Your Week Ahead: March 31 to April 6, 2024 – The Scab Falls Off

There is a vision, there is a goal, there are many ways to go about things – the question becomes: how do I do it in my own way with my own approach? What is my style? What is my temperament? What are my circumstances? How do I define success? These are all standards and criteria that could be coming up this week, and we seem to be preparing ourselves for a unique set of changes that will allow us to unfold very positively into the near future.

A music student is seen in the Jack of Swords, studying instructions on how to develop his skills and talents. He is tirelessly reading, wiping his forehead from sweat. Looking to the 4 of Wands, these two cards feel linked and there is the suggestion that we are working on making things smoother, more stable and more enjoyable for ourselves.

With the Jack of Swords, we are working with our logic, our learning, and our thoughts. We are investigating what works and what needs to be studied further. We experiment and practice and we find joy in the process. It might feel tiring but we seem to be immersed in our thoughts so much that we are not bothered or burdened by the effort.

The description for the 4 of Wands says, “Six young women await someone’s return by a clear fountain.” It describes a celebrated return, as in the return to our home and its place of stability and nourishment. To me, this shows clearing out some confusion and simplifying our efforts so that we can be at home with ourselves. To feel comfortable inwardly so that our home is reflective of that state of mind is perhaps the message here.

The fountain could represent the flow of energy that circulates within a space. The number 4 is about structure and our foundations. The fiery wands find some grounding here and help to give us stability and boundaries as we expand in our learning. And yet, there is something more here, something to let go of, and a realization of what this may be.

These two cards are a precursor to the Judgement card, and Judgement is the moment before we step through The World and into something new and fresh. To prepare for that, we must let go of something that is holding us back. Scholastically, this is kind of like an exam, or when the results come in and we find out if we get to graduate.

Hands are seen in the sky and represent how we can be guided to new horizons and new experiences. However, we can feel as though things come to the surface in a way that asks us to make peace with it. This is a time when we acknowledge how we may have tripped ourselves up, identified with faulty self-images, negative self-talk, or internalized outdated beliefs. It’s time to clean it up and throw it away.

Judgement is a kind of ritual sacrifice of the “old skin.” The past is something dead, something we have or should shed. But we bless the old as we release it. It might have been a closely held defence mechanism or a thick armour that helped us heal. Like all scabs, it can now fall off so that the new skin can feel the warmth of the sun. This is a time to prepare for new growth, new expansion, new ideas, and a new you.

As we begin this Mercury retrograde phase and as we prepare for the April 8 New Moon Solar Eclipse, take some time to investigate your thoughts and how you can bring yourself closer to your inner and outer home of nourishment and balance. Let the past go along with any fears or old stories that you can’t experience something better. This eclipse season can take you along its river to a new sense of purpose and clarity. Go with it and embrace its gifts for you. They are manifold.

Affirmation: I have a wonderful opportunity to examine my world and my visions. I seek to be at peace with myself and my future. I take a deep breath and exhale the old stories of what has held me back. I am now. I am present. I am blessed.

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

Daniel Palmo

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