Fire Element – ApotheCarrie Tarot

King of Wands

June 5, 2020 ApotheCarrie Tarot

Please note that this series of interpretations is intended to assist specifically in personal healing and shadow work. I am not a mental health professional; these are my personal reflections and experiences that I hope you will find helpful.

Please see my thoughts on age, race, and gender in tarot.

The King of Wands is a powerful combination of fire (Kings) and fire (Wands). This King is passionate, creative, confident, and highly driven. When this card comes up in a reading, it can suggest that the seeker is being invited to trust in their abilities and mastery in their area of interest. This is not the time for self-doubt.

LightSeers-14-King-of-Wands-Tarot-Meaning — The Light Seer’s Tarot did a beautiful job of illustrating a more youthful King of Wands.

The King of Wands is someone who is incredibly passionate, ethical, and capable of igniting fires of inspiration wherever they go. Despite their inherent power, there is a restlessness about this energy and there can be a tendency to want to move on as soon as things become tedious or repetitive. This King has a nearly limitless supply of energy but this can cause them to ignore the physical constraints of their body which can lead to burnout if they are not careful.

Freedom is deeply important to this King and without it, they can become hot-tempered and experience control issues. However, if given the room to fully express their abundant nature and passions, this frank and friendly King will be the warmest, most magnetic person whose spark is a pleasure to be around.

I invite you to consider what lights this fire inside of you? Perhaps you could make a list of the causes that are closest to your heart. Social activism is a wonderful way to experience King of Wands energy. Is there a way you can become involved? It may also be helpful to think about figures who exude this kind of energy. Who in life has inspired you to become part of necessary change? How can you embody this courage and inspire others?

“Mother Dear, one day I’m going to turn this world upside down.”

-Martin Luther King Jr.

“Love is an expression of power. We can use it to transform our world.”

― Ericka Huggins

Until our paths cross again…

Tarot

Queen of Wands

April 29, 2020May 7, 2020 ApotheCarrie Tarot

Please see my thoughts on age, race, and gender in tarot.

With the Queen of Wands we get the intriguing blend of fire (Wands), and water (Queens). The energy in this card burns hot but flows like cool water. This Queen is not likely to go unnoticed. She holds the key to bringing polar opposites together magically and exudes this effortlessly. This may remind you of people you have met who just radiate sexuality and seem to be a magnet while their external features are not those traditionally admired. There is just something so special about them. This reminds us that we all have the birthright to feel sexy, powerful, and radiant regardless of our physical appearance (which is ever-changing). This Queen embodies creative and productive energy.

It is worth noting a few things in the traditional Rider-Waite-Smith card (left). First, this is the only Queen who sits in a wide-legged position, suggesting assertiveness and strong sexuality. Second, this card is often referred to as the “Witch of the Queens” in tarot which suggests that the black cat may be her familiar. There is such a magical quality to this energy. Perhaps this is due to the alchemy required to bring fire and water together in such a harmonious way. It is as though this person can silently insist that the two elemets play nice.

It is interesting to consider that apparently Pamela Colman Smith, who illustrated this deck, was instructed to draw a different animal for this card but chose a black cat instead. This black cat has become an iconic topic of discussion in tarot communities. What does it bring to mind for you?

With all of this in mind, I invite you to explore when and where you feel empowered and sensual. I ask that you do your best to shelf shame and guilt while you ease into this. How do you experience your inner magic? How can you tap into your personal power? Is there a way to spend more time exploring this space?

This can also be a great time to look at where you are allowing your boundaries to be taken for granted or disrespected. Everyone has a right to their own boundaries. If you find that you are constantly defending them to someone, it may be time to take a break from that relationship until they can honour what you have established for your own safety. You do not have to answer to or apologize for your personal sense of power (assuming no harm is being done). You will find that as you strengthen your boundaries, your relationships will become more mutually fulfilling.

“I have chosen to no longer be apologetic for my femaleness and my femininity. And I want to be respected in all of my femaleness because I deserve to be.”

-Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

“I will have my voice: Indian, Spanish, white. I will have my serpent’s tongue—my woman’s voice, my sexual voice, my poet’s voice. I will overcome the tradition of silence.”
—Gloria E. Anzaldúa

Until our paths cross again…

Tarot

Knight of Wands

March 3, 2020 ApotheCarrie Tarot

Please see my thoughts on age, race, and gender in tarot.

There are few characters in the tarot who burn brighter than the Knight of Wands. This energy is a combination of fire (Wands) and air (Knights) and we know what happens when we mix those two elements: combustion! This may represent someone with an assertive and action-oriented nature.

