In the cards this week: challenge

Look beneath the surface to see what's really there

This week’s cards have an interesting theme connecting them. In both cases, the card has a message about looking beneath the surface, beyond the first impression, to find what’s really there.

Because it’s easy to get caught up in emotions, easy to feel overwhelmed and not be able to think straight. I mean, just look at the Big World right now. Definitely not a “thinking straight” kind of situation.

So this week’s cards are asking us to take a step back and allow ourselves to see beneath the immediate, knee-jerk reaction.

What if that feeling of being threatened and challenged isn’t coming just from outside of you, from others, but also from your own tendency to question whether whatever you’re doing is the right thing for you?

What if you’re not actually stuck or powerless, but simply anxious enough about your endeavors that you can’t see the path clearly?

We’ve all been there. We’re emotional beings, and we react to the world around us - to humans and others - based on our previous experiences, some of which might have been traumatic or disturbing.

That can make it hard to think straight, to see clearly, to judge accurately.

This week’s cards are Fire and Air suit cards, the elements of passion / drive / creativity and reason / thought. This suggests that these pathways, rather than emotion, will be more effective in dealing with current challenges.

Where does your true passion lie? What’s the real driving force for creativity in your life? The honest answer to these questions can help power your activities and drive you forward in whatever project or situation you’re dealing with.

What’s really going on in your head, behind the anxiety and the worry? What’s the real underlying concern that your psyche is trying to deal with, or cover up? Figuring this out can help you see where solutions lie, even if (especially if) they're not in the direction or the shape you expect.

Sometimes we have to do an end run around our own internal turmoil to figure out where we are right now, so we can decide where we’re going.

Here’s to a week of successfully finding our way to inner clarity.

This week’s cards:

Seven of Daggers: Life is a bit challenging at the moment. But it's not really an external challenge. Do you believe in what you're doing? Is it the right thing for you? If it is, then you need to be willing to put in the effort and fight for what you want.

Eight of Labryses: You may feel stuck, powerless, unable to move forward, but that's an illusion. Anxiety is clouding your thinking. There really is a solution, although it may not look like you expect it to. Find the source of the anxiety, acknowledge it, and let it go. Then you'll be able to see clearly.

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About Laura Perry

I'm an author, artist, and creator who works magic with words, paint, ink, music, textiles, and herbs. I'm also the founder and Temple Mom of Ariadne's Tribe, a worldwide inclusive Minoan spiritual tradition. My spiritual practice includes spirit work and herbalism through the lens of lifelong animism. I write Pagan / polytheist / magical non-fiction and fiction across several different subjects and genres. I'm currently working on an illustrated book of modern Minoan myths and a Minoan entry in the Moon Books Pantheons series (release date 26 August 2025). I’m also an avid herb and vegetable gardener and living history demonstrator.