Here we have the element of Wood supporting the element of Water, compatible elements, but they should be the other way around, with Water supporting Wood. That lends an element of mild discomfort to the reading, which is all about starting a new round of personal growth that may take you out of your comfort zone just a tad.

Happily, as both elements are compatible and both are in female suits - well, he's more in his birthday suit, but that's another matter - the overall feeling tone is not as uncomfortable as it might be.

Just go, do. It'll all turn out fine.

                                                 

                                                 Wood Mother                   Metal Father

Wood and Metal are the two suits that make Sacred Earth Seven Element Tarot different from every other Tarot deck. Wood and Metal have been incorporated from an Asian Elemental system that recognizes our existence in the world somewhat differently than the more European Elemental system that likely gave birth to the Tarot. The world was a smaller place then and a very different place than it is now. The idea of personal empowerment has existed in Asian traditions for far longer than it has in the West. The suits of Wood and Metal, reflecting their Asian roots in this deck, speak to a world where the individual matters more than it ever has.

In a world where we now recognize that what we think about our own lives matters, the elements of Wood and Metal have much to bring to Tarot which is now used not so much for divination as a guidance tool for more informed decision making, showing the intelligent querent exactly what he or she is creating at any given  moment, illustrating how that might be changed.

Wood, tree energy, is the essence of vegetative life, perfectly illustrating the cycles of life from seed to rot. Translated into Tarot terms this becomes about nurturing and personal growth, without which human life is perverted and trivialized. Wood is a feminine suit as it is women whose function is the physical nurturing of life and who have traditionally been the first influence on the character of their children. Character development, personal growth, demands more than nurturing and support. A big part of learning how to be in the world is learning how not to be in the world.

Wood Mother, as the matriarch of the suit, illustrates this. She is pruning, cutting away that which will not be useful to the ultimate yield of the tree. Wood is not an 'easy' suit. It can be more comfortable at some spots than at others, but wood is always, at some level, demanding.Change, with wood, is almost inevitable. Blossoms must fall as must ripened fruit. It is up to us to make the best of it, to learn from it, to grow.

Wood Daughter has perhaps the easiest time of it, at home with so much constant change as a young woman that she focuses outside of herself, interacting with others or occupying herself pleasantly to distract from the inevitable. The men of the suit have found ways to be helpful. Father works to provide a sense of structure which is useful, though he may not feel entirely comfortable in his role. Son is so wrapped up in his own changes as a young man that he, like the Daughter, works to distract himself from his discomfort by 'helping,' although in his case his real interests - himself - tend to override the help he tries to provide.

     



Personal growth is a challenge and must be supported by nurturing from somewhere.

Metal, the result of the massive compression of minerals within the body of the Earth, is the essence of the Will. It is a masculine suit because the foundation of ultimate will power is the mind, the intellect and that purview has been previously designated as male by the originators of Tarot. Metal is the essence of persistence. Metal is far less subtle than Wood. Growth is a natural process; persistence, by its nature, means that you are pushing at something, insisting that something be or go a given way. Growth is a happening; persistence makes things happen.

Metal Father is at the forge, heating metal so that he may bend it to his will. He is a simple but strong figure and illustrates what a clear and well-directed intention can do. Metal, like Wood, is not an 'easy' suit. Nobody ever said that building character was easy and both these elements feed into strong character. His Son carries a very similar energy; he carries it with a  little more ease though because he functions under someone else's direction. Metal energy falls easier to men.

     



Metal Mother and Metal Daughter work harder to pull off the energy of the sort of single-minded focus that this level of will power requires. As women they are biologically constructed to take in many things at once, to have a far wider field of focus. Metal daughter concentrates fiercely on her task and she...will...get there..She will look good doing it, too. Metal Mother has learned to disguise her ability to exercise her will power as she has learned that she may be perceived as a bitch if she does not. This effort can however, take a toll at a feeling level.

   

For heaven's sake - and your own - and especially if you are either a man or engaged in activities that are most often done by men - take it S-L-O-W.

Ignore feelings that whatever it is has to be done in a hurry and exercise both caution - if the endeavor is physical - and discretion.

Air feeds fire, makes it burn strong and in this case, as you can see by the image, Air 5 constitutes a lot of energy, and it's mind energy, the kind of propelling force that gave birth to the phrase, "Some say 'Why?', I say, "Why not?"

Your intuition is there to draw from, but you are going to have to focus on it to make use of it because that Air 5 is a compelling force.

