Cycles, cycles everywhere🌿 The World Reversed
Tarot of the Week 30/01/23 🎴 Reconsidering achievement and stagnation
Hi Y’all.
I’m all partied out. Nestled in the foothills of Temecula, I spent my weekend celebrating love. Surrounded by flowers and rain-fresh growth, and my gods, LLAMAS. There were llamas, they were beautiful. They were precious.
The wedding itself was also lovely. But the llamas stole the show.
What struck me about the whole affair was really vital bonds between my boyfriend’s sister (the bride) and her friends. The whole wedding seemed like a love letter to their group’s friendship. As someone who has been gone from her family and friends for nearly an entire year, I deeply craved that. Missed it. Am excited to be seeing them again in only 3 short days.
So it’s gonna be a short one this week lads. Because I have to work on a crop plan, pack everything I own, sleep on a beach, return my library books and have a clothing clearout before 3am on Wednesday when my bus leaves.
Tarot for the week of 30/01/23: The World Reversed
Coming in at the 21st card in the Major Arcana The World is a formidable ine. In each corner, we see the animistic representations of each of the elements. Of each of the suits present in the minor arcana (the number and their court cards). At the center of the card, surrounded by what I always see as a laurel wreath is a figure; scantily clad and twirling batons. Nice.
When I saw this card I began searching back through my previous newsletters to see if I’d had it before. It felt like there was something there. But in looking back what I found instead was The Wheel of Fortune Reversed.
How are these connected, you may ask? The wheel of fortune is found in the middle of the Major Arcana and the World is found at the end. When I wrote about The Wheel of Fortune I spoke about it being the middle of a cycle, a chance to change paths, to choose your own destiny, if you will. I wrote about that card just as I was finishing my seasonal work farming, preparing for a cross-continent drive and a festive season. And now I am just about to embark on another journey, a pilgrimage to my homeland to see the people I have missed so much.
And yet it is still reversed. The Wheel Fortune reversed offered us the chance to make different choices. To work the spiral of healing to our advantage, to choose differently. And here we are, at the end of a cycle. With the Reverse again.
In it’d upright position the interpretations of The World vary from fulfilment to achievement to completion. It’s very much the end of a journey and for all your hard work you receive the world. In the reverse the general interpretation is stagnation, lack of completion or disappointment. Hell that could be true. But as I said with the Wheel of Fortune:
I think the reverse of cards offers new angles, adjacent meanings and depth than that of the right-way-up card.
With the World Reversed there is a change to reconsider what we call “achievement”. In my own life, some may argue that the last two or so months have not been “constructive”. I haven’t done any farming (my real job), I’ve been less active and I don’t have that much to show for my time in California. But on the other side, this time was vital. As will be my time in London. I got a cute job in a wine bar that sustained me over these unpaid months, my boyfriend and I have worked on the coming season’s plans, we’ve hiked and celebrated and RESTED. And granted that might not be an achievement but it sure felt like one.
So when this card speaks of stagnation I think of it as the time that winter should be. A gestational time, a resting, recovering, vitally important time. And also I want to step away from the idea of what success feels like. This year the focus is more on the feeling of being with people and building community over “success”.
The world, when take like this can symbolise abundance. Each of the elements working together to protect and power. And even if there are times that are slower, that can even feel unmoving, there is still this power. This joy. There is still the whole wide world. And getting to experience even a small part of it is a joy in and of itself.
Journaling Prompts for 30/01/23
This week ask yourself:
What have I achived over the past few months? What have I felt is stagnant? Where have I felt an itch for change? What did I hope to have achived by this point? What would it feel like when I have achived that? How can I cultivate that feeling? How can I build from where I am? How can reach where I am right now?
What support do I have? Who/what do call my World? What/who is most important to me? How to I make sure they are my priority? How do I refocus on them? How do I change my daily life to build them into it?
As always, I would love it if you would let me know how this resonates with you.
I am available for Written and Zoom Tarot Readings. Readings via voice note are also available. If you’re interested in getting a reading but have no idea what to ask here is a selection of questions I have answered in my time to get you thinking. And here are a couple of wonderful reviews from former clients.
Answering your questions is always such a pleasure and I would love to help you work through things with a fresh pair of eyes. Interested? All my offerings are sliding scale to make them as accessible as possible. I am also always available to chat and always open to trade etc.
Catch you in the ether,
M
Xandua Tarot is supported by readers. If you haven’t already signed up for weekly updates (and a FREE Tarot Basics Workbook), please consider subscribing…
If you like my offerings or want to dive in on the discourse…
Logo: Valentine Design Co
Edits: Iona Glen
Photos: Rachel Claire
Connect: xanduatarot.carrd.co