Despite battling technical "Gremlins" that required a complete computer restart and issues with microphones and headphones, the hosts delve into a reading focused on Energy for That, starting with the Perceptions Deck (Orange on Yellow: I feel metal intersecting with I do fire). The discussion centers on the tension between instinct (the "gut reaction") and methodical planning, exploring whether a situation requires the improvisation of cooking or the scientific precision of baking. This first card, Apt iron wrapped zeal preparing opulent meal, Savoring ordeal, serves as a reminder to wisely prepare and anticipate problems by listening to instinct before acting. Understanding the framework and patterns before taking action is key to navigating life safely and effectively.

The exploration of action and energy intensifies with the second card, the Five of Flames. This card, which is recognized as the Five of Wands in the tarot, addresses conflict and tension. The accompanying message, "Do not fear the flames of others because they burn," suggests that engagement and disagreement can be healthy, leading to refinement and stronger outcomes. Competition and ambition do not have to be negative; being near someone else's fire can offer light and warmth. Following this theme of action and energy management, the third card shifts focus to boundaries and resource allocation (Fire intersecting with Earth). The sassy mantra for this card is "No. No. No. No. No. No. You don't have to. No, you don't want to. And no. Because No". It serves as a reminder to be choosy and mindful about actions and motion, recognizing that human energy is limited. Saying no to one thing reserves the fire needed to say yes to something else, finding a balance between "burning bright" and "burning long".

The reading ascends to the upper chakras, moving toward ultimate realization. The fourth card, "You are ready to embrace what you have become" (Crown chakra intersecting with the third eye), is identified as Judgment (20) in the tarot. This card represents the moment before enlightenment, standing on the threshold after having completed the necessary journey and gathered all lessons. It is the culmination, the moment before removing the heat or stepping across the doorway. The hosts warn against letting fear turn you aside right when you are ready to cross that threshold. The final card integrates this realization back into interpersonal life (Heart intersecting with Throat), advising listeners to "See both sides of the board. Play yourself at chess. Listen as much as you speak. Let people disagree". This provides a lesson in empathy and balance, urging listeners to recognize the validity of others' perspectives and anxieties while still preserving their own energy and choosing not to play games that are stacked or involve missing pieces.

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The reading began with the Haiku Deck, focusing on the perceptions of joy, where the heart (Anahata) and third eye (Ajna) chakras intersect. This initial draw emphasized the importance of collaboration and sharing knowledge, likening it to capillarity—the process of roots bringing water and nourishment up into a plant. The conversation quickly turned to the necessity of flowing knowledge, noting that water that does not flow becomes stagnant, and information must keep moving to be fresh. Following this, the hosts drew the Nine of Storms from Dean's deck, which was specifically noted as The nine of swords in the tarot deck. This card addresses processing the pain, suffering, and grief endured, reminding listeners that attention must be sharpened on the here and now. Crucially, the card advises not weathering adversity alone, urging the seeker to find new people or community to help contend with pain.
The reading then moved into the realm of pure instinct and feeling, drawing a card from The Bouquet deck focusing on Metal on Metal, which represents sensation, sensuality, and gut feelings. This segment stressed the need to trust one's gut and inner voice, particularly when dealing with trauma or adversity. The discussion introduced the powerful metaphor of handbells and sympathetic vibrations, suggesting that individuals should surround themselves with people who resonate with their natural frequencies, or literally, "look for the good vibes". To achieve this, the next card, the Ace of Flames, provided the necessary impetus, representing the first spark of the third chakra. This card serves as a powerful reminder that change and improvement require action, not merely pondering or feeling. This moment of ignition was compared to "activation energy," the initial spike needed for transformation, such as when two elements become a compound.
Finally, the hosts drew a Haiku card connecting expression (Vishuddha/Aqua/Air) with connection (Anahata/Heart/Wood). This card offered a caution: when speaking your truth, you may not receive 100% approval, but that does not mean the action taken is wrong. However, the card also warned against mistaking vile underpinnings for true heart expression, suggesting that if what you say would get you into "bad trouble," it is likely tainted. Overall, the spread underscored that the way we express ourselves is dependent on the connections we maintain. By choosing the right people and listening to the inner resonance of your bell, truth and community, coupled with the activation energy of action, can powerfully magnify healing and joy.

