Tarot Reading - Brigid

For this reading, I used the Wild Unknown tarot deck by Kim Krans.

Brigid (an alias, but if you read yesterday's newsletter, you know all about Brigid, the Celtic goddess of fire, hearth, and home, asks:

I've lived in the same rent-controlled apartment in Los Angeles, which I've loved and deeply appreciated for a long time. Now, in the midst of our city burning, while we still have emergency bags packed at our door, our landlord has decided to put our home on the market. I know we have a lot of protections as rent-controlled tenants, but I am worried the new buyer will kick us out to live here — and if they do, what kind of a fight we will have to put up? Or will the new owner let us stay? What kind of landlord will they be? Also, if we do have to leave our home, what kind of a place will we end up in during this rental shortage that Los Angeles is facing? What will our new neighborhood be like, and will I have to find a new job to pay for not-rent-stabilized "real world" or potentially inflated rents? Will we still even be in Los Angeles at all?

Signed, I LOVE MY HOME AND MY CITY AND I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE 

First of all, let me just say: this sounds incredible stressful, and I'm sorry you're going through this precarious housing situation on top of the stress of the wildfires. Now, let's see what the cards have to say!

Card 1 - Current Situation - The Sun

Your current living situation, as you aptly described, is ideal. You've found the perfect home – you love your city, your neighborhood, the building, and the rent. In spite of all that the city has been through in the last month, you have made your desires to stay in your current home clear, and the Tarot affirms that your life is pretty great at the moment, in spite of all the many challenges swirling around you. The Sun is a card of victory, celebration, and completion, but most of all: joy. This is a moment for being present with the blessings you have, practicing gratitude and staying positive about your future's possibilities.

This is not meant to scare you, but there's also a world where The Sun means Completion, i.e. that your time in this apartment is complete. I'm not saying that that is what it means (and there is much in this spread to suggest that you will not be forced out of your home), but I'd like to reassure you that even if The Sun is indicating that one cycle is ending, your spread indicates that what comes next is even better.

Card 2 - Challenge - Eight of Pentacles

The Eight of Pentacles is all about creative flow, persistence, and consistency – working hard and getting into a groove. I sometimes think of the Eight of Pentacles as channeling – it's that feeling like there's nothing in your way creatively, and your instincts and intuition are guiding you. You feel creatively unbound, your imagination has been set free.

Now... why would this be your challenge? It's an interesting thought exercise.

First, there is a certainty and sameness to The Eight of Pentacles. It's a card that indicates that you're moving steadily in the same direction that you have been moving in. Perhaps this is creating a sense of fear around change. Your desire for things to stay the same could hold you back from leveling up.

There is a practicality to the eight of pentacles – an approach to a problem that is rooted in pragmatism and discipline. This card indicates a commitment to goals. It could be that this is your challenge because your situation feels nebulous and out of your control at the moment. You are spiraling about what could happen if you are not allowed to stay in your place (of course you are, by the way, that makes total sense). But future-casting and pragmatism can't necessarily help you determine what your new landlord's plans are. You can't know what's happening inside their mind, and time spent spinning out about it is only going to draw you away from the present moment, which is where the magic happens.

The Eight of Pentacles crossing The Sun argues that the most important thing for you right now is to practice patience, gratitude, and grounding. Your future housing is, for the moment, out of your control. Whatever practicality or work you think you can do to control it is an illusion. This is going to be a decision made by someone else, and that is a really tough pill to swallow. Before you worry that you'll have to leave the city or neighborhood you love, spend a few moments grounded in the present. For now, you remain in your apartment, your community, your home. This is a really shitty time for a landlord to kick you out – that doesn't necessarily mean that it couldn't happen, only that your landlord could end up being cursed by the universe for being an asshole (just saying) if they proceed forward with evicting their rent-controlled tenants in the midst of a city-wide crisis. LA has strong protections for tenants. If your new landlord wishes to evict you, they will have to pay you out, and depending on how many units they have (whether they intend to occupy the space themselves or whether they have multiple rental units), that payout could be as little as $10K and much as $20K. I recommend brushing up on your tenant's rights so you are prepared to fight back if necessary.

As you'll see elsewhere in the spread, the tarot does not seem to think you'll be forced out. Overall this is a very joyful and optimistic spread, but knowing your rights might help you feel like you have a little more power and control. And if you're forced to leave, getting the most money you can will help you land on your feet.

There are a lot of things that would have to happen for you to be forced out of your apartment. There would be an exchange of money and you'd be given time and notice. Yes, there is a housing crisis, but depending on where you're looking to rent, it might not be as bad as you think. Most of the folks who have been displaced from their homes want to live close to where they used to live (their jobs, schools, communities, activities, etc are there). So unless you live very close to the Palisades or Altadena, you may find that there are other options you could fall in love with.

All in all, the Tarot suggests that you take your time and approach this situation with a positive attitude. You will most likely not be forced out, and if you are, it's very possible your situation could end up better than you ever imagined. That might feel like cold comfort now, but staying rooted in the present and taking each day as it comes will help you approach this uncertainty with a sense of resilience and gratitude.

