Psycho-spiritually, transformation and healing can happen when we’re able to synthesise opposites or reconcile differences that occur within us, or between us and the outer world; like, this-that, self-other, good-bad, right-wrong, light-dark, conscious-unconscious, body-mind, masculine-feminine etc.. So it’s not so much about choosing one way or thing, and not the other, but by seeing what arises as both unite.

… with this type of insidious, shadowy and mesmerising force - a softly, softly approach will not cut it. You have to meet it with an equally powerful and drastic measure to rid yourself of it.

… when we place these superhuman ideals of what a father is, on everyday human fathers, then we as individuals in a child-father dynamic might have felt anything from mild, to extreme deficiency in the relationship if father didn’t meet up to the ‘expectation’.

… on one hand, there is much that is beyond your control, and on the other, the choices you make matter. How you use your power can make a difference to you and others. So if you were even for a moment to observe your domain from a higher plane, take an expanded all encompassing impersonal (God-like?) view, your choices and actions might take a different flavour.

So the priestess … is not trying to grapple back power or gain acceptance by embodying sanctioned masculine qualities of physicality, force and logic. This dark feminine is the conscious feminine aspect of Self that works within the quiet, mysterious and unconscious realms. Less doing, more being. Less out there, and more in here.

How you behave in words and actions during conflict teaches you about the health and responsiveness of your nervous system, and your boundary style. If you’re not conscious of that, how you are during conflict can be a direct reaction based on your conditioning, wounds or traumas, rather than the circumstances in front of you today.

… With 3 generations being depicted in the image, you’re also being asked to step back and take a deep time perspective. Where you can observe from your higher mind, a longer and wider view of family and where you – at this point in time - are in the mix.

At certain times I find that inspiration and ideas seem to come all at once. There’s a build up of creative energy ... and depending on your mindset, this can be invigorating OR overwhelming. But, as wands are connect to the element of fire, this raw creativity needs to go somewhere, lest inspiration and ideas fizzle from lack of attention, OR the sparks rise up into a fire that burns out of control…

Emotional resilience develops as you learn to 1) tolerate the discomfort of the difficult emotions, for a time, 2) without becoming stuck in victimhood, grief, despair, rage or hopelessness, and 3) make moves to begin again, in a new direction making new connections, with new skills or attitudes.

Most of us are conditioned to “play nice”. As children we were discouraged from saying “no”, pushing back or arguing. At the same, compliance is rewarded with being told how we’re being such a “good boy/girl” or are so “easy” or “quiet”. This card can be a reminder that there are times that taking a stand is vitally important for your sense of self and your individuation. Especially if deep within, you know what right for you.

Beyond being a fancy way of saying ‘choose’, discernment suggests a high level of nuance and consideration of facts, values, effects and outcomes. To discern requires time for contemplation and a capacity for deep listening.

I have to admit that the Ace of Pentacles is one of my favourite cards of the whole tarot. I had a dream a few weeks ago, that when I woke reminded me of this card. My husband and I were walking around an old vacant lot – turned empty dilapidated car park…

It's easy to defend against any suggestion that we could be under the influence of such a being. At least it is for me... "I'm a good person", "I try and do the right thing". But the truth is, we can all be vulnerable…