The Knight of Wands can be very theatrical and may live to entertain. In discussing this personality, Lindsay Mack associates performers such as Prince, David Bowie, and Madonna which are all wonderful examples of this energy.

The flip side may be a tendency to be hasty and run headlong into battles without too much thought. Someone with this energy may also be prone to hyperbole and recognized for their large, erratic gestures.

The Knights are all about movement and the way we take action in the world. This Knight asks us to look at where we enjoy the spotlight. When do we feel our fiery energy flowing and notice our posture changing to an upright, self-assured silhouette? If it is social justice, you may feel this spark when you are contributing to a cause that is close to your heart. If you have neglected an art form that lights you up, this knight insists that you make time and space for that. If it is performing where you shine the brightest, try to get involved in theatre or your activity of choice. If nothing comes to mind, this knight may nudge you to try new things to find something that ignites you (pssst, this could also be sex).

The Knight of Wands invites you to take up space and occupy the attention you deserve. You have the capacity within you to delight, so tap into your own unique gifts and unleash them!

“Occasionally we encounter a person whose personality is so effusive that they take over a room. They may not be the type of person everyone wants to resemble, but we enjoy watching them, and their presence uplifts us. An extrovert craves other people noticing and acknowledging their presence, they can never receive too much attention.”
― Kilroy J. Oldster

“What I like my music to do is awaken the ghosts inside of me. Not the demons, you understand, but the ghosts.”

–David Bowie

Until our paths cross again…

Tarot

Page of Wands

February 13, 2020 ApotheCarrie Tarot

Please see my thoughts on age, race, and gender in tarot.

When was the last time you fingerpainted without worrying about results or the mess? The Page of Wands (Daughter of Wands in The Wild Unknown) invites you to tap into childlike play and wonder. This Page is the ultimate spark of inspiration and creativity. If you have ever suffered from writer’s block, the Page of Wands is that glorious moment when you are suddenly inspired and fly through another chapter. If you have been feeling apathetic lately, you can be sure that this card will usher in a time of rejuvenation.

The Page of Wands asks us to call in our inner child and embody that untarnished view of the world. In this suit, which is fire-based, it can be re-igniting a passion project that has been on the sidelines, or following an inspired idea to see where it may end up!

This Page reflects the story of the Four Healing Salves:

In many shamanic societies, if you came to a shaman or medicine person complaining of being disheartened, dispirited, or depressed, they would ask one of four questions.

When did you stop dancing?

When did you stop singing?

When did you stop being enchanted by stories?

When did you stop finding comfort in the sweet territory of silence?

Dancing, singing, storytelling, and silence are the four universal healing salves.

Often, this Page is associated with swift good news and may represent an optimistic, playful, warm person in your life. In its shadow aspect, this can represent someone who is passionate but reckless and does not pause before they act. This can often be associated with a lack of ego exploration or overall immaturity.

Because of the nature of this card, I would like to invite you to create the Page of Wands as you imagine them using paint, collage, creative writing, or your medium of choice. Imagine you are fleshing out a character for a film and consider doing a character sketch of this person. Introduce yourself to the Page of Wands as you have created them.

“You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.”
― Richard Lingard

“To be creative means to be in love with life. You can be creative only if you love life enough that you want to enhance its beauty, you want to bring a little more music to it, a little more poetry to it, a little more dance to it.”
― Osho

Until our paths cross again…

Tarot

Ten of Wands

November 30, 2019November 30, 2019 ApotheCarrie Tarot

Please note that this series of interpretations is intended to assist specifically in personal healing and shadow work. There are many incredible websites that offer traditional meanings and correspondences. I am not a mental health professional; these are my personal reflections and experiences that I hope you will find helpful.

Finally, after all of the struggles and battles, it is time to look around at what you have created. YOU did this! This is not to say that success comes without a new share of responsibilities, but you have weathered the struggles and are now ready to delegate.

Often this card is associated with “burden.” It makes sense as we often see a figure either carrying or trying to lift ten wands on their back, sometimes uphill. However, the great cardslinger Tom Benjamin offered a positive, and potentially more helpful association with this card which was: “anything worth doing costs, is worth spending energy on.” When we think about passion projects that we have worked hard on, even the times when we are spread so thin we barely have time to eat, there is a sense of satisfaction there. While we are certainly feeling the weight of responsibility, this comes from creating something that really means something to us. It could be compared to someone who has started and grown a successful non-profit. This takes incredible dedication and stamina, yet you will be hard-pressed to find someone in this realm who doesn’t love the work they are doing.

