DAY 6

I may be a skeptic, but I LOVE to have my tarot cards read. I feel like tarot has been really trending in the last few years, at least that I've started to notice, although I honestly think it's always been cool, since I was a kid. My sister bought a deck of tarot cards when she was a teenager and tried to give me a reading but I was too freaked out by what it might say. I genuinely thought we were casting magic spells. I was like 8, mind you. I was waiting for my Hogwarts letter. Still am.

Nowadays, I like to do readings simply for the fun of it. I used to scoff at it because I had a friend whose "psychic" aunt told her that she had already met her future husband, the current guy she was crushing on and that he was going to finally see her romantically in the coming months. She said he was a tall, blond-haired, blue-eyed boy. The boy my friend thought this was about turned out to continue to not be interested in her and to this day, she is both unmarried and never dated a tall, blond-haired, blue-eyed man. I thought people were really naive to think that tarot cards could predict anything, but now, I realize that it's not actually SUPPOSED to predict the future, but rather gives you a new way of thinking about yourself and the problems in your life. And even though I don't believe in magic or predictive powers of tarot cards, I find it can be spookily accurate and insightful.

So for FUN, I want to see what the cards have to say about the year. I'm going to be doing a New Years spread, and treat October 22nd 2018 like it's fucking Jan the first.

I just Googled a year spread and found one that didn't have a too disturbing amount of cards to read (pictured above).

1. The main theme of this new year

2. Departing energies from last year

3. Talents you will be expressing this year

4. Future opportunities

5. Upcoming obstacles

6. How to deal with upcoming obstacles

7. How to achieve your dreams and goals

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Here we go!

1. Three of Wands

Keywords: enterprise, beginnings, partnerships, long term plans, cooperation, future financial success

"The three of wands indicates a time to expand and grow. Be aware of new opportunities to build onto current business or projects. Consider potential allies and partners. This card speaks of partnership opportunities that may lead to greater success for you and your ventures. The three of wands is a scion of new opportunities, travel, studies - ways to expand on the things into which you have have already invested time and effort. This card asks that you have an open mind, think big, aim high, and move into your future with confidence. You are capable of more than you imagine!"

Thoughts: *is frothing at the mouth* yaaaasss. I like the word "travel." The idea that I'll have a "partnership" in the future seems odd to me because I can't imagine anyone wanting to do this with me, but perhaps just having friends who want to help me achieve some of my goals, because even though I'm single, I'm not necessarily alone.

2. The Fool

Keywords: journey, idealism, new adventures, innocence, decisions, spontaneity, risk taking, openness to new experiences

"The Fool is carefree, unburdened by fear or anxiety even though he is taking a literal leap of faith. He does not seem to mind if he does not really know what lies ahead. The fool represents the querent themselves, the fool's journey. The Fool is in search of meaning and experience. He has everything he needs and is just starting out. In the past position, The Fool can represent you wasting time that you could have used for studies."

Thoughts: See what I mean when it can be spookily accurate?! For me, this just means that I'm going to start being more deliberate, thoughtful and cautious about my future. I definitely feel that I've been wasting a lot of time trying to find this ideal relationship and person, and coming up empty-handed and heartbroken. I would say I'm no longer innocent in my dating experiences. I have known for a while what I want and I approach things thing a lot more maturity. Less foolish, impulsive behaviour and more planning and thoughtfulness.

3. Temperance

Keywords: balance, moderation, communication, management of resources, art, healing

"Temperance indicates that you are learning to bring about balance, patience and moderation in your life. Temperance may indicate that you are standing between two choices, two people or disparate areas of conflict. The temperate individual mixes the opposites and finds a balance in life by avoiding conflicts. Ask yourself where things are out of balance and be honest about how it may be affecting your path and your loved ones."

Thoughts: I like this a lot. I think by eliminating one large aspect of my life, the constant search for a love interest, I can balance what is left of my energy to all the people that actually matter now, my friends, family and myself. I also really want to avoid conflict in my life, and be just more open to all sides of an issue than thinking in black and white. This makes sense. BALAWNCE.