Take it easy. Please.

You're just going to have to get over it.

Whatever it was, it's gone. Pull yourself together and make things work the way they are, or create a space for something new to happen.

Water and Metal are compatible elements but Water is not comfortable supporting Metal, it should be the other way around so this reading implies, elementally, that "getting over it" may not be a simple thing. We get attached. The chemistry of emotion (Water) in the human body is a very real thing, not to be denied. That said, at some point, if our attachment to either our mental state or to whatever it was that we've had to move away from, doesn't subside then we become what is commonly recognized as "stuck."

So take heed. Use your will power (Metal) to create a situation where you can look to the future with confidence.

   

Pull out the rocker, it's time for a break.

Due to a set of circumstances way beyond my control yesterday's reading never made it to air and, frankly, it was such an unfortunate reading, as far as I was concerned, that I just made it go away. It was one of those try, try harder sorts of things, loaded with metal cards and for me that much metal is never comfortable anyway. So I've put the day behind me as, I hope, have my internet provider and my hosting company.

But today, ahhhh. No great shakes on the face of it but sent from heaven so take advantage of the low energy, meant for settling in, settling down and perhaps even gleaning an inspiration or two from the Universe at large. Don't be a slacker, just don't push too hard, there's no need. Pay attention. That which you are looking for is inside you...but getting there, if you just let it happen, should be sweet. You might think of the tenor of the day as steeping yourself in a warm waters. So if the circumstances around you don't provide what you need to make the most of this energy, you might consider drawing a bath and climbing in for a good long while. You deserve it.

         

Yes, you were thinking really clearly when you decided to make that big change that has, in essence, turned at least a part of your life into a roller coaster ride...but it's going to be worth it. Today parts of you that may have been at war with each other will come together and yield you something like a feeling of joy. (Remember, too, that parts of you are always reflected in the people in your life!)

I'm not saying it'll be easy, there's way too much dynamic going on here for that, but, as the elements finally come together in perfect harmony, it all comes together in the end (though you may have to do more than a little work to get that to happen).

Good luck!

Good news! Today we shall succeed in spite of ourselves.

Distractions, on a mental level, be they frivolous or serious may occur so, in case you are doing something serious, just be on guard that you are paying attention. That said, it'll all work out just fine in the end so even if you do screw up, just acknowledge your idiocy and move on.

Air feeds Fire and 5 comes before 6, there's ease there, so despite the whirlwind of your mind, it'll all be just fine in the end.

Take care!

 

Has anyone besides myself noticed that there have been a lot of 5's lately and also a lot of Major Arcana cards showing up. That's a really interesting dynamic, pointing straight at the undeniable presence of a very high level of Spirit energy around these days. And, under that umbrella, feeling protected and safe-ish, knowing - knowing! - that you are on the right path, doing the right thing...you just have to wonder...Why all the questions? Because that's what 5s bring, questions.

Refinement! That's why all the questions. One of my own favorite sayings is, there's always better to get and there always is.

So today's question on the way to refinement is, Does it - whatever it is that you are striving towards - bring beauty and balance into your life?

Should an answer just pop up, immediately, without thinking, pay attention. if it doesn't,just let it be. If it doesn't, maybe you want to ask even more questions, reconsider something. The something you might be reconsidering could be your method, could be what you think is the impetus behind your actions, could even be the thing you are striving towards.

Now - and this is really important - questions don't imply answers. All that is needed is the ability to be open to ask the question(s) of yourself and to be with it (them) for a while. The questions will unfold in their own time, in their own way, may even disappear. Just give the questions a space to be and you will find that your ability to ask questions, and not expect answers, will eventually expand your knowingness.

You may have been confused. You may have had to reach out for help. But everything is falling into place now so do what you have to do. Think, not only of yourself, but of the bigger picture of which you are a part. Act accordingly.

Air and metal are not the best of friends. Oxygen tarnishes and rusts. And, while that dynamic is still lingering in your mind somewhere, you have moved on. You have come to a very practical place, a place where, if you can just get over yourself, you should be able to see how being where you are, right now, will fit in to something larger.

Service, XII, does not always mean service to someone else. Sometimes it indicates service to your own destiny. Be open to the idea that where you are right now is exactly where you should be. Stop fretting; start doing.

   

 

Today you are held, supported by the energies of the Universe. Use this energy to your advantage and your efforts should prove easy.