What is important now is to ensure you aren’t taking on unnecessary burdens. If you have the opportunity to delegate the aspects of the project that do not excite you, do it. If someone asks for your help and you can’t extend yourself any further without experiencing burnout, learn kind ways to decline. Make sure that you are making the best use of your energetic resources in order to continue doing this great work.

Saying “no” is something that many of us struggle with, so with this card, I invite you to practice saying “no” in ways that feel comfortable to you. Remember that being a people-pleaser is a trauma response. By all means help when you can but when you are already feeling overextended, learn how to “give good no.”

“The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough. They’re there to stop the other people.”
― Randy Pausch

“When you start living the life of your dreams, there will always be obstacles, doubters, mistakes and setbacks along the way. But with hard work, perseverance and self-belief there is no limit to what you can achieve.”
― Roy T. Bennett

Until our paths cross again…

Tarot

Nine of Wands

November 21, 2019 ApotheCarrie Tarot

The Nine of Wands comes along just when you thought the coast was clear. In the Eight of Wands, you let your guard down for a moment to enjoy the ride and along comes the Nine to interrupt you. This card is here to test your courage and resilience and take a final swing at you. The card is often depicted as a battle-weary individual with an expression of doubt and resignation. In The Wild Unknown (pictured above) we see a staircase littered with wands reminding us how steep stairs can feel when you are exhausted. This is the final challenge before the culmination of your creative efforts and the passion you have invested in this area of your life.

This card asks you to dig deep and find that last reserve of energy and stamina in order to make it to the finish line. Tap into your primal side and let loose with one last battle cry! If you can find your way over this last seemingly staggering hurdle, your endurance and persistence will pay off. This is a great time to make your boundaries clear to those who test them.

What does the word “courage” represent to you? Do you recall a time when you were about to give up but were able to find hidden strength you didn’t know you had? I invite you to do a free-write about how it felt to discover that you had more fight in you than you realized. Often this is where deep and lasting growth occurs.

“Life will break you. Nobody can protect you from that, and living alone won’t either, for solitude will also break you with its yearning. You have to love. You have to feel. It is the reason you are here on earth. You are here to risk your heart. You are here to be swallowed up. And when it happens that you are broken, or betrayed, or left, or hurt, or death brushes near, let yourself sit by an apple tree and listen to the apples falling all around you in heaps, wasting their sweetness. Tell yourself you tasted as many as you could.”
― Louise Erdrich

“There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at the will of others. My courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate me.”
― Jane Austen

Until our paths cross again…

Tarot

Eight of Wands

October 5, 2019 ApotheCarrie Tarot

The Eight of Wands indicates a time of unexpected good news and swift movement towards resolution. Anything that has been lagging or lacking momentum will propel forward at a staggering rate. All of the trials we have seen in the wands so far will loosen up and your inner fire with be nourished with oxygen, allowing the full, creative force within you to become engulfed. There is so much exciting, raw energy in this card that it would be a shame to watch the flames die out slowly. This is a spark that needs to blaze, so let it!

With this card, you may be feeling a sudden wealth of creative energy but be aware that like all things, this is one position in a cycle and it won’t remain here indefinitely. Now is the time for action–the universe is asking for it and has already cleared the path for you. Eliminate distractions and maintain focus on your goals.

This is also an opportunity to speak your truth; if something has been bubbling up in you for some time, waiting to erupt, this card invites you to release it. Be mindful not to burn any bridges, but trust the fire in your belly.

How do you feel when you are close to a roaring fire? Is it exciting for you, or does it make you anxious? What is your initial reaction to the quick momentum of a project you have started? Are you exhilarated by the progression or do you try to slam the brakes on? Take some time to examine the limiting beliefs you have about your potential-often they are the only thing holding you back.

“Sometimes the loss from taking a wrong action is less than the loss from taking no action.”
― Amit Kalantri

“Through the darkness of future past, the magician longs to see, one chants out between two worlds, fire walk with me!”
― David Lynch

Until our paths cross again…

Tarot

Seven of Wands

September 19, 2019 ApotheCarrie Tarot

There are times for composure and there are times to engage. With the Seven of Wands, we are being called to be courageous. We have reached a position in our project where we may experience further conflict and are going to have to stand our ground. Because Wands are associated with the ego, our growing success may bring out shadowy aspects of those around us such as envy and resentment. They are aiming for the same goals we are, so be sure to stay a few steps ahead.

Unfortunately, this opposition may come out of left field. This is well-represented in decks which illustrate an individual with mismatched shoes on, suggesting that this conflict came without warning (see image on left). Even the most articulate individuals may find themselves scrambling to defend their project. This may come at a time when you are on the cusp of giving up on this endeavor–don’t. If you can hang on and defend what you have worked so hard for, you are on the home stretch! Those of us who shine the brightest can be threatening to those who live in shadows.