4. Ten of Pentacles

Keywords: happiness, family matters, prosperity, wealth, wisdom, love, security, recognition, old age

"The Ten of Pentacles is one of the most positive cards in the deck. The is truly the card that best represents the positive culmination of life well lived. This card reflects permanence and creating a lasting foundation for future success. It is a card of commitment to a sustainable future, taking into consideration not just the short-term benefits of a particular venture but also the long-term benefits. It is about investing in the long term and knowing that you need a consistent approach to achieve success that will last the test of time. The Ten of Pentacles is also a sign that family is very important to you. Being surrounded by the people you love and who share your DNA and ancestry brings you great joy and happiness. You are also strongly connected to your family history and heritage, feeling a part of the long lineage that goes before you. It represents tradition, being a part of something bigger and realizing that the blood of your ancestors runs through your veins."

Thoughts: This is interesting because I don't really relate to the wealth and success part. That feels like it's still a stretch for me at 27 years old, because I still struggle all the time. But maybe that could turn up? We'll seeeee... The family part seems odd to me as well because I am not incredibly close to them, BUT I have been really thinking about checking out 23 and me. I want to find out more about my DNA, so that kind of relates to the ancestry part and feeling more connected. I would like to become closer to my family though, and maybe doing the 23 and me test would bring us closer. I hope they decide to take it too.

5. Eight of Cups

Keywords: travel, abandoning old ideas, leaving, moving on, new thinking, new frontiers, journeys and adventures

"The Eight of Cups is a card that often heralds change, transition, and leaving things behind. This card may speak of travel or taking a metaphorical journey. This journey may be prompted by unhappiness, dissatisfaction, or restlessness, or it's time to take a big leap forward. Turning away from old modes of being, even when you have invested a lot of time and energy into your present situation, is the necessary start of a journey of discovery, particularly on a spiritual level. Sometimes we must abandon our baggage before we can move forward. Let go of the past; embrace the future."

Thoughts: Sounds about right. This card is weirdly associated with the obstacles though. So I guess abandoning my old modes of thinking WILL be the obstacle. It definitely already is. I LOVE the word "travel" here.... LET'S GTFO!

6. Two of Pentacles

Keywords: balance, adaptability, prioritization, financial and time management, flexibility

"The Two of Pentacles is a positive card, and indicates that the querent is attempting to balance two or more major concerns while maintaining his head above the waves that lap as his feet. The querent is adept at multitasking and has found a way to take care of the various tasks in life without giving in to self-neglect and stress. Very similar to the Temperance card, and the two may show up together to remind you that while you can manage a lot, be sure you are doing so in a way that is healthy to your mind and body."

Thoughts: Damn, son. This is accurate. Love it.

7. Seven of Cups

Keywords: illusions, fantasy, unreal expectations

"The Seven is Cups is a card of illusions, dreams, transitions, and mystery. This card celebrates the dreamer who is able to see possibilities and excitement as well as difficulties in the future but warns against putting too much stock in illusions. A savings account will take you farther than a lottery ticket. This card may also speak to the dangers of illusion where temptation is concerned. You may have choices presented to you and not all of them will lead to happiness or good things. In particular, be wary of sexual or emotional temptation.

This card warns of behaviour that is taking you away from your ideal path. Maybe you want to find a life partner but are unwilling to take the necessary steps to open yourself and your life to change. Maybe you wish you were healthier but would prefer to take a magic pill that promises fast results rather than get off the couch and do the work. What area of your life needs less illusion and more action?"

Thoughts: For a second I thought this card was trying to say that I wasn't going to achieve my goals, and that I am disillusioned by this whole thing, but turns out it's far more insightful than that. Basically, stay realistic about what this challenge is about. Don't come out of this thing expecting to find a man, and also don't stop this whole thing in the case that someone does come into your life, and might being tempting enough to make you want to quit. I LOVE this card for this.

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I loved all of that. The one that worries me the most is the Ten of Pentacles because it has some foreboding aspects of it. But again, the cards don't PREDICT the future. But in it's reversed position, it said a death in the family and I gasped. Most of these cards were in reverse, but some readers choose not to read cards in reverse because they are often quite negative in their reverse and don't work as well. In this case I didn't and I think that it was far more insightful than it would have been if it's like "someone is gonna DIE!" Like fuck that. I don't need to go into this year thinking negatively like that.

Did I learn anything? Not too sure, it just more confirms what I'm already hoping for, which is some travelling, some balance, some more connection to my family, and financial success. In a way, it's set me some goals to work towards. Thank tarot!