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The episode begins with a focus on Sahasura (crown chakra, purple ether) influenced by Vishuda (throat chakra, voice, air, aqua), drawing the profession "I profess that I know my voice matters and that it can help others". This leads to a discussion on the power of communication, channeling universal inspiration, and the idea of truth being scattered and refracted through individual context, much like light or the Aurora Borealis. The hosts emphasize that while authentic expression is crucial, one must remember that others will "intuit things into it" based on their own experiences, highlighting the potential for misunderstanding in written or non-verbal communication.

The conversation moves into the importance of stillness and reception, catalyzed by subsequent readings from the hosts' respective decks. Dean’s deck draws the Four of Storms from the Heart chakra, bearing the quote, "Even the wind lies still for a time". This card is specifically identified as the Four of Swords in the tarot. The hosts note the history of the swords suit and emotionality, particularly the Three of Swords, and suggest the Four of Storms reminds the speaker to return to peace after intense communication. Later, Dean pulls the Six of Flames (the third chakra), which corresponds to the Six of Wands in the tarot. This card encourages the speaker to "Feel the warmth of those who celebrate you", reminding listeners to accept positive affirmation and allow others to share energy back. A third card intersection (Muladara/I am with Crown/I know) uses the image of the obelisk, prompting reflection on how one can be the source of both physical message and spiritual inspiration simultaneously, like the wave-particle duality of light, and the need to own what is shared.

The final concluding card is drawn from the Projections deck, merging Vishuda (I say) with Ajuna (I see). The call to action is: "A little scandal is essential. Read a provocative book. Debate yourself aloud. Now discuss it with others". This wraps up the theme by urging listeners to embrace challenging, flavor-filled dialogue that pushes against their own ideas and those of others, ensuring they truly understand and can defend their beliefs. The hosts remind listeners that if they are operating in good faith, engaging in constructive dialogue is essential for learning.

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The episode's central theme, derived from a dice roll, is encapsulated in the profession: "I profess that I love learning especially from the wisdom of others". This message is linked to the Anahata (heart) chakra, influenced by the third eye (I see and I know), and underscores that learning is not a solitary endeavor. Dean associates love in this context with the element of wood, symbolizing exchange and interconnection, drawing parallels to how trees form communities and communicate.
The first card pulled for the reading is the Two of Storms, explicitly identified as "the two of swords in the tarot". This card, which Dean's system connects to the heart chakra and the element of air, carries the message: "Blown two different ways you seek direction". This imagery reinforces the idea that when faced with confusion or doubt, seeking wisdom from others can provide much-needed guidance. The hosts delve into the nature of control, highlighting that while many events are beyond individual influence, the choice lies in how one responds to them. They emphasize the importance of receptiveness to new information and finding "peace in the middle of joy and grief," rather than reacting immediately. In a practical discussion, Jack and Dean also extensively laud Obsidian, a local, scriptable database and notes archive, as an invaluable tool for creatives, for everything from character development in novel writing to managing complex information through customizable, color-coded hierarchies and powerful linking features.
The second card, from the sassy deck, advises: "You need a bubble bath. Don't argue with me. Run warm water. Dissolve crusty vibes". This card relates to the third eye (I see) and crown (I know) chakras, encouraging listeners to embrace mutability in their beliefs and shed "faulty notions and presumptions" to achieve deeper understanding. Jack interprets "crusty vibes" as rigid thinking, noting that while the brain's pathways become set with age, they can still be rewired through continuous learning. The third card pulled is the Four of Seeds, which is equivalent to "the four of pentacles, uh, four of coins in some people's versions of the tarot". This card signifies a "moment of fullness" but also cautions against hoarding, urging the sharing of excess resources like wealth, ideas, or time to foster community and ensure continued abundance. Finally, the fourth card, "I profess that I say contemplative words concerning my place in the universe," prompts reflection on one's purpose and responsibility, emphasizing that true enlightenment might come not from a "bigger cup" of knowledge, but from a "better elixir" of profound understanding.

