Tarot Reading – Thursday, May 2nd, 2024

Good morning dear readers. Today’s reading surely packs a punch as we delve into the narrative brought to us by the Four of Swords, Five of Wands, and the ever-lively Page of Pentacles.

Starting our day with the Four of Swords, this card urges us to consider the virtue of tranquility as depicted by a knight in quiet contemplation in the classic Rider-Waite tarot deck. It’s a card that pushes rest and peace above all else. Reflect here on Seneca’s words “The Tranquil mind is not a little garden, closed, and by no means penetrable, but a light without limit.” The Stoics deeply valued the importance of tranquility, and so too does the Four of Swords. Embrace its beckoning for introspection, and meditate on the truth that inner peace is a fortress.

Following the calm of the Four of Swords is the tumultuous Five of Wands. A sharp contrast! The image of clashing wands harkens symbols of conflict and competition. Directly tied to the message of this card is the stoic concept of indifference. Not indifference in an apathetic sense, but rather, understanding that many externalities like conflicts and contests are oftentimes beyond our control. In the words of the philosopher Epictetus, “Attach yourself to what is spiritually superior, no matter what name it is named with. Then you will find ease and tranquility.”

Our final card of today’s reading is the Page of Pentacles, a curious enthusiast focused more on the future’s potential than the past’s shadows. This card encourages commitment and diligence. When the Page of Pentacles shows up, it’s a call to focus on your mindset, to harness and channel your thoughts towards your goals much like how the Stoics espouse adopting the right frame of mind in pursuing virtue. Marcus Aurelius wrote- “Your mind will take the shape of what you frequently hold in thought, for the human spirit is coloured by such impressions.”

This reading certainly tells a story of inner peace, handling conflicts, and a diligent focus on valuable pursuits.+

Today’s journaling prompt is thus: “In what ways can you seek tranquility in the midst of competing forces or conflicts? How can you shape your mind to more consistently focus on what truly matters?”

My dear readers, as we jump headlong into the dance that is May, take comfort in the lessons of our cards today. Keep your swords sheathed and hearts light, and never lose sight of what truly matters. Still waters run deep, after all.