How do you manage unforeseen challenges? Are you adaptable, or do you feel like you are trying to dance on ice? How can you develop your intuition in order to sense incoming turbulence? How can you prepare your footing in order to better support yourself when it hits?

“I think we each have a certain number of unnecessary apologies, which we willingly dish out before we realize it’s time to stand and fight. I may still have two or three left.”
― Joyce Rachelle

“We have to stand up for what we believe in, even when we might not be popular for it. Honesty starts with being ourselves, authentic and true to who we are and what we believe in, and that may not always be popular, but it will always let you follow your dreams and your heart.”

-Tabatha Coffey

Until our paths cross again…

Tarot

Six of Wands

September 1, 2019 ApotheCarrie Tarot

The Six of Wands heralds a time of rediscovered harmony. After the bristly Five of Wands, we have found our rhythm and are entering the next phase of our creative endeavor or passion project. The friction that was experienced in the five has been left behind along with the associated obstacles.

The Six of Wands untangles the aspects of our journey that may have become discordant. We have reached an important goal and can’t help but feel inspired. There is often an element of outside recognition with this victory that can lean toward arrogance in an unbalanced individual (remember, wands can be associated with ego). Otherwise, this card indicates a positive achievement which allows us the fuel and forward momentum for what comes next. While this is a welcome phase in the journey, we have only stepped over the halfway mark and there is more work coming.

When did you last accomplish something that renewed your energy and faith in your capabilities? Was that recognized by peers or colleagues? Was that recognition important to you? When was the last time you felt a shift in a creative block? What precipitated that shift? It can be helpful to return to practices that remove our blocks before we experience these hurdles; preparation for times of apathy can prevent frustration during a creative process.

“Beware of those who criticize you when you deserve some praise for an achievement, for it is they who secretly desire to be worshiped.”
― Suzy Kassem

“When we start being too impressed by the results of our work, we slowly come to the erroneous conviction that life is one large scoreboard where someone is listing the points to measure our worth. And before we are fully aware of it, we have sold our soul to the many grade-givers. That means we are not only in the world, but also of the world. Then we become what the world makes us. We are intelligent because someone gives us a high grade. We are helpful because someone says thanks. We are likable because someone likes us. And we are important because someone considers us indispensable. In short, we are worthwhile because we have successes. And the more we allow our accomplishments — the results of our actions — to become the criteria of our self-esteem, the more we are going to walk on our mental and spiritual toes, never sure if we will be able to live up to the expectations which we created by our last successes. In many people’s lives, there is a nearly diabolic chain in which their anxieties grow according to their successes. This dark power has driven many of the greatest artists into self-destruction.”
― Henri J.M. Nouwe

Until our paths cross again…

Tarot

Five of Wands

August 11, 2019August 11, 2019 ApotheCarrie Tarot

The Five of Wands plucks us from our joyful celebrations at home in the Four of Wands and drops us right back into our creative venture. In this card, we can potentially find the “too many cooks spoil the broth” scenario playing out. Our project has grown to the point where we have a small team in place and suddenly everyone wants their voices heard. This card is often depicted with five individuals holding sticks and entangled in battle (sometimes playfully). It can bring to mind holiday dinners where everyone is talking over each other and not much is being accomplished.

In the Five of Wands, our “baby” is being picked at by everyone involved. It may be tempting to shut this interaction down, grab that “baby” (book, play, recording) and run screaming back to the drawing board. Don’t. Not yet, anyhow. This input from a variety of individuals can prove to be invaluable. Fives often represent change, and this stands to change the course of your project but this may be a beneficial new path!

It can be challenging to have someone criticize our grammar let alone our deeply personal creative work. If we can view this input as a gift from other minds who come from different backgrounds with a range of experiences we have not shared, we invite diversity, contrast, and depth to a project. This becomes even more complicated when it is our own internal narratives that scrutinize our work.

This card may also indicate competition. In this way, there may be a parallel project being developed that causes us to hold ours up for comparison.

When was the last time you had created something and had this challenged by others? How did you feel at the time? How did you respond? How did you feel after the initial shock had worn off? Often criticism can cause our shadows to rear their ugly heads. For many of us, that critical voice is internal–either ours of the voice of someone who has previously made us feel “less than.” I encourage you to learn to work with that voice of criticism before we react to it. We can choose what to do with this feedback but the willingness to consider this input is a gift to our work.

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much”
― Helen Keller

“Every morning I jump out of bed and step on a landmine. The landmine is me. After the explosion, I spend the rest of the day putting the pieces together.”
― Ray Bradbury

Until our paths cross again…