The first card drawn is number five from the abstract deck, representing the intersection of Muladhara (I am) and Vishuddha (I say). This card, depicted as a millstone, signifies how one's sense of safety, security, and identity is impacted by communication, emphasizing the power of the physical self and voice to effect positive change, as encapsulated by the haiku "spoken millstones, crush injustice, lying rubble, pulverizing truth". The hosts discuss the importance of being mindful of one's words and intentions, highlighting the speaker as the active agent in creating change.
The conversation then delves into the complexities of intentions and ethical principles, noting that while intentions inform actions, results are what truly matter, and ethics often resides in a "gray in the middle" rather than absolute rules. They use examples from religious traditions, such as the detailed interpretations in the Talmud and Mishna, and workarounds for Sabbath laws (like "Shabbos elevators" or subtly prompting a "gentile friend" to turn off a light), to illustrate how rigid principles can lead to inconvenient or seemingly ridiculous situations, obscuring the original intent of reverence. The second card drawn is The Sentinel of Seeds, which is identified as the Knight of Pentacles in the Tarot. Its message, "Do the work that now needs doing," reinforces the theme of action and prompts listeners to evaluate if their "pillars" (principles) truly serve them now. This is further explored through anecdotes of a coach suspended for helping disadvantaged students and a teacher forging a signature to ensure a student received meals, highlighting the tension between principles, intentions, and the desire to do good in complex situations.
The third card revealed is number 15 from the "Projections of Joy" or the "sassy deck"), representing Manipura or the solar plexus, with the theme of "fire on fire" and "I do on I do". Its message, "Potluck your gratitude," focuses on giving versus sacrificing, receiving versus taking, and abundance versus scarcity, emphasizing collaboration and community over individual burden. Rituals are discussed as powerful tools for directing intention and aligning communities, but cautioned against being merely transactional or performed without full presence. The fourth card, number 11, Defend, is identified as the Justice card in the Tarot. It calls for defending one's actions by first acknowledging an inner "gut level" answer to whether an action was right, before attempting justifications. This leads to a discussion of "The Good Place" television show, which explores moral philosophy, point systems, and what it means to be a "good person" in a complex world. The final card, number 15 from "the professions" deck, reiterates the "fire on fire" theme with the profession, "I profess that I do everything from the intent of balance". This capstone emphasizes that balance, rather than perfection, should be the guiding intent, recognizing that life requires constant, vibrating effort and adaptation, much like a dancer maintaining balance or the body regulating homeostasis.

