Day 4: Hermit, Temperance, Nine of Wands

I was worried about the meaning of these cards based on the appearance. They all look so serious. But this pull is deepening my relationship with Tarot because it feels so sympathetic to this time in my life.

Hermit

This card signifies retreating from the hustle and bustle in order to think. YES! I’ve been turtle’ing up inside myself all year, first to process grief, then to focus on the psychological work of writing a memoir.

While the traditional meaning seems to define a period of time for full separation from daily responsibilities, my interpretation is to grow by incorporating the practice of self reflection into my life overall. It is not realistic to wait until I can get away. In fact, it would contain self reflection to very small pockets of time. This card is helping me think about how to draw a very protective boundary around what I need to make this happen.

Temperance

stares at glass of wine

For most of my life, I have gone to extremes when I get interested in something. I will give it everything I have, to the exclusion to other things in my life, and I only realized what I neglected after I resurfaced.

For the past few years, I’ve been paying a lot of attention to how I can tune into a balanced approach. So, not stopping drinking or eating carbs completely, but tuning in to when it feels like a nice treat vs. when it stops me from doing other things that I care about.

In combination with the Hermit, it seems to suggest that I am right to think of how I can lean into introspection without throwing everything else in my life to the sidelines. I would also apply it to my glass of wine (one per night, so I’m not too tipsy to write at night, or too tired to write in the morning), and to the writing itself (relationships with my husband, my parents, and close friends still need nurturing; and I love my job, so I want to keep doing it well).

Nine of Wands

What incredible timing for this card, wow!

“The Nine of Wands indicates that you’re almost at the finish line, but there is a final obstacle before you can fully achieve your goal.” —Sheila Ellis, Decoding the Cards

I have one day left to complete and submit a full manuscript for my memoir for critique. It’s daunting to think about how much there is left to (eep!), but also incredible to see how much I’ve accomplished (61,698 words! 224 pages! 15 chapters!). There truly is one more very big push, but this card is telling me that I can work hard and do it. It is a huge sign of encouragement from the universe itself to keep going and cross that finish line!

Ok, let’s goooo!!