune into that more often.

Card Two

The Nine of Cups reminds us that sometimes the biggest struggle is knowing when we need to just sit back and surrender. If you got this card, you may be having a hard time relaxing and enjoying the progress you’ve made. Perhaps you’re a bit too task-oriented at times and forget that you are allowed to look back and see how far you have come. It is good to be productive, but sometimes we use productivity as an escape from stillness and contentment. This is a peaceful card that says, “You’ve made it; sit and reflect on all that you have done.”

If you’re having a hard time feeling like you have something to sit back and be proud of, this card is telling you that the quality you need to nurture is acceptance (and you probably need to lower the bar for yourself a little; you’re being unfair to yourself!). This acceptance can really help you connect to yourself in a way that allows you to realize where your past and current blockages are stemming from and how to adjust in a fair and balanced way that allows for you to simply just be happy. Nurture the ability to give yourself permission to be satisfied. If you tend to not start things if you don’t feel you can do them justice, now is the time to half-ass it, and be content with that effort!

Card Three

The Queen of Wands is bold, bright, and beautifully intense. This figure has a deep connection to their intuition and sense of self. The bright leader qualities of this card usually attract those that are meant to do things a little differently in life. The message here is a very ‘don’t dim to fit in’ type of lesson. If you gravitated to this card, morphing to fit what society expects of you has really taken a toll on you in the past, and you are arriving at your ‘no more’ breaking point. You have charisma and magnetism about you that is meant to be nurtured at this time so that you can bring it into the world.

You are also likely supposed to be sharpening your intuitive skills at this time, so don’t be surprised if your impulsive interests lead you in surprising directions that you did not originally anticipate. Let yourself be bright, loud, and shiny! Right now is all about feeding that passionate inner fire and using it to keep life warm, intense, and joyful. Burn away that which doesn’t serve you anymore, and use the energy you free up to treasure your enthusiasm as this process reveals new things about yourself.

Healing Exercise

For the next month, allow this card to be your guide. Meditate on it (as usual), but also consider bringing it into your life as much as possible. If you are an artist, create your own version of this card and what it means to you. If you write, write a short story about yourself, and use this card as a plot guide. Make a playlist inspired by the message of your reading, and listen to it on walks. Look up photos of the card you received, and make your favorite version your phone background for a while! Invite the lesson into your life, and make note of your progress in a journal or other form of documenting your journey.

Jae Melland is a tarot and rune reader at Lotus of the Moon in Richland. You can schedule readings with Jae by emailing her at jae.melland@gmail.com. Jae also has walk-in hours at Lotus of the Moon: Fridays and Saturdays, noon–3pm

Photo by Taisiia Shestopal on Unsplash