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The reading begins with Deck Number 3, "The Intersections," card number 30, representing Vishuda (throat chakra - I say) intersecting with the third eye (I see). This card prompts a reflection on how one's intellect influences communication, serving as a reminder that personal perception, while invaluable, is not the sole perspective. They recall an earlier reading featuring "the first sewing, the Ace of Seeds," emphasizing grounding. The discussion expands on the dangers of self-talk and "echo chambers" within oneself, where unhelpful messages can become noise and degrade clarity. This leads to an inward focus, encouraging listeners to examine their spiritual landscape and beliefs to ensure their expressions align with their true selves, performing a "reality check" on their internal and external reflections.
The hosts delve deeper into the cyclical nature of beliefs, suggesting an opportunity to let go of old ideas that no longer serve one's growth, likening it to a "sundown" cycle. They connect this evolution of thought to scientific understandings, including quantum mechanics, the observer effect (illustrated humorously with a cat anecdote), and recent breakthroughs in creating matter from energy, underscoring how belief and action can physically shape the brain and reality. The conversation transitions to the second card, The Seeker of Seeds, which is the Page of Pentacles in the Tarot and represents the root chakra. This card symbolizes curiosity, wonder, and the preparation stage of planting, emphasizing patience and the understanding that initial sprouts are not the full plant; success or failure cannot be immediately judged. It also highlights the importance of recognizing and working within limitations, much like understanding soil composition for gardening, to foster boundless creativity within given boundaries.
The final two cards expand on interpersonal and personal responsibility. Projections of Joy (Deck Number 1), card number 23, illustrates the Heart (I love) influenced by Air/Aqua (I say), with the message to "see both sides of the board, play yourself at chess, listen as much as you speak, let people disagree". This encourages honest self-assessment and empathy, contrasting with debate as "winning". The hosts discuss the importance of listening as much as speaking, even to oneself, to mature and understand reactions, citing cognitive behavioral therapy and systemic biases (like racism) as examples. They explore the concept of "tainted" perspectives, particularly from privileged viewpoints, and the necessity of owning one's fallibility and allowing for change and forgiveness rather than engaging in "performative purity tests". The discussion references Wicked as an example of sympathetic antagonists and the experience of being "othered". The final cards drawn are The Creator, a major archon in Dean's deck, equated to the Empress in Tarot, representing the third chakra's ability to shape what one imagines with responsibility and purpose. Alongside this, The Source of Waves, the Queen of Cups in Tarot, signifies being the authentic source of one's emotions, leading to freedom from guilt through acknowledgment and self-understanding. The episode concludes with a powerful message about shaping oneself and one's expression, owning one's context, and using one's creative "fire to light lights, not to burn forests".

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Welcome to Show Me Your Deck, episode 46, titled "Go Stop Go: Finding peace in stillness and action," where hosts Dean Sage and Jack Kervin explore the intersections of oracles and chakras. This episode features special guest Kaelan Strouse, an influencer and author, who shares the journey behind his original oracle deck. Kaelan's deck, which became the topic of his third book, features 48 spiritual lessons he consistently revisits, evolving from an initial idea of deities to broader spiritual messages. His creative process was deeply personal, even unfolding while visiting his father during his last months, adding a card about reclaiming one's power, making it 48 cards from an initial 47.
The episode delves into a powerful reading using a combination of the hosts' and guest's decks, beginning with Dean's "sassy deck" where a tetrahedron and 50-sided dice determine card pulls. The first card pulled is card 40, "Prioritize your polish," representing the intersection of the third eye (blue) and solar plexus (yellow) chakras, signifying a blend of insight and action – "I see with I do". This card emphasizes refining one's expertise, creating inviolable sessions, and eliminating distractions. Kaelan then pulls his card, "Enjoy simplicity," which beautifully contrasts, advocating for quiet, stillness, and removing clutter to allow answers to reveal themselves. The reading continues with Dean pulling the 10 of Seeds, explicitly noted as a Tarot reference, tied to the root chakra, symbolizing completeness, generational impact, and the idea that "Your seeds given to others will grow for generations". This prompts a discussion on karma and the lasting effects of actions. Kaelan's next card, "Let your body move you," highlights somatic wisdom and learning through both stillness and motion, celebrating the inherent intelligence of our physical forms. The final card pulled is Dean's "Step to it, honey. You thought enough now. Define the milestones. Start walking last Monday," a clear call to action after contemplation, with inverse colors (yellow on blue) of the first card.
Throughout the discussion, a central theme emerges about the dynamic balance between stillness and action, emphasizing that both are crucial for effectiveness, not just productivity. The hosts and Kaelan challenge the societal pressures of constant busyness and the capitalist idea of "productivity," suggesting that true fulfillment comes from acting with peace and clarity rather than obligation. Kaelan particularly highlights his deck's universal approach to spirituality, deliberately avoiding terms tied to any single tradition to make spiritual truths accessible to everyone, emphasizing that wisdom can be accessed through personal experience without gatekeepers or appropriation. The episode concludes with the profound insight that wisdom and right action arise from integrating all aspects of oneself – mind, body, and spirit – in a beautiful, complex whole. You can find more information about the hosts and guest at their respective websites.

