The tarot reading this week shows a battle between the airy intellect of the swords and the stable, slow-moving material world found in the pentacles. There's a certain tension between the mind, which is almost too quick for us to keep up with, and bringing those ideas to manifestation in the physical world. It's going to take some hard work, there's no way around it. It seems that we intend to do more than just pay lip-service to what's going on upstairs, however there is some interference from the environment. We have to fight off the feeling of being overwhelmed, quiet the external noise and take a step by step approach to get things done. If we don't spring into action, those rogue elements in our surroundings will tug us back toward inaction, lethargy and poor decision-making  based on a reactive mentality. These shadowy figures may even be putting on a farce, showing you one face while they are sneaking about behind your back to prey on your mistakes. We're well-equipped to tackle the challenge, but will our willpower pull us through? Read on to find out!
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The tarot cards indicate that we enter the week aware of things and alert of our surroundings, but we'll need to hang on to that clarity to make it through unscathed. Mentally we're feeling courageous but we'll need to carry that energy over to the doing part, not just thinking. Still, half the battle is won because we are in the right frame of mind. We're taking our projects seriously this week and integrity is incredibly important to us. We have to be a bit careful because sometimes that can lead us to get carried away, to a place where we think we're always right. Courage is a positive trait to display, however it's only a fine line from arrogance. The sword we hold is double-edged, it can protect and defend or it can do some serious damage. Use it responsibly and you'll be able to defend yourself well this week against any forces that try to pull a quick one over on you.

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The Eight of Swords is back this week after having made a few appearances last month. This would indicate that we still haven't moved past this particular challenge. This card is also known as the Lord of Interference, and that seems to be just what is going on this week. The interference is going to affect our ability to make decisions and find clarity to properly analyze situations. We can feel overwhelmed, or surrounded by danger on every side, but we really just need to take the blindfold off for ourselves to see the circumstances as they are. Once we face the challenges, we can finally start planning a way forward to safety. This is largely an interior process and reflects the need to calibrate the wheels in our head that ceaselessly spin, burning precious energy that could be channeled into something more prodcutive. While we're unable to escape the interference, we'll find it difficult to make decisions and we'll be faced with inaction. Because we're so caught up in our own thoughts, we may also miss identifying the rotten apple in our environment that's stirring up trouble. This would leave us exposed to being taken advantage of. Baby steps. Really, one foot in front of the other toward action and buidling the life you want. Once you get further down the road, you'll have more perspective to make the kind of decisions that will shape your future.
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And here we have the rotten apple; unless the rotten apple is you! This is that sluggish energy that pulls us back toward inaction, in direct contrast with our quick-moving mind. In our environment there is a tug toward the earth's shadow characteristics. Where we would generally find a nurturing, productive and vibrant energy, we see sluggish, depressive influence around us. This can take form as a particular person, generally a woman, the same shadow aspect of ourselves, or the feeling in the environment. If this is a woman hanging around, you'll want to be extra careful with her because she'll likely put on a bit of a show for you in hopes that you'll trip up so she can swoop in and steal your glory. This is a stubborn energy, dark and gloomy; a lazy person that mooches off of the people around her. There can also be a potential material loss waiting for you, but mostly because it was spent carelessly and foolishly. Now you know what's lurking in the environment, you can call it by it's name and move right around it.

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Take note here because the advice has us focusing on the material world. We're still trying to operate from the mind, but the universe is telling us that it's time to get our head out of the clouds. This is another wake up call to be aware of what's going on around us, especially in the organization and coordination of our material affairs. If we don't come down from our high-flying intellectualism, our plans may be cancelled, misunderstandings could lead to a loss of friendship or in really drastic cases, the loss of your home. Get it together! Here it would not be remiss to be overly cautious this week in any deals or decisions involving money and finance. We're distracted at the moment, so if we can't get our thoughts together and focus, better push back any decisions on money matters until next week.
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Just like a sword, the outcome this week has two sides to it, so it's going to come down to you. This tarot card is the Lord of Peace, turned on its head, so either way the sword falls, we'll probably be a little taken aback at the course of events this week. If we apply the advice, we'll be able to release ourselves from the prison of the mind that the challenge represents. We'll find movement again as well as clarity in our decisions to move forward. We'll also be able to identify any two-faced imposters that are awaiting our downfall. This will be a relief because we've avoided becoming prey to a predator, however, it will be alarming as well when this person's true identity is revealed as something other than what we thought. If we fail to heed the counsel given by the cards, we won't recognize this duplicitous imposter and we'll be cut, in reality by our own sword because we didn't use it appropriately. This kind of disloyalty will shake things up and further rob our peace of mind. Just because we refuse to see things, doesn't mean that they aren't still there.

