TAROTSCOPES | AUGUST 19 - AUGUST 25

II THE HIGH PRIESTESS

The High Priestess is the guardian of the veil. Watcher of the waters of the deep unconscious. Gatekeeper to the knowing you perhaps don’t know that you have. When she shows up, she isn’t asking for your activity. Doesn’t want your dynamic stretching. Will not hold your busy-ness in high esteem. Rather, she is teaching the skill of stillness. Of stopping long enough to notice if the surface is disturbed. Or, more likely, eyeing the elements underneath.

The High Priestess does not take us into the water. Does not send us off to drown in a world distorted by our feelings. While she does recognize that gut instinct might be misshapen from the (im)perfect picture fed to us by superficial norms, she doesn’t want us to wither up as a result of overwhelm. Rather, she preaches the practice of standing at the threshold. She neither represses nor unearths. She does not give into the compulsion to escape, yet neither does she throw herself into the abyss. Her purpose (if we could even give her one) is not to be unaffected, but to observe her affectations.

This week, precipitate a ceremony of waiting. Perform the ritual of rest. In the place of pause, practice perception. Allow things to come to you rather than seeking them out. You do not have to force, howl, repel, repent or forgive. Meditate on what happens when you don’t do anything. Consider the idea that the world will arrive to meet you, even when you don’t seek it out.

Remember that the tarot offers suggestions that can be applied to everyday life. The wisdom of the High Priestess as a collective card does not imply, “don’t go to work, don’t fight for what you believe, don’t engage at all.” Rather, it asks that we implement her teachings in the best way we can. As a culture, we are remarkably reactive. The presence of the High Priestess indicates we balance this reactivity with a tradition of the passive. Sometimes, when we stop trying to fix, prepare or take charge, solutions (I’m entertaining the term “currents” in place of solutions) present themselves. When you stop moving enough to let the universe speak to you and you are able to hear what it is saying, you begin to exemplify the lessons of the High Priestess.


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WHAT EVEN IS A TAROTSCOPE? We often think of horoscopes as predictions that are specific to each astrological sign. In Ancient Greek, the term horoscope simply means "I watch the hour." To astrologers today, a horoscope is a chart that maps the planetary bodies in the sky. From this chart, we derive meaning that can influence how we work with energy. Regardless of our unique individual charts, we are ALL working with the same energy from above. Each week, I examine this energy, pull a tarot card and write a guided meditation with the collective in mind. My tarotscopes are meant to be read as inspiration. Please note that because we are all operating with our individual energy, some elements will resonate more than others. Take what you like and leave the rest. Tarotscopes are offered freely in an effort to cultivate collective healing. I am always grateful for your support in sharing this work with anyone you think it might help. If you are inspired or find support here, please consider making a donation to help sustain these weekly offerings.