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"Show Me Your Deck" episode 45, titled "True Pleasure: Speak your truth, free from guilt, grounded in you," opens with hosts Dean Sage and Jack Hervin exploring the intersections of oracles and chakras using their original decks. The first card pulled is from the "sassy deck" (Projections of Joy, Part 14), representing the Svadhisthana (orange metal) and Muladhara (red earth) chakras. This card presents the query: "an orgasm usually helps distinguish sin and pleasure define pleasures role evaluate shame's influence". The hosts discuss the double entendre of the word "deck" and how the card encourages visualizing pleasure and shame distinctly, especially when grounded enough through the root chakra to enjoy "orgasmically living," which can extend beyond sex to activities like food or art. They highlight how Western culture often makes pleasure a "naughty word," with shame applied not just to sex but also to food, sleep, or "unacceptable" forms of reading like manga versus "serious literature". The conversation then shifts to the "ecstatic state of creation," with Dean sharing a personal experience of staying in bed to let ideas percolate, challenging the societal pressure to be "productive" early in the day and the concept of "sloth" as a sin. This segues into the idea of internal vibrations and sympathetic resonance found in creativity.
The second card drawn is from Jack's deck: "The six of storms," described as the six of swords in the tarot, symbolizing being "Swept away by the storm, you are washed free". This card is connected to the heart chakra and represents movement and liberation, suggesting that storms, while devastating, can clear away what is no longer needed, leading to freedom, even if accompanied by grief. The hosts discuss the importance of learning lessons from these "storms" and rebuilding differently, distinguishing between unpredictable events like tornadoes and predictable ones like floods where people rebuild in the same vulnerable spots. This idea ties back to the first card's theme of finding freedom and safety in enjoying oneself by letting go of guilt (bad action) and shame (being something wrong), which are often perpetuated by external forces, including religion. They caution that while seeking pleasure is vital, unhealthy pursuit can lead to addictions, and true happiness isn't constant bliss but rather peace, calm, and balance, or simply being content and realizing "you're exactly where you're supposed to be right now". An alternative card that almost emerged, "The source of flames" (the queen of wands in the tarot), reinforces the message that personal power and the ability to create are internal, akin to Dorothy's realization that "the magic lay within her the whole time". Dean and Jack then explore generational differences in learning, with Dean suggesting suffering can be a necessary part of the path, while Jack argues that wisdom can be shared to avoid pain, ultimately affirming that personal power is an internal resource that no one can steal.
Finally, the third card, from the "Intersections" deck (The Bouquet of Flowers, No. 26), brings the reading to a close. It connects the Anahata (heart) and Muladhara (root) chakras, symbolized by "I love and I am". This card emphasizes how one's sense of identity, safety, and security profoundly affects their connections with others. The hosts conclude that when individuals embrace their instincts, act authentically, and speak their truth without shame, they naturally attract a community or network of people who resonate with their genuine self, making connections feel natural. Dean shares his experience of creating a small community around his writing and Dean Sage persona, noting how "speaking truth... brought me truthful people" despite some "inconvenient" truths and pushback. This overall reading is framed as an answer to shame and guilt, showing how "joy and empowerment can hold hands" to navigate life. The episode concludes by inviting listeners to explore their Patreon, YouTube channel, books, and decks for a deeper engagement with these concepts.

