Standing Your Ground | Weekly Tarot Reading | 01/17 – 01/23

Hello Sweetest Friends, 

This is Jonathan with a powerful reading for your week ahead. 

Do you ever get excited about taking on a challenging situation?

This coming week has the kind of energy that will inspire you to stand up and fight the good fight. 

Your first card, the Seven of Wands, is a clear indication that there will likely be some conflict coming up – if it hasn’t already creeped into your life. This is a result of you starting to make progress in areas you haven’t in the past. 

This can disrupt others, and bring out some jealousy. That being said, your second card, The Hanged Man, is a sign that not only can you endure this challenge, but you will come through it all the better…as long as you can be patient. 

The Queen of Pentacles, your final card, wants to remind you to find balance between forging ahead, and taking time to rest and recuperate. Her maternal instincts, and business savvy, will have you finding a rhythm of work and self-care to get through the trials ahead. 

This is a truly powerful reading, and it’s clear to me that your willingness to keep growing and learning will bring you success in ways you might not have imagined. 

Here’s what the cards have to say in detail. 

#1: Seven of Wands | Fighting The Good Fight

Have you been experiencing resistance or dissent from someone around you? Does it feel like someone is jealous of you?

Following the triumphant success of the Six of Wands, the Seven of Wands shows a man battling an onslaught of attackers in order to keep the higher ground he has achieved. 

You may find there is someone who feels rubbed the wrong way about something you’ve done. 

If you look closely, the man on the card has two different shoes, indicating he wasn’t ready for the battle that is now upon him. It’s possible you will be taken by surprise by arguments against a project you’re working on, or a friend or lover who has been holding some resentment. 

While often the best move you can make is to find compromise, or maybe to back down against the clamoring voices, this is not one of those situations. 

You are being asked to stand in your truth, and to keep moving forward. You deserve the success you’ve gained, and this is no time to get pushed off track by jealousy, or someones petty frustrations. 

There is a spiritual principle that comes into play with this kind of situation. When you start to grow beyond old patterns, or succeed in areas you haven’t before, it disrupts what has been normal, not only for you, but for those around you. 

The more you shine bright, and transform your ways of being, the more it will highlight where others remain stagnant. We are interwoven with our environment and the people around us. So if someone around you is resisting change, then your transformation becomes a threat to their status quo. 

Your move in this situation is to stand firmly in your truth. This does not mean you need to get entangled in a battle, or be mean or stubborn. What it does mean is you need to advocate for yourself, and not be pushed over just because the people around you feel uncomfortable. 

This is a good time to garner support from people who want the best for you. Whether it is emotional, strategic, or even legal support, depends on the situation before you. 

One way or another, it’s time to keep moving forward. 

Our next card suggests this may not be a comfortable situation for you, however the results will be highly transformative, resulting in a powerful new perspective. You can expect to gain tools you will use the rest of your life. 

#2: The Hanged Man | Trusting the Challenge

Do you feel trapped sometimes? Does it feel like there is simply too much to handle right now? This might be some of what you are experiencing at the moment. Or, it’s possible you are starting to settle into trusting life will continue to teach you at every chance it gets. 

When The Hanged Man is drawn it often indicates a massive opportunity for growth, and powerful change of perspective. 

This doesn’t tend to be the result of a comfortable, cozy, circumstance – but through something that’s making you stretch beyond your normal boundaries. 

The Hanged Man is the yogi of the Tarot. Not only is he upside down and somewhat contorted, but if you look closely, he has a very serene look on his face. He has surrendered to his circumstances, and therefore, has found peace as well as insight within them. 

This surrender is not the same as giving up. Rather, it’s recognizing you have goals and drives moving through you. However, life might not be meeting them at the speed you would like. 

You don’t need to give up your plans, or relent to the opposing voices we saw in your first card. What is needed is patience, and a willingness to stay with what is in integrity for you, regardless of how uncomfortable it may be. 

The Hanged Man tends to arrive when there is a pause that needs to take place. This can be a voluntary pause when you choose to follow the flow of life, or an involuntary pause when you resist until you are forced to stop. 

Obviously there is a more desirable choice in the situation, but it may not entirely be up to you. 

My advice would be to stay with your inner conviction, but be willing to come to terms with what outer reality is asking of you. 

This can be a hard pill to swallow, however our next card recommends giving yourself some deep self nurturance to keep your energy grounded, and your heart inspired. 

#3: Queen of Pentacles | Deep Self Care

Has the world felt cold to you recently? Or are you experiencing a sense of hope and alignment? Either way, the Queen of Pentacles is a potent reminder to give yourself the kind of love and support you’d expect from the perfect mother. 

Particularly if you find yourself moving fast right now, whether it feels good, or crazy, the Queen of Pentacles suggests you find time for simple pleasures, and a slow deliberate pace. 

The Queen of Pentacles has mastered the role of the ‘working mother.’ She is both financially stable and successful, as well as deeply in tune with her household, sense of home, and relationships. 

It’s possible you could benefit from some actual mother energy if you have someone who plays that role in your life. However, more appropriate to this reading is finding your own balance of work and self-care. 

With our previous two cards in mind, you might be facing some contention and tough situations, possibly at work or even in your relationships. 

The Queen of Pentacles offers a key to both your personal life, as well as whatever struggles are arising around you. 

Firstly, create time to drop the struggle, and enjoy some rest, good food, and warm relationships. Find a sanctuary where you can recharge, so you can meet the challenges with fresh energy. 

Secondly, the Queen of Pentacles’ nurturing and understanding energy is balanced by her practical sense, and earthy strength. 

If you do find yourself in an unexpected conflict, as indicated by the Seven of Wands, the advice remains the same: plant your feet firmly, and follow what you know to be true. 

You don’t need to be rigid about it. Instead, you can honestly listen to other perspectives, while remaining in your own conviction. The more you are willing to hear the dissenting views, or alternatives to your own insight, the more others will feel respected. 

You can remain determined and clear without turning the situation into a full out brawl. Anyone who has practiced martial arts of some kind, will tell you there is value in being able to soften and move with the other person’s energy and body. 

Stay committed, but don’t turn the situation into a tug of war. 

Practicing Endurance

While conflict is indicated in this reading, it’s exactly the kind of challenge that will help you draw out your deep and soulful resources. 

This is not a quick-and-then-done sort of situation. You will need to keep practicing your commitment to what you believe, and have patience in the struggle. But you can do it!

The Seven of Wands suggests there will likely be some jealousy which could cause commotion. However, if you stay rooted on your path, and face the challenge head on, you can get through it. 

There are some things we can change, and others we must learn to endure. The Hanged Man is a reminder to surrender to what you cannot change, but to stay vigilant with your own internal process and work. The result will be new internal resources, and a fresh perspective on life. 

However, you’ll need to strike a good balance. The Queen of Pentacles wants you to both be fully capable in your working world, as well as deeply nourished by your home life. Be sure to find time to soften, and enjoy the fruits of your labor. 

Ultimately, you’re going to come through this with more clarity, integrity, and commitment. So let yourself enjoy the process! It’s life teaching you, so why not be a diligent student? 

With Love, 

And in Service, 

Jonathan Lionheart

P.S. What conflicts are threatening your stability right now? How do you balance work and self care in your life? 

P.P.S. If you are feeling like you can’t overcome the challenges in your life right now, or like nothing is working the way you want it to, you can schedule a private reading with me here.