Tarot Reading for Monday, June 24th, 2024

Dear Seekers of Reflection and Wisdom,

Today we focus on transformation, the power of desire, and new beginnings. Our exploration of the tarot will centre on the Nine of Cups, The Devil, and the Ace of Pentacles. Starting with joy and contentment we then journey into the shadows, before emerging with a solid new beginning.

The first card laid is the Nine of Cups, often acknowledged as the “wish fulfillment” card. This card signifies satisfaction, achievement, and gratitude. The philosopher Epictetus reminds us,

“He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.” You may take a moment to reflect on your ‘cups’, those things in your life that fill you with joy and fulfillment. Even the smallest blessings deserve our recognition and gratitude. As you commence your week, engage fully with the present, filled with contentment and peace. Maximise the energy of the nine cups by using it to propel you forward, even as you cherish the present.

Next, comes The Devil. This card often awakens fear, but fear not! The Devil beckons us to shine a conscious light onto our deepest shadows. This is a call to face and challenge our self-imposed bonds and detrimental habits. As Marcus Aurelius once said,

“The best revenge is to be unlike him who performed the injury.” Our apparent maladies or addictions are simply misguided attempts at finding happiness and contentment. Use this card as a prompt to investigate what may be holding you back or keeping you attached to harmful patterns.

The final card we turn to is the Ace of Pentacles. Like a gleaming coin emerging from the earth, it symbolises new beginnings, particularly in matters of the material world - work, home, and health. It’s a nod to the stoic appreciation for the potential in every moment, as Epictetus elegantly puts it.

”Each day provides its own gifts.” This card urges us to ground ourselves in the present moment and anchor our dreams in reality by taking solid, practical steps towards them. Often, the grandest castle starts with a single stone.

This trio of cards offers us an adventurous journey this week. From basking in the joys of the current now (Nine of Cups), diving deeply into our shadows (The Devil), to finding peace in potential new beginnings (Ace of Pentacles). Stoicism and tarot together remind us about balance and the necessity to experience light and dark, contentment and desire, endings and beginnings.

Journal Prompt: Reflect on your journey with the Nine of Cups, The Devil, and the Ace of Pentacles. What joys can you acknowledge today? What shadows need your conscious light? What new beginnings are potential seeds in your current reality? Explore these in your journal this week, and give yourself permission to evolve and transform.

May you journey courageously,

Professor Helmsworth.