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Today's log line, "Play the rest: Be as you are, in silence, ready for action," sets the stage for a deeply introspective reading focused on self-awareness and authentic being. The reading begins with Deck 4's 49th card, "Ozone Thunder, Hush, Electric Tension, Listen, Cascading Rain, Learn," which highlights the importance of introspection, quieting oneself to sense transformative insights, and constantly learning about strengths and weaknesses, much like the onset of a summer shower. This emphasis on personal context and internal resonance prepares listeners to discover what is important for themselves.
The reading continues with the Celestial card (number 0 in Dean's deck), which is identified as the Fool in the Tarot, representing a journey of being and becoming. This card underscores the idea that one is "new again, ready to be and to become," emphasizing that the celestial's journey through the chakras is deeply personalized and not tied to any single chakra. The conversation highlights that the Celestial's true purpose is to be, not to perform, drawing parallels between structured orchestral music and free-flowing jazz to illustrate the balance between prescription and improvisation in life. This theme is reinforced by Deck 4's first card, "Stars, dust, Salt, earth, clay. Me, life's face, birthing diamonds," a root chakra card reminding us that we are the "stuff of eternity" and must remain grounded in our physical being even while approaching the infinite. The Sage card (number 5), representing the throat chakra, reveals the powerful truth: "The hardest truth to admit is that you need help," emphasizing communal learning, the value of both harmony and dissonance, and the critical role of silence and internal reflection in the journey of self-discovery. The phrase "playing the rest" is used to describe the quiet, non-verbal moments of introspection crucial for true understanding.
Finally, the Bouquet of Flowers card (Deck 3, number 40), representing the third eye influenced by fire, serves as a powerful call to action. After the deep introspection and self-awareness gained from the previous cards, listeners are encouraged to utilize their understanding and ignite their "fire into the world". This card emphasizes that insights and realizations, while valuable, are incomplete without subsequent choices and actions in the world. The hosts stress the importance of not just having deep thoughts or experiences, but of examining these truths within one's own context and seeking community feedback to avoid falling into unexamined traps or perpetuating narrow perspectives. Ultimately, the reading encourages small, consistent actions that contribute to positive change, aligning perfectly with the episode's log line: to embrace one's present, cultivate silence, and be ready to act on resonant truths.

A familiar face, we are warned to be careful what we are imbibing and how that is effecting what we are putting out into the world. There is toxic material in our waters, and it is coming from every direction. We must be careful and vigilant about it. That starts with surrendering to stillness and silence. Waiting for when the time is right and accepting that active inaction is an acceptable place to be, despite so many calls to action surrounding us. We are not just standing, we are building. Like steam in an engine we bring things to boil and prepare them to give us energy to move, to reshape things. Water and fire mixing together to make productivity and difference. While we wait, we gather our community together and celebrate the things we have. Even though they may be small we are here to build together. Action will come, but now is the time to praise each other and raise each other up. Then like sand dunes, our whispers will begin to reshape the world around us. A million voices become a gale force wind that cannot be denied.

What we say is effected by what we know, what we believe. Our core principles, our first idea and the metaphors that we live by. What we believe and know intuitively is mediated by what we can say. To speak it is to know it. To say it is to believe it. We are truth tellers by our very actions. And we stand on a precipice looking out over a grand vista, feeling the wind buffeting our wings as we prepare to leap into space. It’s challenging to remain at peace when fear and fascination fill your body and your mind. Inspiration is there for you, but it requires you to jump and lose your connection to the earth, but just for a time. And the true sense of security is within you. When you are sure and certain, when your knowledge is true, you can be secure in what you say, while still being open to inspiration and change. Just because what you know it true, doesn’t mean that there aren’t other truths to be gained as well. One truth does not have to deny another. We are the primal, the magician, the one who shapes. To truly be alive is to be ready to shape ourselves. Let our brain remain mutable to change. From a place of peace, from a place of connection, you will be able to see the rainbow of truths there are to grasp. You will be made better for it.

What happens when you start by joining the crown and the throat, what are you spreading out into the world, even without others realizing it’s you. What vibrations are you producing and sending that will resonate with others. How do you bring the good news, the joy and the truth to yourself. No matter what you think, you are the ever burning flame and you have the power within you to shine and emanate outward. You can overcome the shame that dulls your light, and you can resonate from a place of power. As you are sending things out, other things are coming in to you. But you don’t have to drink them. You don’t have let them set off resonances within you. Examine them. Why do they make you feel the way they do? What are they touching on that you may need to examine. Because you can trust your dreams that rise up from your deep emotions. They are nuggets of truth. You don’t have to follow them, but you can believe them. They will tell you core things, memories, ideas, reverberations. Finally you need to balance all this out by reminding yourself that you are heartwood growing in sacred ground. It is only with a community that you can grow and expand and resist erosion and solitude that breaks down your connection with your people. But don’t forget to be human. It’s the simple acts of kindness and togetherness that we need the most.

