Tarot Reading - Writer Mother

For this tarot reading, I used The Witch's Mark deck (by me).

Writer Mother asks:

“I’m a mom attempting to return to the workforce — I’m a writer but also have day job experience and am struggling to navigate it all. What are my best next steps for securing income this year?

Card 1 - Current Situation - The Emperor

The Emperor is about stability, structure, being the boss, and taking the future into your own hands. I often think of The Emperor as “Business Daddy.” This card showing up as your current situation indicates that you are in control of your destiny, and that business opportunities will soon present themselves. You are in the perfect position to make things happen. The Emperor is not a particularly creative card, so it may mean that the first work opportunities that present themselves are of the financial stability/day job variety rather than artistic outlets, and that's okay. Sometimes we need the day job to feel secure enough to make our art. But fear not, there are many indications that creative work is on its way as well. The Emperor reminds you to know your worth, and to ask for what you need.

Card 2 - Challenge - Eight of Swords

The Eight of Swords is a card of mental anguish, fear, and self doubt. In the Rider Waite Colman Smith deck, a woman is blindfolded and surrounded by eight swords. She’s braced for a fight, but she doesn’t need to be. There’s no one nearby, and if she were to just remove her blindfold, she would realize that the only thing holding her back is herself. Sometimes this card can be interpreted as “victim mentality.” 

This is your challenge as you re-enter the workforce. You have the capabilities of The Emperor, as long as you remember that any doubts you have are self-inflicted. Whatever you perceive your vulnerabilities or weaknesses to be are either in your head, or invisible to others. You should approach this job search with confidence — you are capable, and any work environment would be lucky to have you. 

I took almost a year off after the birth of my first child, which felt really scary at the time. On the one hand, leaving the workforce for any length of time is difficult and can make re-entry tricky. On the other hand, no one else has been counting the days you’ve been gone (especially as a writer! There are writers who go years without publishing a single thing). Approach this job search with confidence, and try your best to quiet the inner critic. I have found that it is extremely helpful to give your inner critic a name and personality. Bert with the stupid hat, for example. Your inner critic believes he/she is keeping you safe from embarrassment or heartbreak, but personifying them helps you separate them from THE TRUTH ™. Your inner critic is just one opinion. There are plenty of other voices who believe in your abilities. Make sure you listen to them.

Card 3 - Need to Focus On - Six of Swords

The six of swords depicts an arduous journey of transformation. You are leaving something behind in pursuit of new opportunities. Your identity and the way you spend your time each day is in flux. At times, this will be rocky. Lean into it. There may be rough waters ahead for a little while, but when you’ve reached your destination, you’ll be better off than when you started. The placement of this card in the spread suggests that you should not try to distract yourself or deny that this is hard. You're allowed to be frustrated by the process of change, but you should keep the faith that where you will end up will be satisfying and positive. Allow yourself the opportunity to acknowledge what is difficult about this transition, and keep fighting for what you want. You're on a path toward something positive.

Card 4 - Your Past/Leaving - Knight of Wands

Knights are beginners, wands are about creativity and passion. Sometimes the court cards stand in for other people, and sometimes they are parts of you. Is there a person in your life who embodies the spirit of the knight of wands? Let me describe him for you: The Knight of Wands is a creative go-getter, a dreamer, constantly brainstorming and looking at the biggest picture, and never fretting the details. There's a sort of manic energy to this Knight – a creative person perpetually stuck in the inspiration phase. This Knight is impatient and impulsive. That doesn't mean he's wrong or bad, just that he doesn't have time to stop and think. If there is a person like this in your life, perhaps you are ready to move on from them – in some ways this could even describe the state of being the primary caregiver to a child/children. Children are impulsive, infinitely creative, messy, loud, and full of ideas. Like children, the Knight of Wands wants to start a million projects, but doesn't want to clean up the mess afterward. This doesn't mean you are leaving your children behind (obviously), just that you are ready to move out of this wild time and into a new phase.

Alternatively, you are ready to put your boots on the ground. You have done enough dreaming, brainstorming, and scheming, and now it's time to get to work. If there's a creative project you've been noodling or outlining, it's time to start writing. If you've been mulling over a job posting, go ahead and apply. This is a moment for decisions and concrete steps.

Card 5 - Strengths - Ace of Swords

You are a communicator, and your ability to cut through the bullshit is an asset to your personality and to your future work prospects. Your strength is honesty, clear communication, and positive outlook. This is a moment for being very clear with yourself about what you want. Manifestation is only possible through hard work, or "Faith without works is dead." This is a moment to state clearly to yourself what you want and take concrete steps to achieve it. You have to make your destiny a reality, but you've got all the tools to realize your wildest dreams. Jump on opportunities, put yourself out there, tell others you're looking for work and ask for help. Don't be shy about what you want. Most people are happy to help others if they can. The universe is calling. Make sure you pick up.