Card 3 - Need to Focus On - 6 of Cups

The six of cups is a card of immense joy. The card is about childlike wonder, awe, gratitude, and innocence. The Tarot suggests that now is a time to focus on having deep compassion for yourself and others. This is a time for fun, the kind of fun you haven't had since you were a kid – trampoline park fun, dancing til dawn type of fun, or time outdoors in nature where you are reminded that the Earth is enormous and full of wonder, even when things don't feel very good. It's hard to feel claustrophobic when you're a tiny person standing among mighty trees on a huge mountain.

This is a time to connect to your loved ones, perhaps even some people from your past. Are there friends you haven't seen in awhile? Friends who you miss, but who it's been difficult to make plans with, because everyone's so busy and the world is so awful? Now's the time to make a plan and keep it. Who knows? Someone who loves you might have become an expert in tenant's rights since you last saw them or maybe they have a lead on a great apartment... At the very least, time with the people you love, experiencing pure, unadulterated joy is a great way to de-stress your mind, stay grounded in the present, and give yourself a new perspective.

The Tarot wants you to mother yourself. Validate your feelings. Let yourself feel everything. Remind your inner child that no matter what happens, you are loved and you've got people who will help you. Care for that little person inside of you who feels anxious and out of control right now. She needs to be reminded that it's always darkest before the dawn, and the outcome she desires is possible if she takes things one step at a time. Little kids hate change. Your inner child hates change. Let your adult self acknowledge and affirm that for your child self. And then remind yourself that change also creates opportunities for growth.

Card 4 - Your Past/Leaving - 4 of Cups

The Four of Cups is the feeling of low grade depression, dread, a sense of ennui. It's the feeling you get when everything about your life looks fine on paper, but you can't shake the feeling that something's amiss, like when you live in an apartment you love but you fear that at any moment the rug could be pulled out from under you.

Thankfully this uncomfortable feeling is about to be in your rearview mirror, which I would venture to say means that things are going to work out the way you want them to. I tend to think of the Four of Cups as the feeling I get when I'm experiencing vague worries, where I'm casting negative predictions for the future and telling myself they are based on facts (even when they are not). That's what's happening for you right now (again, totally understandable). You're worried. You're trying to think through all possible scenarios, and a lot of those scenarios are bad. But! What if everything works out? Maybe your rent will be raised a little bit or maybe it won't. Maybe your new landlord will be better than the last one! The Tarot suggests that certainty will arrive soon and you'll leave those feelings of dread, anxiety, and low grade background sadness behind.

Card 5 - Strengths - The Lovers

Your romantic partnership is strong, as is your own sense of duality and balance. It's a good reminder that even when things are bad, your person loves you and together, you'll figure this out. Additionally, The Lovers is a card that reminds us to search for balance within ourselves. When you're feeling especially anxious, balance out that feeling with some physical activity. Get out of your head and into your body. Take a dance class, climb a mountain, or cook something delicious that ignites your senses. When you're feeling tired, rest!

Los Angeles feels like a constant emergency right now, but meditation and grounding can help you stay focused on the things you can control. If a problem arises and you're grounded and balanced, it will be much easier to take on. If you're worried about everything and feeling overwhelmed and miserable, small problems will feel huge, and big problems will feel impossible.

This is a moment to lean on your partner, and to provide each other with a sense of grounding. Yes, this situation is bad. But, nothing bad has happened yet, and the bad outcome is not guaranteed. You have each other. If the worst case scenario comes to pass (which is still very much a big if), you will rely on each other, stay strong together, and who knows? Maybe you'll end up somewhere you love even more.

Card 6 - Near Future - Daughter of Wands

The Daughter (or Page) of Wands is a creative beginner, an artist at the moment of inspiration, bursting with creative energy and ideas. This card could indicate that you're at the precipice of an exciting new endeavor. Maybe this means that you and your new landlord will work something new out, something you haven't thought of yet. Maybe this indicates that something will happen at work that will alleviate some of the financial stress that makes this situation feel so scary.

You're at the beginning of a creative pursuit, something that could either keep your housing situation exactly as it is, or upgrade you in ways you haven't thought of yet. There are opportunities on your horizon.

Make sure you're looking out for them. While you're tending to your inner child, notice the feelings and ideas that come up. The Six of Cups and the Page of Wands are fertile cards for creativity. Automatic writing, meditation, collaboration with trusted artists and allies, this is all stuff you should be focused on right now. It's a good distraction from this dilemma you have very little control over, but also, your creativity could lead to a solution to this housing problem if you let your mind stay open to receive the universe's wisdom. Your highest self is about to talk to you, make sure you're listening.

Card 7 - Advice - Mother of Wands

The Mother (or Queen) of Wands reminds you that you are a master of creativity. You know how to make things happen. You are a font of imagination, an artist and a magician. You are a maker, a creator. You take a blank canvas and fill it with color. Where there was once nothing, you create something. Remember this.