We are a communal organism, a forest of connectedness, striving ever upward toward that which lies beyond. We are supple and moldable, and we adapt and overcome. This allows us to dive deep into our emotions and to find things that have formed us, core memories and metaphors that affect or control how we act and interact. We need to understand that as we deal with these moments and motions, we have to look at how they are affecting the community around us. But conversely, the community is there for us and we do not explore the depths of our pain alone. Despite the overwhelming nature of our emotions at times, we are an obelisk. A rooted structure, like our forest community that reaches upward, connecting crown to root. With our groundedness we realize that our being, our lives, our emotions will form seeds that grow for generations. What we do, affects those that will come after us. That leaves us with the message that if we know, we know. Our knowledge of ourselves and our universe tells us what is right. And it’s not easy. Sometimes we do what is wrong, but we learn. We see how things bubble up from our core and we learn to correct them, change them, shape them. With this connected and interconnected world, we will flourish and grow, being better each day.

The reading opens with the intersection Air and Earth, and a reminder that the words we say can fundamentally reshape other people. Just like wind blowing across sand dunes, our expression of ourselves affects others. Be aware of your power to affect change. Flowing from this idea we receive a reminder from The Creator that we are able to fold the very elements around us, and that sometimes we are attacking something in ourselves when we say something judgmental about others. The two cards together tell us to be conscious of the way our communication lifts or levels other people. Coming back around to Air, Fire’s intersection reminds us that we cannot simply talk – we have to act, especially when it comes to professed ideals. What you do comes from you, and it needs to properly represent you. But what if it represents your core metaphor instead? Three Seeds sprinkle on the reading to answer this question, and they reply that community is key. Community, communication, communion, companion, company – that all begin with the prefix “com-.” “With.” You do not have to force your struggles alone. Find collaborators, beta readers, and mentors. They help in ways that cannot always be predicted. And when the do come into your life, the final card reminds us (at the intersection of Water and Metal) that we do best when we stand on the shoulders of giants. The people around you have their gifts, and you have yours. Jealousy blocks your growth, so be sure to be introspective about making change, professing ideals, or taking action on plans.

At the top of the chakras, how do you play hid and seek with yourself? How do you see yourself from the perspective of others and what does that inform you with? You can’t live forever with the guilt of things that you have done. You have to release it once you learn the lesson, once you show contrition to those who deserve it. It is okay to forgive yourself your missteps and move forward with new and better understanding and moral action. You must say truth kindly, and kindness truthfully. You need to be honest about yourself, but with kind introspection. You should not attack yourself or relieve your guilt and shame. It is important to look at at the Core Image, the root mantra, the essence of your being and see it truthfully, flaws and all. But with kindness, like that of a teacher or mentor helping you to see yourself and improve yourself. Then with the cool touch of icy air, from a high perch, you will see things clearly. See the present moment with purpose and peace. Finally you will defend the actions you have taken and accept the judgment that follows. Not judgmental, but justice. Truly evening the field and accepting where you are and what you can be.

The context of the reading is the way the heart is affected by the winds and storms that assail it. A tree on a cliff that has been weathered and shaped, some would say mangled, by the forces that bear down up on it. But it survived because it was shaped and changed to survive. It’s not like other trees, it doesn’t just grow upright because it’s in the middle of the forest. It Is unique and contains strong roots, deep striving fingers. The question becomes what is it that you truly desire. Your wish, not a fleeting fancy, but the deeper desire within your depths, that is what your waves can bring you. Examine the things you want and see what is beneath them, what is driving them. That is your true desire. How are your emotions filters for how you understand what’s around you. How are you examining the world? What does your desire have to do with that view? Jealousy and inspiration can draw breath from the same thing, but one will drown you while the other will lift you up, carry you forward. Now is the time to take action, to burn brightly with your generative fire and do something. Break it down, find a way. Make the little changes and take the little steps. What we do, we do for others, whether we know it or not. You have an effect on the broader community and you must accept that as part of why you take the actions you do. Big or small, there are reverberation in the cosmic ocean. What will you resonate?

