Your Week Ahead: January 14 to 20, 2024 – Formulating A New Response

There, before us, a solution awaits. It can transform everything and help us get oriented on our path with more purpose. Again however, we are shown a recurring theme of leaving something behind in order to move ahead. Also, the 7 of Wands makes its third appearance! What are we being shown?

Before we get to that, let’s examine the first two cards. When the 8 of Cups appears, we are being asked to evaluate what is important to us, why that is, and where to look for the essence of that importance. We are going into our core, a retreat or the sense of taking with us what we “know” or “believe” and trying to understand what is missing.

Traditionally, we are shown someone walking up to a cave under a Solar Eclipse. With eight cups standing on each other and none overturned, characterizes that nothing has been lost or taken away from us. The sensation that something is amiss pulls us into ourselves to find out what. Further, that “what” cannot be anything material.

We are examining a series of connected intentions and perhaps one of the links is not strong enough. That strength needs to be cultivated and nourished. In the present card, we see someone pulling away from a familiar shore, paddling a boat with all of his possessions. The idea that “stuff” cannot bring real happiness resonates strongly here. Of course, it is important, but if we feel a lack of something, we need to be honest about what that is.

When I’ve picked this card in personal readings and for clients, the meaning was almost always describing an interior quest. Nobody moved out or broke up or lost their job, hence the absence of any overturned cup. Externally, things were not as bad as perceived. There was also a sensation of acceptance.

I feel that that statement is appropriate in this week’s reading. Having the Ace of Wands next shows a formulation of a new response, a new impulse, and a rejuvenated approach. There is more clarity after having gone into the darkness and being pulled into our reality and the vibration that created it.

The ace tells us that we are seeing and feeling differently and that we can see where that takes us. We still don’t have all the answers but that’s okay. We do know that what matters is how we view things and how we apply language to what we are experiencing. We can go through challenges and start catastrophizing and thus put ourselves deeper into a psychological hole. Or we can apply some calm honesty, look at our own response first, and choose to reframe how we talk about things.

For example, “My boss is overly critical of me, looks for opportunities to point out everything I’m doing wrong, and even delights in embarrassing me in front of my colleagues. I don’t feel heard or valued, and people are starting to resent me.” Well, that does suck doesn’t it! Let’s try, “It might be important to ask myself if there is something I could better apply some attention towards. Am I seeing the bigger picture? For the moment, I will investigate this and ask if there is a better way I could do something that might assist everyone’s work. I know I can apply myself and have productive conversations with others that make them feel heard and myself recognized. I value what I bring to the table and know that perhaps I can tweak my style so that everyone feels like they’re part of a cohesive unit. If this doesn’t work, I know I can find another solution at that time. Let’s see how it goes. I’m hopeful.”

This is the relationship between the 8 of Cups and the Ace of Wands. Action is based on belief, belief upon repetition, repetition upon language, and language upon unconscious responses. Changing our actions and thus any paradigm of experience will depend upon our ability to go within and investigate honestly our responses to things and what is triggering them. Then we can choose to use different language about that and steer ourselves to seeing it differently. Any repeated language creates our belief that it can or cannot change. If we change our belief, then we start seeing things differently and so our actions will be different. It takes practice but it works.

This is how we take ownership for our lives. Anything else is a copout. Leave everyone else out of the picture. Dismantle the blame, the need for vindication, or the desire to hit back however subtle it creeps in. Your happiness is the most important part of your life and its principle equation.

As we look to the repeating 7 of Wands, my take on it is, are we repeating anything that is not serving us? Do we need to find some courage so that we are taking some steps to feel better about something? Or, do we find ourselves in an environment that is continuing to feel challenging yet we are still replying to it in the same way? It’s subtle and I definitely would not worry that this is about some unbreakable pattern. It does appear to be important that we approach any situation with some level of awareness so that we feel safe, strong, and well informed.

Your actions depend on your awareness. If something feels off, ask yourself why and what positive steps you could take right now to feel better about where you are. If you are feeling new at something and have the sensation that others are overly scrutinizing, see if you can ease those feelings with some good, healthy self-talk. That will foster a more open response from others should it take you there. That takes courage, and you are more than up to that task. So much of our worldly life depends on how we see ourselves as able, resilient, and gifted to handle what is given to us. Remember the adage: “The universe doesn’t give me anything I can’t handle.” Be flowing and receptive. Be an open cup and receive sacred messages from Source. Life is the kaleidoscope that you get to move so that you can see things differently and make them work out in your favour. Be bold and be the best You. Work with Spirit.

Affirmation: I am understanding more and more how my language is so important for my well-being. I strive for ways to bring more harmony and peace in the way I talk to myself. This is a creative time for me, a moment for creative change. I believe in myself, and that self-belief helps me position me in an environment that is wholesome, responsive, and sustainable. I become grounded in my strength and know that I can do anything I put my mind to. This is a powerful time and I embrace it.

Thanks for reading, and I wish you a wonderful week!

Daniel Palmo

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