You got this! Get out of your head this week and make sure you're grounded to continue along your journey. Good luck on your own mystic revolution this week!
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Due to the overzealous desire to be altruistic and put others first, our challenge this week lies in finding the balance between being open to all and still exercising discernment and caution in our dealings. We can support our friends, neighbors, business partners, etc. but there is a risk that our projects get cancelled, we experience a loss in our homelife or there may even be a con-man lurking around for alms when he's really a thief. Our love for the other cannot get in the way of using good, sound judgment. When the Lord of Gain is reversed positioned as the challenge, we know we're facing the possibility of material loss. It would behoove us to avoid over-spending and any excesses (in food, drinks, vices, etc.) that are unchecked.
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While the six would generally bring us balance after a difficult situation, when it's reversed, we can lose our equilibrium which makes it challenging to get our bearings about us and move forward. This card is the Lord of Science turned on its head. Science, which brings progress and embodies advancement, has been stopped in its tracks for the time being and this lack of movement can be quite uncomfortable. Any loose ends that need to be tied up are likely to remain undone for a bit longer. These unresolved affairs stir the pot and anxiety at this time is coming to a slow simmer. The stagnation affects us most in the mental arena as our mind launches into overdrive, but the churning of the wheels is rather unproductive without much action to propel the energy forward. Don't be surprised if friends and colleagues are too wrapped up in their own process of wading out of the darkness to lend a hand. This lack of support can get to us, but it's up to us to view the situation from a more macro level and have compassion for others on their own journey. If you're embroiled in legal matters, don't expect them to be resolved this week and if they do manage to reach a conclusion there is a real possibility that it won't be in your favor. This clearly isn't the chipper weekly memo we would like to receive in our inbox, however we can use the time in a productive way by leaning into the stillness to sort out our own mental space before it's time to get up and get moving again. 
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As we've seen, the current situation foretells of an uncomfortable stillness and lack of movement this week that largely affects our intellectual prowess, although the real challenge is going to be in managing our emotions. This dark night of the soul globally has dug it's heels in and sometimes it's hard to look up and project a positive future. The stagnation can cause us to want to throw the towel in and give up. This situation can lead us to sadness and even to lose faith in being able to turn it all around. We can start to feel removed or disconnected, apathetic and dissatisfied. The challenge for us this week is to do an emotional screening to see where we're being inflexible and resisting to go with the flow. Clinging to the past, or outworn modes of thinking, no longer serve us so we need to follow the course of the river.If there's a bend, curve along with it because you'll need a lot more hydropower to channel the flow into a new stream at this point. Some self-reflection will help determine where we create instability in our own lives through that inflexibility. Times are changing and we can sail along willingly or be swept away with the current. 
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Finally a card in the spread that's upright! We've changed suits once again and the environment this week will be supportive of our practical talents. Work will be a welcome distraction, especially if it entails organizing your space, applying practical solutions to the task at hand and tapping into the more nurturing side of your character. With the tumultuous elements of water and air reversed in the two previous cards, here we see the stabilizing energy of earth supporting us along our journey for security. Earth is the realm of the physical world and pertains to material matters. There may even be a woman in your environment that embodies the Earth Mother archetype and her generous and charitable nature will certainly be a welcome respite when faced with so much uncertainty. Don't get lost in your thoughts nor swept away with your emotions, but instead focus on the concrete actions you can take this week to move toward the life you want to manifest. 
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The advice this week is more about observation and prevention than an action to be taken. We may very well be confronted this week with an unstable character in our environment and the best thing we can do is be aware of the true nature of this person and behave accordingly. Avoid getting entangled in any arguments with this person as it will likely be a waste of time. This person is cruel and wants to dominate the situation at any cost. Being conscious of this person's capacity to act against us gives us some perspective on the situation which circles back to the challenge this week of not letting our emotions get out of control. Stay practical and don't let it get to you. Things will get moving again, even if they take time and you'll need to harness that courage to withstand the pressure of the situation, if not it will only lead to a broken heart. If we deny the reality at hand it will just cost us more in the long run. Ignorance is not bliss so it's time to take off those rose-colored glasses to get a glimpse of the true hue of this work in progress called life.
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Ok, so the Knight of Cups reversed as the final result doesn't look stellar, but at the end of the day, the power is in our hands to shape our reality. This could just be a wake up call to take a bit of extra time and analyze all of the possibilities before us. We may end up so desperate for movement that we throw due dilligence by the wayside and accept any proposal that comes our way... not a great idea. Crooks, swindlers and tricksters love to prey on desperation and won't miss an opportunity to cozy up to people who are unwilling to see the truth for what it is. This can lead to risky propositions that will end in more heartbreak. Open your eyes, and combine your intuition with those practical talents so you heed the warnings and make good decisions. There are people lurking around that are not to be trusted but if you can see the situation for what it truly is, you'll be good to go.