For context we return to the intersection of akasha and akasha, how what is right is influenced by what we deeply know. The idea that perfection is the enemy of good, but that we need to strive for the good even when the universe can’t tell us something hard and true. It’s all relative and there isn’t a deep set of laws that we can follow that will be true in all cases and for all people. So we are the Primal, a first mover, the one who creates the elements that make up the world. The power to live a moral life is ours and we must pursue it. It comes from within us, not from without. Then comes the storm that gives us pause. Lightning strikes and provides clear relief to something that had been merely a concept in our minds, now made real and practical. There is a moment of destruction or collapse that we face as we must live out our moral ideas in reality and then deal with the consequences of those actions. We live the book of our lives, our internal world a rich tapestry of thought and ideas, yet everyone else experiences the movie of our actions without that rich context. So we come to the question that eats at everyone with the privilege of debating morality, what do we do when we have excess. What is the right thing to do with what we have but do not need. Is there more goodness in giving, regardless of why or the consequences. Lastly, we are reminded to rest. Even in the face of the struggle to be moral, to know truth, we have to pause and allow our pursuit to settle so that new pathways, new reactions can take hold.

When the ether, akasha interacts with your fire, your core, what does that mean. Are you a beacon, a shining light in the darkness, a lighthouse on troubled waters? How does your authentic self look like in the dark vastness of space. How does the orbit of others affect you and your light. You are the ever burning flame, the source of fire in your life and the lives of those around you. You have to love learning, feeling the flames and gravity of others in your life. The fuel you burn comes from the stardust of others, the shared energy that crosses your threshold and makes up the secretions of your life. There are dreams in your depths that you have to trust to rise up and be seen. To share them with others as they share theirs with you. Again we are focused on the intersection of the third eye and the heart. Lovingly seeing others, imbibing others, feeling others. The reminder, the message, is to shine, to act, to do, but to be conscious of where your flame comes from, what you burn and what you shine.

What are the pretenses that you have formed that block the truth from flowing, that keep your core from really giving you the power to live. What is your authentic sparkle and how have you been either finding or ignoring it because of other whips and whispers. Everything changes. Change is life. Change is what happens if you live and move and breathe. It is inevitable. But you can find yourself in the midst of that change and align your chakras to uncover your authentic self, find your sparkle and shine. When the storms come you can be washed clean of things that you don’t need. You may have wanted them, but you don’t need them, not for what comes next. The storms show you what truly matters. A home is a home, even if it’s not perfect.

The reading begins with a poignant reminder to be aware of the ways in which information influences emotionality. When we look around to observe, perceive, and learn, it is vital to understand that our emotions are a filter that influences how we process what we know. Rather than allowing information to pull us in all directions, there is a better way, a middle way. One that is emotionally intelligent and intelligently emotional. From this place of balanced understanding, it is easier to know that what wells up from our dreams is a representation of who we are actually are: A person who deserves to be treated with respect and care. If we have filtered the learning and understanding to a high degree, then we can move confidently in the direction of our goals. In treating oneself as preciously as platinum, we instruct others in how to do the same. Where as the Gold Rule is externally focused – and often fixated on sacrifice – the Platinum Rule gives us the ability to share of ourselves from a place of abundance, rather than impoverishing sacrifice. Once all this is understood, the moment has come to act. You know you are well informed, you trust your intent, and you share without sacrificing – now go! Do that which has been sifted, cleaned, and checked for impurities. Act knowing that it is an accurate expression of yourself. In manifesting your will, it becomes clear that you see your purpose and accept it to be good.