Networks and nice hats 🍄 Nine of Cups
Tarot for the week of 24/04/23 ✨ Bringing intention to friendships old and new
Hi y’all!
I'm trying something different this week. So lucky you, you get to hear my voice (if you listen to the voiceover). This week I'm going to be recording this, as a voice note first, something people can listen to. Then I'm going to type it up and see how it works. Because why not?
I just went on a really lovely walk down by the River Huron (I think), the one near where I live. It was a lovely walk because someone complimented my outfit and I saw several birds, so that's pretty nice. But also I was listening to a really cool podcast by
. It was Season Three, Episode Three, and it was about dream circles. It made me think about wanting to start a dream circle with some of my friends, where we get to talk about what we've dreamt of and what we think it means. And it was just a really nice reminder of the ways in which we can access spirituality and encourage introspection, but not in a navel-gazing kind of way. So, yeah, I really loved that. I'll link it here.Tarot for the Week of 24/04/23: Nine of Cups
The card for this week is the Nine of Cups. I'm pretty sure we had this before, although actually, now I'm thinking about it, that was the Four of Pentacles, where I went off on one about capitalism. Which is not unlike me, tbh.
The cups are representative of the element of water and of our emotions. In the Nine of Cups we see a man, well, we see a person sitting out front in this long robe. They have on a red hat that sometimes I associate with the heart and sometimes I don't, depending on the mood. Behind them is this waterfall of fabric and above that are Nine Cups. In a way, this is the accumulation of your emotions. I also like to think of this as emotional connections and the phrase “your network is your net worth”. Also something I heard on the Five and Nine podcast this week.
Anyway, this card represents the connections that we have with other people and the pride that you can get from having formed these connections. Also with it being a nine, it's very close to the end of a learning cycle. It's very close to the finale. Getting to move on within a cycle, or the ten, basically. It also comes after the hard work of the eight. And so it's a really interesting card to have for this week.
Within this, I think that the emotional connections we form with other people are something that we need to put in pride of place. Through knowing ourselves, knowing our emotions and prioritizing connection/reflection and building groups (or places of affinity) that make us feel supported and that allow us to support other people, we can really make something amazing.
I also feel like this card is one of warning. There's this tweet, I think that says, (I'm going to completely bungle this, but it's something about) “Dance like nobody's watching. Make friends like society is about to collapse and you're going to have to rely on each other for resources.” And this is somewhat the message of this Nine of Cups.
But I also think that there's this warning, this underlying don't just make friends because of what you can get from someone. Instead making friends for the inherent value of a person. For the interest and joy that you can bring them and they can bring you. Not just to collect them. People aren't Pokemon. Making friends for the sake of it or making connections without having the emotional push behind it is something I feel like this card warns against.
Upon typing this up, I have reflected a little more. The Nine of Cups and its message have reminded me of mycelial networks. Of the fungal communities that enrich our soil, break down waste and support whole ecosystems. The figure in this card’s hat could also be called a little mushroomy, in the same way it could be said to look like a heart. Mycelial networks, which can range for hundreds of miles, carry nutrients to and from different organisms. At times some give more than they take and at others that is reversed. Just like the idea of mutual aid. Just like we are in our friendships.
So that is, in general, the message of this week. To focus on your connections, the raw and emotionally resonant love that you can put into them, power them with. To put them in pride of place, especially when you have led from your heart or especially if it's been hard to put your heart out there. Take pride in having done that and make sure that those connections are strong.
Journaling prompts this week
Ask yourself: Where do I see my connections with people going? Where do I see them growing? Where do I see them fading away? Which connections do I want to put more energy into? Which connections do I feel I may need some more energy from? And how have I led from my heart in the past? And how can I do it in this next week? Where can I be as open, honest and vulnerable as possible? And where can I forge connections in an unexpected way?
So, that's it for this week. It's a quick one (although typing this up may not be). I also always want to hear what you think about the card. About the message I discern from it. About how you feel about this more podcast style. Let me know.
Just a quick reminder that I do live tarot readings for people, either via Voicenote or written or on Zoom. I also offer gift cards for people to buy tarot readings for other people, and that's about it. If this sounds like something that you might be interested in, remember that all my offerings are sliding scale to make them as accessible as possible. I am also always available to chat if you want to work something out financially.
I'm going to go back to typing and enjoying this small patch of sunshine while it lasts.
Catch you in either.
Bye.
M
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