Your creativity will help you figure out how to make your living situation tenable for your lifestyle. Creativity works in art and it also works in life. There's a creative solution for most problems. Get to know your new landlord if you can. Explore other housing options as well, keeping an open mind for new adventures. Stay open to your creative ideas, and remember that you have long been a person who knows how to make things happen. You don't have to be at the mercy of the universe. You have the tools you need to create the destiny you desire.

Card 8 - Environment - Father of Cups

The Father (or King) of Cups is a master of his emotions. He's caring, nurturing, and kind. He takes care of others and himself, and he prioritizes his relationships and emotional life. To me, this card (and the next two) give me the clearest sense that your housing situation will work out. If this card were the King of Pentacles, it would be a slam dunk for me that you'd get to stay in your apartment in spite of any sale (because the King of Pentacles has all of his material needs met). I still think the King of Cups (who has all of his emotional needs met) suggests that you'll most likely be able to stay in your apartment. But even if you must (or decide) to leave, the King of Cups suggests that your support system is strong and will carry you through whatever changes come your way.

Also! The King of Cups could very well be your new landlord! A caring, nurturing person who leads with relationships and emotions. Maybe this new landlord will be a kind soul who values trustworthy tenants over lining their own pockets.

I tend not to think of Tarot as predictive (i.e. I really believe that the future is not predetermined, and we all have free will), so it's difficult to answer definitively "Yes, you will get to stay in your apartment." However, if I were that kind of tarot reader, this spread suggests to me, "Yes, you will get to stay in your home." But either way, in my interpretation, whether you are allowed (or choose) to stay or not, the outcome will be positive. You are moving out of a period of dread and into a period of certainty, creativity, and joy.

Card 9 - Hopes and Fears - 4 of Pentacles

The Four of Pentacles is a perfect card for this position in the spread. This is a card about stability. In the Rider Waite Colman Smith deck, the four of Pentacles depicts a king, death gripping two coins, with two more under his feet. He doesn't look particularly happy, in spite of the material possessions he is clinging so tightly to. The Four of Pentacles warns that your fears about instability are making you overreact or overprotect your assets. It's like wearing a space suit to go swimming – as in, it's overkill.

You're clearly feeling the squeeze of a new landlord, an unpredictable living situation, devastating wildfires that have created a real sense of scarcity and loss in our city. It makes perfect sense that you fear a loss of stability, and at the same time you long to feel safe. But you may be hanging on too tightly to what you know, afraid to rock the boat. While certainty and stability feel good, they can also keep us from discovering new depths and resilience.

This card is a good reminder that stability comes in many forms – relationships to yourself and others are a great place to start. This card could also suggest that you may have more resources than you know. Fear of the future does you no good in a moment of anxiety and uncertainty. The Tarot reminds you to approach your future with optimism and positivity. This doesn't mean fooling yourself or putting your head in the sand. But again: what if everything works out? It can be really helpful to reframe difficult situations in your mind as opportunities. If you are forced to leave your apartment, that will suck and it will be scary, but if you can try to frame it as "I get to have a new adventure," you make yourself available for good things to happen. Again, based on the cards in your spread, whatever the outcome of your housing situation, you will be happier on the other side of it. Good things are coming your way.

Card 10 - Possible Future Outcome - 9 of Pentacles

Tarot readers will tell you that there are no bad or good cards in the Tarot. All cards have something to teach us. Each come with their own pitfalls and silver linings. At the same time, there are a few secret exceptions. If there is one card that is unequivocally awesome, it's this one. The Nine of Pentacles is a card that predicts that all your dreams will come true. It's the best possible card to get as your "future outcome" for this particular question (or frankly, any question).

Pentacles are about the material world, the here and now. That includes things like financial success, housing, career, the body. This is a card about having your material needs met – knowing that in this earthly realm, you are safe, stable, and secure. For whatever reason, perhaps my discomfort with capitalism, it feels weird to me to be like, "This card says you're about to have a financial windfall." That feels like the kind of thing the Wizard of Oz would say. At the same time, listen, pssst it's very possible that you're about to have a financial windfall.

This card says everything's gonna be okay. That could be as simple as: the new landlord isn't going to shake things up, and you'll be able to stay in the place you love, in the city and neighborhood you love. Or, it could mean that a new opportunity is about to arrive, shaking up your situation in such a way that if you move, you'll get to upgrade your life. As always, Tarot suggests a path and a possible outcome, but we all have free will. Your spread reminds you that the actionable steps for you to take are gratitude, meditation, staying grounded and rooted in the here and now. Prioritize fun, joy, and awe, and remain open to your subconscious and your imagination. The creative ideas you have in the next few months are fertile ground for making your dreams to come true. Listen to your imagination and your intuition. The universe has good things in store for you.

Readers, as always, if you have questions or different interpretations, leave me a comment and I'll respond! I always love to hear other readers interpretations of the cards. And if you've emailed me for a reading, I promise it's coming – I'm just working through them as quickly as I can. If you have a question for the Tarot and would like me to read your cards, send me your question (and whatever name or alias you'd like me to use for you) at WitchsMarkEli@gmail.com!