Your Week Ahead: March 17 to 23, 2024 – A Cloak Of Stars

A good question to ask ourselves this week might be, what is true confidence, and where does it come from? Is it what we know and for how long we’ve known it? Is what we have learned become a dominant aspect of our daily output that we have identified with a certain persona, such as a boss or teacher? Or are we someone who doesn’t need a lot of external validation?

It can be a little tricky to sort out because of how we can attach ourselves to certain roles and identity labels, and then attach importance onto them as a self promoting or asserting energy. Our ego can get really tangled in these concepts of what one has done, is doing and how we view our interactions with others.

I would offer that confidence is a kind of impeccability and honesty with ourselves that stands up to the tests that life gives us. It has very little to do with those around us or what we do that is visible to others. Certainly, there are nuances of confidence that can be positively debated. However, at the root, there is something very simple and very complicated to extract: Who are we when we are alone, and how much of what we think or believe are our own conclusions?

A person who has not spent sufficient time alone with his or her thoughts and has not investigated their own responses, and more, have not allowed for corrective measures to be applied, is not a confident person. Most often they are people who have learned how to assert themselves and influence people to follow them through various subversive means.

I once worked with someone who really mastered the art of making one feel incredibly uncomfortable if they challenged or disagreed with them. It was a learned facial glare, a tone of voice, and a deliberate avoidance of an actual positive contribution. This person was so immensely weak and insecure that they had to cover it up by bullying their way through their day and getting others to do work they had no idea how to do or didn’t want to do. And yet this person was relatively well liked, perhaps out of fear and wanting to be accepted by those in authority. It was actually very interesting and insidious to watch day after day, but I learned a lot about my own weaknesses and what is true strength and confidence, and how I could find my way to my centre of gravity or power.

It is through the tests of time that we come to understand who we are and what we are capable of. It is through adversity that we have the opportunity to stand alone and be true to ourselves despite what loud voices are around us. It is about knowing what is false and oppressive, and standing up to it. Confidence is a belief in ourselves that is separate from the world and its illusions. It is who we are when we have failed at getting our way. Confidence is humble. It draws people together effortlessly by its example and authenticity. And still, confidence is knowing when we don’t know. The ability to ask questions and to continue learning is a fundament of life.

Perhaps that’s a lot to say about one card, but the 9 of Wands evokes a fair bit of information, especially in this reading. As we look next to The Star, we experience a period of peace and a restoring cleanse. It represents the light we shine from within that acts as a purifying force and as a wayshower. Here, a maiden is seen flying over a city wearing a cloak of stars. The clouds below thin out allowing for humanity to see her.

Much like the traditional image of the nude bathing in the calm pool, an element is purified from us and our exposure is about the authentic nature of our being becoming seen. Together with the 9 of Wands, we see a story about how our true nature becomes visible through our commitment to our truth, and our sincere involvement with the world and with others.

Perhaps when we have risen above the need to impress others or cajole them in any way, we exemplify an approach that leads others without having any desire to do so. In addition, when we don’t engage with our environment in a manner that needs a power dynamic, we see things with more clarity and awareness. We are operating less within the definitions of mundane energetic exchanges and more from a perspective that doesn’t conceal true motivations. This is how confidence and leadership gets tested.

It appears as though some kind of test or experiment comes next in the 5 of Wands. This card describes the result of debate and of interacting with disparate perspectives. This isn’t really about conflict, rather the stimulation we feel when we challenge and are being challenged. We have the opportunity to articulate as well as appreciate, to speak and to listen, and then grow from it all.

Here, we see a chariot emerging from the forest emitting a lot of light, but there are thieves in waiting wanting to ambush it. The lighted chariot feels a lot like the light from The Star, taking on a worldly form. We may feel as though we come into contact with people or situations, or even beliefs, that challenge us or contradict us. This isn’t about winning. It’s about the participation. Everyone displays something and gets to join in. What we learn from it may stay with us and we may even adjust the way we do things based on those contributions. It’s all good. Just keep your light, know who you are, and have fun in the interactions. What you may learn could prove to be very valuable.

Affirmation: I enjoy reflecting on my journey. I appreciate how far I’ve come and all the things I’ve learned along the way. I value my ability to adapt, to grow and to remain true to myself. I don’t seek to lead but if I am placed in that position, I don’t mind offering what I know while walking towards positive goals. I remember that I will always learn from those around me while continuing to learn about myself.

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

Daniel Palmo

Ps. I would love to hear what you think. If you find my writing helpful or would like to share your thoughts, please feel free to comment below.

If you missed last weeks reading, you can find it here.

If you are interested in having a personal reading, please click here for more information.

If you would like to receive my weekly readings emailed directly to you, please subscribe below.