There's work to be done and now it's time to get to it. Let your mystic revolution begin!
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This week is perfect for learning how to navigate difficult relationships and knowing when to cut ties with those who no longer support us on our journey.
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​No one said it would be easy, but sometimes that's just the type of mission we need to grow. This week will be full of opportunities for growth as we are presented with challenges that give us the perfect chance to see who we are as reflected through our interactions with those around us. What if we don't like what we see? No sweat. You can always change course, no guilt, no shame. Becoming conscious of our own subtleties gives us the power to make changes little by little to slowly align ourselves with who we know we are. How will this specifically play out this week? In our relationships; more importantly, in the difficult and uncomfortable ones!

The card of Temperance reversed tells us that we may be involved in arguments, situations where there are competing interests and even circumstances where there are elements of corruption. The big takeaway will be how you deal with it all. First things first, this is not a situation where you should enter with all guns blazing to find a solution. The counsel here is to moderate your actions and instead favor observation and reflection before chiming in. There is an irritable and fiery energy in the air that feeds off of conflict so you'll want to do your best to avoid getting entangled in trivial arguments that could escalate and lead to loss or destruction. It's a fine line you'll be walking as there is even a possibility that those you'll be pitted against will rely on shady tactics and unethical behavior to advance their own agendas, however, this should not be permitted. Stand your ground although keep in mind that the delivery is just as important as the message itself. Keep calm, cool and collected while expressing any dissonance and even when things get rough, be friendly and relaxed, above all with those that are the most difficult to get along with. If you toe the line in a steady, balanced way you'll find that the bark of those pot-stirrers was far worse than the bite and you even have the chance to gain new respect and new allies out of the least-likely of characters.
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We're living in a world of dualities and right alongside the just and the morally-upright we find cruelty and troublemakers. The Knight of Swords reversed will have us coming directly into contact with the latter. This week you'll need to be especially cautious of toxic people in your environment because there's no rest for the wicked and it's like they're coming out of the woodwork. We're talking about people who relish and take delight in other people's failures, individuals who like to open up old wounds just to watch you squirm. So how should we take these bad apples on? Don't. Where the situation permits, walk away, cut your losses and leave behind an energy that simply no longer serves your higher good, if it ever even did. We have the power here to recognize a situation for what it really is and then make our decisions accordingly. If we look out at the situation and realize that the sword-wielding, fire-breathing maniac in the mirror is us, it would be best to lean into some transformative techniques soon lest you continue the path toward self-destruction. It's never too late to start. Let the revolution begin! 
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