Card 6 - Near Future - Five of Pentacles

The five of pentacles is about scarcity. This can be literal – a moment of financial trouble or worry – but I find that this card is more often about a scarcity mindset. In what ways do you feel like you're being denied? Are you sabotaging opportunities because you are afraid to be disappointed? How can you remind yourself that you are The Emperor, strong, capable, and ready to lead? Sometimes when we are in a scarcity mindset, we make decisions out of fear, or self preservation. It's important to be practical, but it's also important to approach your job search with confidence and clarity.

In my Witch's Mark deck, this card is a collage of words, incomplete phrases shouted into the ether with no complete or discernable thoughts. That's how I feel when I'm in a moment of scarcity (either perceived or tangible). It's hard to cut through the noise, hard not to compare myself to others, or feel victimized by my circumstances. This is a moment for meditation, to put your phone down (social media is not your friend) and try to stay grounded in reality. What other people have does not mean that there is less for you. When you feel burdened by a feeling of inadequacy or scarcity, remind yourself that everything you need is within you. Try to turn down the noise and stay honest with yourself about what you want and how you can best achieve it.

Card 7 - Advice - Knight of Cups

The Knight of Cups is a lover. Again, Knights are go-getters, charging forward into battle without an action plan. It's interesting that in this spread you are leaving behind the Knight of Wands but the Tarot's advice is to harness the energy of the Knight of Cups. Let's break down the difference between the two.

Both Knights are impulsive and inspired, both act first and ask questions later. Wands are the suit of fire, creativity, and passion. Cups are the suit of water, relationships, and emotions. Both cups and wands are creative suits, often referring to the realm of the imagination. Wands are masculine, bold and fiery, extroverted and moving quickly (they often burn out quickly too). Cups are feminine, intuitive, inward. As a reminder, each of us contains masculine and feminine energies – when I use "masculine" and "feminine" in reference to the Tarot, it does not refer to gender but rather archetypes.

The Knight of Cups brings that impulsive Knight energy to relationships and emotions. He is a romantic, leading with his heart. Sometimes that can lead to disaster, of course, but often beautiful things (and creative work) can come from following your heart. This is a moment of creative inspiration, diving into your writing, and saying yes to new opportunities as they present themselves. This is a moment to lean on your relationships, people you worked with before, friends who may be able to help you as you approach this new phase. This should be a creatively inspiring and expansive time for you. Lead with your heart, and follow your bliss. You are on the precipice of exciting new work.

Card 8 - Environment - The Chariot

The Chariot is a card about forward momentum and exercising your will. The Charioteer sits atop a vehicle (a chariot, duh) but in many decks, he does not even hold the reins. He's got a light touch, but he will not take no for answer. His confidence and force of will, as well as his grounded calm nature, will move him forward. No matter what bumps in the road there may be, it's important to remind yourself that you are always moving forward, and you won't stop until you've achieved your goals.

I also think of the Chariot as an opportunity to "fake it 'til you make it." You don't have to be an expert in everything, you don't have to know everything going into a situation – how could you? Also, where's the fun in that? I always think of The Chariot when I'm in my dance class and I can't remember the moves. If I spend too much time in my head trying desperately to remember, I will panic and end up running into someone. Instead, if I take a deep breath and just let my body take over, I can usually make it look like I know what I'm doing, even if I don't get all the steps right. This is an opportunity to go "full out," to dance like you know the moves, even if you don't.

The environment you are in right now and that you are about to enter, with job interviews and the like, is one in which you should remind yourself that you've got this, that confidence is half the battle, and that you are strong and capable.

Card 9 - Hopes and Fears - Ace of Pentacles 

Pentacles refer to the material world – finances, employment, the body – the tangible aspects of our lives. This card in this placement feels simple and concise. You hope to hear the word "yes." You want to open some new doors for yourself, you are hoping that the transition you are making will bring you new opportunities for material success. The Ace of Pentacles is the beginning of a material journey, and that's exactly where you are right now. Trust that doors will open (or you'll kick them open), and you'll be on your way toward the fulfillment of the Ten of Cups soon enough.

Card 10 - Potential Outcome - Six of Pentacles

What an excellent final card to receive as your potential outcome in a spread about employment. The Six of Pentacles is a card of abundance, wealth, and success. You'll get the job, you'll write the thing you've been wanting to write, you'll earn the paycheck and eventually you may even feel flush. Remember when you are in that position that it's important to be generous with others. If someone helps you in your job search, make sure you pass on that kindness to someone else when you're in the position to. High tide lifts all boats. This spread advises generosity and confidence, indicates that you should cut through whatever critical noise you've got in your head, stop comparing yourself to others, and keep moving forward. Lead with your heart and remember to help others when you've achieved your own goals.

Good luck!

Readers: If you have another interpretation or a question about this spread, please leave your thoughts/questions in the comments! And if you'd like me to read your cards, please email me at WitchsMarkEli@gmail.com